LA Trust & Estate Contingency Fees | Attorneys for Pasadena and Burbank

Probate, estate and trust litigation in Los Angeles is very time intensive.  You may have heard the old saying that all a lawyer has to sell is his time. So what do you do if you’re fighting for your beneficiary rights and you don’t have the money to hire an experienced, battle-proven attorney? That’s where contingency fee arrangements can make all the difference between remaining with nothing and recovering your rightful share of trust assets or estate property.

Hackard Law represents LA-area heirs and beneficiaries who need a fighting chance to contest disinheritance or a proposed estate or trust distribution. I regularly meet with clients who want to hire our expertise but cannot afford to pay hourly fees. That’s why most of the LA area cases that we do – whether our clients are from Burbank, Hollywood or Pasadena – hire us on a contingency fee basis. Let’s face the obvious – the reason that abused heirs don’t have money is because some wrongdoer took their money or their relative’s money. A bad trustee or executor are often confident that they can quickly outspend and estate victim to avoid justice. That’s where they’re wrong: California law allows for litigation on a contingency basis, which means a client without the financial wherewithal to pursue a will contest or gain beneficiary rights in a trust can bring the case to Los Angeles County Superior Court for a fair trial.

According to the rules of a contingency agreement, a trust litigation attorney will only be paid if and when they obtain recovery from the disputed estate by settlement or trial. Contingency fees must conform to California law, are negotiable, must be signed by the attorney and the client, and must explain how the disbursement of costs will affect the contingency fee and the client’s recovery.

The percentage of compensation agreed upon between lawyer and client must be addressed in the retainer agreement. At Hackard Law we regularly pursue legal action in Los Angeles against dishonest fiduciaries and perpetrators of exploitation against elderly family members. And we move quickly to remove bad trustees or bring charges of elder financial abuse in civil court. Our estate litigation team evaluates each individual case to see if it is suitable for a contingency arrangement.

At Hackard Law, we take our duty to clients seriously – we’re there to protect beneficiary interests and forge a path to recovery. Our attorneys are dedicated to safeguarding Los Angeles clients and their families, whether at Stanley Mosk Courthouse or elsewhere in the County Superior Court system. Call us today at 213-357-5200 so we can listen to your story and see how best to help you.