When someone you trusted to protect a loved one’s estate has instead used that position for personal gain, the sense of betrayal can be overwhelming. You may not know where to turn or what your rights are. At Hackard Law, we are there for people in exactly that situation.
We represent beneficiaries and heirs in contested trust matters throughout the region, including alleged breach of fiduciary duty in Sacramento County trusts. Our trust litigation attorneys take these cases on a contingency fee basis, which means that if we do not win your case, you do not pay us. We also offer free phone consultations so that you can discuss your concerns with a knowledgeable attorney at no cost or obligation.
A trustee accepts a profound legal obligation when they agree to administer a trust. California law requires trustees to act solely in the interest of the beneficiaries, to manage trust assets prudently, and to account honestly and fully for everything they do. When a trustee abandons those obligations, the consequences for beneficiaries can be severe and lasting.
Breaches of fiduciary duty in Sacramento County trusts take many forms, and it is critical to know what to watch for. Some trustees engage in outright self-dealing, transferring trust assets to themselves or to related parties at below-market value. Others withhold distributions that beneficiaries are legally entitled to receive, sometimes for years, while offering little or no explanation.
We also see trustees who fail to keep proper records, who commingle trust funds with personal accounts, or who make reckless investment decisions that erode the value of the estate. In blended family situations, a surviving spouse who serves as trustee may quietly redirect assets away from the children of a prior relationship. In other cases, a bad actor has cultivated a position of influence over an aging or vulnerable settlor and used that access to rewrite the terms of the trust to their own benefit.
These are not merely technical violations, and they are certainly not innocent mistakes. They are betrayals of trust, and California law provides meaningful remedies for beneficiaries who have been harmed by them.
After recognizing a breach of fiduciary duty in a Sacramento County trust, the most important thing you can do is act. Delay works against beneficiaries in trust litigation, as evidence can disappear and legal deadlines may be missed. If something feels wrong with a trustee’s behavior, it very likely is. Trustees who are acting in good faith do not typically resist providing accountings, avoid communication, or make unilateral decisions that benefit themselves or a favored party.
When you contact Hackard Law, we start by listening. We want to understand what has happened, who the players are, and what the trust documents say. Our attorneys have spent decades litigating trust disputes in California courts, and we know how to build cases against trustees who believe they can act without consequence. We have recovered more than $100 million for our clients in estate and trust litigation, and we pursue each case with the commitment and preparation that high-stakes disputes demand.
We represent clients not just in Sacramento County but throughout California, and we understand the local courts, the applicable law, and the strategies that bad-actor trustees and their attorneys use to delay and deflect.
If you believe a trustee has violated their legal duties and put your inheritance at risk, do not wait. A breach of fiduciary duty in a Sacramento County trust is a serious legal matter that demands serious legal representation.
At Hackard Law, we stand up for beneficiaries who have been wronged, and we do it on a contingency fee basis so that cost is not a barrier to justice. We welcome the opportunity to review the facts of your situation and recommend a course of action during a free phone consultation.
(916) 313-3030