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Why Many Beneficiaries Never Pursue Their Claims
Key Takeaways
- Many California beneficiaries delay taking legal action because they cannot afford hourly attorney fees.
- A contingency fee lets qualifying California beneficiaries pursue trust litigation without paying attorney’s fees upfront.
- Attorney Scott Grossman evaluates qualifying trust and probate litigation matters throughout California during a free phone consultation, scheduled by our intake specialist.
- Early legal action to preserve evidence improves the chances of recovering your inheritance.
Why Many Beneficiaries Never Pursue Their Claims
Imagine learning that a trustee refuses to distribute your inheritance or discovering that trust assets appear to be missing.
You know something is wrong, but every attorney you speak with asks for a large retainer before representing you.
For many California beneficiaries, that is where the case ends—because you can’t afford it.
Unfortunately, trustees and other fiduciaries sometimes count on beneficiaries walking away when they cannot afford to fight back.
At The Grossman Law Firm, we are regularly hired by families facing this exact situation.
A Common Situation
The names and circumstances below have been changed for privacy.
Michael’s mother passed away, leaving a trust that divided her estate equally between her three children. His older brother became trustee and assured everyone that distributions would happen “soon.”
Months turned into more than a year. Questions about missing bank accounts went unanswered, and Michael began to suspect his brother was using trust money to pay personal expenses. Every attorney he contacted asked for a substantial retainer of $10,000-20,000 before filing a petition.
Michael was ready to give up—not because he thought he was wrong, but because he simply couldn’t afford the legal fees.
After contacting The Grossman Law Firm, he learned his case qualifies for a contingency fee for trust litigation. Instead of paying attorney’s fees upfront, he was able to pursue his claim and seek the inheritance he believed his mother intended him to receive.
For many California beneficiaries, the biggest obstacle is not whether they have a valid case—it’s whether they can afford to collect their inheritance.
How a Contingency Fee Levels the Playing Field
If your case qualifies, a contingency fee lets you move forward without paying attorney’s fees upfront.
Instead of billing by the hour, the attorney receives a percentage of the recovery if money or property is successfully recovered through a settlement, trial, or appeal.
This arrangement can help beneficiaries enforce their rights, even if they do not have the resources for a long legal battle.
Not every case qualifies. When the facts, available evidence, and potential recovery support contingency representation, you may be able to move forward without paying attorney’s fees upfront.
For qualifying cases, The Grossman Law Firm offers contingency fee arrangements that generally range from 25% to 40%, depending on the complexity of the matter. Litigation costs are separate.
When a Case May Qualify
Every situation is different, but contingency fee representation may be appropriate when there is evidence of issues such as:
- Trustee misconduct or breach of fiduciary duty
- Wrongful withholding of an inheritance
- Trust assets that appear to be missing or misappropriated
- Self-dealing by a trustee
- Significant financial losses caused by improper trust administration
Attorney Scott Grossman personally evaluates qualifying matters to determine whether contingency fee representation may be available.
FAQ
Do I have to pay attorney’s fees upfront?
Not if your case qualifies for a contingency fee arrangement. Instead, attorneys’ fees are paid from any recovery obtained in the case.
Does every trust litigation case qualify?
No. Each case is evaluated individually based on its facts, available evidence, and potential recovery.
Is a contingency fee available throughout California?
Yes. The Grossman Law Firm represents qualifying trust and probate litigation matters throughout California.
Related Resources
How The Grossman Law Firm Can Help
Waiting because you cannot afford hourly legal fees may allow trust assets to disappear or important evidence to become harder to obtain. If you believe a trustee has acted improperly, speaking with an attorney sooner rather than later can make a significant difference.
At The Grossman Law Firm, we help beneficiaries and heirs across California protect their rights in trust and probate cases.
Please call us at (888) 443-6590 or fill out our Get Help Now form to take the next step in protecting your inheritance.
Our Intake Specialists can evaluate your case at no cost to you. Qualifying cases will be scheduled for a Free Phone Consultation with Attorney Scott Grossman.