Business Details
50+ Years
experience
Estate Planning & Probate Lawyers in San Bernardino, CA
Fullerton, Lemann, Schaefer & Dominick has provided exceptional legal representation in estate planning, probate, and trust administration since 1948. Our attorneys specialize in complex estate matters, including wills, trusts, guardianships, and probate litigation, serving clients across Southern California. With over 35 years of focused experience, principal Thomas W. Dominick holds certification from the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization and maintains an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell. Our team combines deep technical expertise with practical solutions to address estate planning challenges, probate disputes, and elder law concerns. We serve San Bernardino, Riverside, Orange, and Los Angeles Counties, including communities in the Inland Empire, High Desert, and Low Desert regions.Our attorneys regularly lecture on probate matters and have authored authoritative guides, including The Probate Process from Start to Finish. Recognized as Top 100 Trust & Estates Lawyers in California by the American Society of Legal Advocates, we prioritize efficient, cost-effective legal services tailored to individual client needs. Our practice emphasizes proactive estate planning to minimize tax liabilities and avoid probate complications. We maintain offices in San Bernardino, Costa Mesa, Rancho Santa Margarita, and Palm Desert to better serve our regional clientele. Our commitment to excellence has earned consistent recognition in Super Lawyers magazine and local publications like Inland Empire Magazine.
Services
Estate Planning
Probate Administration
Trust Litigation
Guardianships
Elder Law
Will Contests
Trust Disputes
Conservatorships
Tax Planning
Asset Protection
Details
- Year established: 1948
Highlights and features
- Certified specialists in estate planning and probate law with 35+ years of focused experience
- Maintain Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent peer rating for legal excellence
- Recognized in Super Lawyers and Top Attorneys in the IE listings
- Serve 10+ Southern California counties including specialized desert community expertise
- Co-authors of authoritative probate process guides and frequent industry lecturers
Associations and certifications
- State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization
Services
Estate Planning
Our estate planning services create customized solutions for asset distribution, tax minimization, and incapacity planning. We draft wills, living trusts, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives while addressing complex family dynamics. Our attorneys help clients properly fund trusts and coordinate beneficiary designations across all assets.
Probate Administration
We guide executors through California's probate process, handling will validation, asset inventory, creditor claims, and final distributions. Our team manages contested probates and streamlines estate settlements while ensuring compliance with court requirements. We represent personal representatives and beneficiaries in both simple and complex estate administrations.
Trust Litigation
Our firm handles trust contests, breach of fiduciary duty claims, and trustee removal proceedings. We represent trustees and beneficiaries in disputes over trust interpretation, asset management, and distribution conflicts. We prioritize mediation but maintain trial-ready capabilities for complex trust litigation matters.
Conservatorships
We establish conservatorships for incapacitated adults and manage related court proceedings. Our services include drafting legal documents, representing petitioners and respondents, and providing ongoing compliance support. We handle both probate and LPS conservatorships for mental health-related cases across Southern California.
Elder Law
Our elder law practice addresses financial abuse, nursing home neglect, and long-term care planning. We help families navigate Medi-Cal planning, guardianship issues, and elder abuse litigation. Our attorneys combine legal expertise with compassionate representation for vulnerable senior populations in California.
People
Thomas W. Dominick
Attorney
Certified estate planning specialist with 35+ years' experience, AV Preeminent rated, Super Lawyers honoree, and Top 100 Trust & Estates Lawyer recognition. Lectures on probate matters and co-authored The Probate Process from Start to Finish.
Wilfrid C. Lemann
Attorney
Experienced estate planning attorney with decades of practice in trust administration and probate matters, maintaining active involvement in legal education and bar association committees.
Michael R. Schaefer
Attorney
Skilled probate litigator with extensive experience in will contests, trust disputes, and complex estate administration matters across Southern California court systems.
Craig E. Wilson
Attorney
Focused on elder law and financial abuse prevention, representing clients in conservatorship proceedings and long-term care planning strategies.
David P. Colella
Attorney
Trust administration specialist with expertise in post-mortem estate planning and fiduciary tax compliance matters.
Questions
What estate planning documents do I need?
Essential documents include wills, living trusts, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives. Our attorneys customize these documents to meet your specific needs while minimizing future complications.
How does probate work in California?
California probate involves will validation, asset inventory, creditor claims, and final distributions under court supervision. The process typically takes 8-12 months but may extend for complex estates.
Can I avoid probate through trusts?
Properly funded living trusts can avoid probate for most assets. Our attorneys help establish revocable and irrevocable trusts while ensuring proper asset titling and beneficiary designations.
What services do you offer for elder law?
We handle elder abuse prevention, conservatorship establishment, Medi-Cal planning, and long-term care strategies while protecting seniors' legal rights and financial security.
Do you handle trust disputes?
Yes, our firm represents trustees and beneficiaries in trust contests, breach of fiduciary duty claims, and trustee removal proceedings with both mediation and litigation capabilities.
What areas do you serve?
We serve all of Southern California including San Bernardino, Riverside, Orange, and Los Angeles Counties, with offices in San Bernardino, Costa Mesa, Rancho Santa Margarita, and Palm Desert.
