Trust Me

One of the greatest challenges in probate and trust administration is ensuring that every asset is identified. In this episode of the Trust Me Podcast, presented by the California Lawyers Association Trusts and Estates Section (TEXCOM), host R. Sam Price speaks with Stephen Walter, founder and CEO of Sunset, about how technology is transforming the asset discovery process. Stephen discusses why assets are so often overlooked, how Sunset helps attorneys, fiduciaries,and families locate financial accounts across all 50 states, and the practical benefits of using automated asset discovery during probate and trust administration. The conversation explores what types of assets can be found, how the search process works, credit bureau debt searches, estate banking, unclaimed property, and why the service is offered at no cost to users.Whether you represent fiduciaries, administer trusts, or handle probate matters, this episode provides practical insights into one of the most time-consuming aspects of estate administration. The discussion follows a structured agenda covering Stephen's background, asset discovery, trust-owned property, banking, creditor searches, pricing, and practical advice for practitioners.About our guest:Stephen Walter is a licensed attorney, software engineer, and two-time venture-backed founder. He earned his law degree from the University of Colorado, is a member of the Utah Bar, and founded Sunset (Y Combinator W24), an automated asset discovery platform built to modernize estate, probate, and inheritance administration by helping professionals and families identify a decedent's assets quickly and efficiently.About our host: R. Sam Price, LL.M., C.S. is a California Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law and the founder of Price Law Firm, APC, in Redlands, California. His practice focuses exclusively on estate planning, trust administration, probate, and trust litigation. Sam serves on the Executive Committee of the California Lawyers Association Trusts and Estates Section (TEXCOM) and chairs the San Bernardino County Bar Association's Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Section.Sam is the creator and host of the weekly Probate Notes podcast, where he interviews leading attorneys and industry professionals on practical topics affecting probate, estate planning, and trust administration. He is also the author of The 6-Stage Probate Process: How to Navigate California Probate and Impactful Estate Planning: How Your Family Dynamics Influence Leaving Your Inheritance and Legacy and is a frequent speaker on trusts and estates law.Thank you for listening to Trust Me!Trust Me is Produced by Foley Marra StudiosEdited by Cat Hammons

As an estate planner, your job is to capture your client’s wishes. But what happens years down the line when those wishes are challenged, family relationships have fractured, and memories have faded?In our latest episode, we sit down with Judge Johnston (Ret.) to look at estate planning through the lens of litigation. We dive deep into how you can create an unassailable contemporaneous record today, so your files can withstand intense scrutiny tomorrow.In this episode, you’ll learn:The exact red flags that predict a future capacity or undue influence lawsuit.Why your file notes might actually be more important than the estate document itself.The hidden dangers of videotaped signings (and when they do more harm than good).How to safely handle remote contingencies to prevent accidental intestacy.Our Guest: Judge Gerald Johnson (Ret.)Judge Gerald G. Johnston served over 24 years on the Orange County Superior Court, retiring in 2023. From 2014 to 2023, he was the supervising judge of the Probate and Mental Health Division, overseeing thousands of cases involving trusts, probate, guardianships, conservatorships, elder abuse, and mental health matters. He also served on the Judicial Council Probate and Mental Health Advisory Committee from 2016 to 2019, appointed by the Chief Justice.Before his judicial career, Johnston worked as Deputy Secretary for Law Enforcement and General Counsel for the California Environmental Protection Agency and began his legal career as a Deputy District Attorney in Orange County. He has also taught trust, probate, conservatorship, and mental health law for over 20 years through the Center for Judicial Education and Research (CJER)Our Hosts: Ben Schwefel and Jeff LoewBenjamin R. Schwefel is a partner at Murtaugh LLP in Irvine, California, and a certified specialist in Estate Planning, Trust, and Probate law by the State Bar of California www.murtaughlaw.com. His practice focuses on trusts and estates, including estate planning, trust administration, probate, and fiduciary litigation. He advises a wide range of clients, from high-net-worth individuals and families to trustees, beneficiaries, entrepreneurs, business executives, and professional fiduciaries. He is a member of the TEXCOM executive committee of the California Lawyers Association.Jeff Loew is the managing partner of Trust Law Partners LLP, with offices in Silicon Valley, Pasadena and Newport Beach.   Jeff’s primary areas of practice include trust and estate litigation, fiduciary litigation, and financial elder abuse actions.  Jeff is certified as a Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust, and Probate Law by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization. Jeff is the Chair of the Education Subcommittee for TEXCOM, the Executive Committee of the Trusts and Estates Section of the California Lawyers Association and is also a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC). He is licensed to practice in California, Nevada, and Texas.Thank you for listening to Trust Me!Trust Me is Produced by Foley Marra StudiosEdited by Cat Hammons

California has a new virtual representation statute! What does this mean for your trusts and estates practice?  In this episode of Trust Me!, our guests, Kelly Cooksey of Loeb and Loeb in Los Angeles, and Anna Soliman of Sheppard Mullin in Los Angeles will review the nuts and bolts of the long-awaited virtual representation statute, which became effective on January 1st, 2026.  Our host will be Jeff Loew, Managing Partner of Trust Law Partners and Education Chair for TEXCOM, the Executive Committee of the Trusts and Estates Section of the CA Lawyers Association.Jeff Loew is the managing partner of Trust Law Partners LLP, with offices in Silicon Valley, Pasadena and Newport Beach.   Jeff’s primary areas of practice include trust and estate litigation, fiduciary litigation, and financial elder abuse actions.  Jeff is certified as a Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust, and Probate Law by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization. Jeff is the Chair of the Education Subcommittee for TEXCOM, the Executive Committee of the Trusts and Estates Section of the California Lawyers Association and is also a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC). He is licensed to practice in California, Nevada, and Texas.Kelly Cooksey focuses her practice on estate and gift tax planning for high net worth individuals, as well as probate and trust administration.  Her experience includes drafting living trusts and gift trusts, handling complex trust administration and probate proceedings and coordinating tax-efficient wealth transfer strategies among numerous advisors.  She regularly advises clients on the wide range of sophisticated issues arising in these transactions, including income, gift, estate and property tax issues, the modification of irrevocable trusts through methods such as trust decanting as well as charitable planning issues, particularly compliance with private foundation self-dealing rules. Anna Soliman is special counsel in the Tax, Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Practice Group in the firm's Los Angeles office. Anna specializes in estate planning and trust administration for high-net-worth individuals. She has broad experience in drafting and preparing complex estate plans and business succession plans for high-net-worth individuals. She also assists clients in matters ranging from trust administration and probate to IRS audits. Anna was most recently the Chief Fiduciary Officer and Trust Counsel of a prominent trust company. Earlier in her career, Anna worked as an Estate and Gift Tax Attorney for the Internal Revenue Service, where she examined high profile tax returns.Thank you for listening to Trust Me!Trust Me is Produced by Foley Marra StudiosEdited by Cat Hammons

In this episode, R. Sam Price and Tanis Kluever discuss how probate and trust loans secured by real property can solve liquidity problems while preserving the family home. The conversation focuses on practical, legally compliant strategies attorneys and fiduciaries can use to cover expenses, prevent forced sales, and protect estate and trust assets during administration.R. Sam Price is a California Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law, and the managing attorney of Price Law Firm, APC, where he focuses on probate, trust administration, and estate planning. He is the author of The 6-Stage Probate Process and Impactful Estate Planning, and the host of the Probate Notes podcast, educating professionals on practical and effective probate [email protected]://pricelawfirm.com/Tanis Kluever is a probate and trust loan specialist with True Estate Loans, working closely with attorneys and professional fiduciaries to secure real property–backed financing during probate and trust administration. With extensive experience closing hundreds of estate and trust loans, she is known for her integrity, clear communication, and ability to solve complex liquidity challenges while protecting estate [email protected] https://trueestateloans.com/ Thank you for listening to Trust Me!Trust Me is Produced by Foley Marra StudiosEdited by Cat Hammons

This episode, hosted by Anna Soliman,  reviews the new petition process enacted under AB 2016 for a decedent’s primary residence valued up to  $750,000.  We will discuss the origin of the new law, the old rules, and the mechanics of the procedures. About our guests, Judith Tang and Lisa B. Roper: Judith Tang is the Co-Vice Chair of the Trusts and Estates Practice group at Fennemore. Judith is a Director and the Co-Vice Chair of the Trusts and Estates Practice group at Fennemore. She has over 25 years of experience and a breadth of knowledge, providing comprehensive personalized estate planning and trust and estate administration services.Lisa B. Roper is a partner in the Estate and Trust Litigation Group and the Trust Administration and Probate Group at Henderson, Caverly and Pum LLP, where she advises clients in estate and trust controversies, estate and trust administrations, guardianships, and conservatorships.  Lisa and Judith are members of the Executive Committee of the Trust and Estates Section of the California Lawyers Association.  About Our Host:Anna Soliman is Special Counsel in Sheppard Mullin’s Los Angeles office, where she specializes in estate planning and trust administration for high-net-worth individuals. She is also a member of the Executive Committee of the Trust and Estates Section of the California Lawyers Association.  Thank you for listening to Trust Me!Trust Me is Produced by Foley Marra StudiosEdited by Cat Hammons

New laws were enacted in 2025 that will affect California trusts and estates practitioners on January 1, 2026. Join our three speakers, attorneys Kristin Yokomoto, Paul Gruwell, and Mara Mahana, on this episode as they summarize the highlights of the new laws and how they affect estate planning, trust administration, incapacity, litigation, and more. Look for an in-depth article on the new laws in an upcoming issue of the Trusts & Estates Quarterly.About Our Podcast Panel: Kristin Yokomoto is a partner at Baker & Hostetler LLP in the Orange County office. She practices in the areas of estate planning for high net worth clients, trust administration, probate, and fiduciary litigation. Kristin is a Member of the California Lawyers Association Trusts and Estates Executive Committee (TEXCOM) and The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC). She is a Legal Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law certified by the State Bar of California Paul Gruwell is a civil litigation partner of Ragghianti Freitas LLP in San Rafeal.  He specializes in Trust and Estate Litigation and represents individuals, families, fiduciaries, and charitable organizations in all phases of disputes, including through contested evidentiary hearings, trials, and appeals. His practice in this area spans trust and will contests, fiduciary breach of duty, removal of trustees and executors, accounting disputes, probate disputes, surcharge actions, and fee disputes. Paul is a Member of TEXCOM. Mara Mahana is a Wealth Strategist and Senior Director at Syon Capital LLC in San Francisco and formerly a practicing attorney for 20 years in the field of trusts and estates law working with high- and ultra-high net worth clients to review, develop, and consult on estate and wealth transfer plans, taking into consideration clients’ unique values, needs and circumstances. Mara is a Member of TEXCOM.Thank you for listening to Trust Me!Trust Me is Produced by Foley Marra StudiosEdited by Cat Hammons

Host: Ben SchwefelSpeaker: Anthony LaiThis episode explores how community property interests are identified, asserted, and litigated in post-death trust and estate administrations. We break down the legal framework, common pressure points, and practical strategies for navigating disputes when ownership and control are anything but clear.Speaker Bio:Anthony Lai is a Senior Associate at Feinberg Mindel Brandt & Klein LLP in Pasadena and a Certified Family Law Specialist who represents clients in high-conflict family law matters, focusing on complex litigation with empathetic, client-centered advocacy. Anthony represents individuals in all areas of family law, including dissolution of marriage, custody and visitation, division of assets, spousal and child support, and pre- and post-marital agreements. He serves as lead counsel in long-cause matters and trials, particularly those involving contested domestic violence restraining orders, fiduciary breach claims, and move-away hearings.Thank you for listening to Trust Me!Trust Me is Produced by Foley Marra StudiosEdited by Cat Hammons

What happens when beneficiaries disagree about the family home or other inherited real estate? In this episode, guest, James Ulwelling and host, Ben Schwefel, will discuss partition actions, co-ownership conflicts, lis pendens (notice of pendency of action), and practical strategies for resolving real property disputes that arise in trust and estate administrations.About our guest:James Ulwelling practices in the areas of real estate litigation, real estate transactions, community association (HOA) law, business law and general civil litigation. James has served as lead trial counsel in numerous lawsuits and arbitrations over the years, where he has exhibited skills in courtroom strategy, critical analysis and sophisticated advocacy. James, who has over 25 years of legal experience, is a former partner at Morris Polich and Purdy, LLP (now Clark Hill PLC) and Ulwelling | Siddiqui LLP.James is actively engaged with professional groups serving the real estate, community association and business communities. He is a member of the Real Property Section of the State Bar of California and the Community Associations Institute. He is a featured speaker for groups such as the Community Associations Institute, Chapman University School of Law, the Orange County Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, the Employer Advisory Council of Orange County, and numerous commercial and residential real estate brokerages. He has served on the Publications Committee and Mediation Committee for the Community Associations Institute. James has been published in periodicals and trade journals such as California Law Business, The Law Journal and OC View.Thank you for listening to Trust Me!Trust Me is Produced by Foley Marra StudiosEdited by Cat Hammons

In this episode, guests Jonathan Blattmachr and Martin Shenkman share their thoughts on key OBBBA provisions and the Act’s impact on estate and tax planning with host Kristin Yokomoto. Planning considerations include use of non-grantor trusts for charitable planning, basis-focused income tax planning, and more. They will also discuss the benefits of reviewing existing SLATs and other irrevocable trusts, as well as the importance of preparing customized estate plans that address family dynamics to minimize the chances of litigation. Host: Kristin YokomotoGuests: Jonathan G. Blattmachr and Martin M. ShenkmanJonathan G. Blattmachr is the Editor-in-Chief and Co-Founder of Interactive Legal, and Co-Author of Wealth Transfer Planning™. He is a principal in ILS Management, LLC and a retired member of Milbank Tweed Hadley & McCloy LLP in New York, NY and of the Alaska, California and New York Bars. He has written and lectured extensively on estate and trust taxation and charitable giving. Jonathan graduated from Columbia University School of Law cum laude, where he was recognized as a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar, and received his A.B. degree from Bucknell University, majoring in mathematics. He has served as a lecturer-in-law of the Columbia University School of Law and is an Adjunct Professor of Law at New York University Law School in its Masters in Tax Program (LLM). He is a former chairperson of the Trusts & Estates Law Section of the New York State Bar Association and of several committees of the American Bar Association. Jonathan is a Fellow and a former Regent of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel and past chair of its Estate and Gift Tax Committee. He is author or co-author of eight books and more than 500 articles on estate planning and tax topics. Martin M. Shenkman, CPA, MBA, PFS, AEP (distinguished), JD, is an attorney in private practice in Fort Lee, New Jersey and New York City. He is the founder of Shenkman Law, a boutique firm focused on the legal needs of high-net-worth individuals, professionals, close business owners, and real estate owners and developers. Martin’s practice includes estate and tax planning, planning for closely held businesses, and estate administration. He is the author of 42 books and more than 1,000 articles. Martin is an Editorial Board Member of Trusts & Estates Magazine, CCH (Wolter’s Kluwer), and the Matrimonial Strategist. He has previously served on the editorial board of many other tax, estate and real estate publications. Martin earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Wharton School with concentrations in accounting and economics, MBA from the University of Michigan with concentrations in tax and finance, and law degree from Fordham University School of Law. He is admitted to the bar in New York, New Jersey, and Washington, D.C. and is a licensed CPA in New Jersey, Michigan, and New York. Click here to listen to Interactive Legal’s 4-Part webinar series on OBBBA - https://interactivelegal.com/big-beautiful-bill/Thank you for listening to Trust Me!Trust Me is Produced by Foley Marra StudiosEdited by Cat Hammons

Listen to host Kristin Yokomoto discuss various aspects of the CLA Trusts and Estates Section Executive Committee (TEXCOM) with guests Matthew McMurtrey and Ryka Farotte.  Learn about how TEXCOM monitors all California bills, some of which become law that impact our trusts and estates practice. We discuss Matt’s 11-year term on TEXCOM and Ryka’s 6-year term, their leadership roles, and some of the contributions they have made to the CLA Trusts and Estates Section and the community. Learn more about the focus of TEXCOM’s Legislation, Estate Planning, Incapacity, Trust Administration, and Litigation Committees and how you can become involved.Our Speakers:Matthew McMurtrey is the managing partner at Sacks, Glazier, Franklin, Lodise, McMurtrey & Scheerer, LLP in Los Angeles. Matt is a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, the California Lawyer’s Association Trusts and Estates Section 2021-22 Chair of the Executive Committee (TEXCOM), and a former Chair of TEXCOM’s Litigation Subcommittee. Ryka Farotte is a research attorney in the Probate Department of the Los Angeles Superior Court. He is currently a member of the Executive Committee of the California Lawyer Association’s Trusts and Estates Section (TEXCOM) where he serves as Chair of the Incapacity Subcommittee.  Thank you for listening to Trust Me!Trust Me is Produced by Foley Marra StudiosEdited by Cat Hammons