Cordia Lynn Farrell

A Southern California native, C L Farrell, enjoys practicing probate and trust litigation for nearly four decades across Southern California. She assists small businesses, families, and individuals with estate planning and their probate and trust administration and litigation needs. She guides clients through the process of probate administration and trust administration and assists in the preparation of Court required estate accountings. As a trial attorney, she represents clients in disputes concerning the validity of wills or trusts, entitlement to inherit decedent estates, competing petitions for fiduciary appointments as estate administrators or trustees, breaches of fiduciary duties, and cases involving financial exploitation of the elderly or mentally infirmed.

C L is trained in alternate dispute resolution and has served as a mediator of probate, trusts, and estate disputes. She served the San Bernardino County Bar Association as Chairperson of the Fee Arbitration program. She served as Judge Pro Tempore in the San Bernardino County Superior Court Family Law and Small Claims cases.

In 2009, C L co-designed the Fiduciary Management Certificate Program for the University of California Riverside Extension and served as an Advisory Board Member and Instructor. In 2010, she established the Osborne-Whelan Endowed Rugby Academic Scholarship at the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco (formerly UC Hastings College of the Law) and currently chairs the scholarship's Advisory Committee.

C L’s personal interests include sailing, traveling, and genealogical research.

Golden Gate University School of Law

J.D. (1983) | Law

California State University - San Francisco State University

B.A. (1979) | English

Mediator, Probate, Trusts and Estates

Riverside County Bar Association Dispute Resolution Services

2022 - Current

Senior Probate & Trust Litigation Attorney

Law Offices of C L Farrell, PC

1992 - Current

Co-Designer, Professional Fiduciary Certificate Program

University of California Riverside Extension

2010 - 2012

Adjunct Professor, Paralegal Certificate Program

University of California Riverside Extension

2008 - 2009

Distinguished Peer Review Rated

Martindale-Hubbell

2023

San Bernardino County Bar Association

Member

Current

Activities: Former Chair, Attorney-Client Fee Arbitration

Orange County Bar association

Member

2024 - Current

Activities: Member, Probate & Estates Section

Riverside County Bar Association

Member

2022 - Current

Activities: Dispute Resolution Services Mediator

California State Bar  # 132882

Member

1988 - Current

California

State Bar of California

ID Number: 132882

Since 1988

• Free Consultation
  Free 30 minute consultation offered.
• Credit Cards Accepted

• Trust & Estates Administration & Accountings

Q. What if I do not know where or what the estate/trust of my late fathers. But was contacted by an attorney .

October 23, 2024

A: It is possible that the attorney who initially contacted you had consulted with someone looking to claim your late father’s assets and wanted to confirm if you were related and alive so that you may have a claim to your late father’s assets as an heir or beneficiary of his Will or Trust. It is also possible that once you confirmed your relationship, the attorney realized that as your father’s sole heir, his prospective/actual client did not have any interest in your father’s estate and opted not to accept legal representation of that party. Still, you are entitled to know more about your father’s estate planning documents and assets.

If you know the city or county where your later father lived, search that county’s website for probate cases filed under your father’s name.

If you don’t know where your late father lived, try googling his name (followed by the state where he last lived to narrow the search). You may find information in a published obituary or his address which will enable you to obtain from a title company or realtor in that area a copy of the Deed to his residence that may be titled in the name of his Trust (if he has one). From there, you can locate a probate and trust attorney in that county to assist you further.

You confirm you have the name and phone number of the attorney who initially contacted you. Google the attorney’s name followed by the word “attorney” or the attorney’s phone number to locate the attorney’s law firm URL (link) and contact information.

Next, draft a letter to the attorney, referencing your late father’s name and the date and essence of the last contact you had with the attorney or the law firm.

- Request copies of your late father’s Will, Trust and any Court papers that have been filed regarding his Trust or decedent’s estate.

- Ask for confirmation of who the lawyer represents regarding your late father’s affairs and how that person is connected to your late father (i.e. as the nominated executor or administrator of his Will and/or as successor trustee of your later father’s Trust. Ask the attorney to confirm if s/he is currently representing that person or not.

- Provide your complete contact information including mail address, email address and telephone (home and mobile).

- Remind the attorney that you understood he wanted you to provide him with proof of your relationship to your late father. Ask what documentation the attorney requires of you to establish this proof.

Best wishes in your endeavors. ... Read More

Q. if it involves an estate in California, do I need to find an state lawyer in California or can I use one in Nevada?

October 20, 2024

A: If you have an interest in a California’s decedent’s estate, then you will want to retain a California attorney who practices in the field of orobate and trust administration and litigation to assist you in evaluating your rights and directing you how best to proceed.

If the California attorney you contacted is not returning your phone calls, contact me. I’d be happy assisting you.

Q. In California, which form do you use to respond to a Petition for Instructions in a probate case?

October 7, 2024

A: Simply draft a pleading entitled “Objections of (insert your status and name , ie Heir Phil Suth) to Petition For Instructions”.