• > We have recovered more than $300 million for our clients
  • > Albertson & Davidson, LLP recovered more than $300 million for our clients
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More About Keith

Keith Davidson brings two and a half decades of focused experience in trust and will litigation. A graduate of Loyola Law School, Los Angeles (top 10 percent of his class), Keith combines deep legal knowledge with a practical, strategic approach to resolving complex trust and estate disputes. He earned his B.A. in Political Science from Cal State San Bernardino and spent six years as an adjunct professor at Chapman Law School, where he taught trusts and wills.

Keith has handled hundreds of cases involving trust contests, trustee disputes, failures by trustees to make required distributions, termination of irrevocable trusts, accounting disputes, and claims by omitted spouses and children. Alongside his law partner of 18 years, Stewart Albertson, his work has led to more than $300 million in verdicts and settlements.

Beyond the courtroom, Keith is a prolific educator and content creator, having written hundreds of blog posts and produced a library of YouTube videos on trust and will litigation topics. His materials are widely used not only by clients, but also by fellow attorneys seeking insight into this complex area of law.

Clients appreciate Keith not just for his legal acumen, but for his straightforward style, calm under pressure demeanor, and ability to navigate high-stakes cases with clarity and empathy. When he’s not practicing law, he’s likely enjoying a glass of wine, flying as a licensed pilot, or relaxing at home with his dogs, his wife of 33 years, and his favorite shows — usually something comedic or fantastical.

Keith's Credentials
  • California State Bar Association, 2000
  • Los Angeles County Bar Association
  • The Bar Association of San Francisco
  • San Diego County Bar Association
  • San Mateo County Bar Association
  • Santa Clara County Bar Association
  • Loyola Law School, Los Angeles, California
    • J.D.
    • Cum Laude: Top 10 Percent of Class
    • Order of the Coif
    • Note & Comment Editor Loyola of Los Angeles International and Comparative Law Review
  • Chapman University School of Law
    • Adjunct Professor of Wills and Trusts Law
  • U.C. Berkeley
    • Extension Course on Basic and Advanced Estate Planning
  • U.C.L.A.
    • Extension Course on Basic and Advanced Estate Planning
  • University of San Diego
    • Extension Course on Basic and Advanced Estate Planning
  • Riverside Community College
    • Community Education Courses on Basic and Advanced Estate Planning
    • Adjunct Professor of Estate Planning
  • Contributing Author of 21st Century Estate Planning: Practical Applications, by Roy M. Adams, published by Canon Financial Institute
  • The Advantages of Creating Out-of-State Trusts, Los Angeles Lawyers Magazine (Sep. 2005)
  • Death Tax Still Not O.K., Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs (Jan. 2006)
  • The New Frontier–Contingency Practice for Trust and Will Litigation (2018)
  • Ethics, Malpractice, Litigation…Oh My! Incapacity, Undue Influence and What Estate Planning and Elder Law Attorneys Need to Know (2018)
  • Trust and Will litigation. American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys (2015)

  • Super Lawyers: 2021
  • Rising Stars: 2009 – 2011

 

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Question & Answers

Read Keith's Answers To Legal Questions From Avvo.com:

Q: Can Trustees of an Ir-Revocable Trust Transfer the Property Back to Themselves Individually?
Keith's Answer

No they cannot do so unless the Trust allows for that (in which case it is probably not a irrevocable trust). In California there are ways in which to terminate an irrevocable Trust provided by the California probate code. Those are the only ways in which Trusts can be terminated.

Q: Need to know time limits on ex parte petition to remove Trustee?

We have an emergent situation with a trustee who has not performed their duties, used funds that are not of the trust, not paid bills, hired an attorney and paid him but not other things in order to disfavor one particular beneficiary and contest the trust and due to all these actions putting the trust at risk of insolvency. There is already a case on file to remove him as trustee due to breach of trust but that was almost two years ago in California and it has not yet been heard. I know how to file but how much notice is required and IS personal service of papers required in Orange County CA?

Keith's Answer

Typically, Ex Parte applications require 24 hour notice, but most courts, Orange County included, have moved to a system where you have to file your Ex Parte application with the court first, and then they give you an Ex Parte hearing date. You then have to give notice of that date. Typically the date is 5 days or so after you submit your Ex Parte application. Personal service is not required, Ex Parte notice is provided by phone to the Trustee’s lawyer.

Q: Trustee Wont Give Beneficiary Trust Statements?

Im a beneficiary. After the trust was liquidated, the trustee wants all the beneficiaries to sign a waiver to a formal accounting to save money, before writing pay out checks to beneficiaries. I wanted to see the informal accounting first and was sent a basic excel format that listed final decedent fees, lawyer/cpa/trustee fees, the credits of some real estate and banking accounts and the total amount. I wasn’t very satisfied with it so I asked to see the trust statements and the trustee says no, because they’re sensitive documents. Is this normal? I’d like to avoid formal accounting too, but I don’t exactly trust the trustee not to self deal. What’s the worse case scenario he could do? Any recommendations? Thanks.

Keith's Answer

You’ll need to file a petition to invalidate the 2012 Amendment in the Probate Court. This petition will likely be based on lack of capacity, undue influence, and fraud based on the facts you gave. In addition, you may want to file a civil lawsuit for financial elder abuse against your brother. To do both of these filings it is almost certain that you need to find a lawyer. This is not something that you will be able to do on your own. Best of luck.

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