Denise E Chambliss

Lawsuits and disputes Attorney at Pleasanton, CA

About
Contact
Reviews
Cost
Resume

Extreme trust fraud

Highly recommended

Denise E Chambliss came highly recommended by an associate, and I am pleased to be able to pass on a similar recommendation. I had a client that was refusing to settle their account and I was facing a fairly substantial business loss. I hired Ms Chabliss to collect the money owed. Ms Chambliss was thorough, personable and realistic, offering what I believe was the best course of action throughout the process. Upon conclusion of the matter, she followed up with some information that will help my company avoid a similar situation in the future. I highly recommend her work.

About Denise

Learn Denise’s areas of practice.

Practice areas

Lawsuits and disputes

50%

Trust contest, will contest, undue influence, accounting, removal, surcharge, modification, reformation of testamentary documents, contested conservatorship.

27 years
Trusts

20%

Trust and Estate Litigation. Assist in resolution and trial of contested testamentary instruments.

19 years
Elder law

10%

Financial elder abuse, undue influence, contested conservatorships, durable power of attorney disputes

19 years
Probate

10%

Trust and Estate Litigation. Assist in resolution and trial of contested testamentary instruments.

19 years
Wills and living wills

10%

Will contests, reformation, contested probate, undue influence, financial elder abuse

19 years

I am a trial attorney with a focus on disputed inheritance cases, such as trust contests and estate/probate, as well as defending trustees against claims. My practice covers pre-litigation dispute resolution, litigation, mediation, negotiated settlement, trials and appeals. My practice covers most of California, with an emphasis in the counties in the Bay Area, which are Alameda County, Contra Costa County, San Francisco County, Santa Clara County and San Mateo County. I have been recognized as a California Super Lawyer each year since 2015 and nationally as a Best Lawyer since 2021 for my practice in trust and estate litigation.

Photos and videos

Licensed for 26 years

State CA

Status Active

Acquired 1997

Updated 12/06/2022

State TX

Status Voluntary Resignation

Acquired 1996

Updated 01/14/2023

We have not found any instances of professional misconduct for this lawyer.

Contact Denise

Similar lawyers nearby

Ashar Ahmed

5.0 5 reviews

Accepting new clients!

111 Deerwood Road

San Ramon, CA, 94583

(925) 732-1296 Message

Denise E. Chambliss

6801 Koll Center Pkwy Suite 210

Pleasanton, CA, 94566

Message Get Directions

Reviews

Write A Review

3.4 / 5.0

5 customer reviews

5 Star

60%

4 Star

3 Star

2 Star

1 Star

40%

Posted by Janine | January 17, 2016

Extreme trust fraud

I had a very emotional case of trust fraud. My brother stole all of my inheritance and Denise handled this with honesty, patience and willingness to see justice prevail. Eventually it finally did. Could never have gone through this process without her!!!

Posted by David | July 31, 2012

Highly recommended

Read less

Posted by Julie | January 25, 2011

Great litigator!

Denise handled my litigation matter efficiently and compassionately. She understood the emotional strain a client suffers and empathized while being realistic in setting expectations. She is well versed in litigation tactics and in the underlying law of my case, and obtained a good settlement for me. I highly recommend Denise.

Posted by anonymous | June 23, 2021

wasted time and added to emotional stress

I spoke once to Denise and she suggested a process forward and asked for a check to continue the case my sister and I were pursuing. After more than adequate time for her to receive the check at first she didn't even know who I was when I called. Then she was totally rude in cutting me off and telling me she wasn't taking the case.

Read less

Posted by anonymous | October 11, 2012

Worst Legal Experience Possible

We retained Denise to negotiate a settlement agreement for my son's estate after he passed away Christmas Day 2011. We hired her because she assured us, given all the facts of the situation, that she could help us avoid probate. Out of the many attorneys we spoke with this was the key motivation for retaining Denise. Our main goal was to save our family the pain of a lengthy legal process after our loss. Her first recommendation to us after receiving a retainer was to file for probate. Her actions during a very sensitive turning point cost all of us dearly, in legal fees and in emotional health. She alienated the parties by bolstering the party's attorney rather than proposing a settlement agreement. We canceled our retainer check. To make matters worse she is actually going to take my living son and I to small claims court over $2500. After the loss of my son.... the worst decision I made was talking to this firm and to Denise Chambliss.

Read less

Cost

Resume

AVVO RATING 10.0 (Superb)

Work Experience

Shareholder and Attorney (Litigation)
Hoge Fenton Jones & Appel
2011 - Present

Education

South Texas College of Law Houston
JD - Juris Doctor
1996

University of Houston
BA - Bachelor of Arts
1992

Legal Cases

Wilkin v. Nelson (2020) 45 Cal.App.5th 802
Published Appellate Opinion

Foust v. Foust
Obtained Judgment after Trial to defeat real property interests based on invalid asset protection trust

Layhee v. Layhee
Negotiated settlement of benefiary claims against trustee

View all legal cases

Associations

East Bay Trusts and Estates Lawyers
Member
2011 - Present

Santa Clara County Bar Association
Member
2007 - Present

Eastern Alameda County Bar Association
Member
2006 - Present

Tri-Valley Estate Planning Council
President
2016 - 2017

Eastern Alameda County Bar Association
President
2015 - 2015

Tri-Valley Estate Planning Council
Vice President
2015 - 2016

Eastern Alameda County Bar Association
Vice President
2014 - 2014

Tri-Valley Estate Planning Council
Director; Program Chair
2014 - 2015

Alameda County Bar Association, Trusts and Estates Section
Executive Committee Member
2012 - 2012

Alameda County Bar Association
Board of Directors
2011 - 2012

Trial Section Executive Committee, Alameda County Bar Assn
Chair
2010 - 2010

Alameda County Bar Association, Trial Practice Section
Executive Committee
2009 - 2012

Contra Costa County Bar Association
Member
1999 - 2016

View all associations

Languages Spoken

English

Honors and Awards

California Best Lawyers - Trust and Estate Litigation
Best Lawyers
2022

Northern California Super Lawyer - Trust and Estate Litigation
Super Lawyers
2021

Best Lawyers - Trust and Estate Litigation
Best Lawyers
2021

Northern California Super Lawyer - Trust and Estate Litigation
Super Lawyers
2016

Northern California Super Lawyer - Trust and Estate Litigation
Super Lawyers
2015

View all awards

Publications

San Francisco Daily Journal
Standing to Sue Expands in Revocable Trust Disputes
2013

San Francisco Daily Journal
The 'treat 'em like they're dead' Remedy: Inheritance Forfeiture and Elder Abuse (Probate Code 259)
2011

Alameda County Bar Association Bulletin
Addition of Alter Ego to Default Judgment
2011

Speaking Engagements

Eastern Alameda County Bar Association
Undue Influence Contest In Will And Trust Litigation Under Probate Code §86 and Family Code §721
2017

Santa Clara County Estate Planning Council
Dealing with Difficult Beneficiares: Risks and Rewards
2015

C.E.B. Basics of Estate Planning Seminar, Monterey
Drafting a Will v. a Pour-over Will Presentation
2015

Professional Fiduciary Association of California
Dealing with Difficult Beneficiares: Risks and Rewards
2014

MCLE Presentation, Eastern Alameda County Bar Association
Lintz v. Lintz Case of Undue Influence and Financial Spousal Abuse
2014

CEB Workshop, San Francisco
Will Drafting Comprehensive Training
2013

Santa Clara County Estate Planning Council
Assessment and Litigation of Capacity in Trust and Estate Cases: Medical and Legal Perspectives
2012

Hoge Fenton Jones & Appel Litigation Group
"Lost Your Marbles?": Updates on Judicial Determination of Testamentary Capacity
2012

View all speaking engagements

Attorney endorsements

Received (3)

Given (4)

Endorse Denise

David Jones

Litigation Attorney | Nov 15
Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter

"Denise and I have been opposite each other on several cases (either directly or with other attorneys in my firm). She is a tenacious litigator who fights hard for her clients."

Autumn Paine

Unknown Attorney | Jul 25
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Denise is a sharp and hard-working attorney."

Matthew Crider

Litigation Attorney | Jun 21
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I have known Denise Chambliss for over 15 years. She is a smart and effective attorney. She is the "go to" person for trust and estate litigation in Pleasanton and the Tri-Valley area."