Kelly is a shareholder in the Firm’s Trusts and Estates group and focuses her practice on helping people solve problems after someone passes away.
Kelly also works with families and other loved ones to protect seniors when they become incapacitated. Kelly combines her litigation experience with a thorough knowledge of probate law to help her clients resolve a wide range of trust and probate disputes, including elder financial abuse claims, contested conservatorships, will and trust contests, contested accountings, breach of fiduciary duty claims, and other contested and uncontested matters involving the administration of trusts and estates. With Kelly’s extensive experience in helping families resolve disputes, she knows that a successful result often involves keeping the family relationships intact, and she helps her clients work through their disputes at very emotionally difficult times.
Kelly also represents beneficiaries as well corporate and individual trustees, executors, and other fiduciaries in a wide range of uncontested matters, including interpretation of complex estate planning documents, accountings, petitions for instructions, petitions for construction of trust instruments, and other probate and trust administration issues.
Kelly regularly speaks on trust and estates litigation and elder financial abuse issues and has been a panelist for continuing legal education programs for CEB, NBI, Legal Services of Northern California, and the Placer County Bar Association. Kelly has also authored several articles about elder financial abuse litigation, including “Contractual Arbitration: Is It Binding on the Victims of Elder Abuse?”
State Bar of California, Litigation and Trusts and Estates Section
Sacramento County Bar Association, Probate and Estate Planning Section
Chair, 2008
Sacramento Estate Planning Council
Board Member
Sacramento County Financial Abuse Specialist Team (SacFAST)
Member
Placer County Bar Association
Member
Meritas, Sacramento
Member
American Cancer Society’s Hope Gala
Board of Ambassadors
Awards
The Best Lawyers in America®, Lawyer of the Year 2024 for Litigation – Trusts and Estates (Sacramento)
The Best Lawyers in America®, 2018-2025 (Litigation – Trusts and Estates)
Sactown Magazine’s Top Lawyers List, 2015, 2018 – 2024 –Estate Planning and Probate
Northern California Super Lawyers, Rising Star, 2009
Northern California Super Lawyers, 2012-2024
Sacramento Business Journal’s Best of the Bar, 2018
J.D., University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, 1995
B.A., California State University, Sacramento, 1991
Weintraub Tobin attorneys Gary Rothstein, Kelly Dankbar, and Evan Winet presented at the 29th Annual PFAC Educational Conference in San Diego, CA. The conference, which was held May 15-18, 2024, provided comprehensive education for professional fiduciaries. The presentation from Weintraub’s Trusts & Estates Group, titled “Maintaining Balance on A High…
Weintraub attorneys Carlena Tapella and Kelly Dankbar will be speaking on the topic of “Recovery of Attorneys’ Fees” at the 2019 Probate Litigation Boot Camp sponsored by the Sacramento County Bar Association. Event: 2019 Probate Litigation Boot CampWhen: Tuesday, September 17, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PMWhere: Sacramento County Bar Association,…
Summary of Program As a fiduciary, you may think that all of your communications with your attorney are confidential. While communications between an attorney and his or her client are generally protected by the attorney-client privilege, in the trustee context, it is the office of the trustee, not the individual…
Weintraub Tobin is pleased to announce that 41 of its attorneys have been recognized in the 2025 editions of The Best Lawyers in America® and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America. 32 Weintraub attorneys are included in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America, of which six…
Weintraub Tobin is pleased to announce that 45 of the Firm’s attorneys have been recognized on the 2024 Northern California Super Lawyers® and Rising Star lists. These lists, selected annually on a state-by-state basis, recognize outstanding attorneys who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement in…
Three Weintraub attorneys were named “Lawyer of the Year” in the milestone 30th edition of The Best Lawyers in America®, earning four prestigious “Lawyer of the Year” awards. The Weintraub attorneys named a “Lawyer of the Year” in the 2024 edition of Best Lawyers® are: Chris Chediak – “Lawyer of…
Weintraub Tobin is pleased to announce that 25 of its attorneys have been recognized in the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®, and eight attorneys have been named to the 2024 edition of the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America. Three attorneys have also named “Lawyer of…
Weintraub Tobin is pleased to announce that 31 of its attorneys have been selected to the 2023 Sacramento Magazine Top Lawyers list. Weintraub’s attorneys are recognized in various categories, including Business/Corporate law, Employment & Labor law, Estate Planning & Probate law, and Real Estate law. The complete roster of Weintraub…
Weintraub Tobin is pleased to announce that 47 of the Firm’s attorneys have been selected to the 2023 Northern California Super Lawyers® and Rising Star lists. These lists, selected annually on a state-by-state basis, recognize outstanding attorneys who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement in…
Weintraub Tobin is pleased to announce that 19 of its attorneys have been recognized in the 29th edition of The Best Lawyers in America®. Additionally, six of our attorneys have been named to the third edition of the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America, and one attorney, Kay Brooks, was named the…
Weintraub Tobin is pleased to announce that 28 of its attorneys have been selected for inclusion in the Top Lawyers 2022 list from Sacramento Magazine. Ten of the listed Weintraub attorneys are recognized in multiple practice areas. The Top Lawyers list, featured each year by Sacramento Magazine, recognizes prominent attorneys in the…
Weintraub Tobin is pleased to announce that 37 of its attorneys have been recognized on the 2022 Northern California Super Lawyers® and Rising Stars lists. Several Weintraub attorneys also received special recognition on Super Lawyers “Top” lists, including six attorneys named to the Sacramento Top 25 Super Lawyers (Gary L.…
Sacramento, CA (August 19, 2021) – Weintraub Tobin, a leading California full-service law firm, is pleased to announce that 16 attorneys have been included in the 2022 edition of Best Lawyers in America and 6 Weintraub attorneys have been included in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch. Weintraub Tobin’s recognized Best Lawyers…
Weintraub Tobin is pleased to announce that 26 of its attorneys have been recognized as 2021 Top Lawyers by Sacramento Magazine, including 8 attorneys recognized in multiple practices. Voting for Top Lawyers was managed by Professional Research Services and was open to all licensed attorneys in Sacramento. Voters were asked…
Weintraub Tobin is pleased to announce that 38 of its attorneys have been included on the 2021 Super Lawyers and Rising Star lists for outstanding attorneys in Northern California. In addition, 4 Weintraub Tobin attorneys received special recognition on Northern California and Sacramento “Top” lists. Weintraub attorneys represent 16 percent…
Sacramento, CA (August 20, 2020) – Weintraub Tobin, a leading California full-service law firm, is pleased to announce that 17 attorneys were recognized in The Best Lawyers in America© 2021. This year Best Lawyers launched “Ones to Watch,” a recognition for attorneys earlier in their careers, and 4 Weintraub attorneys…
Sacramento, CA – Weintraub is pleased to announce that 21 Firm attorneys have been recognized as 2020 Top Lawyers by Sacramento Magazine. The full list of 2020 Top Lawyers will be featured in the August, 2020 issue of Sacramento Magazine. Weintraub attorneys honored as 2020 Top Lawyers are: Brendan Begley…
Weintraub Tobin is pleased to announce that 33 Weintraub Tobin attorneys have been included on the 2020 Super Lawyers and Rising Star lists for outstanding attorneys in Northern California. In addition, 5 Weintraub Tobin attorneys received special recognition on Northern California and Sacramento “Top” lists. Weintraub attorneys represent 20 percent of…
SACRAMENTO, CA (August 15, 2019) – Weintraub Tobin, a leading California full-service law firm, is pleased to announce that 19 of our attorneys have been recognized on the 2020 The Best Lawyers in America list. In addition, Weintraub Tobin attorney Christopher Chediak was named the Best Lawyers® 2020 “Lawyer of…
Weintraub Tobin is pleased to announce that more than 30 Weintraub Tobin attorneys have been included on the 2019 Super Lawyers and Rising Star lists for outstanding attorneys Northern California. In addition, 6 Weintraub Tobin attorneys received special recognition on Northern California and Sacramento “Top” lists. Attorneys selected to the…
Weintraub is pleased to announce that 24 of the firm’s attorneys have been recognized as 2019 Top Lawyers by Sacramento Magazine. The full list of 2019 Top Lawyers will be featured in the August, 2019 issue of Sacramento Magazine. Weintraub Tobin attorneys honored as 2019 Top Lawyers are: David Adams |…
SACRAMENTO, California – August 24, 2018 – Weintraub Tobin Chediak Coleman Grodin Law Corporation congratulates its seventeen attorneys who have been included in Sacramento Business Journal’s Best of the Bar 2018. Brendan J. BegleyGary L. BradusKay U. BrooksDale C. CampbellChristopher ChediakJanet Z. ChediakJim ClarkeEdward J. Corey, Jr.Kelly E. DankbarMark E.…
SACRAMENTO, California – August 15, 2018 – Weintraub Tobin congratulates its nineteen attorneys who have been included in The Best Lawyers of America© 2019 list. David Adams, Sacramento, Corporate Governance Law, Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law Gary L. Bradus, Sacramento, Commercial Transactions/UCC Law Sherry Bragg, Newport Beach, Litigation – Labor…
SACRAMENTO, California – July 19, 2018 – Weintraub Tobin Law Corporation congratulates its 24 attorneys who have been included in Sacramento Magazine’s 2018 Top Lawyer List. David Adams | Business/Corporate, Securities & Corporate FinanceBrendan Begley | AppellateGary L. Bradus | Banking & Financial Service, Business/Corporate, Mergers & Acquisitions, Securities &…
Super Lawyers has released its Northern California, Southern California and San Diego lists of outstanding attorneys for 2018, on which 37 Weintraub Tobin attorneys have been included. Five Weintraub Tobin attorneys received special recognition as a Top 25 Sacramento Super Lawyer. Weintraub Tobin attorneys named to the 2018 Southern California…
SACRAMENTO, California – August 16, 2017 – Weintraub Tobin congratulates its nineteen attorneys who have been included in The Best Lawyers of America© 2018 list. David Adams, Sacramento, Corporate Governance Law, Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law Gary L. Bradus, Sacramento, Commercial Transactions/UCC Law Kay U. Brooks, Sacramento, Trusts & Estates…
SACRAMENTO, California – July 26, 2017 – Weintraub Tobin Law Corporation congratulates its 21 attorneys who have been included in Sacramento Magazine’s 2017 Top Lawyer List. Brendan Begley | AppellateGary L. Bradus | Banking & Financial Service, Business/CorporateKay U. Brooks | Estate Planning & ProbateDale C. Campbell | Business Litigation,…
Super Lawyers has released its Northern California, Southern California, and San Diego lists of outstanding attorneys for 2017, on which 36 Weintraub Tobin attorneys have been included. Six Weintraub Tobin attorneys received special recognition as a Top 25 Sacramento Super Lawyer. Weintraub Tobin attorneys named to the 2017 Southern California…
Super Lawyers has released its Northern California, Southern California, and San Diego lists of outstanding attorneys for 2016, on which 33 Weintraub Tobin attorneys have been included. Three Weintraub Tobin attorneys received special honors in their respective regions. Weintraub Tobin attorneys named to the 2016 Southern California and San Diego Super…
SACRAMENTO, California – August 7, 2015 – Weintraub Tobin Chediak Coleman Grodin Law Corporation congratulates its 20 attorneys who have been included in Sacramento magazine’s Top Lawyer List 2015. David C. Adams | Securities & Corporate FinanceBrendan Begley | AppellateTaylor Bentley | Securities & Corporate FinanceGary L. Bradus | Banking &…
Super Lawyers has released its Northern California, Southern California, and San Diego lists of outstanding attorneys for 2015, on which 37 Weintraub Tobin attorneys have been included. Eight Weintraub Tobin attorneys received special honors in their respective regions. Weintraub Tobin attorneys named to the 2015 Southern California and San Diego…
For a third year in a row, Weintraub Tobin is working to raise funds for cardiovascular diseases and stroke by partaking in the American Heart Association Heart Walk on Saturday, September 21 at William Land Park. Our attorneys and staff work hard during the summer months to gear up for…
Weintraub Tobin is excited to announce the launch of the Trusts and Estates Law Blog. The blog aspires to inform the general public and the professionals in the estate planning community, including fiduciaries, CPAs, and attorneys about: – Trusts and estates litigation- Estate planning- Elder law- Estate and gift tax-…
SACRAMENTO, Calif., July 25, 2012 – Weintraub Tobin Chediak Coleman Grodin, a business law and business litigation law firm, congratulates Gary Bradus on being named as one of the Top 100 Northern California Super Lawyers of 2012. To receive this honor, Bradus earned the highest point totals in the Northern…
Weintraub Genshlea Chediak Law Corporation and Tobin & Tobin, a professional corporation, jointly announce the merger of their business law and litigation firms. The combined firm will be named Weintraub Genshlea Chediak Tobin & Tobin and will have offices in Sacramento, San Francisco and Los Angeles. With over 60 attorneys,…
Sacramento’s fifth-largest law firm quietly opened a branch in Los Angeles this week. Weintraub Genshlea Chediak Law Corp. has hired two litigators in an office on Wilshire Boulevard to solidify a toehold in the intellectual property, employment and entertainment markets in Southern California. The firm has expanded in Sacramento, too.…
SACRAMENTO, Calif., July 21, 2009 –Weintraub Genshlea Chediak, a Sacramento-based business law and business litigation law firm congratulates its fourteen attorneys who were named as 2009 Northern California Super Lawyers and Rising Stars: Super Lawyers: Dale C. Campbell, Intellectual Property Litigation Christopher Chediak, Corporate Law Ed Corey, Jr., Estate Planning…
The Daily JournalJuly 02, 2007 By Gary Scott, Daily Journal Staff Writer Shareholders Ed Corey and Kelly Sutter comment on the protection of the elderly from financial scams as the population in California grows older and lives longer. They note that there is a dramatic increase in the number of…
California Trusts and Estates QuarterlyVolume 13, Issue 3Fall, 2007I. INTRODUCTION These days, it is virtually impossible to open a bank or brokerage account, or even be admitted to a nursing home, without unwittingly agreeing to resolve any future disputes with the company through binding arbitration. Arbitration clauses are standard in…
