Warneke

BACKGROUND

A. The Toni Grant-Bell Trust (TGB Trust) In anticipation of their marriage, Bell and plaintiffs’ mother, Toni Grant-Bell, entered into a premarital agreement which provided that in the event the couple moved into a residence together, title would be taken in Grant-Bell’s name with Bell retaining a life estate. After living out of state for approximately seven years, in 2001 the couple

3 moved to California and purchased a residence (the Alta Loma residence) in which Bell and Grant-Bell held title as joint tenants.2 The Toni Grant-Bell Trust (TGB Trust), initially created in 1994, was amended and restated in 2003. The amended trust provided that in the event Grant-Bell predeceased Bell, Grant-Bell’s principal residence would be allocated to a separate trust for Bell’s use, which would then pass to the trust’s beneficiaries upon Bell’s death. Grant-Bell also executed a will in 2003. In her will, Grant-Bell provided that all of her jewelry and personal items shall pass to her surviving children. By early 2015, Grant-Bell was in declining health and residing in an assisted living facility. Through his counsel (Barbara Taaff), Bell initiated a conservatorship proceeding…