You Built a Legacy. We'll Protect It.
Corcoran Smith Law Corp.
Corcoran Smith Law is a California litigation firm. Our trial-experienced attorneys fight for heirs and beneficiaries in contested wills, trust litigation, fiduciary misconduct, and probate disputes statewide.
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Veteran-Founded & Led
Founded by Mark C. Smith, U.S. Army combat veteran.
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Berkeley Law-Trained
Educated at UC Berkeley School of Law.
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California Statewide
SF · Sacramento · Los Angeles · San Diego.
About the firm
Protecting heirs & beneficiaries across California.
Corcoran Smith Law is a California law firm focused on protecting heirs, beneficiaries, and families in inheritance disputes and estate litigation. If you are dealing with a contested will, trust dispute, fiduciary misconduct, or a mismanaged estate, our attorneys provide clear legal strategies and aggressive representation to protect what is rightfully yours.
We are a litigation firm. Our trial-experienced attorneys are ready to go to court to protect your rights in contested wills, trust and estate litigation, and fiduciary misconduct disputes. Alongside that core courtroom work, we provide comprehensive estate planning for individuals and families, handle complex real estate transactions, advocate for military veterans seeking disability compensation, and also serve California businesses through General Counsel subscription services.
With offices in San Francisco and Sacramento, we represent clients throughout California, including the SF Bay Area, Greater Sacramento, Los Angeles, San Diego, and coastal communities statewide.
Our Practice Areas
How may we help you?
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Inheritance Disputes & Beneficiary Rights
Trust and estate litigation, contested wills, fiduciary misconduct, and trustee accountings for heirs and beneficiaries.
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Trust & Estate Litigation
Trustee accountings, breach-of-fiduciary-duty claims, and contested trust administration.
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Estate Planning
Comprehensive plans coordinating wills, trusts, directives, and tax strategies for California families.
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Probate
California probate administration when a loved one dies, with or without a will, including assets left outside a trust.
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Wills
Clear, legally sound wills that reflect your wishes and protect against future confusion or disputes.
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Trusts
Customized revocable and irrevocable trusts to manage assets, reduce taxes, and protect beneficiaries.
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Power of Attorney
Durable powers of attorney for finances and decisions during incapacity.
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Real Estate Transactions
Purchase, sale, and contract review for California buyers, sellers, and property owners, including Prop 19 strategies.
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Veteran Disability
VA disability claims and appeals, handled by a fellow combat veteran who knows the system.
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General Counsel for Businesses
Subscription general counsel, contracts & negotiations, civil litigation, and employment law for California businesses.
Client reviews
What clients say about us
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As a fellow attorney, I’ve referred clients and friends to Corcoran on multiple occasions. Each time, I gather that the law firm was professional, courteous, responsive, and affordable. I will always recommend Corcoran for people needing sound legal counsel.
Matthew Rowan June 2026 · Google
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Couldn’t be more confident in their work. Return calls/emails quick and put in the effort to make things clear. Feels like they truly care about their clients best interests, even when that means less billable hours for them. Highly recommend.
Matthew Smith June 2026 · Google
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Attorney Nicholas Jacobs has been amazing to us during this difficult battle involving my father’s home. He has been compassionate, attentive, and consistently took the time to explain everything clearly. During an emotionally exhausting situation, he made us feel supported, heard, and confident that our case truly mattered. We are deeply grateful for his professionalism and dedication. Thank you
Wendy Bracy January 2026 · Google
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Corcoran Smith did an incredible job for us. We are so grateful we were referred to them and especially grateful for attorney Nick Jacobs. Nick was a pleasure to interact with and the perfect person to educate and guide our complicated family in creating a trust. Nick has a very kind, attentive manner. He treated all of us as equally important. He was extremely patient. His legal expertise was very reassuring. Nick clearly and calmly explained concepts that at first felt a little overwhelming. He made sure we all understood every step of the process as we went. Thanks to Nick we felt very empowered and confident we were making the correct decisions for us. Also, Mark Smith was extremely responsive and thoughtful with every interaction we had with the rest of the firm. I highly recommend Corcoran Smith. Nick Jacobs was wonderful!
Scott C Callaghan September 2025 · Google
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Nick and Mark were amazing to work with! Nick is such a nice man, and he was extremely knowledgeable and professional. He was passionate about his work, honest and very kind and supportive during my journey in contesting a trust. He communicated his strategies every step of the way and the documents he wrote were a testament to his commitment in helping me. Every T was crossed and every I was dotted. We had a good outcome, but even if we hadn’t, I would have been 100% satisfied with the effort he put into our case. I highly recommend this firm based on their professionalism, knowledge, commitment, honesty, and communication.
Kimberly Brink August 2025 · Google
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Cannot say enough about the incredible team at Corcoran Smith Law. When my family found ourselves in one of the most painful and complicated situations imaginable involving elder abuse, an inheritance dispute, and a serious breach of fiduciary duty. We didn't know where to turn. From the very first consultation, this firm made us feel heard, protected, and confident that we were in the right hands. The attorneys took the time to thoroughly explain every option available to us, the risks and benefits of each path, and ultimately helped us chart the best course of action for our specific circumstances. Their knowledge of elder law and fiduciary matters is truly exceptional, but what set them apart was their genuine compassion. They understood that this wasn't just a legal case, it was personal, it was emotional, and it involved protecting a vulnerable loved one. Throughout the entire process, communication was clear, timely, and reassuring. We never felt lost or left in the dark. They fought tirelessly on our behalf and achieved an outcome we are deeply grateful for. If you or your family are facing elder abuse or a complex estate and fiduciary dispute, do not hesitate, call Corcoran Smith Law. They are the advocates you need and the ones your family deserves.
Amanda Cichosz May 2026 · Google
Areas we serve
Serving all of California
We represent clients across the entire state, from offices in San Francisco and Sacramento. If your matter is in California, we can help.
- Sacramento Greater Sacramento
- San Francisco San Francisco Bay Area
- Oakland East Bay
- San Jose Silicon Valley
- Los Angeles Los Angeles County
- San Diego San Diego County
Plus Orange County, the Central Valley, and communities across the rest of the state.
Ready to talk?
A clear plan for your next step.
Book a free consultation. We'll walk through your situation and lay out the strongest path forward, whether that is estate planning, resolving a dispute, or a flat-fee Initial Case Assessment.
Book a free consultation