Carmen Sinigiani is certified by the State Bar of California as a Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law, with a practice firmly grounded in trust and estate litigation. She represents beneficiaries, trustees, executors, and heirs in high-stakes disputes involving trust and will contests, fiduciary misconduct, elder abuse, heirship proceedings, and other contested probate matters.

With over 20 years of experience in complex trust and estate matters, she develops clear strategies, empathetically navigates the emotional dynamics of probate litigation, and focuses on achieving successful results. Whether advocating in court or negotiating effective resolutions, she is ready to take a case through judgment when necessary.

Carmen’s substantial litigation background also directly informs her estate planning practice. Having seen firsthand how unclear intent or inaction can lead to costly disputes, she counsels clients with a preventative mindset. 

Carmen firmly believes that most everyone benefits from an estate plan no matter their economic background. Her clients are community members from every economic background, and with a variety of estate planning goals, including charitable giving as well as gift and estate tax planning for high wealth individuals and families. 

Carmen also advises business owners in family business succession planning. She works closely with founders and multi-generational families to structure transitions that maintain operational continuity and minimize internal conflict. Her litigation experience provides a practical understanding of where succession plans fail.

In addition, Carmen advises clients in probate, trust administration, and fiduciary accountings.

A Sonoma County native, Carmen serves as a Professor of Law at Empire College School of Law, where she teaches Wills & Trusts. She has completed the American Institute of Mediation’s 40-hour mediator training, strengthening her ability to resolve disputes when resolution is prudent. She also offers her services as a mediator and as a retained expert in the field of estates and trusts.

Carmen is active in the local community and has served as a board member of Analy High School’s music boosters, Analy Band Wagon, and as a member of the Rotary Club of Santa Rosa. She is a former Co-Chair of the Law Week Committee for the Sonoma County Bar Association and previously served on the Board of the Sonoma County Bar Association, including as Chair of its Trust & Estates Section.

Summary of practice area: Wills, revocable trusts, irrevocable trusts and other gift and estate tax planning, powers of attorney, health care directives, succession planning, estates, probates, trust administrations, elder abuse, will and trust contests, trustee removal, accounting disputes, surcharge actions, property disputes, partition actions, real property and real property disputes, probate quiet title.

For assistance or to contact Carmen Sinigiani, please reach out to her assistant, Jeni Hough, at jeni@weavercurrie.com.