Atty. Peter Michael Bochnewich
Peter M. Bochnewich is a litigator and civil trial attorney with a highly regarded focus on trust and estate litigation.
Profile Summary
About Peter Michael Bochnewich at a glance
Peter Michael Bochnewich is an Officer based in Palm Desert, California, practicing at Bochnewich Law Offices A Professional Corporation. They have 34+ years of legal experience, licensed to practice since 1992. Their practice focuses on trusts, contracts, employment, business, and estate litigation. Admitted to practice in California (1992) and U.S. District Court, Northern, Eastern, Central and Southern Districts of California and U.S. Court (2000). Educated at California Western School of Law (J.D., 1992) and Central Connecticut State University (B.S. Business, 1981). Recognitions include BV Distinguished. Active member of Former President and Officer, American Bar Association California Bar Association Desert Bar Association of Coachella Valley. Serands clients in Palm Desert, CA and the surrounding metropolitan area.
Want to Get Service From This Attorney?
Sign up free and choose one of the two methods below.
Have a legal question? Sign up free, submit it through the Ask the Attorney module and receive a focused answer from a specialist.
- Free to ask a question
- Answers from specialist attorneys
- Optional private / anonymous question
Request an online video meeting or an in-person consultation at the attorney's office. Pick a time that works for you and share the details securely.
- Online video meeting
- In-person at the attorney's office
- Secure messaging and payment
About
- Peter M. Bochnewich is a litigator and civil trial attorney with a highly regarded focus on trust and estate litigation
- Peter represents clients in all manner of trust and estate disputes, and is frequently in court and in trial on numerous trust and estate matters each year
- The disputes involve a variety of issues, including will contests, trust contests, lack of capacity claims, undue influence claims, breach of fiduciary claims, trust and estate accounting disputes, conservatorship disputes, elder abuse litigation and more
- Peter is always available to explain the nuances of every case as it develops, and to plan the progress of a case so that the client may fully have their day in court in a cost effective way
- Peter Bochnewich is honored to be regarded as the "go to" attorney for trust and estate litigation for many of southern California's finest estate planning and trust administration attorneys, whose reputation has grown with a consistent history of very good results and satisfied clients, over many years
- Peter makes it a primary point of his practice to treat all such referrals and referring attorneys with the greatest respect
- He is well known for providing ample initial consultations at no charge to the client
- Peter frequently works hard with referring attorneys and clients in a collaborative way that often eliminates or mitigates the need of the client going to court
- Peter is also an Approved Mediator for Riverside County Superior Court
- Where court action is necessary, the decisions are focused and precise, and the client's interest are paramount
- Clients participate with Peter in the development of their cases, so they are continuously well informed, knowledgeable, and prepared
- Clients will receive vigorous and zealous advocacy in the courtroom and wise and sound counsel in private
- Peter is very well known as someone who litigates in a wise way and is ever mindful of his clients
- Peter has represented clients throughout the Inland Empire and Southern California, and occasionally in other jurisdictions
- Peter's practice also includes commercial litigation, involving complex business and contract disputes, interpretation of corporate bylaw matters, sophisticated real property disputes, quiet title actions, and discrimination in employment litigation
- Peter has also litigated business matters before the special, complex litigation panel of the Los Angeles County Superior Court where he helped obtain a seven figure settlement for a client
- The following are a few examples of matters that Peter has handled: Successfully obtained a judgment after trial, recovering over 1.2 million dollars, plus interest, from an estate executor and fiduciary, which were wrongfully obtained by the acts of undue influence by the fiduciary
- These assets were returned to the lawful heirs of the decedent's estate
- Peter introduced evidence in the two week trial in this matter, including testimony from sophisticated handwriting experts, to prove the breach of fiduciary duty and acts of dishonest and undue influence against the fiduciary
- The unlawful heir was removed from office and determined to be an invalid donee/recipient of any inheritance from the decedent
- Successfully defended and preserved the right of inheritance of a client wrongfully accused of acts of undue influence, in the amount of approximately 2 million dollars, in a case against the disputing relatives
- Successfully cancelled, through judgment obtained at trial, the wrongful transfer of real property taken at the expense of an incapacitated elder, and quieted title to that real property residence for its rightful owner
- Successfully obtained the return of real property and other assets approaching 1 million dollars against defendants who secretly obtained such assets from an incapacitated, elderly woman
- Successfully defended a client through trial, against allegations of financial mismanagement of estate properties and alleged forgery and manipulation of estate documents
- Represented a homeowner against a large title insurance company for recovery of almost 20 times what the title company was willing to pay for liability in failing to disclose a burdensome easement on a title report, in a complex easement and insurance case
- This matter was tried in a binding arbitration setting
- Successfully obtained a seven figure settlement for a retailer claim against a major nationally known manufacturer in a complicated antitrust/price fixing case
- At the Court of Appeal: Peter has been successful in several significant matters he has personally briefed and argued before the Court of Appeal in the area of trust and estate oriented litigation
- Peter Bochnewich is the President of Desert Estate Planning Council, a valley-wide association for professionals in the Estate Planning field
- Peter is an assistant coach and sponsor of the Palm Desert Youth Soccer Organization
- He is also a Board Member of the Boys and Girls Club of the Coachella Valley
- Peter is involved with the Desert Valleys Building Association
- Peter has acted numerous times on the stage and as well as in front of the camera
- He has worked as a writer, producer, director, and performer with the Desert Bar Association Bird Awards Attorneys and Distinguished Judges Comedy Awards show
Practice Areas Explained
Peter Michael Bochnewich's Areas of Practice
Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Peter Michael Bochnewich handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.
Peter Michael Bochnewich is one of 104,172 trusts attorneys indexed nationally. Browse trusts attorneys in California →
Peter Michael Bochnewich is one of 76,762 contracts attorneys indexed nationally. Browse contracts attorneys in California →
Employment lawyers represent workers in wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, wage & hour disputes, and severance negotiations.
Peter Michael Bochnewich is one of 169,120 employment attorneys indexed nationally. Browse employment attorneys in California →
Business attorneys advise founders and growing companies on entity formation, contracts, financing, M&A, and dispute resolution.
Peter Michael Bochnewich is one of 501,317 business attorneys indexed nationally. Browse business attorneys in California →
Peter Michael Bochnewich is one of 20,023 estate litigation attorneys indexed nationally. Browse estate litigation attorneys in California →
Jurisdictional Context
Why local counsel matters in California
Practicing law in California. Legal matters in California are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in Palm Desert are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate California state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in California brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this andnue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in California courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.
Looking for additional California attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Palm Desert or all attorneys in California.
Frequently Asked
Common questions about Peter Michael Bochnewich
Where is Peter Michael Bochnewich's law office located?
What practice areas does Peter Michael Bochnewich handle?
How long has Peter Michael Bochnewich practiced law?
Where did Peter Michael Bochnewich go to law school?
How can I contact Peter Michael Bochnewich for a consultation?
What awards or recognition has Peter Michael Bochnewich received?
Practice Areas
Education
Awards
Bar Admissions
Reviews
No reviews yet.