Danielle is a senior attorney in the Firm’s Trusts & Estates practice group.
She is certified by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization as a Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law. She represents individuals, corporate fiduciaries, and professional fiduciaries throughout the State of California in all aspects of trust and estate administration, with a special focus on trust and estate litigation.
Danielle has successfully defended fiduciaries from claims of breach of fiduciary duty and removed fiduciaries for breach of fiduciary duty. She has experience in both defending and challenging fiduciary accountings all the way through trial. Danielle’s litigation experience often relates to nuanced areas of the law, and she particularly enjoys strategizing with clients on complex trust and estate matters to obtain the best results. Danielle has handled a myriad of cases relating to the interpretation of complex wills, trusts, and other testamentary instruments that have resulted in successful resolutions both in court and via settlement.
Danielle listens to her clients with an understanding that these disputes can be challenging to navigate not only because of litigation but also in dealing with the death or incapacity of a family member. She serves as a strong advocate for her clients through trial, while at the same time, she is adept at finding common ground for resolution.
Danielle earned her J.D. with distinction from the University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law, and graduated as a member of the Roger J. Traynor Honor Society for academic achievement. During law school, Danielle was active in the Phi Delta Phi Honor Society and served in multiple officer positions including as Magister of Shields Inn.
Representative Matters:
State Bar of California, Trust and Estates Section
Member
Sacramento County Bar Association, Probate and Estate Planning Section
Member
Probate and Estate Planning Section Treasurer (2020)
Probate and Estate Planning Section Secretary (2021)
State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization
Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law Certified Specialist
Probate and Estate Planning section for SCBA
Probate and Estate Planning Section Vice Chair (2022)
Sacramento Estate Planning Council
Board Member
Phi Delta Phi Honor Society
Member and Former Magister of Shields Inn
Awards
Northern California Super Lawyers – Rising Star, 2018 – 2022
Best Lawyers in America®, “Ones to Watch”, 2022, 2023, Litigation – Trusts and Estates, Trusts and Estates
J.D. with Distinction, University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, 2012
B.S. in Economics, Concentration: Real Estate, Minor in Business Administration, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, 2009
On March 17, 2022, the Professional Fiduciary Association’s Sacramento Chapter held a meeting titled “Recent and Proposed Developments in Conservatorship Law,” led by Weintraub attorneys Mary deLeo and Danielle Diebert. The presentation covered proposed developments in conservatorship law, including updates to the disposition of property, care plans, and sale of personal…
On October 28, 2021, the Professional Fiduciary Association’s Sacramento Chapter held a meeting titled “Best Practices for Fiduciaries,” led by Weintraub attorney Mary deLeo. Attorneys Carlena Tapella and Danielle Diebert were co-presenters. The presentation covered the best practices for fiduciaries to follow in fulfilling fiduciary obligations as trustees, conservators, and agents.…
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…
The Sacramento County Bar Association’s Probate and Estate Planning Section hosted a trust and estate litigation ‘Boot Camp’ on September 20, 2016. The six-hour-long seminar featured a panel of speakers who discussed will and trust contests in California Superior Court, trial advocacy, and setting up success in mediation. Danielle Diebert co-presented with…
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 37 of its attorneys have been recognized on the 2022 Northern California Super Lawyers® and Rising Star 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.…
Danielle Diebert obtained a judgment of approximately $1.5 million at trial on behalf of our client as conservator of the estate. The court determined that the conservatee’s son had misappropriated assets belonging to the conservatee, including her real properties, in bad faith and through the commission of elder financial abuse. …
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 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…
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…
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…
Britney Spears says so. After thirteen years of conservatorship, on June 23, 2021, Britney appeared remotely at her conservatorship hearing and relayed her emotional plea to the judge to terminate her conservatorship without the need for any further evaluation. The June 23, 2021, Hearing: ”I’m [Not] A Slave 4 U”…
When Karl Lagerfeld passed away in February of 2019 in France, many speculated that his cat, Choupette, was well provided for as part of his estimated $150 million estate. This pampered feline was much loved by Mr. Lagerfeld during his life, and appeared in photoshoots and featured in many high-end…
First, what is a contract to make a will? A contract to make a will is exactly as it sounds. It is an agreement to provide for a person as part of a decedent’s will. The terms of the agreement could be as simple as a promise to provide services…
Under California law, the laws of intestacy control who inherits when a person dies without having prepared a valid will or trust. These rules can be complicated particularly as remote or even unknown blood relatives may have a claim to assets of the decedent’s estate. However, these long lost relatives…
