James A. Bush - Encinitas, CA
Attorney at Keystone Law Group, P.C.
Trusts, Estates, and Probate Litigation at trial and on appeal Lawyers in Encinitas, CA
4405 Manchester Avenue Suite 202 Encinitas, CA 92024 - 7902
- Free Consultation
- 1 Super Lawyers®
-
28
Years
Experience
Encinitas Trusts, Estates, and Probate Litigation at trial and on appeal Lawyer
Updated: 03/10/2026
Areas of Practice
- Trusts, Estates, and Probate Litigation at trial and on appeal
Litigation: 100%
Attorney Information
Overview
With over 35 years’ experience litigating matters as an attorney, and having served as a trial and appellate pro tem judge, mediator, and arbitrator, Jim calls on a breadth of experience to help clients move through the litigation process in an efficient, economical way after agreeing on the client’s goals and discussing plausible outcomes.
After earning honors degrees from the University of Arizona (B.S., double major in astronomy and physics, 1978; J.D., 1981), Jim served a clerkship with Arizona Supreme Court Justice Frank X. Gordon, Jr. He then embarked on a litigation career in the private sector, first in Arizona and then, since 1998, in California. His practice evolved to focus on trusts, estates, and probate litigation before trial and appellate courts in Southern California. Matters he has litigated include challenges to trusts and wills based upon claims of undue influence, fraud, lack of capacity, or mistake; claims of breach of fiduciary duty and/or requests to change a trustee or personal representative; demands for accountings, requests to approve accountings, and objections to accountings; charges of financial elder abuse; other matters of trust or estate administration; powers of appointment; conservatorships; requests to modify estate planning documents; and distributions where there is no will or trust.
In addition to representing clients, Jim also often works with other attorneys as co-counsel or as counsel to whom a litigation matter is referred.
Awards and Honors
Other Sources of Feedback About James A. Bush
Included on the 2026 Southern California Super Lawyers list
Past Lists
- 2025 Southern California Super Lawyers list
- 2024 Southern California Super Lawyers list
- 2023 Southern California Super Lawyers list
- 2021 San Diego Super Lawyers list
Education
-
Legal Education
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University of Arizona College of Law,
Tucson,
Arizona, 1981
J.D.
Honors: With High Distinction: Order of the Coif
Law Review: Arizona Law Review, Editor in Chief, 1981 - Present
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University of Arizona College of Law,
Tucson,
Arizona, 1981
-
Non Legal Education
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University of Arizona,
Tucson,
Arizona, 1978
B.S.
Honors: With Distinction
Major: Astronomy and Physics
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University of Arizona,
Tucson,
Arizona, 1978
Current Employment Position(s)
-
Attorney
Past Positions
- Arizona Supreme Court Justice Frank X. Gordon, Jr., Clerk
- Maricopa County Superior Court, Judge Pro Tem
- Arizona Court of Appeals, Judge Pro Tem
- FINRA (Financial Industry Regulatory Authority), Arbitrator
- Arizona Department of Education, Process Hearing Officer
Languages
-
English
Classes and Seminars
- Webinar on Minimizing and Litigating Claims of Undue Influence, Fraud, Capacity, and Mistakes, Stafford Publications, Inc., 2014 - Present
Pro Bono Activities
- Judge, First Year Oral Arguments at USD School of Law
- Judge, Moot Court at USD School of Law
Representative Cases
-
Sefton v. Sefton
- Citation: 236 Cal.App.4th 159, 187 Cal.Rptr.3d 421
- Court: CA Ct App
- Year: 2015
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Sefton v. Sefton
- Citation: 206 Cal.App.4th 875, 142 Cal.Rptr.3d 174
- Court: CA Ct App
- Year: 2012
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Steiger v. Steiger
- Citation: No.D066774
- Court: CA Ct App
- Year: 2015
Bar Admissions
- California, 1998
- U.S. District Court Southern District of California, 2000
- U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit, 1982
- U.S. Supreme Court, 1986
Other Affiliations
- Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Section of San Diego County Bar Association
- Probate Attorney's of San Diego
- Trusts & Estates Section of North County Bar Association
Fraternities and Sororities
- Phi Kappa Phi
Photo
Contact
4405 Manchester Avenue
Suite 202
Encinitas, CA 92024 - 7902
Phone: 424-599-4710
Fax: (760) 860-9810
Email: Send a message
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