About Kevin D. Gunner — General Practice Fresno California

Kevin D. Gunner is a general practice Fresno attorney with Fennemore, a regional firm that has represented businesses and individuals across the Western United States for more than 130 years. The Fresno office serves Central Valley clients on transactional and litigation matters, with a particular emphasis on estate-related disputes and probate litigation. Fresno County’s mix of family-owned agricultural operations and second-generation business owners produces a steady stream of estate, partnership, and succession questions. Browse other Fresno, California attorneys to compare options across practice areas.

Estate litigation often turns on document interpretation, capacity, and undue influence — areas where Mr. Gunner has built focused experience. The firm handles will contests, trust disputes, fiduciary accountings, and conservatorship challenges in the Fresno County Superior Court Probate Division at 1130 O Street. Because California probate generally runs nine to eighteen months, getting strategy right at the petition stage usually controls cost and timing. Fennemore also supports clients on broader civil disputes that intersect with family and business holdings, which is common in the Valley’s tightly held companies.

What Clients Say

Clients describe the firm as responsive, thorough, and well-prepared in court. Reviewers note that paperwork moves quickly and that the attorney explains the probate timeline and likely outcomes early in the matter. The combined depth of a regional firm with the attention of a single primary attorney comes up repeatedly as a strength.

General Practice Fresno — Practice Areas & Services

• Estate and trust litigation: Will contests, trust disputes, and accountings filed in the Fresno County Probate Division.
• Probate administration: Formal and informal probate of estates valued above the small-estate threshold under California Probate Code Form DE-300.
• Civil litigation: Business disputes, partnership disagreements, and contract claims common to Central Valley operations.
• Conservatorship matters: Petitions, accountings, and contests involving capacity or financial elder abuse.
• Estate planning support: Coordination with Fennemore’s broader transactional team on revisions, asset structuring, and succession.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does probate take in Fresno County?

Most California probates run nine to eighteen months. Cases with disputed creditors, contested wills, or out-of-state heirs can extend further. The Fresno County Probate Division processes filings at 1130 O Street, and timing also depends on creditor publication and the four-month claim window.

What is the difference between a trust dispute and a will contest?

A will contest challenges a will already filed for probate. A trust dispute typically targets a living trust outside court and may be brought as a petition under California Probate Code Section 17200. Both can address capacity, undue influence, or fraud, but the procedural rules differ — including who has standing and how discovery is handled.

Do small estates have to go through full probate in California?

Estates valued under the threshold listed in Form DE-300 may use summary procedures, which avoid the full nine-to-eighteen-month probate. Real property held outside trust generally still requires either full probate or a separate Spousal Property Petition. A short consultation often clarifies which path applies.