Merrianne Dean
Merrianne Dean has more than two decades of courtroom experience litigating probate and trust disputes, financial elder abuse matters, conservatorships and business disputes. She also serves as a court-appointed attorney representing developmentally disabled and elderly individuals who are the subject of conservatorships before the probate court. Ms. Dean’s litigation experience informs the balance of her work, allowing her to create better documents for her estate planning and business clients and craft more effective strategies to achieve their personal goals. Ms. Dean works with her estate planning clients to create truly comprehensive family estate plans that provide not only carefully considered asset management, but more importantly a safety net for the family in the event of injury, incapacity or death. Her work also includes providing executors and trustees counsel and assistance with the administration of trust and probate estates.
Merrianne believes parties who need a little help to resolve a dispute are well served by the mediation process. This is particularly true when a party has a real need to be heard, to “have their day in court,” or simply to have the benefit of input from a neutral with experience in their type of case. Mediation with a trained mediator provides a forum where core motivations and desires can be identified and creative solutions can be explored to ensure the clients have a satisfying resolution of their dispute.
RATES:
$450 per hour
$225 per party administrative fee
EDUCATION & PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS:
Thomas Jefferson School of Law, JD 1994
National Conflict Resolution Center – Theory and Practice of Mediation 2015
ADR EXPERIENCE & SPECIALTIES:
Probate Mediation Program – Thomas Jefferson School of Law 2014-2018
Probate Settlement Conference Judge Pro Tem – San Diego Superior Court 2009-Present
ACHIEVEMENTS & AWARDS:
Outstanding Service Award – San Diego Superior Court, Probate 2012
Fay Stender Award – California Women Lawyers – 2019
HOBBIES & INTERESTS:
Scuba Diving, Gardening, Camping and Backpacking