Chadds Ford Estate Litigation & Guardianship Attorney
We fight to protect families and businesses in Chadds Ford, PA by holding Executors, Trustees, Guardians, and Powers of Attorney accountable.
“John Rafferty is a top-notch attorney who truly delivers results.”
Chadds Ford Estate Litigation & Guardianship Attorney
We fight to protect families and businesses in Chadds Ford, PA by holding Executors, Trustees, Guardians, and Powers of Attorney accountable.
“John Rafferty is a top-notch attorney who truly delivers results.”
Demanding Accountability
We ensure fiduciaries like Executors, Trustees, Guardians, and POAs uphold their duties to you and to your loved ones.
Upholding Fiduciary Duties
We defend Executors, Trustees, Guardians, and POAs who face questions or criticisms about their actions and decisions while supporting a loved one or their estate.
Boost Your Peace of Mind
Our litigation strategy ensures we’re prepared for the courtroom so you can focus on your family and other tasks that matter most in your life.
Skilled Advocates for Your Fiduciary Disputes in Chadds Ford, PA
You’ve carefully planned and managed your personal, family, or business affairs—but when disputes arise, litigation may become inevitable. Highfield Law specializes exclusively in fiduciary litigation in Chadds Ford and across Pennsylvania, providing you with knowledgeable and strategic representation in guardianships, trusts, estates, and family business conflicts. Our focused expertise ensures your situation is resolved effectively, minimizing stress and maximizing favorable outcomes.
Guardianship & Fiduciary Disputes in Chadds Ford, PA
Guardianship Litigation
When your loved one in Chadds Ford lacks capacity, faces a contested guardianship, or has POA disputes, we step in to secure their best interests in court.
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Your family is going through a difficult transition and loved one needs greater oversight and care. We ensure the right legal guardian is appointed when:
- An aging parent or loved one lacks a Power of Attorney and needs a guardian appointed.
- A Power of Attorney exists but is limited, needs to be revoked, or was signed under questionable circumstances.
- A sudden illness or hospitalization has left a loved one unable to make medical or legal decisions.
- An adult child with cognitive disabilities requires formal legal decision-making support.
- A caregiver needs to establish official guardianship of a minor already in their care.
You stay involved. We handle the courtroom.
Estate Litigation
Executors who mismanage estates put your client’s rightful inheritance at risk. Our seasoned team intervenes to recover and protect estate assets swiftly.
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When you are the beneficiary of a loved one’s Estate, you may need to hold the Executor accountable when:
- Estate assets haven’t been properly collected or safeguarded.
- Executors have missed key deadlines or breached fiduciary duties.
- Estate funds are commingled or untraceable.
- Required distributions haven’t been made.
- The Executor refuses to share documentation or has disappeared.
- The Executor appointed for the Estate has a clear conflict of interest.
Highfield Law brings clarity and resolution to complex estate disputes—while you focus on the people and projects that matter most to you.
Trust Litigation
When trustees fail their fiduciary duties—mismanagement, misconduct, or missing funds—we hold them accountable, protecting your inheritance.
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You family was intentional and thoughtful about putting a trust into place, but it’s not being administered properly. The trustee has gone silent, is mismanaging the funds, or spending them improperly. When these kinds of trust disputes require judicial intervention, we litigate these disputes and protect your interest in the trust. You might be concerned about:
- The Trustee is no longer communicating with a beneficiary of the Trust
- The Trustee is failing to work amicably with a co-Trustee
- The Trustee is committing waste, fraud, or abuse
- The Trustee has failed to keep the monies held in trust separate from their own
- The Trustee has not made distributions of the monies held in trust to beneficiaries at the appropriate time
- The Trustee refuses to provide details to beneficiaries about how the
- Trust was funded, administered, or distributed
- The Trustee has disappeared with the monies that were meant to be held in trust
- The Trustee did not form the Trust as documents required at the time
- The Trustee did not fund the Trust with the monies intended
Contact us about initiating litigation to hold the trustee accountable to the terms of the trust.
Business Litigation
Business disputes disrupt your productivity. We handle litigation strategically and efficiently, enabling you to focus on business operations.
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Your company faces a partnership dispute, claim of breach, or financial misconduct. We help you regain control strategically and efficiently, while we focus on litigation and resolution of your case.
- Reviewing filed court documents and business history for patterns or risk exposure.
- Identifying internal records to support your client’s legal position.
- Evaluating the legitimacy of claims or demands.
- Building litigation and negotiation strategies to minimize financial disruption.
- Handling trial preparation and appearances while your client focuses on running the business.
We keep you informed and empowered, every step of the way.
Highfield Law, PC | Chadds Ford, PA
A Different Type of
Fiduciaries Litigation Lawyer
Highfield Law, PC fights for the people and things that matter most to you, delivering tailored litigation strategies developed from years of experience in Guardianship, Trust, Estate, and Business disputes. We know solving your legal challenge is crucial, but so is having certainty about the costs involved—this is why we’ve eliminated hourly billing entirely, providing legal services exclusively through clear, predictable flat fees. Discover more about how we serve our clients.
Our Simple Three-Step Partnership
Highfield Law provides local, flat-fee fiduciary litigation for disputes in Chadds Ford, PA with a proven three-step process for peace of mind.
1. Consult and Strategize
We’ll discuss your fiduciary dispute and create a clear roadmap tailored to your specific litigation needs.
2. Manage Courtroom Proceedings
From filings to hearings, we handle every step in Chester County courts while keeping you informed.
3. Secure Resolution
We update you regularly as we work towards a resolution of your case, maintaining client satisfaction and delivering you peace of mind.
Frequently Asked Questions
Highfield Law is dedicated exclusively to fiduciary litigation — POAs, executors, guardianships, trusts, estates, and family business disputes—across Pennsylvania, including West Chester and the Philly suburbs. We bring courtroom-ready advocacy, so you can return to the people and activities that matter most.
No. We’ve eliminated hourly billing entirely. Instead, we offer transparent flat fees in order to give clients clarity, predictability, and peace of mind.
We start with a Legal Strategy session—learning your goals, explaining litigation steps in plain language, and crafting a clear path forward for the legal strategy in your case. Email us today to schedule your session.
You remain fully informed throughout. From filings to hearings and resolution, we communicate plainly and regularly—keeping you in control and eliminating surprises.
If you’re an attorney or financial advisor referring a client, we respect your advisory relationship. We handle litigation seamlessly behind the scenes while preserving your client trust and reputation.
While every case differs, flat-fee billing incentivizes efficient resolution. We focus on excellent preparation to move your case along with strategic speed and precision.
While based in West Chester, we represent clients throughout Chester County, including Malvern, Kennett Square, Chadds Ford, Paoli, Berwyn, West Chester, Downingtown, Exton, Phoenixville, Chester Springs, Devon, the Greater Philadelphia suburbs, and beyond.
Posted on Iris WoodsJune 18, 2025Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. John was very informative regarding our legal situation with our family. He was very detail-oriented and made us feel at ease. His expertise was extremely helpful in making the proper decision for our loved one. We would recommend John to anyone who needs a lawyer that addresses any of his specialty areas.Posted on Chris BradleyMay 22, 2025Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. John Rafferty is a top-notch attorney who truly delivers results. His professionalism, responsiveness, and deep understanding of the law set him apart. From our first conversation, he made complex legal issues easy to understand and offered clear, actionable guidance. John was thorough, direct, and always had my best interest in mind.Posted on Kamran ChowdhuryApril 23, 2025Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I had the pleasure of working with John Rafferty for legal service for my business, and I can't recommend him highly enough. From our very first conversation, John demonstrated a high level of professionalism, expertise, and genuine care for my situation. He was clear, thorough, and always made sure I understood every step of the process. What truly sets John apart is his dedication to his clients. He was consistently responsive, attentive to detail, and proactive in moving things forward. If you're looking for a trustworthy, knowledgeable, and approachable legal professional, John Rafferty is an excellent choice.Posted on Chrisy CarosellaApril 16, 2025Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Where do I begin? I’ll start by saying that John V. Rafferty is unlike any attorney you will ever meet in your lifetime, and that is no exaggeration! There are times in life when you may feel stuck—at a dead end, with no moves left to make- Checkmate! You find yourself unable to sleep and barely able to eat, trying to figure out what your next move could be or wondering if there's even one to make. In your desperation, Google becomes your best friend. That’s how I found a wonderful person: John V. Rafferty! John is compassionate and caring. He listened to me. When I emailed him, he replied within a few hours—sometimes within minutes! When I called him, (are you sitting) he actually picked up the phone and answered. Crazy, right? In my time of chaos and confusion, when I couldn’t comprehend the situation, John was a calming voice of reason. He asked questions, heard my fears, and understood my urgent need for resolution. He never lost his temper; he was always patient and focused on getting to the root cause of the situation. One of the many things my family and I appreciated about John is that we had many questions for him. If he didn’t know the answer, he would get it and promptly let us know what he found. I don’t know anyone else who dedicates their time, knowledge, and even personal time to help complete strangers! And John did just that! If you are looking for someone who is extremely intelligent, competent, compassionate, understanding, and patient, and who truly understands the law, then I highly recommend calling John V. Rafferty. I am living proof that you will not regret it!Posted on Christie S.April 10, 2025Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. John is a trustworthy, reliable, and highly competent attorney. He provided amazing support and superb legal analysis for my situation, and explained everything to me with clear communication in a way that I (not a lawyer) could easily understand. He operates on integrity, and it was clear he truly cared about me and my situation.Posted on Grant BloomdahlApril 1, 2025Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I'm an attorney who has referred cases to John. He's one of the best in the area at guardianships and fiduciary litigation (as well as civil litigation in general). I highly recommend his services.Posted on StukesMarch 31, 2025Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. My family had the honor of having, Attorney John Rafferty, represent our father/patriarch during the guardianship process. From the moment Mr. Rafferty introduced himself to Dad and the rest of the family, we knew he would make sure Dad was cared for. We knew by the wisdom and knowledge he demonstrated in the first meeting, that he was going to uphold the law. He managed to balance professionalism and empathy during such a personal, fragile time in our family's life. We will forever be grateful for Mr. John Rafferty.Posted on Komi LoyiMarch 28, 2025Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. This lawyer, John, is excellent and very professional. Highly recommended. As a Subcontractor, my employers refused to pay off my money of $12,000 in Mars Pennsylvania and $3900 in Kentucky. I traveled to take care of my father who was sick and my employer trying to accused me of damaging things and refusing to pay me. No lawyer was willing to help me because I was broke. Thank God I found Highfield Law firm. With help of John, I got some money back. 💰. May God bless this firm forever, because they help 🙏. I overjoyed his service. 👋Posted on James WisdomMarch 23, 2025Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I am so impressed by John's ability to help me quickly understand the complications of my legal question. Without resorting to legal jargon and phrases, John addressed my case in a way that helped me see the nuances that weren't obvious at first, and empowered me to see both the details that matter; and the bigger picture. The guidance John provided brought me clarity and peace of mind about the path forward and helped me become confident about my decision. John's legal services exceeded my expectations at every turn, and helped me see why John is such a valued member of the legal community here in Chester County. I look forward to working with him again and absolutely recommend.Verified by TrustindexTrustindex verified badge is the Universal Symbol of Trust. Only the greatest companies can get the verified badge who has a review score above 4.5, based on customer reviews over the past 12 months. Read more
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Partner with Highfield Law near Chadds Ford, PA—your trusted fiduciary-litigation firm serving Malvern, West Chester, Chadds Ford, and Chester County.