Legal Question in Wills and Trusts in California

I am sorry to hear about your friend and this problem.

Your friend certainly has rights to know about any estate where she has rights as a beneficiary. The exact nature of the rights, and the ways to best enforce those rights, depends on whether there is a probate, a trust, a will, or maybe some other device.

The litigation is likely (but not necessarily) in the courts of the county where the sibling used to live. Most counties now have computerized records that you can search online for the case number and name. You might try to search for the case that way. You might also look to see if there is a probate proceeding in that county for the deceased sibling.

You most likely do not have any right to control the litigation and force a settlement. Those rights would be vested in the trustee or administrator/executor of the estate. Your friend, however, may have other rights here.

Assuming your friend's interest in the estate is large enough to warrant the expense, you should contact an attorney who handles contested estate and probate matters to investigate the matter, It may be harder for the estate's attorney to ignore a demand from an attorney who knows the law in this area. An attorney will also show that you are serious about this matter.

You should be able to find someone who can help you through LawGuru, through your local Bar Association, or through an Internet search using your favorite search engine. I would also urge you not to delay here, because money from the estate is being spent on litigation.