The legal profession demands absolute accuracy in court filings and strict adherence to financial rules. For Pasadena-based attorney Renee Estelle Sanders (State Bar Number 226258), significant professional lapses have resulted in formal disciplinary action.
Effective August 6, 2025, the California Supreme Court issued an order suspending Sanders for 60 days and placing her on one year of professional probation. The sanction followed a stipulation where Sanders admitted to six acts of professional misconduct across two separate legal matters.
The Core Misconduct: Probate Failures and Financial Lapses
The disciplinary case (Case No. SBC-24-O-30853) highlighted a range of violations, from negligent filings in probate court to the improper handling of firm finances.
1. The Probate Estate Matter
In a high-stakes case involving an intestate estate (where the deceased left no will), the State Bar found Sanders culpable of:
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Grossly Negligent Moral Turpitude: Sanders filed a court petition misidentifying a woman as the “sole heir” to an estate worth over $300,000. In reality, a second heir existed—a sister residing in a mental health facility. Despite receiving an email months earlier informing her of the sister’s existence, Sanders failed to investigate.
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Collecting an Illegal Fee: Sanders accepted a $4,000 payment from the estate administrator without the required prior authorization from the probate court.
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Failure to Supervise: Sanders admitted to relying on an intake form prepared by a disbarred former attorney working in her office as a paralegal, which contained the incorrect heir information.
2. Trust Account & Administrative Violations
In a separate matter, Sanders demonstrated a lack of oversight regarding her firm’s internal financial systems:
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Improper Fund Transfers: Between 2021 and 2022, she improperly deposited over $35,000—including client and escrow funds—into a personal account before eventually moving them to her Client Trust Account (CTA).
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Record-Keeping Failures: She failed to maintain required client trust account records for a period of five years (2019–2024).
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Employment of a Disbarred Attorney: Sanders failed to properly notify the State Bar of her employment—and the subsequent termination—of the disbarred attorney mentioned in her probate case.
The Sanction: Suspension and Requirements
The court’s decision took into account both the severity of the negligence and the steps Sanders took to rectify her mistakes, such as repaying the unauthorized $4,000 fee in 2019.
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Actual Suspension: Sanders served a 60-day actual suspension from the practice of law (ending in late 2025).
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One-Year Probation: She is currently serving a probationary period where she must remain law-abiding and comply with all State Bar reporting mandates.
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MPRE Requirement: As a condition of her return to practice, she must take and pass the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE).
Conclusion: The High Standard of Fiduciary Responsibility
The case of Renee Estelle Sanders serves as a critical reminder that attorneys are responsible for the accuracy of their court filings and the absolute separation of client funds. Whether it is the negligent omission of an heir in probate or the improper commingling of fees, these actions erode the protection the law is supposed to provide. Her probation ensures that she must re-establish the rigorous administrative standards required of a licensed attorney.
