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Trustees Fiduciary Duty Probate

Charles E. Rounds, Jr. - Suffolk University...

Liability of Trust Beneficiary Who Litigates Vexatiously or Participates in a Breach of Trust

The Restatement (Third) of Trusts, specifically §104, lists four general areas in which the beneficiary’s actions may lead to an assumption of internal liability to the trust estate: (1) A loan or advance to the beneficiary...more

McManis Faulkner

May a Trustee use Trust Funds in Beneficiary Disputes?

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In California, trustees have a fiduciary duty to act impartially and in the interest of all beneficiaries. But what happens when a trustee uses trust funds to finance litigation that benefits only certain beneficiaries—or...more

The Estate Lawyers

The Importance of Formal Communications When Amending Trusts

The Estate Lawyers on

A recent appellate case serves as a valuable lesson for both estate planners and beneficiaries about adhering to formal procedures when making changes to a trust. The court found that the mere exchange of emails was...more

Charles E. Rounds, Jr. - Suffolk University...

Parsing the Uniform Trust Code in Isolation Without Regard to the Uniform Probate Code and the Uniform Powers of Appointment Act...

Intro. The Uniform Trust Code (UTC) is a mere aggregation of tweaks to the corner of equity jurisprudence that long ago gave birth to and currently stewards the trust relationship, hereinafter “the background trust law.”...more

Carey Olsen

Cayman Islands: in pursuit of robust and efficient justice

Carey Olsen on

The Cayman Islands offers many advantages to global families: the structures available are modern and flexible; the jurisdiction's legislation is continually updated in line with the market and evolving international rules;...more

Warner Norcross + Judd

What is a Special Fiduciary and When Can the Probate Court Appoint One?

Warner Norcross + Judd on

The Michigan Court of Appeals recently issued a decision that considered the scope of the probate court’s ability to appoint a special fiduciary. In re Trueman Harrison and Modesta Harrison Trust, No 368031, 2025 WL 272281...more

Kohrman Jackson & Krantz LLP

Wendy Williams’ Conservatorship Battle: A Cautionary Tale on Estate Planning

Wendy Williams’ ongoing legal battle over her financial conservatorship has reignited public debate on the complexities of incapacity planning. Although she allegedly executed a power of attorney (POA) in favor of her son,...more

Downey Brand LLP

So What is a Trust, Really? Newell v. Superior Court and the Worst Party Game Ever

Downey Brand LLP on

Hey everybody – it’s January! How was your New Year’s Eve? How did you celebrate? Did you go to a party? Did you host a party? Were there games at your party? What kind of games? Charades? Jenga?  Maybe you went crazy and...more

Charles E. Rounds, Jr. - Suffolk University...

Due to scrivener negligence, the dispositive provisions of a trust fail to reflect the deceased settlor’s wishes: Can it be that...

Assume the deceased settlor of a trust had intended that his niece be included in the beneficiary class, but his estate-planning attorney had negligently made no provision for her in the governing instrument. After settlor’s...more

Downey Brand LLP

No Such Thing as a Free Ride: Section 859 Awards Can Now Go To Whoever Does the Work

Downey Brand LLP on

Newcomers to probate litigation are frequently surprised by how differently things work in probate court, as opposed to your more straightforward civil courts. (And how do those newcomers know how civil courts work?  Law &...more

Charles E. Rounds, Jr. - Suffolk University...

Incorporating into a trust instrument a nonjudicial mechanism for effectuating on an ongoing basis the wishes of the deceased...

There is much to commend in O’Brien, Proposing a Model Antilapse Clause, 48 ACTEC L. J. 257 (2023), particularly its flagging of the doctrinal and practical flaws in Uniform Probate Code §2-707, which would apply the...more

Winstead PC

[Webinar] Fiduciary Litigation Update 2022-2023 - December 19th, 10:00 am - 11:00 am CT

Winstead PC on

This update will address the following issues: whether a party has a right to jury trial in trust modification and other similar actions, what are the standards for pretrial receivership and injunctive relief in trust...more

Goulston & Storrs PC

Probate & Fiduciary Litigation Newsletter - June 2022

Goulston & Storrs PC on

This newsletter is intended to keep readers informed about developments in probate and fiduciary litigation in Massachusetts and New York. Our lawyers are at the forefront of this area of the law, shaping how it is handled in...more

Goulston & Storrs PC

Probate & Fiduciary Litigation Newsletter - February 2022

Goulston & Storrs PC on

This newsletter is intended to keep readers informed about developments in probate and fiduciary litigation in Massachusetts and New York. Intentional Interference and Unjust Enrichment Claims in Connection with a Trust...more

Goulston & Storrs PC

Probate & Fiduciary Litigation Newsletter - December 2021

Goulston & Storrs PC on

Daughter with Power of Attorney Had Burden to Show No Undue Influence over Father - Coscia v. Sweezey, 2021 WL 4765696 (Mass App. Ct. October 13, 2021) - Does holding a power of attorney from a parent in declining...more

Winstead PC

Court Affirms Decision That Executor Applicant Was Unsuitable For That Position

Winstead PC on

In In the Estate of Johnson, an applicant to be an independent administrator appealed a court’s decision to not appoint him due to his being unsuitable. No. 02-20-00133-CV, 2021 Tex. App. LEXIS 7138 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth...more

Goulston & Storrs PC

Probate & Fiduciary Litigation Newsletter - September & October 2021

Goulston & Storrs PC on

This newsletter is intended to keep readers informed about developments in probate and fiduciary litigation in Massachusetts and New York. Decedent’s New York Residence at Time of Death Does Not Create Jurisdiction in New...more

Downey Brand LLP

Zach Young, Second Generation Fiduciary, Helps Families with Transitions

Downey Brand LLP on

Zachary Young is a private professional fiduciary with CMY Fiduciary Services in Sacramento. His mother, Carolyn M. Young, began work as a fiduciary in 1986. Zach received his bachelor’s degree in business and communications...more

Downey Brand LLP

Daughter Liable for Interfering with Stepmother’s Inheritance

Downey Brand LLP on

Intentional interference with expected inheritance (IIEI) was recognized as a legal claim in California about eight years ago in Beckwith v. Dahl (2012) 205 Cal.App.4th 1039. Last week, the Court of Appeal issued the first...more

Goulston & Storrs PC

Probate & Fiduciary Litigation Newsletter – October 2019

Goulston & Storrs PC on

The Probate & Fiduciary Litigation Newsletter compiles recent Trust & Estate cases. Our lawyers are at the forefront of this area of the law, shaping how it is handled in the Probate and Family Court. ...more

Goulston & Storrs PC

Probate & Fiduciary Litigation Newsletter – June 2019

Goulston & Storrs PC on

The Probate & Fiduciary Litigation Newsletter compiles recent Trust & Estate cases. Our lawyers are at the forefront of this area of the law, shaping how it is handled in the Probate and Family Court. Goulston & Storrs is the...more

McGuireWoods LLP

Recent Cases of Interest to Fiduciaries January 2018

McGuireWoods LLP on

In the most recent installment of the McGuireWoods Fiduciary Advisory Services annual multipart series on recent fiduciary cases, developments in the law concerning various topics are examined through the following: - ...more

Goulston & Storrs PC

Probate and Fiduciary Litigation Newsletter – October 2018

Goulston & Storrs PC on

Our first newsletter of the fall summarizes four recent cases of note, including a Massachusetts Appeals Court victory for clients of Goulston & Storrs who successfully defeated an action seeking to remove them as trustees....more

Farrell Fritz, P.C.

On Its Own Motion

Farrell Fritz, P.C. on

While most decisions rendered by the Surrogate’s Court result from an affirmative request for relief, occasionally the court will address an issue on its own motion when justice or the exercise of its inherent or statutory...more

McGuireWoods LLP

Recent Cases of Interest to Fiduciaries

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In re Estate of House, 2014 Wash. App. LEXIS 3006 (Wash. Ct. App. 2014) - A release waiving any and all claims that the parties may have or may acquire, bars recovery for unknown claims existing at the time the release...more

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