News & Analysis as of

Trusts No Contest Clause

Downey Brand LLP

Flying Too Close to the Sun: The Scope of a No-Contest Clause Disinheritance Under Key v. Tyler

Downey Brand LLP on

This blog has previously mentioned the most common question we hear when people find out we work in probate litigation: “What can I do to make sure my family doesn’t fight over my property after I die?” Because I am a...more

Winstead PC

Courts Have Ordered Trial Courts To Grant TCPA Motions To Dismiss Based On No-Contest Clause Claims

Winstead PC on

The Texas Legislature created a statute to protect parties’ rights to freedom of speech and to petition the courts: the Texas Citizen’s Participation Act (TCPA). See Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code Ann. §§ 27.001-.011....more

Bowditch & Dewey

When to Include a No-Contest Clause in a Will or Trust

Bowditch & Dewey on

One of the many reasons for executing a Will and Trust is to make your wishes clear and prevent animosity among family members or other beneficiaries after your death. However, there are circumstances in which it is clear to...more

Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel, P.C.

How to Deal with an Estranged Child in Your Estate Plan

Unfortunately, not all families get along. If you are having problems with one of your children, you may not want them to benefit from your estate. There are several strategies for dealing with an estranged child in your...more

Downey Brand LLP

Late Trust Contest May Trigger Enforcement of No Contest Clause

Downey Brand LLP on

No contest clauses generally are not enforceable against beneficiaries of California trusts when there is “probable cause” to challenge the trust instrument. Yet the probable cause safe harbor may disappear if the contest...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

Ruder Ware

Pros and Cons of Using the No-Contest Clause

Ruder Ware on

Drafting an estate plan allows a person to put into writing their wishes for division of assets upon death. Sometimes this means making a choice to give more to one child over the other, or to completely write out natural...more

Ruder Ware

Protecting Your Estate Plan from Challenges: No-Contest Clause Explained

Ruder Ware on

People handle grief differently and sometimes how a person handles the death of a loved one can be both confusing and also extremely frustrating - fighting over little things like, who gets the table and the chairs, for...more

McDermott Will & Emery

Divergence Among States in Enforcement of In Terrorem Clauses in Wills and Trusts

Recent decisions in California and Mississippi illustrate the divergence among states regarding enforcement of in terrorem clauses in wills and trusts...more

Downey Brand LLP

Openness and Transparency Help Avoid Trust Disputes – An Interview with Tracy Potts

Downey Brand LLP on

Tracy M. Potts has nearly three decades of experience in California with estate planning, administration and litigation. A Texas native, she earned her law degree from Southern Methodist University School of Law. Her...more

Downey Brand LLP

When Defending Becomes Offensive: California Court Expands No Contest Clauses to Defense of Invalid Amendment

Downey Brand LLP on

No contest clauses are included in wills and trusts to discourage dissatisfied beneficiaries from challenging the document’s validity. Because enforcement of these clauses results in disinheritance, the California Probate...more

Holland & Hart LLP

No Contest Clauses – Not Just for Wills

Holland & Hart LLP on

Fiduciary litigation continues to grow and often times outpaces the development of case law regarding the myriad of issues that arise in estate and trust disputes. Historically fiduciary litigation involved disputing family...more

Nutter McClennen & Fish LLP

Trust Beneficiary Permitted to Contest Trust Despite No-Contest Clause

Key Takeaway: In Ginsberg et. al. v. Ginsberg et. al., Judge Leibensperger ruled that a trust beneficiary could assert a trust was procured by fraud despite the presence of a in terrorem or no-contest clause. Judge...more

Downey Brand LLP

Play It Again: No Contest Clauses Must Be Referenced In Each California Trust Amendment

Downey Brand LLP on

No contest clauses are an ever-evolving area of the probate law in California. The Court of Appeal further refined the rules governing no contest clauses in a decision issued last week, Aviles v. Swearingen (2017) ___...more

Downey Brand LLP

Anti-SLAPP Case Features Arm Wrestling Siblings and a Prep School

Downey Brand LLP on

California’s anti-SLAPP statute has generated another published case for trust and estate lawyers to ponder. Last week, in Urick v. Urick (2017) ___ Cal.App.5th ___, the California Court of Appeal confirmed that anti-SLAPP...more

Best Best & Krieger LLP

Best in Law: The Pros and Cons of the No-Contest Clause - Trusts and Wills

No-contest clauses are generally included in trusts and wills in California in an attempt to prevent challenges to an estate plan after death. Originally published in the Press-Enterprise - July 30th, 2017....more

Best Best & Krieger LLP

Best in Law: Head Off a Contest: Bolster Your No-Contest Clause

Best Best & Krieger LLP on

The inherent problem with safeguarding your wishes after death is that you are not here to defend them. To discourage litigation and protect your requests, most trusts contain a “no-contest” clause. The clause typically...more

McNees Wallace & Nurick LLC

When are “No-Contest” Clauses Enforceable?

We are often asked about in terrorem clauses or “no-contest” clauses in wills or trusts. Can they be enforced? Under what conditions? Can a contesting party really lose everything? Does a contesting party put anyone else’s...more

Winstead PC

Suit To Modify Trusts Did Not Violate No Contest Clause

Winstead PC on

Texas courts narrowly construe no-contest clauses. In Di Portanova v. Monroe, grandparents set up eight trusts for a grandchild that had a mental disability. No. 01-20-01019-CV, 2012 Tex. App. LEXIS 9859 (Tex. App.—Houston...more

19 Results
 / 
View per page
Page: of 1

"My best business intelligence, in one easy email…"

Your first step to building a free, personalized, morning email brief covering pertinent authors and topics on JD Supra:
*By using the service, you signify your acceptance of JD Supra's Privacy Policy.
- hide
- hide