Topics on Trust and Estate Planning and Probate and Trust Litigation

How To Get A Copy of A Trust Document Have you wondered if your trustee is required to issue you a copy of the trust, and do you know what to do if they decline to provide you a copy of the trust? Here's an answer to these and other questions you might have on how to...

Does a Life Estate Override a Will? A life estate deed takes precedence over a will, ensuring that the property specified in the deed passes directly to the remainderman upon the life tenant's death, regardless of conflicting instructions in the will.Does a Life...

Are Beneficiaries Entitled to a Copy of the Will? When it comes to wills, it is commonly known that a will determines how the deceased person's property would be shared among the beneficiaries. However, one of the main queries from beneficiaries in this regard is if...

Can A Right of Survivorship be Challenged? The right of survivorship, often associated with joint accounts, can be contested in court. As per legal precedents, the original account holder's intentions are crucial; clear and convincing evidence can override the...

What Does a Trustee Do? Planning an estate should be a consideration for everyone, not just the wealthy. Without a solid legal plan, your assets may be left in the hands of the court. Estate plans vary in size and shape, and each plan is unique. It's advisable to...

What Constitutes A Breach of Fiduciary Duty? In the intricate area of trust and estate planning, fiduciary duty is a critical concept that ensures that the interests of beneficiaries are protected. This happens when someone is assigned another person's assets; the...

Trust Validity Defense Attorney Perhaps a grantor executed a trust that handed over all their assets and property to their business partner or best friend instead of their kids, even after guaranteeing the latter that they would get a significant share of their...

What is a Successor Trustee A successor trustee can be a person or institution in charge of the trust and its daily administration duties if the original Trustee dies. The trust's creator (the Grantor) often designates the successor trustees and the successor...

Trustee Rights in Investment Dispute Cases Trustee rights are one of the critical issues when it comes to dealing with disputes involving investments. The knowledge of the rights and protections available to trustees is vital to trustees and all the parties in...

How Long After a Person Dies Will Beneficiaries be Notified Beneficiaries of a trust are typically informed of their interest shortly after the trustor's passing. For example, under California probate law, trustees are required to notify beneficiaries within 60 days...