When is the executor nominated by the decedent in a will deemed unfit to serve as executor? Rarely – but a recent decision in Surrogates Court set forth the standard and deemed the nominated executor in that case unfit to...more
Generally, under New York EPTL 5-1.1-A, if a decedent is survived by a spouse, a right of election is given to the surviving spouse to take a share of the decedent's estate “equal to the greater of (i) fifty thousand dollars...more
Can a person claiming to be the decedent’s biological child out of wedlock obtain a court order directing DNA testing of the decedent’s acknowledged children, in order to verify her claim? In Matter of Estate of McGuire, 203...more
Does the phrase “if they survive me” demonstrate a testator’s intent to avoid the Massachusetts Uniform Probate Code (“MUPC”) anti-lapse statute, Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 190B § 2-603? The Massachusetts Supreme...more
While undue influence claims are commonly asserted in probate proceedings, especially with the increased prevalence of dementia and similar disabilities, two recent cases from New York’s Appellate Division illustrate how...more
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
Subject Matter Matters in Land Court -
DiNicola v. Ely, et al., No. 23 MISC 000128 (2023), Berkshire County (Land Court May 25, 2023) -
Does the Massachusetts Land Court have subject matter jurisdiction over claims...more
This newsletter is intended to keep readers informed about developments in probate and fiduciary litigation in Massachusetts and New York. ...more
5/3/2023
/ Arbitration Agreements ,
Asset Management ,
Beneficiaries ,
Divorce ,
Estate Planning ,
Fiduciary Duty ,
Probate ,
Probate Code ,
Probate Courts ,
Separation Agreement ,
Spouses ,
Surrogate's Court ,
Unenforceable Contract Terms
Power of Attorney Did Not Provide Authority to Create a Trust on Behalf of the Elder Who Granted the Power of Attorney -
Barbetti v. Stempniewicz, 490 Mass. 98 (Sup. Jud. Ct. June 28, 2022)
Does a power of attorney...more
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
6/22/2022
/ Beneficiaries ,
Bernie Madoff ,
Breach of Duty ,
Fiduciary Duty ,
Investment Opportunities ,
No Contest Clause ,
Probate ,
Probate Courts ,
Recklessness ,
Surrogate's Court ,
Trustees ,
Trusts ,
Wills
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
2/2/2022
/ Asset Management ,
Beneficiaries ,
Beneficiary Designations ,
Decedent Protection ,
Estate Claims ,
Fiduciary Duty ,
Individual Retirement Account (IRA) ,
Interference Claims ,
Irrevocable Trusts ,
Power of Attorney ,
Probate ,
Probate Courts ,
Trustees ,
Undue Influence Claims ,
Unjust Enrichment
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
9/30/2021
/ Absolute Immunity ,
Asset Management ,
Beneficiaries ,
Conservators ,
Decedent Protection ,
Estate Planning ,
Fiduciary Duty ,
Irrevocable Trusts ,
Jurisdiction ,
Probate ,
Probate Courts ,
Quasi-Judicial Process ,
Surrogate's Court ,
Trustees ,
Undue Influence Claims
Reformation of Trust Supported by Presumption that Settlor Would Not Have Intended Construction Resulting in Payments to Government Rather Than Beneficiaries...more
Testamentary Capacity at Moment of Execution of Will Is Crucial; Testator’s General “Cognitive Decline” Does Not Invalidate Will -
Haddad v. Haddad, 19-P-1378 (January 12, 2021) -
Where the maker of a will has entered...more
Assailant's Spendthrift Trust Accessible to Child of Murdered Parents -
de Prins v. Michaeles, SJC-12865 (October 20, 2020) -
In de Prins v. Michaeles, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) tackled a trust...more
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
12/18/2019
/ Appeals ,
Beneficiaries ,
Beneficiary Designations ,
Consent ,
Debt ,
Decedent Protection ,
Estate Claims ,
Estate Planning ,
Expert Testimony ,
Family Law Courts ,
Fiduciary Duty ,
Insolvency ,
Litigation Strategies ,
Nursing Homes ,
Personal Property ,
Probate ,
Testamentary Capacity
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
10/21/2019
/ Appeals ,
Asset Diversification ,
Asset Management ,
Beneficiaries ,
Business Litigation ,
Charitable Trusts ,
Decedent Protection ,
Diversification Requirements ,
Duty of Prudence ,
Duty to Settle ,
Executors ,
Fiduciary Duty ,
Filing Deadlines ,
General Electric ,
Guardians ,
Health Care Providers ,
Liability ,
Medical Records ,
Motion to Compel ,
Nursing Homes ,
Personal Representatives ,
Philip Morris ,
Probate ,
Request for Production ,
Stocks ,
Surrogate's Court ,
Tort ,
Trustees
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
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
6/27/2019
/ Appeals ,
Beneficiaries ,
Breach of Duty ,
Decedent Protection ,
Estate Claims ,
Estate Planning ,
Exculpatory Clauses ,
Fiduciary Duty ,
Forfeiture ,
Legal Fees ,
LLC Agreements ,
No Contest Clause ,
Probate ,
Trustees
Disinherited Son Loses Bid in New York to Share in Father’s Estate Based on Brother’s Promise -
Matter of Estate of Fogel, No. 2006-1234/B (Kings Sur. April 10, 2019) -
A disinherited son tried to make a claim on the...more
Disinherited Children Lose Challenge to Mother’s Will in New York Surrogate’s Court -
Matter of Loe, 2019 WL 657041 (N.Y. Sur. Feb. 13, 2019) -
Can disinherited children challenge their mother’s will based on possible...more
When considering fiduciary litigation in New York, practitioners often think first of Surrogate’s Court (New York’s probate court) or full-out litigation in New York State Supreme Court (as New York’s basic trial court is...more