News & Analysis as of

Trusts Attorney's Fees

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?

McManis Faulkner on

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

Allen Barron, Inc.

A Trustee or Executor has Substantial Financial and Legal Liability

Allen Barron, Inc. on

Have you been asked to be a trustee or executor? A trustee or executor has substantial financial and legal liability, and the trust or estate will pay an attorney to guide them through the process....more

Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani

Kositzka v. Fick: Key Lessons on Trustee Fiduciary Duty in Virginia Trusts

In a recent decision, the Court of Appeals of Virginia upheld a lower court’s ruling that Kositzka, Wicks and Company (KWC) breached its fiduciary duty to Edward Joseph Ryan, awarding his estate $999,050 in damages, attorney...more

Walkers

Case insight: Recoverability of English lawyers' costs in hostile Guernsey proceedings

Walkers on

BX v T Limited and AX and JX and CX and OX and PX and QX [2024]GRC066 (27 September 2024) - In a recent supplementary judgment on costs, Lieutenant Bailiff of the Royal Court of Guernsey, Hazel Marshall KC (the "Judge"),...more

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

Equity’s maxims have many jurisprudential functions, one critical function being to sinew the equitable principles that regulate...

Equity’s maxims have many jurisprudential functions, one critical function being to sinew the equitable principles that regulate the law of trusts. A court that is saddled with sorting out the rights, duties and obligations...more

Proskauer - Employee Benefits & Executive...

District Court Holds Unenforceable Trust Provision Requiring Attorneys’ Fees for Arbitration

Employers may be bound by multiemployer pension plans’ trust agreements and collections policies, but the force of these governing documents may have its limits. In Nevada Resorts Ass’n–Int’l All. of Theatrical Stage Emps....more

Warner Norcross + Judd

How Solid is the Stipulated Order for Paying Litigation-related Attorney Fees from a Trust?

The Michigan Court of Appeals recently issued an interesting ruling regarding the ability of a litigant in probate litigation to recover attorney fees from the trust in dispute, even if all parties agree to such payment. In...more

Winstead PC

Trustee’s Ability To Retain And Compensate Attorneys In Texas - Presentation

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David F. Johnson presented his paper titled “Trustee’s Ability To Retain And Compensate Attorneys In Texas” to the Texas State Bar’s 48th Annual Advanced Estate Planning and Probate Course on June 13, 2024, in Houston, Texas....more

Foster Swift Collins & Smith

Legal-Ease: What is the Downside of DIY Estate Planning?

Dear Jonathan: I am thinking about preparing my own estate planning documents, including a will, powers of attorney and a trust. A close friend of mine just went through this process and it cost her thousands of dollars and I...more

Winstead PC

Court Affirmed Award Of Damages And Punitive Damages Against A Trustee Due To A Breach Of The Duty To Disclose, Held That A Trust...

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In Mendell v. Scott, a decedent had a trust that named him as primary beneficiary, and upon his death, the trust would continue for a niece provided that she did not commit a prohibited act. No. 01-20-00578-CV, 2023 Tex. App....more

Robins Kaplan LLP

Who Pays When You Fight Over a Trust?

Robins Kaplan LLP on

Litigation is often expensive. When a client considers filing a lawsuit or must decide how to handle a lawsuit someone else started, one of the most fundamental questions to ask is: Who pays the lawyers? Under the American...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

Robins Kaplan LLP

Wearing the Right Hat

Robins Kaplan LLP on

As demonstrated in our Gold Medal Bakery case, with corporate fiduciary claims, there can be thought-provoking challenges and issues presented by the question of whether a claim is direct or derivative. Probate and trust...more

Winstead PC

Court Holds That Trust Was Not Ambiguous And Provided The Trustee Discretion In Making Income Distributions

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In Wells Fargo, N.A. v. Clower, a trustee filed suit for declaratory relief regarding its discretion to make income distributions. No. 02-20-00058-CV, 2021 Tex. App. LEXIS 7675 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth September 16, 2021, no...more

Lathrop GPM

Minnesota Court of Appeals Upholds Settlor’s Intent, Rejects Beneficiary’s Petition to Modify Trust and Receive Attorney Fees

Lathrop GPM on

In an opinion released last week, the Minnesota Court of Appeals rejected a petition to modify the terms of a trust to allow for the early distribution of trust assets to the beneficiaries. The court also denied the...more

Shutts & Bowen LLP

Written Disclosure Requirements for Attorney Fees in Trust and Estate Administrations

Shutts & Bowen LLP on

House Bill 625 (2021), sponsored by Representative Clay Yarborough, R–Jacksonville, amends Sections 733.6167 and 736.1007 of the Florida Statutes to provide that if an attorney intends to charge a fee for an estate or initial...more

Downey Brand LLP

When Can California Trustees Use Trust Funds to Hire Lawyers?

Downey Brand LLP on

Many family member trustees are uncertain about whether and to what extent they can use trust assets to obtain legal representation. For example, when two parents choose their daughter, upon their incapacity or death, to...more

Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP

Certificateholders in Article 77 Proceedings May Recover Attorney’s Fees in ‘Unique’ Cases

A New York court has determined that certificateholders in Article 77 proceedings may recover their attorney’s fees in “unique” cases where their efforts increase overall recoveries to the trust....more

Rivkin Radler LLP

New York Insurance Coverage Law Update

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United States District Court Orders Insured To Produce Certain Pre-Litigation Documents But Not Others Deemed Work Product 99 Wall sued Allied World seeking coverage under a property policy for water losses at 99 Wall’s...more

Holland & Hart LLP

Trustees Beware: Provide Timely Information to Beneficiaries

Holland & Hart LLP on

Individual trustees often fail to fulfill the duties imposed on trustees, not only by the trust instrument, by also by the trust statutes applicable in the jurisdiction. It is often the case that the individual trustee is a...more

Winstead PC

Trustee Compensation in Texas - Presentation

Winstead PC on

Areas of Discussion: - In this Presentation, we will discuss the following: - Duty of loyalty; - Authority for trustee compensation; - Factors for reasonable compensation; - Other issues arising from trustee...more

Downey Brand LLP

Free Rider No More — When Can a California Trust Beneficiary Shift Legal Fees to Other Beneficiaries?

Downey Brand LLP on

American courts (including our California state courts), in contrast to courts in England, do not typically award attorneys’ fees to a lawsuit’s “victor.” There are, of course, exceptions to this so-called “American Rule.”...more

Winstead PC

Court Reversed A Summary Judgment For Trustee And Found That A Contingent Remainder Beneficiary Had Standing And Potentially Had A...

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In In the Interest of K.K.W., an ex-wife sued an ex-husband and the trustee of a trust that they created for breaches of fiduciary duty and sought to remove the trustee, among other claims, arising out of the trustee’s...more

Winstead PC

Court Denied Mandamus Relief To Review Order Denying Trustee’s Request To Pay His Attorney’s Fees In The Interim

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In In re Cousins, a trustee filed a mandamus proceeding to challenge a trial court’s order denying his motion to pay his attorney’s fees from the trust. No. 12-18-00104-CV, 2018 Tex. App. LEXIS 3930 (Tex. App.—Tyler May 31,...more

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