Trust Lawyers
When a loved one dies, the last thing you want to deal with is complex legal issues. A skilled trust litigation attorney can lessen the burden and help you reach a favorable resolution to your trust dispute.
Regardless of whether you are a trustee, beneficiary, or heir, the trust lawyers at Keystone Law Group will enforce your rights and resolve any trust disputes that arise. Our attorneys have experience handling all types of trust administration and litigation matters, including will contests, trustee removal actions, trust modifications, and more. Contact us to request a free consultation.
- Perhaps a trust’s terms are ambiguous and clarification is needed about what they mean before distributions can be made. Can you ask the court for help interpreting the document?
- Perhaps you discovered some assets belonging to the trust to be missing. Is it possible to recover them?
- Perhaps you are skeptical about the accuracy of the trust accountings you received from the trustee. Can they be challenged?
- Perhaps you suspect a beneficiary of a trust to have unduly influenced the trustor into increasing their share. Can your claim be investigated?
What Is Trust Litigation?
To understand trust litigation, one must first understand the purpose of a trust. A trust is created by one party (trustor) who transfers assets to a responsible person or entity (the trustee) for the benefit of designated persons (beneficiaries). Trusts are meant to be private — unlike wills, which are subject to probate (i.e., court supervision). The courts only rule on trust matters when certain aspects of a trust are being disputed by the parties involved.
Trust litigation is a catch-all term describing all trust-related actions brought to court.
If the decedent had a will instead of a trust, or did not have a will or trust at all, then you may need our estate litigation services.
How can a Trust Litigation Attorney help you?
Trust disputes can be long, drawn-out nightmares for everyone involved if they are not handled with finesse. One misstep on the part of trustees, beneficiaries or heirs could prove costly, both financially and in terms of time. Trust litigation attorneys have the know-how and experience to handle trust matters skillfully and efficiently. Here, you can learn more about Keystone’s trust services.
Below you will find some of the ways our trust dispute lawyers can help resolve various issues surrounding disputed trusts.
Counseling Trustees
It is no small responsibility to be the trustee of a trust, especially if you are the successor trustee, who becomes trustee after the trustor (the trust’s creator) dies or becomes incompetent. Between securing a copy of the trust, understanding its terms, marshaling its assets, gathering information about its outstanding debts and fulfilling obligations to beneficiaries – all duties with potential pitfalls – it is easy to get overwhelmed.
Having a trust attorney in your corner to handle any trust disputes that arise and provide guidance through every step of the trust administration process can help ensure things progress smoothly and no mistakes are made. See below for some of the ways trustees could benefit from the counsel of a trust litigation lawyer.
- Securing relevant documents (e.g., trust documents, death certificate, deeds, property appraisals)
- Interpreting, understanding and abiding by a trust’s terms
- Prioritizing and handling creditor claims
- Conducting an inventory of assets
- Effectively managing trust assets
- Making distributions
Learn more about the duties and obligations of trustees.
Accounting Disputes
One of the key duties of a trustee is maintaining an accurate, penny-for-penny accounting of every asset that enters and exits a trust. Trust beneficiaries are entitled to this information and may request it from trustees during the administration process.
Trustees may also be responsible for submitting formal accountings to the court once a year, every time there is a change of trustees or when a trust is terminated. Below are some of the ways trust lawyers can help with trust accounting.
- Preparation and defense of code-compliant trust accountings for trustees
- Analysis of complex accountings for beneficiaries
- Bringing claims against trustees who provide inaccurate or incomplete accountings
- Bringing claims against trustees who are mismanaging assets or failing to fulfill their financial obligations
Learn more about trust accounting disputes.
Property Disputes
Countless types of trust property disputes can arise over the course of trust administration. A qualified trust litigation attorney can help trustees and trust beneficiaries litigate or defend against such claims.
Below are some of the circumstances that can cause trust disputes.
- When it is discovered that a trust asset was given away by the trustor during life (e.g., the trustor’s residence is now in the name of someone other than the trust)
- When a beneficiary designation (e.g., a bank account or a life insurance policy) was changed prior to the trustor’s death at a time when the trustor lacked competency
- When a trustee incorrectly distributes a trust’s assets or fails to distribute them at all
Learn more about trust property disputes.
Trust Contests
When a trustor dies, the successor trustee should obtain copies of the trust to provide to the trust’s beneficiaries and any heirs who were excluded from the trust. The trustee, beneficiaries and heirs will have the opportunity to examine the trust instrument with their trust attorney.
Any involved party may bring what is called a trust contest to invalidate some or all of the trust if they believe the entire trust, or a portion of it, is invalid. Some of the more common grounds for bringing a trust contest are discussed below. Get in touch with a trust dispute lawyer to discuss your options and craft a trust litigation strategy if you believe you have grounds for bringing a trust contest, such as:
- It is suspected that undue influence, fraud, duress or another form of misconduct played a role in the trust’s drafting or execution
- It is suspected that elder abuse played a role in the trust’s drafting or execution
- Trust terms are ambiguous or problematic (e.g., trust leaves large gifts to non-family members)
- Trust terms violate the inheritance rights of spouses and/or children
- Gifts are left to disqualified persons (i.e., caregivers, fiduciaries or estate planners)
Learn more about trust contests.
Removal and Surcharge
Courts are not sympathetic to trustee negligence since trustees have an abundance of resources (e.g., trust attorneys, financial advisers and accountants) at their disposal to help them through the administration process.
Trustees who breach their duties can be held personally liable for damages (“surcharges”) if they compromise the trust’s resources in any way, and they can be suspended or even permanently removed as trustee. If you answer “yes” to any of these questions, it is crucial you consult with a trust litigation attorney to go over your options for suspending, removing or surcharging a trustee.- Did the trustee lose or cause damage to trust assets?
- Has the trustee failed to make trust assets productive?
- If a trust has co-trustees, are disagreements between them causing the administration process to suffer?
- Is the trustee receiving more compensation than what is normal?
- Has the trustee failed to make timely distributions of assets to beneficiaries?
- Is the trustee capable of competently administering the trust?
- Did the trustee otherwise fail to fulfill their duties to the beneficiaries?
Elder Abuse Claims
If you suspect an elderly trustor has been subjected to elder abuse that resulted in damage to the trust, it might be possible for you to bring a claim against the person you believe to be the perpetrator. A trust litigation attorney can provide guidance on the type of financial exploitation claim to bring. Consider the examples below.
- Trustee discovers trust assets to be missing after taking over the administration of a trust previously managed by an elderly trustor
- Beneficiary discovers that the elderly trustor was taken advantage of by opportunistic third parties (maybe even the trustee) who convinced the trustor to enter into dubious agreements or give property away
- Trust leaves a large gift to the trustor’s caretaker
Learn more about our elder financial abuse services.
Spouses, Children and Unmarried Couples
A decedent’s children, surviving spouse or cohabitating partner may be entitled to an inheritance, even if they have been left out of a decedent’s trust. We provide an overview of inheritance rights as they pertain to children, spouses and unmarried cohabitating partners below.- Unless a pre-nuptial or post-nuptial agreement is in place, surviving spouses are entitled to a share of the decedent’s assets, since assets acquired over the course of a marriage are considered community property.
- Unless children were intentionally disinherited from a valid trust, they generally have a right to inherit. If they’re not on track to inherit and believe they should be, they have standing to fight for their rightful inheritances with help from a trust lawyer.
- Unmarried couples, especially those in long-term partnerships, are occasionally entitled to an inheritance. A trust attorney can help clarify their inheritance rights.
Who Our Trust Lawyers Represent
Trustees may choose to involve themselves in trust litigation only when they are defending their actions as trustees, defending the trust or bringing a claim on behalf of the trust against a beneficiary or third party. Trust attorneys can counsel trustees about how to proceed in trust disputes.
Beneficiaries are the ones who stand to inherit from trusts. In trust disputes, they can either bring claims against other beneficiaries, trustees or third parties or defend claims brought against them. Trust lawyers can litigate on behalf of beneficiaries to help them obtain or keep the inheritance to which they’re entitled.
Heirs of decedents, such as children, may have a right to inherit from a trust even if they are not named as beneficiaries. Trust attorneys can help heirs enforce their rights.
Surviving spouses of decedents may have community property and inheritance rights to trust property, even if they are not named as beneficiaries of a trust.
When a debtor dies, and their estate does not have enough funds to repay their debts, it may become the responsibility of the decedent’s trust to repay them. For a debt to be repaid, a creditor must enter a creditor’s claim as soon as possible, because creditor claims are time-barred. If the deadline for submitting a creditor’s claim has lapsed, creditors will have little to no chance of collecting the debt they are owed.
Regardless of whether the debtor is a decedent or a beneficiary of a decedent’s estate or trust, Keystone’s trust attorneys are well-qualified to assist creditors with navigating the complex creditor claim process and ensuring that their claims are entered in a timely fashion.
Case Studies of Our Trust Lawyer Services
If you find yourself embroiled in a trust dispute, the qualified trust lawyers at Keystone Law Group have the expertise and resources to help you effectively navigate any trust litigation matter. Contact us to learn more about our trust services.
Keystone represented a client in her 70s who was the settlor of an irrevocable trust that she unknowingly signed while overly medicated by her son, who had inserted himself as the trustee. Using his position as trustee, the son took out a hard money loan against the house owned by the trust and also maxed out her credit cards.
After learning the full extent of the son’s misconduct, Keystone petitioned the court, outlining the egregious acts of financial elder abuse by the son against our client. The presentation of the countless ways he misappropriated his mother’s resources shocked the judge’s conscience so much that during the initial hearing, he immediately granted Keystone’s petition to suspend the son as trustee of the trust and replaced him with a private professional fiduciary. Through continued intense pressure and litigation, by the second hearing, Keystone obtained an order invalidating the trust on account of the trust having been created through unlawful means.
Keystone’s client recouped her assets, which consisted of her life savings, and regained the ability to support herself financially for her lifetime.
In a case involving some of the biggest law firms in the world, Keystone successfully represented a grandchild in an action to interpret a series of irrevocable trusts in a manner that would disqualify Keystone’s client from receiving any distribution.
In 1980, prior to having any grandchildren, the client’s grandfather created six (6) separate irrevocable trusts that were, by and large, identical to one another. Each trust named one future grandchild (i.e., “my first-born grandchild,” “my second-born grandchild,” etc.) as its beneficiary. Keystone’s client was the first-born grandchild; however, the client was born out of wedlock and never lived with her father, the grandfather’s son.
The trustee of the grandfather’s trusts, with the grandfather’s support, filed a petition to exclude Keystone’s client as a beneficiary on the basis that the term “grandchild” should not include a grandchild born out of wedlock who did not live with the grandfather’s child during their minority.
At an early hearing, and without requiring a trial, the court ruled in Keystone’s client’s favor. The court agreed with Keystone that the trusts were clear and unambiguous on their face and that the term “grandchild” means what it says and could not be reasonably interpreted to exclude a biological grandchild, regardless of the grandchild’s parents’ decision not to marry or live together.
Testimonials for Our Trust Lawyer Services
Our Trust Litigation Firm
Our Trust Lawyers
Our trust attorneys specialize in trust litigation. Regardless of whether it is interpreting a trust document, managing trust assets, providing disbursements to beneficiaries or bringing a trust contest, our trust dispute attorneys can help simplify the trust litigation process. Noteworthy accomplishments by members of our team include:
- Have been designated as certified specialists in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law (State Bar of California, Board of Legal Specialization)
- Have spoken on probate topics for attorneys, CPAs and other professionals
- Taught wills and trusts to law students
- Have been regularly recognized by attorney publications, such as Super Lawyers Magazine, Best Lawyers and Daily Journal
Our lawyers specialize in trust litigation in California. We’ve worked with clients in:
- Los Angeles County
- Riverside County
- Ventura County
- Orange County
- San Bernardino County
- San Diego County
If your county isn’t listed above but you’re in California, reach out to us to see if our trust lawyers may still be able to serve you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Trust Litigation FAQs
There is no simple answer to this question, as many factors could play into the cost. Those factors include:
- How complex is your case?
- How many parties are involved?
- What kinds of assets are involved? What is their worth?
- How many claims have been brought?
- How resistant is the opposing party?
Don’t let worries about cost stop you from consulting with a trust litigation lawyer. As part of an initial consultation, a trust lawyer can review your options with you and help you choose a path that aligns with your budget.
Schedule a free consultation with one of our trust attorneys who can provide you with a cost estimate after learning more about your case.
Yes, a minor can be a beneficiary of a trust, although it is important to keep in mind that they will not have direct access to their inheritance until age 18 or later, based on the terms of the trust.
Yes, trustees are often beneficiaries. Trustees who fall under this category have to make sure not to put their interests above those of other beneficiaries, as trustees owe fiduciary duties to all of the trust’s beneficiaries and have a legal obligation to remain impartial. If they do put their personal interests above the interests of the other beneficiaries, they risk legal retaliation.
Determining whether to get involved in a trust dispute as a trustee is a complicated matter, so you should consult with a trust lawyer regarding your individual case. If the terms of the trust instruct the trustee to get involved, the trustee may have a legal obligation to do so. If the trust does not provide any directives, unless the assets of the trust are at stake, it may not be in the trustee’s best interests to get involved.
For example, if beneficiaries are arguing among themselves about their allocated shares of the trust, it may be advisable for trustees to abstain from participating in the dispute. However, if a beneficiary is seeking to invalidate the trust as a whole, or if it comes to light that the trustor was subjected to elder abuse at the time they created or executed the trust, it may be crucial for the trustee to become involved.
The trust administration process will differ depending on the terms of the trust and the nature of the property held in trust, among other factors. In general, however, trust administration involves the following basic tasks:
- Track down and review the trust document, as well as any documents related to it, such as death certificates, deeds and property titles. Make sure you thoroughly understand every document. Trust attorneys deal with documents like this all the time, so they can help you interpret them if you have issues.
- Take an inventory of all assets within the trust and valuate them. In addition to assets formally held in the trust, the trust may also be entitled to certain death benefits from life insurance policies or other financial accounts. All assets listed in the trust must be accounted for and preserved.
- Notify creditors and beneficiaries about your new role as the trustee of the trust. You may need a trust lawyer’s help to prepare documents to advise beneficiaries, banks, lenders, creditors, etc. that you are now serving as trustee of the trust, or documents to help clear the title to real property in your name as trustee.
- Pay taxes, outstanding debts and any other expenses. Because trusts become irrevocable after the trustor’s death and their own taxpaying entities, trustees are responsible for acquiring a tax ID for the trust. Likewise, the trustee will need to find out about outstanding debts and pay them, as well as cover funeral or other end-of-life expenses if they are not provided for elsewhere in the trust.
- Make distributions to beneficiaries. It is important to abide by the terms set forth by the trustor of the trust. While some trusts will require you to make a one-time distribution, others will require you to make ongoing distributions. A trust lawyer can help interpret the trust document to ensure your distributions align with the trustor’s original wishes. Read more about making trust distributions.
Read more about trust administration.
Yes, but the resignation process can get complicated, so it is recommended you have a trust attorney to help you through it.
First, you must thoroughly examine the trust instrument to determine the procedure for resigning and see whether a successor trustee has been named. If one hasn’t, and the trust does not provide a procedure for appointing a successor trustee, you may need to appoint a new trustee and obtain court approval to allow for your resignation.
In order to make the transition more seamless, you will need to prepare a final accounting to provide to the beneficiaries and new trustee.
It is common for decedents to die with both a will and a trust, since together they present a comprehensive estate plan. Problems can arise when the two documents contradict each other.
In this scenario, it’s likely some of the decedent’s assets will be distributed according to the terms of the trust and some will be distributed according to the terms of the will. A trust attorney can help determine the exact manner in which the assets will transfer and litigate on your behalf if it becomes necessary to do so.
The answer to this question depends on many factors, including the complexity of the trust and whether the trust is subject to any disputes or litigation. If the trust is subject to disputes or litigation, it can be years before the dispute is resolved and the trustee can make any distributions. Otherwise, the process typically takes between 12 and 18 months.
It should be noted that because of trustees’ fiduciary duties to beneficiaries, they must attempt to make the process as quick as possible. In other words, they should complete their duties in a timely manner.
It depends. Trustees should only distribute trust assets to beneficiaries whose shares will not be affected by the outcome of the trust dispute. In all other cases, trust assets should not be distributed until every dispute is resolved; otherwise, the trustee risks personal liability for improper distributions.
Yes, trustees generally have the power to override beneficiaries in making decisions about the trust – although trustees are required to keep beneficiaries reasonably informed about the decisions they make, so if they violate any of their fiduciary duties to the beneficiaries, the beneficiaries can hold the trustee personally liable for any damage caused to the trust.
The trustees have an obligation to comply with the terms of the trust. At times, trustees are given the right to use their discretion when making disbursements. For instance, if a beneficiary has a substance abuse problem, the trustee may be given the power to elect to put that beneficiary’s disbursements on hold until the problem is resolved. Likewise, if the trustor had set aside trust funds for a child’s college education, but the child decides not to go to college, the trustee can withhold their disbursement until they reach a certain age.
Even if a trustee is given the right to withhold disbursements, it’s important to note that trustees cannot do so without having a valid reason.
Absolutely. If the beneficiaries suspect the trustee of having engaged in any misconduct (e.g., mismanaging trust assets) that resulted in damage to the trust, the trustee can not only be sued but removed and surcharged. Trustees may also be required to pay the beneficiaries’ attorney’s fees and costs.
Read more about beneficiary rights.
Trust amendments are utilized by trustors who wish to change the terms of their trust without going through the hassle of drafting an entirely new trust. To execute a trust amendment, the trustor must follow the rules and procedures set forth in the trust regarding revising the trust for the amendment to be considered valid.
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The Basics of California Trust Litigation
The Duties and Obligations of Trustees
It can be overwhelming to be trustee of a trust because of the sheer number of responsibilities and obligations that come with the role. If a trustee makes even one mistake, they are likely to suffer serious financial consequences.
The best way for trustees to safeguard themselves against financial mishaps is by hiring a trust lawyer to guide them through the steps of the trust administration process. Some of the most important steps of the process are covered below.
- Securing relevant documents (e.g., trust documents, death certificate, deeds, property appraisals)
- Interpreting, understanding and abiding by a trust’s terms
- Prioritizing and handling creditor claims
- Paying outstanding debts and taxes on behalf of the trust
- Conducting an inventory of assets
- Preparing code-compliant accountings for approval by the court
- Effectively managing trust assets
- Making distributions
- Representing the trust in administration and litigation matters
Trust Accounting Disputes
Trust accounting refers to the bookkeeping of trust accounts. It is crucial to the management of a trust, since trustees have a duty to keep a trust’s beneficiaries reasonably informed about the trust’s incoming and outgoing assets.
Preparing Trust Accountings
There are strict requirements about the manner in which trust accountings should be provided to trust beneficiaries.
A trust attorney can help trustees navigate these complexities so their trust accountings are not only accurate but also code-compliant. By taking this extra step of hiring legal counsel, trustees can ultimately save the trust time and money, as well as the headache of trust litigation.
Challenging Trustee Accountings
If trustees provide beneficiaries trust accountings that are inaccurate or reveal malfeasance on the part of the trustee, it is their right to bring an action that challenges said accountings.
In these kinds of scenarios, it is advisable to hire a trust dispute lawyer in case further action needs to be taken against the trustee (i.e., the trustee needs to be suspended, removed or held liable for damages and/or attorney’s fees).
Trust Property Disputes
While the types of trust property disputes can vary greatly, they usually fall under one of the below categories:
- Trustee vs. Beneficiary
- Beneficiary vs. Trustee
- Trustee or Beneficiary vs. Third Party
Does It Matter When a Trustor’s Property Was Taken?
If someone unlawfully takes a trustor’s assets while the trustor is alive, it does not mean they will be off the hook once the trustor dies.
Trustees can bring actions against trust beneficiaries or third parties, regardless of whether the trustor is alive or deceased. If there is reason to believe trust assets were taken improperly, it may be the trustee’s duty to litigate in order to recover the misappropriated assets. A trust lawyer can provide additional guidance to trustees about whether or not to involve themselves in a trust property dispute.
Damages to Trust Property
A party found to have wrongfully misappropriated trust assets can be held liable for all the damage they have caused to the trust, regardless of whether the claim is against a trustee, beneficiary or third party. In addition to damages, the defendant may also have to return lost assets and cover the opposing side’s trust litigation expenses.
If a property claim has been brought against you, you should immediately get in touch with a trust attorney to craft a defense strategy. Without the right representation, consequences can be extreme.
850 Petitions in Trusts
There are many reasons for bringing an 850 Petition, but in trust matters, they are filed to seek the transfer of real or personal property into or out of a decedent’s trust. Heggstad Petitions – a kind of 850 Petition – are frequently utilized in trust disputes. Below are some examples in which an 850 Petition may be filed.
- If a decedent contracts to transfer real or personal property into or out of their trust, but dies before finishing the transfer, the trustee can attempt to finish the transfer for the decedent by filing an 850 Petition.
- If a third party is claiming entitlement to real or personal property owned by a decedent’s trust, the third party can attempt to have the property transferred to them by filing an 850 Petition.
- If the trust is claiming entitlement to real or personal property belonging to a third party, the trustee can file an 850 Petition seeking to have the property transferred into the trust.
- The Importance of 850 Petitions in Probate
- How to File a Heggstad Petition
between executors and administrators are subtle, they are important to keep in mind if you have been appointed to either of these roles.
Trust Contests
Before a trust can be administered, all parties involved (i.e., the trustee and beneficiaries) should be in agreement about which trust documents are valid. If any don’t seem valid, a trust contest can be brought to invalidate the entire trust or problematic portions of it.
Bringing a Trust Contest
When dubious circumstances surround the creation or execution of a trust, anyone who has standing (i.e., the trustee, beneficiaries or heirs) can bring a contest to challenge the trust’s terms.
In trust contests, it is the trustee’s duty to do what is in the best interest of the trust and its beneficiaries. Trust dispute lawyers can provide further guidance about whether you meet any of the grounds for bringing a contest.
Defending a Trust Contest
If you are the acting trustee of a trust, and another interested party brings a trust contest, you may be obligated to defend the validity of the trust document. Likewise, if you are a beneficiary of a trust that another interested party has challenged, it may be in your best interest to defend against the trust contest to preserve your financial stake in the trust.
Whether you are a trustee or beneficiary, a trust dispute attorney can help you determine whether it would be worth your time and energy to defend against a trust contest. If it is, the trust lawyer can help craft a litigation strategy tailored to your desired outcome.
Settlement of Trust Disputes
Litigation can get costly, which is why many people use it as a last resort. If you have a trust dispute but are averse to litigating it, a trust attorney can work with the parties involved to help facilitate a settlement outside of court.
The probate code is complex so it is essential to have a trust lawyer in your corner to help avoid costly negotiating mistakes and to maximize your benefit under any settlement agreement.
Learn more about contesting a trust.
Beneficiary Designation Disputes in Trusts
When a decedent has designated a “payable-on-death beneficiary” on certain assets, those assets will transfer automatically to the named beneficiaries when the owner of those assets dies. Just like trusts, a beneficiary designation can be contested.
Assets with beneficiary designations can include:
- Retirement accounts
- IRAs
- Life insurance policies
- Deeds
- Bank accounts
- Challenging Beneficiary Designations
- Can You Dispute a Life Insurance Beneficiary?
- What Happens to Bank Accounts After Death?
- What to Know About When Inheriting Retirement Accounts
- Contesting Transfer-on-Death Deeds
Trust Disputes Involving a Beneficiary Designation
A trustee may be able to challenge a beneficiary designation if they believe that a “transfer-on-death” asset should be distributed as part of the trust. Likewise, beneficiaries can challenge a beneficiary designation if they believe a designated beneficiary change was obtained improperly. When bringing this kind of trust dispute, it is crucial for both parties to have an experienced trust attorney on their side.
Upholding a Beneficiary Designation in Trust Disputes
When an interested party challenges a payable-on-death beneficiary designation on an asset left to a trust, the trustee may be put in the position of having to defend the decedent’s beneficiary designation. Similarly, a named payable-on-death beneficiary may be forced to defend a decedent’s beneficiary designation if another person seeks to invalidate it. Whatever the situation, a trust lawyer can exponentially increase the odds of the court ruling in your favor.
Inheritance Rights of Spouses, Children and Unmarried Couples in Trusts
Spouses and children may have a right to inherit trust assets because of their relationship to the deceased trustor, regardless of whether the spouse or child is named as a beneficiary of the decedent’s trust.
It may be more challenging for cohabitating unmarried partners to claim an inheritance since inheritance laws only deal with married couples. However, this does not mean they are not entitled to an inheritance.
Whether you are a spouse or a child looking to protect your interest in a trust, a trustee forced to litigate against a spouse or child concerning their inheritance rights, or a cohabitating partner seeking to enforce an inheritance agreement you made with the deceased, a qualified trust litigation attorney can help ensure a desirable outcome is reached.
Spouses and Children Omitted from Trusts
A trust attorney can help spouses and children secure their inheritance rights, even if they are not named as beneficiaries of a trust.
California law includes protections for spouses and children who are inadvertently omitted as beneficiaries from a decedent’s trust. If the right circumstances apply, spouses and children may be entitled to a portion of the trust’s assets.
Community Property Rights of Spouses in Trusts
Community property refers to assets accumulated over the course of a marriage. As the name suggests, this kind of property belongs equally to both partners. When a spouse passes away, the deceased spouse’s trust can only dispose of his or her half of the community property.
Separate property applies to property acquired prior to marriage and sometimes to certain property acquired during marriage (e.g., property obtained by gift or inheritance and anything purchased using this property).
Problems an arise when a deceased spouse tries to dispose of their surviving spouse’s interest in community property as part of the deceased spouse’s estate or trust. A trust lawyer can help trustees and surviving spouses investigate whether a trust is violating the surviving spouse’s community property rights.
Divorced Spouse Exceptions in Trusts
If the trust identifies a spouse as a beneficiary, but the couple got divorced after the trust was signed, the beneficiaries may have a right to challenge the divorced spouse’s right to inherit.
A skilled trust lawyer can take the wheel to ensure separate property is kept separate and divorced spouses are provided the disbursements to which they’re entitled.
Inheritance Rights of Unmarried Cohabitating Couples in Trusts
The inheritance rights of unmarried couples in cohabitating partnerships can be somewhat ambiguous, given there are no provisions in the law to address this issue. Many couples make verbal or implied agreements about which assets will go to the surviving partner, but these types of agreements can be difficult to enforce in court. To avoid confusion and possible trust disputes, the best route of action for unmarried couples is to formalize inheritance agreements with a valid estate plan or other legally valid document.
If no formalized agreement had been in place when a partner in a cohabitating relationship dies, a trust attorney can help the surviving partner litigate to obtain the inheritance to which they believe they are entitled. Trust lawyers can also represent partners of decedents whose right to an inheritance is being challenged.
Request a Consultation with a Trust Attorney Today
Keystone Law Group is your go-to law firm for trust services in California. Our seasoned team of trust litigation lawyers can answer any questions you may have and guide you down the right path after hearing more about your trust dispute. Contact Keystone to request a free consultation.
