When a bad actor intervenes in your parent’s life to orchestrate a change in their estate plans—a change your parents didn’t want—we call that inheritance theft. It is the fastest growing area of theft among elders. And it often happens when you least expect it. It can be hard to detect and even harder to […]
Who makes decisions over your Trust assets? If you are the beneficiary of a Trust, you may be surprised to learn that the Trustee is the person, the only person, who decides what to do with your Trust assets. Whether it is buying, selling, paying, or bartering, the Trustee calls the shots. That’s just how […]
Can a Trustee refuse to sell a house owned by the Trust? Typically, the answer is no. But it depends on the circumstances of your Trust. Here is the most common scenario: You are a beneficiary of a Trust. There are two or more other beneficiaries. The Trust requires that all Trust assets be distribution […]
Trustee abuse can occur in irrevocable Trusts. It is fairly easy to tell. For example, if you are entitled to receive money from a Trust for your health, educations, maintenance, and support, then you should be receiving something from the Trust. Everyone has some amount of maintenance and support requirements. Rent, car payments, health insurance […]
Some Trustees need to be trained. Especially individual Trustees who may have no experience acting as a Trustee before. Many people mistakenly believe that a Trustee steps into the shoes of the Trust creator and as such the Trustee can do “whatever” they want. Not trust. Under Probate Code section 16000, every Trustee must follow […]
You have been named as a beneficiary of a Trust, but unfortunately your share of the Trust is not going to be given to you outright. Instead, it must remain locked away in an irrevocable Trust for some time. Some irrevocable Trusts last for several years, or until you reach a certain age, or for […]
You know what needs to be done. A house needs to be sold, a stock portfolio needs to be split and distributed to the named beneficiaries, and a cash account needs to be divided, too. Properly handling a Trust administration is not rocket science. But it does take someone reasonably responsible to complete the task […]
Ridding yourself of a bad Trustee is no easy task. But there are a few ways you can use to help increase your chances of removing a Trustee. It all starts with documenting your efforts to work reasonably with him or her. Duties of a Trustee Probate Code section 16060 requires a Trustee to keep […]
When is it worth it to sue for your inheritance? Lawsuits can be expensive, time consuming, and emotionally draining. But there are two big issues involved in every Trust and Will lawsuit: principle and money. By principle, we are referring to what is right and what is just. Of course, we all know that life […]
My friend promised to leave me a big gift as part of their estate, but when my friend died I was left nothing. Can I sue? Well that all depends on the circumstances surrounding your friend’s estate plan. If your friend simply changed their mind. Or worse yet, if your friend lied to you, then […]
