The general rule is that a party is responsible for his/her own attorney fees in litigation, regardless of the outcome. The usual exception to this rule is if there is an applicable statute or contract which calls for an award of attorney fees. “Whether a trial court had authority to award attorney fees is a question…
Legal Articles
Resulting Trusts
Resulting trusts and constructive trusts are nebulous equity concepts in the law. Both are generally viewed as remedies. Both are “implied trusts.” Colonial Presbyterian Church v. Heartland, 375 S.W.3d 190, 195 (Mo. App. W.D. 2012). A resulting trust is “implied by law to meet the requirements of justice that a legal status be given to what…
Probate Deadlines
Deadlines in probate litigation and administration are often unforgiving. For instance, a will must be presented to the correct probate court within a year or it is essentially a dead letter. Will contests and estate disputes must be pursued very quickly. When it comes to probate deadlines, Missouri Courts have “consistently rejected such policy arguments…
Determining a Grantor’s Intent in Trusts
When interpreting a trust, the Settlor’s “intent is controlling and such intention must be ascertained primarily from the trust instrument as a whole.” Berezo v. Berezo, 628 S.W.3d 737, 743-44 (Mo. App. E.D. 2021). Because language and circumstances vary, the Court must examine “the specific language as well as the surrounding circumstances.” Matter of TR…
Successor in Interest, Powers of Attorney
The term “successor in interest,” as of this writing, has not been defined in the context of power of attorney litigation. When someone mismanages his/her authority under a power of attorney, the principal, or his/her successors in interest, can file suit. The relevant statute defines “successor in interest”: “For purposes of this section, the principal’s…
Non-Monetary Claims Against the Estate
When an individual dies, there is generally no more than one year from the date of death to make a “claim” against his/her estate. The burden to commence a claim is the responsibility of the claimant. Mo. Highway & Transp. Com’n v. Myers, 785 S.W.2d 70, 73 (Mo. 1990). The general purpose of this deadline is…
Will Contests, Self-Proving Wills
Will contests are unique for several reasons. Perhaps most significantly, the burden is on the proponent of the document to prove the will was executed and that the testator possessed the requisite capacity. Many times the “proponent” of the will is the defendant in the lawsuit. So, the will contest instructions contemplate the defendant presenting…
Trustee Abuse of Discretion Factors
Increasingly, trust instruments grant trustees “discretion” to do certain acts. Drafters include this language to account for unanticipated circumstances and make a trustee’s life easier. But even where a trustee has discretion, they can act improperly. “A grant of absolute discretion to a trustee is not a roving commission – the trustee must be guided…
Probate Exception to Federal Jurisdiction
There are two main ways for a lawsuit to end up in federal court. First, if the lawsuit “arises under” federal law. This is sometimes called federal question jurisdiction. Second, if there is diversity jurisdiction. There are, in turn, two main requirements for diversity jurisdiction: the amount in controversy must exceed $75,000 and all of…
Trust Language: “Necessary or Advisable” Distributions
The language of a trust is extremely important. And when a will, trust, and other estate documents form part of the same plan, they are interpreted together. Indeed, “[w]hen a trust and will form parts of the same plan, they must be construed together.” Shriners Hospital for Children v. Schaper, 215 S.W.3d 185, 189-90 (Mo….