Elderly persons often sign new estate documents, including trusts and trust amendments. Certainly, all persons with competence and without improper influences have the right to leave their property to whoever, and however, they please. However, there are instances where individuals have signed documents where they do not have the mental capacity to do so or
Latest from The Fiduciary Litigator
Court Reversed Order Holding That A Will Had Been Revoked Where There Was No Present Intent To Do So
In In re Estate of Wright, decedent’s son appealed an order finding that his mother died intestate. No. 13-23-00043-CV, 2024 Tex. App. LEXIS 8078 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi November 21, 2024, no pet. history). The son alleged that on May 7, 2007, the mother executed a holographic will (2007 will) which had not been revoked. His
Texas Supreme Court To Review Whether A Corporate Trust’s Shareholder Has Standing To Sue On Behalf Of The Trust
The Supreme Court granted oral argument in In re UMTH Gen. Servs., L.P., 2023 WL 8291829 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2023), wherein a real estate investment trust entered into an advisory agreement with an entity and gave it authority to manage corporate assets. One of the trust’s shareholders sued the advisor and its affiliates, asserting claims under
Court Dismissed An Appeal From A Probate Court Order Due To A Lack Of Jurisdiction
In In re Estate of Carr, the court of appeals dismissed an appeal from a probate court order due to a lack of jurisdiction. No. 04-23-00287-CV, 2024 Tex. App. LEXIS 7827 (Tex. App.—San Antonio November 6, 2024, no pet. history). The order: (1) appoints a temporary dependent administrator pending a will contest and identifies the
Court Reversed Order Setting Aside The Probating Of A Will Where The Evidence Was Insufficient To Support The Order
In In re Estate of Johnson, an administrator and a third party appealed the trial court’s judgment setting aside the probate of the decedent’s will, removing the administrator, and voiding the sale of an estate asset to the third party. No. 05-23-00087-CV, 2024 Tex. App. LEXIS 7635 (Tex. App.—Dallas October 28, 2024, no pet. history).
Texas Supreme Court Holds That Unsworn Testimony By Attorney Regarding A Lost Will Should Have Been Considered By The Appellate Court
Texas Supreme Court Declines The Chance To Rule On Whether There Is A Right To A Jury Trial In A Trust Modification Suit
First Appellate Decision. In In re Troy S. Poe Trust, a co-trustee of a trust filed suit to modify the trust to increase the number of trustees and change the method for trustees to vote on issues as well as other modifications, including, incredibly, directing the trustees to ignore duties to remainder beneficiaries. No. 08-18-00074-CV,
Presentation: Trust Modifications and Reformations in Texas
Lead writer for the Fiduciary Litigator blog, David F. Johnson, presented “Trust Modifications and Reformations in Texas” at UT Law CLE’s 21st Annual Changes and Trends Affecting Special Needs Trusts Conference. This presentation addressed the common law standards for trust modifications, statutory standards for trust modifications and reformations, recent caselaw authority impacting trust modifications, standing
Court Holds That Party Waived Appeal By Not Timely Appealing An Order Admitting A Will To Probate
Court Reversed A Judgment Based On A No-Contest Clause Because After Nonsuiting The Will Contest Pleading, The Trial Court Did Not Have Jurisdiction Over The Defensive Allegations Concerning The Clause
In In re In the Estate of Wegenhoft, an applicant filed an application to probate a will, which contained a no-contest clause. No. 14-23-00350-CV, 2024 Tex. App. LEXIS 5352 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] July 30, 2024, no pet. history). Contestants filed their opposition to the will, asserting that the will was executed under undue influence,