Contesting a trust is rarely simple—and it’s not something you should handle alone. If you suspect something is wrong with a trust, or if you’re being accused of mismanaging one, it’s crucial to have experienced legal support. A Lake Mary trust contests lawyer at The Probate Pro can help you protect your rights and build a strong case.
At The Probate Pro, we focus almost exclusively on probate and trust litigation. Our entire practice is dedicated to estate-related legal matters, and we’ve spent years honing our skills in this specialized area of law.
Trusts are legal documents that create a plan for asset management. Once upon a time, trusts were only used by the wealthiest individuals, but today, you don’t need to be a millionaire to take advantage of a trust and keep assets out of probate.
There are three key roles one needs to know to understand trusts:
Trusts are typically drafted with the assistance of an estate planning attorney and are legally complicated and extensive documents. Challenging a trust without the help of a Lake Mary lawyer can be extremely difficult and risky.
Some trusts go into effect immediately, while others do not until the trustor dies. Either way, when the time comes, a trustee takes charge of the estate and manages the assets in the trust. Trustees must act in good faith and operate under the fiduciary duty theory.
Unfortunately, many trustors choose someone they love to act as a trustee, rather than someone with excellent financial sense, investing experience, and bookkeeping skills. That can sometimes lead to errors and conflicts.
Fiduciary duty means a person must handle money for others reasonably and prudently. Trust management can be a massive undertaking depending on the estate’s size and the type of assets involved. Unfortunately, many trustees cannot make challenging decisions and handle the bookkeeping tasks associated with a trust.
Some trustees do not know what to do and end up acting negligently, breaking their fiduciary duty. This may not be their fault, as many people do not understand the process. Others make poor choices regarding asset management or neglect their duties entirely.
For instance, imagine a trustee who suffers from substance abuse disorder or a gambling addiction. They allow a family home to become vacant, uninsured, crawling with pests and eventually squatters. This is not prudent behavior, and in this case, a Lake Mary trust contests attorney could make a case against this trustee for failing to manage this asset.
Trust litigation often arises when a beneficiary or trustee believes that the trust no longer reflects the trustor’s original intent. This can happen if a trustee appears to be acting in self-interest, mismanaging assets, or making poor investment decisions. In such situations, a Lake Mary trust contests lawyer can step in to represent your interests.
If you believe a trust is being mismanaged or does not reflect the trustor’s genuine intention, call a Lake Mary trust contests lawyer at The Probate Pro now. They can also assist someone who is having their actions challenged unfairly.
We are well-trained advocates who have spent many years working in this area of law, and we’ve helped many people with their probate, trusts, and estate planning needs. Call us today and learn why many people choose us for their crucial legal needs.