OUR PRACTICE AREAS.

Many factors and situations can lead to will and trust and estate litigation. Whether the issues involved are complex or routine, Morrill Law has the depth of experience and capacity to handle the matter.

Disputes often arise between the beneficiaries or heirs and the person (e.g., trustee, executor, or other fiduciary) who is administering the trust or estate, including:

  • Disputes over the actions or inaction of a trustee or executor
  • Disputes over the interpretation of the terms of trusts, amendments, wills, or codicils
  • Breach of fiduciary duties, whether intentional or due to negligence
  • Disputes regarding a fiduciary accounting or failure to account to beneficiaries or heirs

Trust or will contests can occur when issues arise regarding an individual’s mental capacity or incompetence, or cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia. Disputes are caused when the impact of these health issues results in concerns about the validity of trusts, amendments, wills, codicils, or other estate planning instruments.

Concerns that a change to a will or trust resulted from undue influence exerted by a trusted family member or other individual can also result in litigation.

Conservatorships are an important tool to help protect an individual who no longer has the mental or physical ability to manage their own healthcare or finances, which may make them especially vulnerable to fraud or undue influence. In most cases, a family member or friend may ask the court to appoint a trusted person to manage the individual’s affairs and establish a conservatorship.

Conservatorships are often utilized for the elderly, but can also be helpful for adults of any age who have suffered an illness or injury that impacts their ability to care for themselves, or for individuals dealing with severe mental illness or physical disabilities. A guardianship creates a unique legal relationship between a child and a guardian. Unlike adoption, guardianships preserve the legal relationship between the child and his or her natural parents.

The role of a fiduciary in administering a trust is important and, depending on the issues involved in the trust, can also be complicated. A private professional fiduciary may be appointed to replace a designated Trustee when improprieties occur or when disagreements arise among Co-Trustees.

Morrill Law routinely represents and advises private professional fiduciaries in contested trust and probate administrations, conservatorships and guardianships of the estate or person.