SACRAMENTO, Calif., July 15, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Hackard Law attorneys regularly represent Northern California trustees and beneficiaries in probate litigation cases. Issues examined include accountings; trustee removal and surcharge petitions; undue influence disqualification petitions; elder financial abuse; fraud; and concealment and conversion actions. In the representation of probate claims, No-Contest provisions require special attention.
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No-Contest is a clause within a will or trust that prevents a beneficiary from challenging a will or trust, typically by penalty of forfeiture of the inheritance. The practical effects of all No-Contest provisions are not the same- depending on the facts, the clause can provide either a strong or flimsy barrier to estate challenges.
California law changed in 2010 and now provides in part that a No-Contest clause is unenforceable where a direct contest is brought with "probable cause" to challenge a will or trust based upon:
- Forgery
- Lack of due execution
- Lack of capacity (physical infirmity, unsound mind)
- Menace, duress, fraud, or undue influence (controlling child or caretaker, etc.)
State law sees probable cause as based on reasonability. A judge would ask this question: When an individual contests a will or trust, would the facts they know cause a reasonable person to believe there's a reasonable likelihood that relief will be granted after an opportunity for further investigation and discovery?
California lawyers and judges have to determine which situations or circumstances will support a finding of probable cause. The new case law is sparse, and it's still unclear what factors would bring a court to support a reasonable person's conclusion that there is probable cause for a filing.
Probable cause will be fact-specific, and it's better to have counsel make a determination based upon all matters affecting the case. However, it cannot be assumed that a court will give counsel's opinion credence- judges' own opinions can differ across the jurisdictions of California Probate Courts.
About Hackard Law, a Professional Law Corporation Hackard Law, a Professional Law Corporation, focuses on transactional and litigation matters. Michael A. Hackard is the principal attorney of Hackard Law - a Northern California law firm representing families with extensive business interests as well as clients impoverished by others' wrongdoing. For information about Michael A. Hackard, please visit:
http://www.avvo.com/attorneys/95655-ca-michael-hackard-226264.html
CONTACT
Hackard Law
10630 Mather Blvd.
Mather, Sacramento County, CA 95655
Phone: 916-313-3030
SOURCE Hackard Law
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