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Many estate practitioners are familiar with contested matters in which a charity interested in the proceeding is cited, as is the Attorney General, and both the Attorney General and private counsel for the charity appear in the proceeding. In such cases, both the Attorney General and the charity’s counsel represent the charity. What happens, however, when the status and identity of the charitable beneficiary is less than certain? That was precisely the situation facing the New York County Surrogate’s Court in the probate contest involving the much-publicized estate of Huguette Clark. John Morken discusses this portion of the Clark case in our latest entry.
Continue Reading Representation of Charities by the Attorney General

Having been adjudicated in both the criminal and civil forums, Castor v. Pulaski addressed the disturbing scenario of a wife murdering her husband, and thereafter forging his will so as to obtain all of his property. John Morken dicusses the civil case in this week’s entry.
Continue Reading Court Awards Compensatory and Punitive Damages, and Attorney Fees, for Fraud in Probating Will