When representing fiduciaries in litigation that estate and trust beneficiaries commence, my Farrell Fritz, P.C. colleagues and I seek to limit the fiduciaries’ exposure to liability. One way to accomplish that objective is to narrow the period for which beneficiaries have standing to compel fiduciaries to account. In Yonke v. D’Angelo, New York County
Accounting
“Can I sue them for legal fees?”
By Frank T. Santoro on
This is a common question from clients involved in litigation – – especially estate litigation. As a general rule, a party cannot recover attorney’s fees for successfully prosecuting or defending a lawsuit. This is the “American Rule,” and it is engrained in our legal system. New York courts are wary of deviating from the American…
Releases: End of the Road or Just a New Beginning?
By Ilene S. Cooper on
Posted in Accounting, Fiduciaries
The fiduciary who thinks a receipt and release is the answer to all future claims for an accounting and liability may have a surprise in store. Over the past several months, Surrogates have explored the issue of receipts and releases, and have provided insight into just how far they will go to “save the day.” The New York County Surrogate’s Court’s recent decision in Matter of Ingraham is a case in point. Ilene Cooper discusses the decision in our latest post.
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The Slayer Rule Revisited
By Robert M. Harper on
Posted in Accounting
As I wrote in a prior post, dated February 25, 2011, concerning the Estate of Dianne Edwards, the “slayer rule” articulated by the Court of Appeals in Riggs v. Palmer provides that “[n]o one shall be permitted to profit by his own fraud, or to take advantage of his own wrong, or to found …
Two Recent Decisions That Have Validated and Invalidated Inter Vivos Gifts
By Ilene S. Cooper on
Posted in Accounting
In our latest entry, Ilene S. Cooper discusses two recent decisions addressing the validity of inter vivos gifts, and the contrasting results of each case.
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Potential Creditor of Trust Beneficiary Not Interested Party In Accounting Proceeding
By Eric W. Penzer on
Posted in Accounting
Nassau County Surrogate Edward W. McCarty, III recently held that potential creditors of a living trust beneficiary were not interested parties in the trust accounting proceeding. Eric Penzer discusses the decision in our latest entry.
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Fiduciary Beware: Contested Accounting in the Face of Exoneration Clause Results in Liability for Inter Vivos Trustee
By Ilene S. Cooper on
Posted in Accounting, Fiduciaries
In the recent decision of Matter of the Accounting of Tydings, the Bronx County Surrogate’s Court addressed the misconduct of the trustee of a lifetime trust, in view of an exoneration clause contained in the instrument. Ilene Cooper discusses the case in our latest entry.
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Trustee Permitted to Amend Accounting to Provide for Commissions
By John J. Barnosky on
Posted in Accounting
This week, Jack Barnosky discusses a recent case in which the language in a receipt and release agreement was essential to a decision permitting the amendment of an accounting.
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