Surcharge imposed against trustee for more than $600,000 for “reimbursements” to herself, but surcharge for failure to properly invest funds denied because the testimony of the expert witness was speculative and simplistic and lacked a solid foundation. In addition, punitive … Continue reading
Tag Archives: Attorney fees
Executors surcharged for sale of estate property to a son of one executor, for expenses paid to the purchaser of the property for “cleanup” of the property 20 days before the sale, for distributions of automobiles contrary to the provisions … Continue reading
Estate’s payment of inheritance on individual retirement accounts was proper when will directed that “all taxes that may be assessed in consequence of my death” be paid “from my residuary as a part of the expense of the administration of … Continue reading
Surviving spouse who unsuccessfully attempted to elect against the decedent’s will and who took other actions to challenge the validity of a prenuptial agreement ordered to pay reasonable legal fees to the estate in accordance with the prenuptial agreement, and … Continue reading
A beneficiary’s court-ordered child support arrearage should be paid from the estate, notwithstanding the spendthift clause in the will, and the children’s mother had no standing to object to the administration of the estate or seek removal of the executor. … Continue reading
Auditor’s report was affirmed, and objections dismissed, that (a) approved the trustees’ liquidation of some family businesses, notwithstanding precatory language expressing desire that businesses continue under the management and control of testator’s immediate family, (b) relied upon previous findings of … Continue reading
Surcharge for administration of estate for 18 years denied when real property held by estate was farmed and productive, there was litigation over condemnation of part of the property, there were disagreements among the beneficiaries over whether to sell or … Continue reading
The Attorney General of Pennsylvania objected to the attorney fees in an estate with a sole charitable beneficiary. The court found the attorney’s hourly rate to be reasonable, but found the amount of hours to be excessive, reducing attorney fees … Continue reading
Estate distribution was erroneous because share of charitable beneficiary was reduced by inheritance tax paid, and noncharitable beneficiaries were required to return the excess distributions in accordance with the indemnification agreements they signed at the time of the initial distributions. … Continue reading
Upon remand from Superior Court, trial court corrected its decree concerning attorney fees paid to prevent removal and held that both former executors jointly and severally are liable for the amount surcharged. Rappaport Estate, 3 Fid.Rep.3d 115 (O.C. Bucks 2012) … Continue reading