Trust and Estate Litigation

Lord & Lindley - Lawyers in Charlotte NC

Understanding the Basics of Trust and Estate Litigation

November 5, 2024

Trust and estate litigation is a complex legal area concerned with disputes surrounding the management, administration, and distribution of assets. These disputes can arise from various issues, including the validity of a will, the interpretation of trust documents, or the actions of executors and trustees. Understanding the fundamental concepts is crucial for anyone involved in…

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Dr. Oz Claims His Sister Forged Their Late Father’s Will—how Would He Make This Claim in North Carolina?

April 6, 2022

Famous TV doctor Mehmet Oz—better known as “Dr. Oz”—recently accused his sister, Nazlim, of forging their late father’s will and stealing millions from his estate.  A 2008 will left all of Mustafa Oz’s assets to the Mustafa Oz Foundation, a United States organization, and left Dr. Oz in charge of the foundation; however, Nazlim presented a…

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Testamentary Capacity and Undue Influence

January 30, 2019

In 2015 and 2016, media magnate Sumner Redstone amended his trust, which was challenged by former companion Manuela Herzer.  A California court recently ruled that Mr. Redstone possessed the required mental capacity to amend his estate plan. In North Carolina, whether an individual is a billionaire business mogul or anyone else, the requirements for testamentary…

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Elder Abuse: When Aging Relatives May Need Their Own Superhero

June 20, 2018

Elder abuse refers to intentional or neglectful acts by a caregiver or associate of an elderly individual, which causes harm.[1] Financial elder abuse occurs when a trusted friend or family member obtains access to a senior’s financial accounts and uses the assets therein for personal gain. Unfortunately, this abuse is widespread in the United States…

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Trey Lindley Selected as a 2018 North Carolina Super Lawyer in Estate and Trust Litigation

January 26, 2018

Lord & Lindley is pleased to announce Trey Lindley was selected as a 2018 Super Lawyer in Estate and Trust Litigation by Super Lawyers Magazine making this his seventh consecutive honor from the publication. He was selected as a Rising Star in Estate and Trust Litigation in 2017 and a Rising Star in Business Litigation from 2012 to…

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Four Tips for Drafting Jury Instructions: A Tightrope Walk between Clarity and Accuracy

July 5, 2017

          What’s the best way for attorneys to show appreciation for jurors during the North Carolina Judicial Branch’s Jury Appreciation month? Lavishing them with gifts is prohibited, but one way attorneys can show some appreciation is by drafting jury instructions that make the lives of jurors easier by streamlining the deliberation…

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Breach of Trustees’ Fiduciary Duty – Part 2: Duty of Loyalty & Duty of Impartiality

November 16, 2016

          As we’ve mentioned in part 1 of this series, trustees are fiduciaries and, as such, trustees owe a variety of fiduciary duties to multiple parties.  These obligations include both the duty of loyalty and duty of impartiality, which we will discuss this week.  To prove a trustee breached of one…

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Probate Basics: Questions and Answers

September 29, 2016

          Losing a loved one is an emotional and difficult time, even without handling the legalities and formalities of the deceased’s affairs.  When you find yourself responsible for handling the deceased’s business at the end of death, where do you start?  This post aims to explain the basics of probate, how…

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Six Basic Questions and Answers about Executors

September 21, 2016

          If you have a will or have ever dealt with estate administration, you are probably familiar with the term “executor.”   However, most people don’t know what an executor is or what the executor’s role is.  Additionally, what do you do if you suspect an executor is behaving fraudulently or contrary…

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Eight Questions and Answers About Fiduciary Litigation

July 13, 2016

What is fiduciary litigation?   Fiduciary litigation encompasses a wide range of legal actions including, without limitation, trust and estate litigation, will contests (also referred to as caveat proceedings), breach of individual and corporate fiduciary duty claims, and guardianship proceedings.  Fiduciary litigation is becoming increasingly relevant as the baby boomer generation continues to age.  …

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