Concerns around undue influence in trust creation and administration can threaten the validity of a trust and prevent the fulfillment of the interests of the trust. A trust undue influence attorney from our team at RMO can help preserve the creator’s intentions and safeguard your interests.
Undue influence is considered excessive persuasion, in which the intent of the victim is replaced with the intent of the wrongdoer.
Undue influence typically occurs when a trustor or trustee is encouraged to act in a manner unaligned with their own free will—this often occurs when an individual takes advantage of a trustor or trustee’s mental incapacity. This influence is typically for the sake of a bad actor’s own personal gain and at the expense of the interests of the trust.
Undue influence can invalidate a trust and require the experience of a skilled attorney to ensure a trust creator’s wishes are preserved. A trust undue influence attorney from RMO Lawyers can provide support in these cases to ensure that the interests of the trust are fulfilled and parties are protected against harmful influence.
The most common scenario we see is the abuser is often a caregiver- whether they are a child, spouse, or even hired in-home care nurse. The caregiver may psychologically manipulate or threaten an elderly individual to be given money or be left a specific property in the trust instrument. That undue influence could take the form of a threat to providing care – including essentials like food, water, bathing, etc, the threat to stop visiting, to restrict them from seeing grandchildren, all in an effort to manipulate a benefit for the abuse, like money or the property.
Consider a scenario where a step-parent exerts undue influence over their spouse to favor them in the trust while excluding or providing significantly less for the spouse’s own children from a previous marriage. The step-parent may use emotional manipulation or coercion to persuade their spouse to amend the trust, allocating a larger portion of assets to themselves and minimal provisions for the spouse’s children. This undue influence might involve threats to end the marriage, withdraw emotional support, or impose conditions on the relationship unless the trust is modified to benefit them disproportionately.
Establishing undue influence concerning a trust following the death of the settlor typically involves demonstrating that the settlor was subjected to manipulation or coercion in creating or amending the trust. Key elements in proving undue influence may include showing that:
Proving undue influence often requires thorough documentation, witness testimony, and expert analysis to establish the circumstances surrounding the creation or amendment of the trust and the influence exerted over the settlor.
In both California and Texas, beneficiaries who suspect undue influence regarding changes to distributions or their status as beneficiaries have certain rights and legal avenues to address their concerns. However, it’s important to note that the specific laws and procedures may vary between the two states. Generally, here is an overview of the rights and potential courses of action available.
California’s Probate Codes provide protections for beneficiaries against undue influence. Sections of the Probate Code, such as Sections 850 through 859, offer procedures for challenging transfers of property, including those made through undue influence.
Beneficiaries who believe they have been disinherited or received reduced distributions due to undue influence can contest the validity of a will or trust. California law allows interested parties, including beneficiaries, to challenge the validity of testamentary documents based on grounds such as lack of capacity or undue influence. Beneficiaries may file a trust litigation lawsuit against the executor, trustee, or other parties involved in the estate or trust administration, alleging undue influence. Trust litigation allows beneficiaries to seek remedies such as the invalidation of changes made under undue influence or the recovery of wrongfully distributed assets.
In some cases, beneficiaries and other interested parties may choose to resolve disputes through mediation or negotiation outside of court. Mediation can offer a less adversarial and more efficient means of addressing concerns related to undue influence.
Texas has its own set of laws governing probate and trusts, which provide protections for beneficiaries against undue influence. Beneficiaries can seek recourse under relevant sections of the Texas Estates Code, including those governing will contests and trust disputes.
Beneficiaries may initiate trust litigation in Texas courts to challenge the validity of trust amendments or distributions made under undue influence. Trust litigation allows beneficiaries to seek remedies such as the removal of a trustee, the invalidation of trust provisions, or the recovery of wrongfully distributed assets.
Like California, beneficiaries in Texas may have the option to pursue alternative dispute resolution methods such as mediation or arbitration to resolve undue influence disputes outside of court.
In both California and Texas, beneficiaries who suspect undue influence should consult with an experienced trust litigation attorney like those at RMO. An attorney can provide guidance on the specific rights and legal options available, as well as represent the beneficiary’s interests in pursuing a resolution to the matter.
If you are accused of undue influence, it’s crucial to understand your rights and legal options to defend against the allegations. Regardless of whether you’re accused of undue influence in California or Texas, it’s essential to take the allegations seriously and respond appropriately with the guidance of a knowledgeable attorney. Even if you believe that the claims are entirely unsubstantiated, you should reach out to an attorney who will help you navigate the court system and defend against claims of wrongdoing.
Undue influence is one of the most common reasons for contesting a will or trust. Undue influence frequently remains unnoticed during an elder’s lifetime. However, upon their passing, family members often have the chance to delve into the circumstances and uncover instances where their loved one was exploited.
Undue Influence is a common basis for seeking a conservatorship or guardianship to protect a loved one from such financial abuse. If, during the lifetime of your loved one, you suspect a sibling, step-parent, or anyone else is attempting to unduly influence them, establishing a conservatorship or guardianship may give you the authority needed to remedy the wrongdoing and protect your loved one.
You should consider contacting an attorney for trust undue influence claims as soon as you suspect that undue influence may have played a role or is currently playing a role in the creation or modification of a trust. Early involvement of an attorney can help protect your legal rights and provide guidance on how to proceed.
Undue influence claims are complex and require a skilled and experienced attorney. If you’re unsure whether you may benefit from the support of an attorney in your case or have any questions surrounding the case, schedule a free consultation with our team at RMO Lawyers.
RMO has a proven track record of protecting people and defending legacies.
Undue influence can affect several interested parties involved in a trust. RMO trust litigation attorneys can support all the following clients in an undue influence case.
Beneficiaries and/or Heirs are directly impacted by undue influence, as the claim threatens their rightful inheritance. Our attorneys advocate for beneficiaries in these cases to ensure they receive their rightful inheritance as initially outlined by the trust.
In certain situations, trustees may have to defend themselves against claims of undue influence or navigate concerns surrounding trust management. Depending on the circumstances, our attorneys can help trustees navigate the situation to ensure they uphold their fiduciary duty and achieve the best possible outcome.
Successor trustees may find evidence in their position that the original trustee was unduly influenced when administering the trust. In these cases, our team of trust litigation attorneys can investigate the matter and pursue legal action if necessary.
A trustor or settlor with concerns about someone’s influence can seek out an attorney to help take measures to safeguard their interests, like establishing a conservatorship or guardianship, transferring power of attorney, or replacing a trustee. Our attorneys at RMO can support trustors and settlors in taking the best possible path.
Creditors have an interest in recovering any potential debts from the decedent as part of the assets of a trust. A case of undue influence on a trustor can result in creditors losing their rightful distribution from a trust. RMO Lawyers represent creditors to support them in recovering their debts.
A trust impacted by undue influence can affect several different parties, and a lawyer can support anyone who believes it could threaten the validity of the trust and its interests. At RMO, we support parties like surviving children, close relatives, conservators or guardians, and more.
Be advised that the RMO Client Relations Team will reach out prior to your scheduled time, as our policy requires that we gather additional information concerning the parties to your case before we can confirm your consultation. In the event that we are unable to reach you, regrettably, we will need to cancel your requested consultation.
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Signs of undue influence can manifest in various ways, such as sudden and significant changes in the victim’s financial arrangements or estate plans, particularly if they disproportionately benefit the influencer. The victim may also become isolated from friends and family, making them more vulnerable to manipulation. Coercive tactics, including threats or emotional manipulation, may be employed to pressure the victim into complying with the influencer’s wishes. After the victim’s death, family members may notice discrepancies in the estate plan or financial transactions that raise suspicions of undue influence. If you observe any of these signs, it’s essential to seek advice from an RMO attorney to assess your claims.
If undue influence is proven, the court may invalidate all or part of the trust documents influenced by the undue influence. This could result in reinstatement of prior documents, redistribution of assets according to the deceased’s true intentions, removal of executors or trustees involved in the undue influence, and other remedies to ensure a fair distribution of the estate. Schedule your consultation with an RMO attorney to consider your undue influence claim.
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