{"id":932,"date":"2025-10-22T20:25:23","date_gmt":"2025-10-22T20:25:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dinsmore.com\/?post_type=services&p=932"},"modified":"2026-01-26T15:34:27","modified_gmt":"2026-01-26T15:34:27","slug":"trust-estate-wealth-transfer-litigation","status":"publish","type":"services","link":"https:\/\/www.dinsmore.com\/services\/trust-estate-wealth-transfer-litigation\/","title":{"rendered":"Trust, Estate & Wealth Transfer Litigation"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

At Dinsmore, we are experienced and well-resourced to provide excellent legal services in disputes involving a loved one\u2019s estate or trust.  Our attorneys can provide smart and strategic guidance for these complex and emotionally challenging cases.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Will Contests and Defense<\/summary>\n
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Various legal challenges can be brought on the validity of a deceased person\u2019s will. Common grounds include lack of mental capacity, undue influence, fraud, or improper execution. The will contest process pauses estate distribution and enters a formal litigation phase, including discovery and trial. Defense typically falls to the executor, who must preserve estate assets and respond to the challenge.  While many cases resolve through settlement or mediation, courts may invalidate all or part of the will if the challenge succeeds.  Dinsmore attorneys have experience successfully prosecuting and defending these cases before courts and juries, as well as arguing these issues in appellate courts.  This level of experience is essential to successful and efficient resolutions.  <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

Inventory Disputes and Validity of Non-Probate Transfers<\/summary>\n
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Non-probate assets\u2014like life insurance, retirement accounts, and jointly held property\u2014transfer outside the will via beneficiary designations. Disputes arise when these transfers are challenged due to undue influence, lack of capacity, fraud, or clerical errors. Legal action often requires freezing the asset and presenting medical, financial, or forensic evidence to prove the designation was invalid.  These cases intersect with probate court as often the challenged asset will be returned to the estate if the designation is deemed invalid.   <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

Fiduciary Duty Questions<\/summary>\n
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Fiduciary duty refers to the legal obligation of one party (e.g., in this area of the law, an executor, administrator, trustee, or power of attorney) to act in the best interest of another, such as estate and trust beneficiaries. Fiduciary duties include duties of loyalty, confidentiality, competence, and communication. Breaches can lead to damages to beneficiaries and sometime warrant removal from the role. Dinsmore attorneys have experience on both sides of fiduciary duty issues, and are well positioned to assist in bringing and defending trust and estate related fiduciary claims.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

Creditor Claims Against Estate \u00a0<\/summary>\n
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Creditors can file formal claims against a deceased person\u2019s estate during probate to recover debts. The executor must notify creditors, review claims for validity, and either accept or dispute them. Valid claims are paid in a legally defined order before any assets are distributed to heirs. Disputed claims may lead to lawsuits. If the estate is insolvent, creditors are paid in priority order, and beneficiaries may receive nothing.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

Tortious Interference with Expectancy of Inheritance Claims<\/summary>\n
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This tort arises when someone intentionally prevents another from receiving an expected inheritance through wrongful acts like fraud or undue influence. To succeed, the claimant must prove a valid expectancy, intentional interference, causation, and financial loss. These claims are distinct from will contests and may be pursued in civil court, depending on where the claim accrues.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

Uniform Power of Attorney Review Actions<\/summary>\n
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Under the Uniform Power of Attorney Act (UPOAA), agents acting under a power of attorney are fiduciaries and must account for their actions. The UPOAA expands who can demand accountability\u2014beyond just the principal\u2014to include family members and caregivers.  These provisions aim to prevent financial abuse and ensure transparency, especially when the principal is incapacitated.   <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

Guardianship Appointments<\/summary>\n
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Guardianship is a legal process where a court appoints someone to make decisions for an individual deemed incapacitated. The process includes filing a petition, a hearing with due process protections, and court oversight. Guardians may be granted full or limited authority and must follow person-centered planning principles. Courts monitor guardians through required reports and can terminate guardianship if the individual regains capacity.  These actions can become quite adversarial if there are challenges to incapacity, or if there are more than one person interested in serving as Guardian. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

At Dinsmore, we are experienced and well-resourced to provide excellent legal services in disputes involving a loved one\u2019s estate or trust.  Our attorneys can provide smart and strategic guidance for these complex and emotionally challenging cases.   <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":74,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"tags":[],"class_list":["post-932","services","type-services","status-publish","format-standard","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nTrust, Estate & Wealth Transfer Litigation - Dinsmore & Shohl<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Dinsmore handles trust, estate, and wealth transfer disputes, providing strategic guidance through complex, sensitive litigation.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dinsmore.com\/services\/trust-estate-wealth-transfer-litigation\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Trust, Estate & Wealth Transfer Litigation\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Experienced Trust, Estate & Wealth Transfer Litigation attorneys at Dinsmore provide strategic counsel to businesses and institutions nationwide.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.dinsmore.com\/services\/trust-estate-wealth-transfer-litigation\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Dinsmore & Shohl\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-01-26T15:34:27+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.dinsmore.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/social-media-share.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1200\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"675\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.dinsmore.com\/services\/trust-estate-wealth-transfer-litigation\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.dinsmore.com\/services\/trust-estate-wealth-transfer-litigation\/\",\"name\":\"Trust, Estate & Wealth Transfer Litigation - 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