These are a few situations and emotions our estate and fiduciary litigation clients commonly deal with. Do any of them sound familiar?
ESTATE LITIGATION
- “This is not what my parents would have wanted, the only way this estate planning document was signed was by someone who didn’t understand what they were signing. They were preyed upon out of greed in a feeble state of mind.”
- “I cared for my surviving parent in their final years, we grew close. The other siblings were never around, and my parent resented it as he neared death. So, they changed their estate plan to favor me. It was their decision, now, I’m being sued for undue influence to claw back the inheritance.”
- “It wasn’t until our parent passed away that I understood what happened. My sibling, as financial power of attorney, inappropriately helped themselves to our parent’s life savings. What can be done?”
- “My parent was ‘with it’ all the way to the end. They gave me gifts over the years from their accounts out of love and appreciation for my help. I never asked for a dime.”
FIDUCIARY MISCONDUCT CLAIMS
- “I looked into our parent’s financial statements, and there must be $140,000, easy, missing from their account. At first, I thought they may have been scammed, then I realized, my sibling as financial power of attorney wrongfully took it for their own personal use. Someone needs to step in, this isn’t right.”
- “I’ve been helping our parent for years with caregiving, going to the medical appointments, writing the checks. And from time to time, sure, they gave me gifts and payments out of appreciation and love. They didn’t have to do it and I didn’t ask them to do it, but I’m grateful for the money. Caregiving really took its toll on my ability to maintain a job or have consistent earnings.”
WILL & TRUST DISPUTES
- “So, my surviving parent passes away, and I’m expecting, as it was always talked about and written up, for our inheritance to pass in equal shares. Then, come to find out, my sibling took them to a lawyer in the final year of their life and they changed their estate plan, cutting all of us out, but the one sibling, of course. There’s no way my parent would have knowingly done that. What can be done?”
- “In the final year or two, my parent’s eyes were finally opened, I was the only one who truly cared for them and really sacrificed when they needed it most. So, my parent asked to go to a lawyer, was clear as a bell on their intent, and with capacity, changed their estate plan. Now, my siblings are mad and coming after me—but it wasn’t my fault. Can you help me?
If you have suddenly discovered that a person you trusted to manage the financial affairs of a trust, or the wellbeing of a loved one, is now mishandling assets or that person’s care, we need to meet, quickly. And if you have been wrongfully accused of breaching your fiduciary duties, simply because you are telling beneficiaries “what they don’t want to hear,” Smith Strong, PLC can help.
Call Smith Strong, PLC, led by attorney Van Smith, today at 804.325.1245 or 757.941.4298 to set up your first meeting with us. We will develop a plan of action to resolve your matter discreetly, and quickly, if possible, and in-court only if absolutely necessary.
Trusted Virginia Estate & Fiduciary Litigation Attorneys Providing Exceptional, Personal Service in Richmond and Central Virginia
You deserve a personal, boutique family law and estate planning firm for life’s greatest transition points: separation/divorce; estate planning/retirement; and elder law/avoiding unnecessary nursing home and long term care costs. And your family, your financial security, and possibly your children’s futures, at this moment, frankly requires a personal approach.
Family law and estate planning are simply different and more deeply personal, than other areas of legal practice. It requires an outstanding knowledge of Virginia’s laws and the court system, as well as the emotional intelligence and discretion to handle delicate family law and estate planning subjects.
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Quickly get back to fully living your life. At Smith Strong, PLC, our attorneys and legal team will surround you, develop a plan of action for your estate or fiduciary litigation case, and get to work quickly to resolve your legal matter.
Schedule your SMART START comprehensive case preparation meeting, more than a consultation, it’s the first step in our system for handling your matter. To get started, call 804.325.1245 or 757.645.6371.
You have come to the right place. Welcome. Smith Strong attorneys meet with clients each day on estate/fiduciary litigation matters. We appear each week in the circuit and juvenile & domestic relations courts of counties in a 1.5 hour radius around Richmond, Virginia, including: Henrico, Chesterfield, Hanover, Caroline, Goochland, Powhatan, Amelia, New Kent, Louisa, Charles City, Dinwiddie, Prince George, Essex, King William, King & Queen, Williamsburg, James City County, York County, and Richmond, among others.
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