In the event a decedent did not have a Will, a proceeding for letters of administration would be initiated to settle the intestate estate. Issues which may arise include the appointment of an administrator. There may be heirs at law who filed competing administration petitions seeking their appointment as administrators. Additionally, the identity of the estate heirs or distributees may be in doubt. In such cases, a determination of kinship and a kinship hearing may be necessary. Determining kinship may be complicated and require the services of a professional genealogist to search for records and lost or unknown heirs. Also, genetic testing may be used to find out if parties are related. The New York Probate Lawyer Blog publishes many articles regarding probate and estate administration. Feel free to review the blog posts and my website for additional helpful information.
In a different context, estate problems can surface where a decedent made certain transfers of assets during life. Although these lifetime transfers have been completed, surviving relatives may claim that the transfers were improper or that the transfers were part of an agreement whereby the transferred property was to be disposed of by the transferee and not kept for his sole benefit. The scenarios in these matters are varied. This is where the concept of a constructive trust arises. It is best described by looking at a recent estate case entitled Versace v. Robinson, decided by Columbia County Supreme Court Justice Richard Mott. In Versace, the litigants’ mother had owned real property. Before her death, the mother transferred the property to the daughter and reserved a life estate. The son asserted that the property was deeded solely to the daughter, and not to both children, to avoid any liens which might arise due to the son’s businesses. The son also asserted that there was an agreement between the parties that when the mother died, the property would be sold and the proceeds paid equally to the son and daughter. Of course, when the mother died, the daughter refused to recognize the son’s interest in the property or the agreement.
In the lawsuit commenced by the son, he asserted a constructive trust which essentially means that the daughter had agreed to hold the brother’s interest in trust for him. When the daughter sought to evict the son from the property, the Court found that there was a basis for a constructive trust, which included a confidential relationship, a promise, a transfer, reliance and unjust enrichment. Thus, the daughter was denied the interim eviction. The full case would need to go forward to determine the parties’ rights.
As can be seen from Versace, estate settlement and estate litigation can arise in many forms. I have been representing clients in estate matters in New York for over forty (40) years. Do you have an estate issue? Call Me Now for a free confidential review of your estate matter. We offer reasonable and flexible fee arrangements and personal representation.
New York Trusts and Estates Attorney Jules Martin Haas has helped many clients over the past 40 years resolve issues relating to guardianship and probate and estate settlement throughout New York City including the Bronx, Queens, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Nassau and Suffolk County. If you or someone you know has any questions regarding these matters, please contact me at (212) 355-2575 for an initial free consultation.