Trust and Estate Litigation
Haynes and Boone’s litigators have handled a broad range of fiduciary-related disputes involving trusts and estates, charitable foundations, closely-held corporations and family wealth issues. We have extensive experience handling fiduciary litigation in the probate, state and federal court systems. We have represented trustees and executors in lawsuits related to trust and estate administration, breach of fiduciary duty allegations, removal of trustees, trust accountings and will contests. We also have represented family members in disputes alleging shareholder oppression and breach of fiduciary duties. With the support of our tax and estate planning professionals, our litigation team has the ability to handle complicated fiduciary disputes.
Trust and estate litigation that we have handled for our clients includes:
- Defense of trustee in suit by beneficiary for damages, an accounting, removal of trustee and injunctive relief to prevent the sale of trust assets, resulting in comprehensive family settlement.
- Defense of trustees in multiple suits by alleged beneficiary asserting claims for breach of fiduciary duties, fraud and conspiracy against numerous family members relating, in part, to sale of trust-owned corporation.
- Defense of co-trustees in their individual capacities in suit by alleged beneficiary asserting claims of breach of trust, breach of fiduciary duties and fraud.
- Representation of trustee of charitable trust in lawsuit involving claims of breach of fiduciary duty and interpretation of the trust instrument.