Can You Contest A Trust In Florida?

While a Last Will and Testament remains the most used estate planning tool, a trust is not far behind in terms of popularity. Trusts are frequently included in a comprehensive estate plan for a wide variety of reasons, including the fact that it allows the settlor to retain more control over how assets are used. If you are the beneficiary of a trust and you have questions about the validity of the trust, can you contest the trust as you can a Will? Our trusted attorney talks about how and why a trust can be contested in the state of Florida.

Basics of Trusts

A trust is a separate legal entity that owns and holds property for the benefit of one or more beneficiaries. A trust is created by a Settlor, also referred to as a Grantor, Trustor, or Maker, who transfers property to a Trustee appointed by the Settlor. The Trustee holds that property for the trust’s beneficiaries.  All trusts fit into one of two categories – testamentary or living (inter vivos) trusts.

Is It Possible to Contest a Trust?

You may be familiar with the concept of a Will contest wherein someone (usually a beneficiary or heir) challenges the validity of a decedent’s Will that has been submitted for probate. A Will contest can be costly – both in terms of time and money. The desire to avoid both probate and litigation is one of many reasons people often choose to rely predominantly on a trust to distribute their estate. Can that trust be contested though? The answer is “yes,” a trust can be contested; however, it is typically a more complicated process than contesting a Will.

Contesting a trust works essentially the same as contesting a Will. As with a Will contest, you cannot challenge a trust simply because you are not happy with the terms of the trust agreement. In other words, being left out of a trust is not a valid legal reason to challenge the trust. Instead, you must use one of the legal reasons allowable under state law which governs most issues related to wills, trusts, and estates. For example, you could challenge the Settlors capacity to create the trust. In this setting, capacity refers to the mental state necessary to establish the trust. You might also contest a trust by claiming that the Settlor was subject to “undue influence” at the time the trust agreement was executed. Improper execution and/or technical flaws with the trust agreement itself can also serve as the basis for a challenge to a trust.

To contest a trust, you will also have to have “standing.” Standing is the legal term used to refer to someone who has the legal right to initiate a legal proceeding. In the case of a Will or trust contest, a person must usually be a beneficiary, heir, previous beneficiary, or sometimes a creditor to have the standing required to proceed.

If you have standing and you believe you have a valid legal reason to contest a trust, a trust contest can be initiated by filing the necessary legal (with the assistance of an experienced trust attorney) with the appropriate court.

Can You Contest A Trust If There Is a No Contest Clause?

If you are contemplating bringing a trust contest, you also need to check the trust agreement for the addition of a “no contest” clause. A “no contest” clause effectively states that if a beneficiary unsuccessfully challenges a trust (or Will) that they forfeit the inheritance designated for them in the trust. Of course, the Settlor must gift something to that person in the trust for a no contest clause to work as intended. For example, imagine that a Settlor’s estate is worth $1 million, and he/she is concerned that a beneficiary might challenge the provisions of a trust. To discourage that challenge the Settlor could include a provision that gifts $50,000 to the beneficiary and add a no contest clause.  The beneficiary forfeits that $50,000 gift if he/she contests the trust unsuccessfully. Because state laws govern the enforceability of a no contest clause, be sure to consult with an experienced trust attorney if you want to bring a trust contest.

Contact Our Knoxville Trust Attorney

For more information, please join us for an on-demand webinar presented by our estate planning attorney Justin Stivers. If you have additional questions or concerns about whether or not you can contest a trust in Florida, please reach out to us by phone by calling (305) 456-3255 or use our contact page to get your trust administration questions answered.

Related posts:

How Do I Prove Lack of Testamentary Capacity in a Will Contest? What Is a No Contest Clause in a Will?