Contested Wills and Trusts
Even the Clearest Will or Trust Can Be Contested
Even the clearest will or trust can be contested. Or your wishes might not be carried out, and someone may challenge their legitimacy. Even diligent estate planning can go unexpectedly awry, so we’re ready to represent you if needed—advocating for your position and reaching a settlement that’s fair and reasonable.
Disagreements in Estate Distribution
Sometimes the intentions of the person who died are not clear, and disagreements arise in the distribution of an estate or trust. When someone contests a will or trust, you need probate litigation attorneys with the experience to advocate for your position and reach a reasonable settlement. Whether a Connecticut Probate Court or the Connecticut Superior Court hears the dispute, our probate litigation attorneys stand ready to diligently represent you. At Cipparone & Zaccaro, PC, we have extensive experience in probate litigation, representing executors, trustees, estate beneficiaries, and charities.
Trust Issues and Fiduciary Duties
With respect to trusts, the trustee owes the beneficiaries fiduciary duties of honesty, prudence, and loyalty. When a trustee or agent violates those duties, a beneficiary or the person signing a power of attorney may lose property. Our probate litigation attorneys assist estate beneficiaries and trustees with trust issues such as inadequate accountings, failure to make proper and timely distributions, or improper investments. We also assist in reforming trusts to ensure the settlor's original intentions are carried out.
Financial Exploitation and Recovery
When a person manages your property either as a joint owner or under a power of attorney, they owe you undivided loyalty and financial prudence. However, sometimes an agent decides they “deserve” some of the property they manage and secretly take it. This form of financial exploitation is particularly harmful to seniors and those with disabilities. Attorneys at Cipparone & Zaccaro, PC, help stop financial exploitation and recover the missing assets. We bring civil actions for undue influence, fraud, theft, breach of contract, constructive trust, and breach of fiduciary duty to protect vulnerable individuals and their estates. We also work with the Connecticut Department of Social Services Protective Services for the Elderly, the Chief State’s Attorney’s Office, and local police to address these wrongs.
