You’ve read a lot about Palm Beach probates and Florida trusts involved adult children from the second marriage and the latest husband or wife who engage in Palm Beach probate litigation. This is a  “sister” California case about a mother in law versus a son in law over a Last Will which is claimed to be a forgery. Remember: forgery is a serious allegation to make.    In Palm Beach probate litigation, an actual forgery is rare.

Obtaining a temporary restraining order against a trustee, or getting an injunction against a trustee is not as easy as just showing up in court and talking.  You actually need evidence and you have to often show “irreparable harm”.  In Florida courts, like many probate courts, monetary damages, investment losses, cash, money are never “irreparable harm.”  Here’s a New York case that dealt with trust beneficiaries who wanted an injunction against their trustee.  Trust loans to a money losing business?

Sibling rivalry in Palm Beach probate courts?  Yes, this happens all the time.  Even in the south.   Estate beneficiaries, adult children, are disinherited, and the entire Palm Beach estate goes to the other adult children.  Mom or dad pick favorites and disinherit some children.  A will challenge is filed in the Palm Beach probate.  If you are a sibling who is involved in a Palm Beach will challenge, or if one of brothers or sisters is filing a Palm Beach will challenge because they were dis-inherited, you may want to read this Georgia Supreme Court case.  It deals with a probate lawsuit where two adult children were dis-inherited from their mom’s estate: all they got was a dollar.

This is a tale of a Mississippi musician who could not read or write, and the will which left everything to his girlfriend.  Undue influence ? By whom?  A business partner or mentor?  What would they say in Palm Beach Probate?

If you are involved in a will contest in Palm Beach or Ft. Lauderdale, you may want to read this very recent probate case from Kansas.  It involves some of the issues which Palm Beach probate litigators face here when there is a challenge to the Florida will.  If you are defending a will contest, or are suing for tortuous interference with your inheritance or undue influence, this recent case will give you an idea of what the court was considering.

If you are a family member who is involved in a disputed guardianship in Palm Beach, or are seeking to be the guardian of your mom or dad, or other loved one, you may want to read this  recent Florida guardianship case.   It deals with what can happen when the Florida Probate Court receives inconsistent opinions about whether someone has capacity or not, and whether or not that person needs a Florida guardian. 

On January 17, 2014, the 2nd District Court of Appeal in Florida handed down a decision about a Florida temporary restraining order, Hulk Hogan and sex tapes.  Don’t take my word for it, here’s the opinion: http://www.2dca.org/opinions/Opinion_Pages/Opinion_Pages_2014/January/January%2017,%202014/2D13-1951.pdf

Are you representing yourself in a Palm Beach estate lawsuit ?  We all know that Palm Beach probate litigation is often personal:  family fueds surface when mom or dad passes away and the Palm Beach estate is divided.  One child gets “more” than another, one trust is larger, one inheritance is smaller.  If you are involved in estate litigation such as a Palm Beach probate dispute, here are some words of warning if you are doing it on your own without an experienced probate lawyer: be careful.  There’s a big mistake, and big misconception, which “pro se” litigants can make.  Here’s what you need to know……

This weekend’s Wall Street Journal, www.wsj.com reported that a Norwegian foundation was returning a $40 Million Matisse to the heirs of a French art dealer.  Talk about probate & personal property ! The link to this article is here: http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304256404579453873287554570?KEYWORDS=matisse&mg=reno64-wsj

Involved in a Palm Beach guardianship matter?   Maybe mom or dad requires some assistance and there is a Palm Beach guardian.  If you want to take a stand or be heard, you may want to read a January 15, 2014 opinion from West Palm Beach’s 4th District Court of Appeal.  That’s the Palm Beach appeals court in Florida which hears guardianship & probate appeals for Palm Beach, Ft. Lauderdale and Stuart, Florida.