New York Probate Lawyers this is an uncontested proceeding for reformation of Article FIFTH of decedent’s last will and testament dated November 21, 1979, as amended by Article II of a codicil thereto dated March 24, 1982 (collectively, the “will”). Decedent died on December 12, 1984. The will was admitted to probate by decree of this court.
A Kings Probate lawyer said that Petitioner, the sister of the decedent, is a co-trustee of the trust created under Article FIFTH of the will (the “Trust”) for the benefit of decedent’s son, who suffers from chronic physical disabilities, including malfunctioning kidneys, for which he is receiving dialysis treatment. On July 14, 2006, following the death of the decedent, who had been serving as co-trustee with petitioner, successor letters of trusteeship were issued by this court to Bonnie Linzer, who is petitioner’s daughter as well as a remainderman of the trust.
A New York Estate Lawyer said that under Article III of the codicil, a trustee who is also a beneficiary of the trust is prohibited from (1) exercising discretion to pay or not to pay income or principal from the trust; (2) determining whether a beneficiary of the trust is disabled; (3) terminating any trust or life estate thereunder; and (4) exercising discretion to allocate receipts or expenses between principal and income. Petitioner and the daughter, who are remaindermen of the trust as well as the co-trustees, are thus unable to act in respect to these decisions.