Explore 21 court opinions on Beneficiary Rights. AI-powered plain English summaries, key holdings, and legal analysis.
21 recent cases analyzed in this topic area.
Trustee's discretionary distributions upheld; beneficiaries' claims dismissed
Laurie Ibach and Mark Stewart v. Bruce Stewart, individually, as Trustee of the Betty L. Stewart Living Trust, and as Trustee of the Edward T. Stewart Living Trust, decided by Alabama Supreme Court on...
Appellate court affirms will interpretation and estate distribution
James Ralston v. Anthony Ralston, decided by Texas Court of Appeals on March 18, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. This case concerns a dispute over the interpretation of a will and the subse...
Trustee's Duty to Disclose Trumps No-Action Clause for Beneficiary
Kenneth Woliner v. CSMC 2019-RPL11 Trust, Etc., decided by Florida District Court of Appeal on March 5, 2026, resulted in a plaintiff win outcome. The core dispute involved whether a trust's "no-actio...
Beneficiary's Will Challenge Doesn't Violate No-Contest Clause
Hall v. Hall, decided by Ohio Court of Appeals on February 6, 2026, resulted in a plaintiff win outcome. The core dispute in Hall v. Hall concerned the interpretation of a "no-contest" clause in a wil...
No-Contest Clause Interpretation: Declaratory Judgment Not a Contest
In re Estate of Ryan v. Brookdale Zanesville, decided by Ohio Court of Appeals on February 5, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The core dispute involved the interpretation of a "no-contest" ...
No-contest clause in will enforced, beneficiaries forfeit inheritance
Monica McCormick, as Independent for the Estate of Sherry Bishop Allen, Deceased; Molly Fox; And Megan Marshburn v. Howard E. Allen, decided by Texas Court of Appeals on January 21, 2026, resulted in ...
Pennsylvania Supreme Court: "No-Contest" Clause Not Triggered by Beneficiary's Actions
In Re: Mark B. Cohen, J., decided by Pennsylvania Supreme Court on January 21, 2026, resulted in a plaintiff win outcome. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court reviewed a case concerning the interpretation o...
No-Contest Clause Enforceable Against Bad-Faith Will Challenger
In re Estate of Alibrando v. Minor, decided by Ohio Court of Appeals on January 15, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Ohio Court of Appeals considered whether a "no-contest" clause in a w...
No-Contest Clause Not Triggered by Good-Faith Will Challenge
Maryvel Suday and the Estate of Olga Tamez De Suday v. Jesus Lozano Suday, decided by Texas Court of Appeals on January 14, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. This case concerns the interpreta...
No-Contest Clause Not Triggered by Actions Aimed at Clarifying Will
Maryvel Suday and the Estate of Olga Tamez De Suday v. Jesus Lozano Suday, decided by Texas Court of Appeals on January 14, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. This case concerns the interpreta...
No-Contest Clause Not Violated by Beneficiary Seeking Clarification
Sampson v. Sampson, decided by Ohio Court of Appeals on October 27, 2025, resulted in a reversed outcome. The core dispute in Sampson v. Sampson concerned the interpretation of a "no-contest" clause i...
Trustee's improper distributions found to be a breach of fiduciary duty
In the Matter of the Trust Created Under Agreement by and Between Janet E. Johnson, Settlor, and Paul Johnson, ..., decided by Minnesota Supreme Court on September 24, 2025, resulted in a plaintiff wi...
Revocable Trust Not a Bona Fide Purchaser Under Colorado Law
Elinore H. Gjovig Revocable Trust v. Lichina Revocable Living Trust., decided by Colorado Supreme Court on September 15, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The core dispute involved whether a ...
Trustee's Discretionary Powers Upheld in Distribution Dispute
In the Matter of Dorothy Yvonne Youngren Living Trust v. Jay Youngren. Justin Youngren, Petitioner:, decided by Colorado Supreme Court on August 4, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The core ...
No-Contest Clause Interpretation: Beneficiary's Actions Not a Contest
Pattison v. Pattison, decided by Maryland Court of Appeals on July 23, 2025, resulted in a plaintiff win outcome. The case concerns a dispute over the interpretation of a "no-contest" clause in a will...
Beneficiary's Good-Faith Challenges Don't Trigger No-Contest Clause
Trust of S.E. and S. Harrison of: M. Harrison, decided by Pennsylvania Supreme Court on July 14, 2025, resulted in a plaintiff win outcome. The core dispute involved the interpretation of a trust docu...
No-Contest Clause Not Triggered by Will Validity Challenge
In the Matter of William John Sims, decided by South Carolina Supreme Court on May 14, 2025, resulted in a plaintiff win outcome. The case concerns the interpretation of a "no-contest" clause in a wil...
No-Contest Clause Not Triggered by Challenge to Special Administrator Appointment
In re the Estate of: Joanne Mary Ecklund, Decedent, decided by Minnesota Supreme Court on May 7, 2025, resulted in a plaintiff win outcome. The Minnesota Court of Appeals addressed the interpretation ...
No-contest clause in trust enforceable against beneficiary's challenge
In the Matter of Judith C. Knight, decided by Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court on April 29, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court considered whether a...
Children's claim to deceased parent's condo unit fails
JAKLIN SUZETH GOTAY & Others v. JULIANN CREEN & Others, decided by Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court on March 21, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. This case concerns a dispute over the ow...
Bankruptcy Court Properly Denied Discharge of Fraudulently Incurred Debts
In the Matter of Henry N. Portner, decided by South Carolina Supreme Court on March 19, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The core dispute centered on whether the bankruptcy court erred in de...