Get Sound Legal Advice and Insights from Our Legal Team.
MICHIGAN WILLS/TRUSTS 32: The probate court found that the Memo substantially complied with the Trust’s method for amendment.
The Trust contains the following provisions pertinent to this case:
The Settlor may desire to prepare a written statement or list, either entirely in his handwriting or just signed by him, to dispose of tangible personal property to a certain person or person[s] in the future. If the list does not qualify as an amendment, I nevertheless hope those entitled to my estate will respect it.
The residue of the Trust Fund, real and personal, shall be distributed as follows: 1) The Settlor’s sister shall receive fifty percent (50%) of the total trust residue. 2) Each of the following grandchildren of the Settlor shall receive ten percent (10%) of the total residue.
I reserve the right to amend or revoke this Agreement, wholly or partly, by a writing signed by me or on my behalf and delivered to Trustee during my life.
Amendment
A document (Memo) purported to be a subsequent amendment is at the center of this issue. After Settlor’s death, petitioner provided a binder containing the Trust and other documents to respondent. Petitioner brought respondent either an original or a copy of the Memo along with documentation regarding a vacation timeshare referenced in the Memo.
Respondent testified that she photocopied the Memo and gave it back to petitioner. Petitioner disputed respondent’s version of events, attesting in an affidavit that the original signed Memo was located in the binder.
The Memo begins in typewriting: Certain of my personal effects have special meaning; I desire that upon my death, these items be given to those herein indicated. Below this preface are spaces for listings of Description of personal property and desired recipient and relationship. Filled in, in handwriting, on the Memo are my personal vehicle, home, 4880 Westland, and $50,000 – cash minimum, as personal property to be distributed to petitioner. The Memo reflects that Settlor signed it. Beneath that signature is another handwritten entry, vacation time share, also as personal property to be distributed to petitioner, beneath which appears another signature of Settlor. While the parties agree that the signatures and handwriting on the Memo are Settlor’s, respondent claims that neither she, nor anyone else of whom she knew, had any discussion with Settlor regarding the Memo or the disposition of the property listed in it.
Petition for Summary Disposition
Petitioner filed a petition with the probate court to determine the validity of a trust amendment, claiming that respondent had refused to honor the Memo as a valid amendment to the Trust. Petitioner moved for summary disposition under MCR 2.116(C)(10), arguing that no genuine issue of material fact existed as to whether the Memo was a valid trust amendment that required respondent to distribute a minimum of $50,000 from the Trust to petitioner.
Court Hearing
The probate court rejected respondent’s argument that it could be inferred that Settlor had destroyed the original Memo. The probate court determined that petitioner had carried her burden to present evidence that the original Memo existed at the time of Settlor’s death, in the form of petitioner’s affidavit stating that she had given the original Memo to respondent within a binder of Settlor’s estate planning documents. Further, the probate court found that respondent had failed to provide evidence refuting petitioner’s claim, because respondent’s testimony that she had received either an original or a copy of the Memo separate from the binder and copied and returned it did not contradict petitioner’s evidence.
The probate court also found that the Memo substantially complied with the Trust’s method for amendment, as required by statute, and that the Memo was not merely an attempt to distribute personal property. The probate court granted petitioner’s motion for summary disposition, confirming the validity of the Memo as a trust amendment.
Assistance with Estate Planning
Aldrich Legal Services is pleased to assist you with your estate planning needs. We draft and review wills, trusts and other estate planning documents to help our clients with their estate objectives. Located in Plymouth, Michigan, we assist clients throughout southeast Michigan.
