Legal Question in Wills and Trusts in Indiana

Grandfather's trust

Hello,

I have a friend who has been going through legal a battle for several years. I don't have every detail, but here is a summary.

My friends grandfather saved a trust for his son (my friend's father) and his children. The trust was to be distributed evenly to all five individuals when he passed. In 1997 he died and the bank revealed the trust to my friend's father but not to his children. Her father had been divorced for several years and had since remarried and obtained two stepchildren. Since 1997 her father, his stepwife and the stepchildren have drawn the father's share and over $200,000 of the childrens money from the trust. The children eventually discovered the trust and have been made aware of the amount their father has ''stolen'' from them. They sought legal help, but have been very disappointed in the law firm representing them. The lawyers informed them that it would cost $100,000 to take the case to trial. The children agreed to the costs but the law firm has not moved forward and has been little to no help. Several years have passed, no trial has been set and the law firm is seeking $75,000 from the children in legal fees. This case is tearing their family apart. They only seek to be reimbursed for the amoun


Asked on 2/17/06, 9:50 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
CHARLES WEINER Law Office of Charles Weiner

Re: Grandfather's trust

Without knowing specific facts concerning the status of the litigation, it is difficult to provide advice. Your friends should ask their attorney to provide a status report concerning what has been done, what needs to be done, the anticipated date of trial and anticpated costs and fees. If the response is not satisfactory, they can ask another attorney to look at the case and assess whether the case is proceeding in the right direction.

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Answered on 2/17/06, 10:49 am


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