Legal Question in Wills and Trusts in Michigan

Broken Trust

My father died 1988 he had a trust that left 1/2 of his farm to our mother the other 1/2 to be divided equally among the 6 children. Our mother said that she could not live on 1/2 of the farm profits and asked us for a quit claim deed so she could have our 1/2 back. We were pressured into signing a letter saying that we were ok with it. After being told that she would put the whole farm back in a trust dividing it equally upon her death. Her attorneys letter states ''It is also my understanding that the property described would remain in the x family to be distributed equally to the surviving children of x upon her death. I was always left to believe this was done. Now we have been told by Mom the 1/2 was never ours & we were never in the trust-if we weren't and it was'nt-why did we have to sign.I would like a copy of the original trust, is that possible since I was a part of it, or can either of my brothers-they were co-trustees for my Dad. What can the 5 children do to stop 1 from influencing Mom to get it all.The 5 worked the farm for years-no pay-Dad worked 7 days in the foundry-he told us many times it would be ours. #6 came late in life-farm was rented out by then-no work to do-he wants it all not his 1/6th-any thoughts?


Asked on 5/20/08, 8:40 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Audra Arndt Audra A. Arndt & Associates, PLLC

Re: Broken Trust

You would need to hire an estate/probate lawyer to fully investigate all of your issues and do the necessary review and research of all the estate documents, deeds and property transfers.

While I do not handle these types of matters, I can refer you to someone who does, so please feel free to contact me.

Thank you.

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Answered on 5/27/08, 9:17 pm


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