Opinion ID: 1910412
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 9

Heading: county court's order

Text: The county court specifically found: Ruth ... was [a] successful business woman and had substantial income at her disposal, exclusive of the Trust income. As she advanced in age, Ruth. . . became ill and infirm. Medical bills and last illness expenses were incurred. On January 8, 2005, Ruth ... died. Thereafter, on January 19, 2005, for the first time, representatives of Ruth['s] estate made a written request to the Trustee for payment of these expenses from the Trust funds. The court determined that the Hansen trust was a discretionary support trust because the support payments did not become mandatory until the the Trustee in [its] discretion determines that the beneficiary requires funds in excess of the Trust income. The court ultimately concluded that the trustee had properly denied payment of the medical bills because the purpose of the trust had ended with Ruth's death and the payments would only benefit Ruth's creditors and heirs. Ruth's estate timely appealed.