Opinion ID: 1598462
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Assessment of Fees Against Objector's Share in Estate

Text: The trial court ordered that the executors' attorneys' fees be charged only against Lucille's share of the estate. The court reasoned that assessment of the fees against the balance of the estate would provide Lucille excessive settlement leverage since she could threaten to appeal and reduce Simpson's share if she was unhappy with a court's decision on her position. Lucille argues that if it is proper for the fees to be assessed against the estate, the parties sharing an interest in the residuary balance of the estate should bear the costs in proportion to their particular interests. She contends that assessment of the fees against only her portion of the estate amounts to an improper penalization by the trial court. The executors adopt as their position the reasoning of the trial court. Iowa Code section 633.315 grants courts sitting in probate the authority and duty to tax costs in actions taken to contest or set aside a will. While we generally grant a trial court considerable discretion in taxing fees to estates, Ohrt, 516 N.W.2d at 902, we find that Lucille should not bear the burden of the entire expense occasioned by her challenge to the executors' treatment of the contract sale of real estate. Even though individuals could foreseeably threaten a frivolous action in order to improve their settlement position, imposing the entire burden of fees in instances such as that at hand would unduly deter contestants ... from questioning the stewardship of executors and administrators through proceedings brought in good faith. Estate of Beach, 15 Cal.3d 623, 125 Cal.Rptr. 570, 542 P.2d 994, 1009 (1975) (en banc). The evidence does not demonstrate that Lucille brought her challenge to the will in bad faith or with the mere intent of leveraging her settlement position. An individual who in good faith appeals a trial court decision rendered against her should not be penalized by carrying the entire burden of the associated costs. We therefore hold that the extraordinary attorney fees are properly charged to the estate, and are assessed one-third to Lucille's share and two-thirds to Simpson's share. The executors also request that we deal with the issue of the appellate fees associated with this appeal at this juncture. They request that we award them $1860 and order that this entire amount be charged against Lucille's share of the estate. Ordinarily the expense of appellate attorney fees would be fixed by the trial court, as was done after Lucille's first appeal. That procedure under Iowa Rule of Probate Procedure 2(c) was proper and prompted the instant appeal. Notwithstanding, in order to prevent circular appeals, we elect to determine the award of fees on the instant appeal. The attorney fees incurred by the executor for this appeal are fixed at $1860 to be paid from estate assets, one-third from Lucille's share, two-thirds from Simpson's share. Costs shall be paid one-third from Lucille's share and two-thirds from Simpson's share. The decision of the trial court is affirmed in part and modified in part. AFFIRMED IN PART AND MODIFIED IN PART. All Justices concur except CARTER and ANDREASEN, JJ., who concur specially.