Court Opinion

ID: 9721942
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 09:13:00.96538+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:24:29.466230
License: Public Domain

DeBRULER, Justice,
concurring in result.
This trust was docketed in court after the death of the settlor and life beneficiary, for the purpose of providing a judicial forum for the resolution of a controversy about the administration of the trust during final settlement and the winding up. The trust agreement empowered the trustees to sell assets including the farm to fulfill trust obligations. Upon a petition of remaindermen beneficiaries to terminate the trust, the court ordered that (1) the trustees could not sell the farm in fulfilling their trust obligations, (2) that the trustees should nevertheless fulfill all their trust obligations, and (3) the court's oversight over the process was at an end. At the time, the trust assets were justly burdened with trust obligations including some seventeen claims and bills Normally I should say, if a trust is properly docketed so as to give rise to probate court jurisdiction over the administration of that trust, a probate court should not stop short of making all special provisions necessary to a successful administration. Here, I do not believe the probate court provided such necessary special provisions. However, like the majority of the court, I am not persuaded that an appellate remedy is warranted.