Court Opinion

ID: 9666743
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 01:26:50.562131+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:15:32.517151
License: Public Domain

SACKETT, Judge,
(dissenting).
I dissent.
I would determine the Iowa courts are without jurisdiction to resolve the issues raised in this appeal. I would vacate the trial court’s order approving the trustee’s report and approving fees. This trust was established as a private trust. In May of 1987, the objector from Wisconsin and his mother from California sought the appointment of Rossie as trustee. Rossie is from Tennessee, a member of the Tennessee bar, not licensed to practice law in Iowa. Rossie was named trustee and it was agreed the trust be managed in Tennessee and all assets of the trust were transferred to a Tennessee brokerage house. All investment decisions and services involved in the challenged report were performed in Tennessee. I would determine at the time the trust assets were transferred, without objection, to Tennessee to be managed by a Tennessee trustee, the Iowa courts lost jurisdiction and we are without subject matter jurisdiction to consider the report and application to fix fees.
I have particular concern about this court approving fees for the trustee and attorney. The attorney is not licensed in Iowa and his legal services were performed outside the state of Iowa. See In re Estate of Bolton, 403 N.W.2d 40, 42 (Iowa App.1987).