Court Opinion

ID: 9957736
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2024-04-05 06:05:13.908081+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:18:35.574403
License: Public Domain

If this opinion indicates that it is “FOR PUBLICATION,” it is subject to
                  revision until final publication in the Michigan Appeals Reports.

                            STATE OF MICHIGAN

                              COURT OF APPEALS

In re E. EARL LYDEN TRUST.

DENICE LYDEN,                                                         FOR PUBLICATION
                                                                      April 4, 2024
               Appellant,

v                                                                     No. 362112
                                                                      Muskegon Probate Court
HUNTER LYDEN, Trustee of the E. EARL LYDEN                            LC No. 20-002025-TV
TRUST,

               Appellee,
and

CHRISTOPHER PIEDMONT,

               Other Party.

Before: M. J. KELLY, P.J., and MARKEY and CAMERON, JJ.

MARKEY, J. (concurring in part, dissenting in part).

       I agree with the majority that any claims for equitable relief based on breach of fiduciary
duty and fraud on marital assets fail as a matter of law. But I also conclude that equitable relief is
available on the basis of a violation of public policy. Accordingly, I respectfully concur in part
and dissent in part.

                                                 -1-
                                           I. OVERVIEW

        Appellant, Denice Lyden, appeals by delayed leave granted1 the probate court’s order
granting summary disposition under MCR 2.116(C)(10) in favor of appellee, Hunter Lyden, as
Trustee of the E. Earl Lyden Trust (the Trust), with respect to Denice’s claims seeking reformation
of the revocable, inter vivos Trust, imposition of a constructive trust, and invalidation of the Trust
on public policy grounds. Earl, who passed away before the instant litigation was commenced,
was Hunter’s father and Denice’s husband.2 This case concerns a probate petition filed by Denice
that contained eight counts, all of which pertained in one way or another to an amendment and
restatement of the Trust executed by Earl in 2020 that disinherited Denice after he had earlier
signed a 2018 amendment and restatement of the Trust that would have provided Denice with
lifetime income generated by the Trust’s assets upon Earl’s death. The crux of Denice’s position
below was that in exchange for being designated the recipient or beneficiary of lifetime income
under the 2018 amendment and restatement of the Trust, she had consented to the relinquishment
of her surviving-spouse interest in two of Earl’s retirement plans so that he could name the Trust
as the beneficiary of those plans. Earl, however, reneged in 2020 by altering the Trust to Denice’s
detriment.

        The bulk of the “marital assets” were earned by Earl and held by Earl personally or his
Trust, and the Trust, if not already holding these assets, was the destined repository on Earl’s death,
either as a named beneficiary on certain accounts or by pour-over designation in Earl’s will. Earl
removed Denice as a Trust beneficiary during the couple’s divorce proceedings and shortly before
Earl died of cancer. Earl had acknowledged that the couple’s assets, for the most part, were
“marital” and subject to division in the divorce action, which was still pending when Earl died but
then dismissed in light of his death. Denice was recognized as the surviving spouse, receiving her
elective share and some jointly-held assets that paled in comparison to the value of the Trust’s
corpus—and the income that it will generate—that will ultimately all pass to Hunter as the lone
beneficiary under the 2020 version of the Trust.

        On appeal, Denice’s argument, as limited by the order granting leave, is that Earl’s conduct
in 2020 in disinheriting her constituted breach of a fiduciary duty owed to Denice and fraud on
marital assets, both justifying equitable relief in the form of reformation or the imposition of a
constructive trust. The fraud-on-marital-assets claim or theory also serves as the primary basis for
Denice’s stance that Earl’s conduct violated public policy.3 On the authority of MCL 700.7404
and MCL 700.7410(1), I would hold that the Trust Earl executed during the divorce proceedings
terminated or was rendered void at the time of his death because the purpose of the Trust had
become contrary to public policy to the extent that the Trust held, was the beneficiary of, or
otherwise pertained to “marital assets” that would have otherwise been equitably divided in the

1
 In re E Earl Lyden Trust, unpublished order of the Court of Appeals, entered March 7, 2023
(Docket No. 362112).
2
    Hunter was Earl’s son from a prior marriage.
3
  I note that Denice’s attempt to appeal the dismissal of counts tied to her effort to enforce the
alleged 2018 agreement concerning lifetime income generated by the Trust was ultimately
unsuccessful for the reasons discussed later in my opinion.

                                                   -2-
divorce proceedings had Earl survived until entry of judgment. I reach this conclusion regardless
of whether Earl had an intent to defraud Denice.

                                        II. BACKGROUND

                                    A. UNDERLYING FACTS

        The facts in this case are largely not in dispute; rather, the focus of the appellate arguments
is on the application of the law to the factual circumstances presented to the probate court. In part,
Denice urges us to consider recognition of a claim entailing fraud on marital assets accomplished
through estate planning maneuvers like those that transpired in this litigation. I note that the
procedural history of the case was extensive, encompassing multiple petitions and motions,
including several motions for summary disposition.

        Denice and Earl married in February of 1998. It was Earl’s fourth marriage and Denice’s
second. Denice and Earl had children from prior relationships, but their union did not produce any
children. Earl, a certified public accountant and a graduate of Ferris State University, spent his
career in the investment and securities industry. His employment produced a substantial income.
Denice averred that Earl earned between $150,000 and $300,000 annually during the course of the
marriage. Denice held a certificate as a dental hygienist, and she worked as a bookkeeper and
accounts-payable representative for a number of small, family-owned companies. Denice never
earned more than $20 per hour. The couple resided in a number of locations throughout the country
during their marriage, culminating with a residence in St. Louis, Missouri. They also maintained
a vacation condominium in Muskegon, Michigan. According to Denice, except for a joint bank
account from which the couple withdrew funds to pay certain expenses, Earl controlled all of their
finances.4

        Throughout the couple’s marriage, they accumulated assets that were titled in either Earl’s
name, Denice’s name, both their names jointly, or in the name of the Trust. Earl maintained
considerable investments with Wells Fargo Advisors, and these securities were all titled in either
Earl’s or the Trust’s name. Earl also had substantial retirement plans in his name, consisting of an
IRA, a Wells Fargo 401(k) plan, and a PNC pension plan. Denice did not contribute financially
to any of Earl’s retirement accounts. Earl’s securities amounted to approximately $500,000 in
value, and his retirement accounts totaled about $1.3 million in value, around $900,000 of which
was in the 401(k) plan.5 The equity held by Denice and Earl in the St. Louis home, a jointly-owned
condominium, amounted to approximately $329,000, and the equity in the Muskegon

4
  The joint bank account had a balance of just under $4,000 during the middle of the divorce
proceedings in early 2020. At that time, Earl had a health savings account with a balance of
$60,564; Denice had a health savings account with a balance of $725; Earl had a checking account
with a balance of $1,534; and Denice had a checking account with a balance of $2,853. The other
values noted in this opinion are likewise assertions of value in early 2020 when the divorce case
was pending.
5
 Denice had her own IRA and 401(k) plan, which together had a total value of approximately
$56,000.

                                                 -3-
condominium, which was titled in Earl’s name and later transferred to the Trust, totaled about
$125,000. They had two jointly-owned motor vehicles, one worth $8,000 and the other $14,000.
Earl also had a $10,000 dock or boat slip, a $70,000 boat, and a $75,000 airplane. Earl did claim
in the divorce action that some of the value of the St. Louis home, $35,000, and some of the value
of his IRA, $75,000, was his separate property.

        On May 10, 2001, Earl created the Trust, which was a revocable, inter vivos trust. Earl, as
the lone settlor, named himself as the sole trustee. He designated Denice and Hunter as the Trust’s
beneficiaries upon his death. And Earl named his brother and Denice as co-successor trustees.
Under the terms of the Trust as it originally existed in 2001, upon Earl’s death, the successor
trustees were to establish two trusts, one benefiting Denice and the other benefiting Hunter. Given
the limited extent of assets in her own name, Denice never created her own trust, but she did
execute several wills during the marriage.

        Earl amended the Trust in 2010 to designate Denice as the sole successor trustee and to
add Denice’s daughter as an additional beneficiary. In August of 2018, while the couple were
staying at their Muskegon condominium, Earl retained attorney David Waterstradt to make
changes to the couple’s estate plans. Earl sought to amend the Trust and his will, obtain a new
will for Denice, and to have financial and medical powers of attorneys drafted for both he and
Denice. The couple met with Waterstradt on August 27, 2018. Earl expressed a desire to name
the Trust as the beneficiary of his Wells Fargo 401(k) plan and his PNC pension plan. Denice had
an existing survivorship interest in the accounts. Waterstradt advised the couple that Earl could
not designate the Trust as a beneficiary of those retirement plans unless Denice waived her
survivorship rights in the accounts and consented to the relinquishment of her interests.

       Denice claimed that she felt compelled to consent and only did so in return for Earl’s
promise to designate Denice as the beneficiary of all Trust income for her lifetime upon Earl’s
death. In an affidavit, Denice averred as follows:

              As part of his 2018 Estate Plan, Earl offered and promised me that he would
       name his Trust the beneficiary of the Retirement Accounts and designate me as the
       income beneficiary of all Trust assets for my lifetime . . . in return for me signing
       the waivers . . . .

When asked during his deposition what Earl and Denice had asked him to do in 2018, Waterstradt
testified, “Denise [sic] wanted her assets to go to her children and Earl wanted his assets to provide
a lifetime income to Denise [sic], and then, to go to his son Hunter.” Denice testified in her
deposition about the nature of the discussions with Waterstradt:

              I recall that we discussed that . . . when [Earl] retired, everything would be
       going into his trust, everything would be – the trust would be the beneficiary . . . of
       everything, and that I would not have access to any of the principal of the trust. I
       was only a beneficiary of the income that would be generated from the trust.

Waterstradt’s notes indicated that the Trust was to be named the lone beneficiary of the retirement
accounts and that Denice was to receive all the income generated by the Trust’s assets, including
required minimum distributions.

                                                 -4-
        On October 23, 2018, Earl and Denice signed their updated estate planning documents,
including Earl’s execution of the amended and restated Trust, which, for ease of reference, I shall
refer to as the 2018 Trust. The 2018 Trust designated Denice as the beneficiary of all the income
generated by the Trust for her lifetime upon Earl’s death, with the Trust’s principal to generally
pass to Hunter. Denice remained the sole successor trustee, and the trustee was authorized to
“distribute up to three percent (3%) of the trust principal to [Denice] if necessary to provide for
[her] health care.”6 Upon Denice’s remarriage or death, her interest in the 2018 Trust would
terminate, except that should she remarry, a $200,000 payout to Denice was mandated. Initially,
the 2018 Trust was not going to provide Denice with any payment if she remarried; however, she
requested that the language providing for the $200,000 payment be included. But I do note that
the 2018 Trust additionally indicated that should the couple divorce, Denice was to be treated as
predeceasing Earl. Finally, the 2018 Trust contained the following provision governing
amendment and revocation:

               During the Settlor’s lifetime, this Agreement may be revoked partially or
       completely or amended in any respect. This power may be exercised by Settlor at
       any time and without the consent of Trustee or anyone else, but the revocation or
       amendment must be in writing. No amendment, however, may increase the duties
       or responsibilities of Trustee without Trustee’s written consent.

On November 7, 2018, Denice signed consents that relinquished her spousal-survivorship interests
or rights with respect to the two retirement plans. And that same day, Earl formally designated
the 2018 Trust as the beneficiary of the Wells Fargo 401(k) plan and his PNC pension plan.

        Not quite one year later, Denice filed for divorce in St. Louis County, Missouri, on
November 5, 2019. On November 6, 2019, the family court in St. Louis County that was assigned
the case issued a standard order for divorce litigation, which the parties refer to as the “status quo
order,” and which provided in relevant part that

       neither party shall . . . dissipate, sell, remove, assign, transfer, dispose of, lend,
       mortgage, or encumber any property of a party, real or personal, except in the
       ordinary course of business or for the necessary expenses of the parties’ family
       under the circumstances unless ordered by the Court or unless consented to in
       writing by both parties.

On January 28, 2020, Earl filed a “statement of property” in the divorce proceedings, wherein he
identified as “marital” assets almost all of the property alluded to above, including, for the most
part, Earl’s retirement accounts and securities, even those currently held by the Trust. The total
value of the marital property was set at approximately $2.6 million.

        In February of 2020, Earl once again contacted and retained attorney Waterstradt to amend
and restate the terms of the 2018 Trust. Earl advised Waterstradt that Denice had filed for divorce
and that, to the extent possible, he wanted to remove Denice as a beneficiary under the Trust and

6
  Denice had requested the inclusion of this medical-based provision that allowed for a minimal
invasion of the 2018 Trust’s principal.

                                                 -5-
designate Hunter as the Trust’s sole beneficiary and successor trustee. When Earl inquired whether
he could legally make such changes during the pendency of the divorce litigation, Waterstradt
advised Earl by e-mail as follows on February 27, 2020:

               Well, under Michigan law, a spouse only has rights to your probate estate.
       By using a trust (and making sure your assets are actually titled in the trust or
       payable to the trust), you can effectively disinherit a spouse. But remember, this
       only applies to what happens if you die. This has no effect whatsoever on the
       divorce proceeding. That will be resolved under equitable principles, which
       typically will result in her getting something in the divorce settlement.[7]

Earl responded, “I plan to live for a long time . . . my question was what if. Thank you again and
I hope to reply with executed documents tomorrow.” (Ellipsis in original.)

         On February 28, 2020, Earl signed an amendment and restatement of Trust, which I shall
refer to as the 2020 Trust. The 2020 Trust designated Hunter as the sole beneficiary and successor
trustee. Additionally, the 2020 Trust expressly stated that “a divorce proceeding is pending and
[Earl] therefore[] intentionally makes no provision for [Denice] in this Agreement.”

         In March 2020, Earl was hospitalized, and he informed Denice that he had stage IV lung
cancer, which, according to Denice, was the first time that she heard of Earl’s illness. Denice
testified that Earl also told her that he had recently altered the 2018 Trust, making Hunter the sole
beneficiary and successor trustee.8 Denice further testified that she informed her divorce attorney
about the 2020 Trust and her disinheritance. After Earl’s hospitalization ended in early April 2020,
he told Denice that a doctor had explained to him that his cancer was terminal.9 Earl then moved
into the Muskegon condominium and never returned to Missouri. Denice remained in Missouri.

        The divorce action continued in Missouri, and Earl, through counsel, proposed a near-equal
division of the marital assets that he had previously identified in his “statement of property.”
Again, this included assets held by Earl personally and his 2020 Trust, along with property

7
 In the underlying e-mail from Earl to Waterstradt, which Denice characterizes as the “smoking
gun” e-mail, Earl stated:
              One question, it does not seem fair/logical that I could amend my trust
       during divorce proceedings cutting her out of everything other than the St. Louis
       condo. Is this acceptable with the law or will I be somehow exposing myself to
       personal / legal criticism?
8
 Denice testified as follows regarding her exchange with Earl after being told that Hunter was
now the sole beneficiary: “I said, you’re not allowed to do that. He says, there’s not a Judge in the
world that would let me get by with that, or let that stand.”
9
  Denice asserts in her brief on appeal that in late 2019 or early 2020, “doctors diagnosed Earl with
stage four lung cancer and gave him only months to live.” Denice, however, provides no citation
to the record in support of her claim that such a diagnosis was made in late 2019.

                                                -6-
designated to pass to the 2020 Trust upon his death and then to Hunter. Earl was prepared to divide
the vast majority of his securities and retirement accounts. The couple were on the verge of
settling—with the only sticking point being that Denice wanted to be designated the beneficiary
of Earl’s life insurance policy in lieu of spousal maintenance given Earl’s diagnosis. By letter
dated May 15, 2020, a Hospice doctor declared that Earl was terminally ill, that he was physically
incapacitated, and that he was “unable to transact his own affairs.” On that same date, an individual
operating as Earl’s attorney-in-fact under a durable power of attorney conveyed the Muskegon
condominium to the Trust.10 On May 26, 2020, the attorney-in-fact assigned and transferred Earl’s
interest in an aircraft limited liability company to the Trust.11 On June 3, 2020, Earl died. In light
of his death, the divorce action was dismissed by the Missouri family court, and Denice was
dubbed the surviving spouse.

        Denice received $69,000 from Earl’s probate estate as her elective share as surviving
spouse. Denice also sold the home in Missouri, pocketing approximately $300,000. She
additionally received one auto valued at $14,000, sold the other vehicle for $8,000, and obtained
sole ownership of the joint bank account with a current balance of $1,500. Again, the total value
of the marital assets amounted to approximately $2.6 million; therefore, the bulk of the “marital”
estate will flow to Hunter as the sole beneficiary under the 2020 Trust.

                                    B. PROCEDURAL HISTORY

        On August 31, 2020, Denice filed a petition in the probate court for an order to maintain
the status quo, extend the spousal election deadline, and to provide for supervision of the trust. On
September 17, 2020, a stipulated order was entered allowing Hunter to utilize the Trust to cover
costs, expenses, and liabilities in relation to the litigation but prohibiting him from otherwise
disposing of Trust assets.

        On November 2, 2020, Denice filed an eight-count petition to set aside the 2020 Trust and
for other relief. In Count I, Denice sought to set aside the 2020 Trust, as well as Earl’s associated
2020 will,12 on the ground that the documents violated the status quo order entered by the Missouri
family court. In Count II, Denice alleged that the 2020 Trust constituted a breach of the couple’s
2018 agreement by which Denice received a right and interest in the income generated by the Trust
during her lifetime in exchange for her waiver of her survivorship or beneficiary rights under Earl’s
retirement plans. In Count III, Denice contended that the 2020 Trust was contrary to public policy
for purposes of MCL 700.7404 and MCL 700.7105(1) because the 2020 Trust disinherited Denice
and caused the near total divestment of marital property. In Count IV, Denice maintained that
under the doctrine of promissory estoppel, she was entitled to the benefits of her 2018 bargain that
she struck with Earl. In Count V, Denice alleged that, assuming the unenforceability of the 2018
Trust, her consent to a change in the beneficiary under Earl’s retirement plans was not knowingly
made because she mistakenly believed that her consent would essentially render her rights to

10
     At this point, Hunter was acting as trustee given Earl’s incapacity.
11
  Hunter acknowledges that after his father became incapacitated, the durable power of attorney
was utilized to transfer the Muskegon condominium, the airplane, and the boat to the Trust.
12
     The will was essentially a pour-over will, funneling assets, for the most part, into the Trust.

                                                   -7-
lifetime income under the 2018 Trust irrevocable. In Count VI, Denice claimed that the 2020 Trust
unjustly enriched Hunter and the Trust. In Count VII, Denice argued that she was entitled to the
creation of a constructive trust in her favor to serve the demands of equity in light of the
circumstances in which there was a large marital estate that had been accumulated during a lengthy
marriage yet the assets were not fairly shared with Denice. Finally, in Count VIII, Denice alleged
that the 2020 Trust should be reformed under MCL 700.7415 so as to implement Earl’s 2018 intent
to provide Denice with income generated by the Trust’s assets during her lifetime upon Earl’s
death. For purposes of this appeal, the only claims that are at issue are Counts III, VII, and VIII,
but it remains important to understand the disposition of all the claims because there necessarily
existed, to some extent, an interrelationship between the claims.

       On December 3, 2020, Hunter filed a motion for partial summary disposition under MCR
2.116(C)(10). He argued as follows:

                 MCL 700.2514 requires a contract to make a will or devise to be in writing.
         Under Michigan case law, this statute also applies to trusts. Here, [Denice] has
         admitted that there [was] no written agreement between her and [Earl regarding the
         retirement plan waivers]. Accordingly, as a matter of law, any alleged oral
         agreement to make devises to Denice after [Earl’s] death may not be enforced, and
         the Court should grant partial summary disposition as to this aspect of Denice’s
         Petition.

Hunter maintained that if the probate court agreed with this argument, it was required to summarily
dismiss Counts II (breach of contract) and IV (promissory estoppel) in their entirety and to dismiss
Counts I (violation of status quo order), VI (unjust enrichment), and VIII (reformation of Trust) to
the extent that they were based on the alleged 2018 parol agreement. At the hearing on the motion,
the probate court acknowledged that there was extrinsic evidence demonstrating that an agreement
had been reached between Earl and Denice in which Denice consented to the relinquishment of
her spousal survivorship rights under Earl’s retirement plans and Earl had agreed to provide Denice
with the security of lifetime income produced by the Trust upon his death. The court determined,
however, that MCL 700.251413 required a writing evidencing the contract or agreement and none
existed. Accordingly, the probate court granted Hunter’s motion for partial summary disposition.
On February 16, 2021, the court entered an order summarily dismissing Counts II and IV in their

13
     MCL 700.2514 provides, in relevant part:
                 (1) If executed after July 1, 1979, a contract to make a will or devise, not to
         revoke a will or devise, or to die intestate may be established only by 1 or more of
         the following:

                 (a) Provisions of a will stating material provisions of the contract.

                (b) An express reference in a will to a contract and extrinsic evidence
         proving the terms of the contract.

                 (c) A writing signed by the decedent evidencing the contract.

                                                  -8-
entirety, along with dismissing Counts I, VI, and VIII, but only to the extent that they were based
on the alleged 2018 agreement.

        On February 23, 2021, Hunter moved for partial summary disposition with regard to Count
I (violation of status quo order) under MCR 2.116(C)(4), (7), and (10). And on March 8, 2021,
Denice filed her own motion for partial summary disposition as to Counts V (2018 consent not
given knowingly) and VI (unjust enrichment), requesting that the probate court invalidate the
consent to change the beneficiary of the retirement plans to the Trust. On March 22, 2021, Hunter
filed another motion for partial summary disposition, claiming that he or the Trust, and not Denice,
was entitled to dismissal of Counts V and VI. With respect to Count V, Hunter contended that
under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), 29 USC 1001 et seq., it is
unnecessary to provide legal consideration to a plan participant’s spouse for his or her consent to
the plan participant’s designation of a beneficiary other than the spouse. Hunter further argued
that Denice was bound by her written waivers or consents regardless of her subjective intentions
when she signed the documents. In regard to Count VI, Hunter contended that there was no
genuine issue of material fact that Hunter did not receive a benefit from Denice and that it would
not be unjust to permit Hunter to retain death benefits under the ERISA retirement plans via the
2020 Trust. Hunter also asserted that the doctrine of unjust enrichment does not apply when a
transaction is subject to an express contract.

        At a hearing on April 6, 2021, the probate court ruled in favor of Hunter relative to Counts
I, V, and VI, granting him summary disposition on all three claims. With respect to Count V and
Denice’s claim that her 2018 waivers were not knowingly made, the court first noted that Denice
had executed consents to her removal as beneficiary under Earl’s retirement plans, not waivers,
and that the court had earlier ruled that the alleged 2018 agreement between Denice and Earl was
unenforceable. The probate court concluded that the change in beneficiaries did not need
consideration under ERISA; therefore, Denice was not entitled to reinstatement as the beneficiary
under the retirement plans. With regard to Count VI and Denice’s claim of unjust enrichment, the
probate court did not explain why it ruled in favor of Hunter. Finally, the probate court addressed
Count I and the alleged violation of the Missouri status quo order. The court ruled that the order
was not violated by Earl’s actions in disinheriting Denice in the 2020 Trust and naming Hunter as
the sole beneficiary. The probate court first explained that Denice did not have any ownership
interest in Trust property during Earl’s lifetime. The court further reasoned that the devises under
the 2020 Trust were testamentary and would only take effect upon Earl’s death; accordingly, there
was no “present transfer[] of asset ownership.” The probate court additionally posited that Earl’s
beneficiary designations remained revocable before his death, that he had the authority to change
beneficiaries at any time, and that in Michigan, a trust settlor retains the right to change
beneficiaries and disinherit a spouse even during divorce proceedings. On April 29, 2021, the
probate court entered an order denying Denice’s motion for summary disposition on Counts V and
VI, granting summary disposition to Hunter on those two counts, and granting summary
disposition in favor of Hunter on Count I of Denice’s petition.

        Back on March 29, 2021, Hunter had filed yet another motion for partial summary
disposition, arguing this time that Count III of Denice’s petition regarding alleged public policy

                                                -9-
violations should be dismissed.14 According to Hunter, the Trust was entitled to summary
disposition because Michigan public policy allows a spouse to be disinherited under the other
spouse’s trust. Denice responded that Earl owed her a fiduciary duty to protect her interest in the
marital assets held by or connected to the Trust. Denice contended that a fiduciary duty arose
because she placed her faith, confidence, trust, and reliance in Earl in regard to his handling of the
couple’s finances. Hunter countered that under Michigan law a spouse does not owe the other
spouse fiduciary duties during divorce proceedings. Hunter thus argued that Earl did not owe any
fiduciary duty to Denice; rather, Earl, as the sole trustee, only owed duties to himself as settlor
under the Trust.

        Before Hunter’s summary disposition motion on Count III was heard, he moved for
summary disposition on April 28, 2021, with respect to Counts VII (constructive trust) and VIII
(reformation). Hunter argued that Denice’s request for the imposition of a constructive trust failed
because he did not acquire Earl’s estate or the Trust’s assets by improper means. Moreover,
because the probate court had already granted summary disposition in Hunter’s favor on Denice’s
unjust enrichment claim, she could not show that the alternative ground for imposing the
constructive trust, i.e., unjust enrichment, existed. In regard to Denice’s claim for reformation of
the 2020 Trust, Hunter argued that summary disposition was appropriate because Denice had
acknowledged during her deposition that she was unaware of any mistake of fact or law that
affected Earl’s intent and the terms of the 2020 Trust, as necessary to entitle her to relief under
MCL 700.7415.15 Consequently, Denice could not establish the existence of a genuine issue of
material fact relative to the elements necessary to obtain relief under the statute.

        Denice responded that the fiduciary duty owed to her by Earl and his breach of that duty
justified the imposition of a constructive trust to protect the couple’s marital assets. She further
responded that she was entitled to reformation of the 2020 Trust. According to Denice, if her
income-for-life benefit under the 2018 Trust was intended to be irrevocable, the 2020 Trust needed
to be reformed to fulfill that intent. But if Earl had intended for the benefit to be revocable, then
he effectively defrauded Denice into waiving her survivorship or beneficiary rights under the
retirement plans, and reformation would be necessary to undo the fraud.

        Before the preceding motions were heard by the probate court, on May 3, 2021, Denice
filed a motion for reconsideration of the probate court’s ruling granting summary disposition in
favor of Hunter on Counts I, V, and VI. By order dated December 14, 2021, the probate court

14
     This motion was not heard at the hearing on April 6, 2021.
15
     MCL 700.7415 provides:
                   The court may reform the terms of a trust, even if unambiguous, to conform
          the terms to the settlor’s intention if it is proved by clear and convincing evidence
          that both the settlor’s intent and the terms of the trust were affected by a mistake of
          fact or law, whether in expression or inducement.

                                                   -10-
denied Denice’s motion for reconsideration.16 The court, consistent with its previous ruling on
Count V, determined that it was unnecessary to assess the purpose of Denice’s decision to consent
to the relinquishment of her surviving-spouse rights under Earl’s retirement plans, that ERISA
does not require legal consideration for a spouse’s consent to be effective, and that the court,
therefore, did not need to rule on whether there was any consideration. The probate court next
acknowledged that it had previously failed to explain or make findings in regard to why it ruled
against Denice and in favor of Hunter on the unjust enrichment claim in Count VI. The court now
found that there was nothing unjust or inequitable in permitting Hunter to be enriched as the lone
beneficiary of the 2020 Trust. The probate court explained that “Michigan law permitted Earl . . .
to exclude his spouse as a beneficiary of his trust and [that] the results from that exclusion cannot
be found unjust.” The probate court concluded that there was no palpable error warranting relief.17

         On December 16, 2021, the probate court finally heard arguments on Hunter’s motions for
summary disposition relative to Counts III, VII, and VIII of Denice’s petition—the counts at issue
in this appeal. With respect to the public policy allegations in Count III, the probate court reasoned
and ruled as follows:

               I’m looking at the allegation that the change was contrary to public policy.
       I don’t find that it was against public policy, because it did not interfere with the
       freedom to marry, or divorce, or limit religious freedoms, or that it was frivolous
       or capricious.

               With regards to whether or not Soltis [v First of America Bank-Muskegon,
       203 Mich App 435; 513 NW2d 148 (1994),] should stand in the light of this case,
       I do find that we’re never going to be 100 percent sure what the motives were for
       our settlor to make the changes that were made. However, I believe, from what I’ve
       heard, that he wanted to protect his assets because Denice was divorcing him. He
       knew he was dying from stage four terminal lung cancer and he wanted to provide
       an inheritance for Hunter Lyden, because he knew he wouldn’t be around to help
       him anymore during his life. He was going to be gone. And so he may need more
       assets than what he originally had planned on giving him, because he wasn’t going
       to be there throughout his life to help him, so I think that is a very valid reason that
       he could have changed beneficiaries.

               Denice did not have a vested right, because Earl had every right to amend
       his trust at any time during his life. I’m looking for other points here.

              With regards to the talk about the divorce in Missouri, it didn’t happen. She
       wasn’t awarded any of the marital assets because there is no judgment of divorce.
       And so as a matter of law, no judgment was entered in that case and this court can’t

16
  I note that as of December 14, 2021, the probate court had yet to hold a hearing on Hunter’s
summary disposition motions concerning Counts III, VII, and VIII.
17
   Subsequently, the probate court entered a stipulated order dismissing Denice’s motion for
reconsideration on Count I that had alleged a violation of the Missouri status quo order.

                                                -11-
       award her anything from that case or find that she is due any assets from that case
       because there is no judgment from that case and it’s closed. It couldn’t be finished
       because, unfortunately, Mr. Earl Lyden had passed away, and so I don’t think that
       that has any effect on this case.

              And I also don’t find that further discovery in this matter would change the
       outcome, because, as a matter of law, again, he had – he had the right to change his
       beneficiary.

        Next, the probate court granted summary disposition in favor of Hunter on Count VII of
the petition seeking the imposition of a constructive trust. The court concluded that a constructive
trust was inappropriate because (1) Earl had a legal right to title assets in his own or the Trust’s
name, (2) Earl owed no fiduciary duty to Denice, (3) neither Hunter nor the Trust were unjustly
enriched by the 2020 Trust, (4) the Missouri status quo order was not an impediment to the
execution of the 2020 Trust, (5) Denice did not have a vested right in the assets or income of the
Trust, and (6) Denice knew that the 2018 Trust could be modified by Earl at any time.18 The
probate court also granted summary disposition on Count VIII of the petition seeking reformation
of the 2020 Trust after determining that there was no fraud or mistake of fact or law that would
justify reformation under MCL 700.7415. The probate court memorialized and implemented its
bench rulings on Counts III, VII, and VIII in an order entered on January 24, 2022.19

        Thereafter, Hunter moved for sanctions under MCL 600.2591, arguing that Denice’s eight-
count petition to set aside the 2020 Trust was frivolous. On April 22, 2022, the motion was heard
and denied by a successor trial judge, resulting in the entry of an associated order on May 2, 2022.
On May 13, 2022, Denice filed a claim of appeal in this Court with regard to the litany of orders
that had been entered against her throughout the probate proceedings. This Court administratively
dismissed the claim of appeal by order entered on May 31, 2022, ruling that it lacked “jurisdiction
over the claim of appeal because, although the May 2, 2022 order appealed from [was] appealable
by right, MCR 5.801(A)(2)(x), appellant [was] not aggrieved by that order.” In re E Earl Lyden
Trust, unpublished order of the Court of Appeals, entered May 31, 2022 (Docket No. 361401).
The order further provided that “assuming without concluding that the other probate court orders
filed with the claim of appeal [were] final orders as defined in MCR 5.801(A)(2), claims of appeal
from those orders [were] untimely. MCR 7.204(A)(1)(a).” Id. The order additionally noted that

18
  The probate court noted that it had made some of these same findings in relation to its earlier
orders granting summary disposition in favor of Hunter.
19
  Back on April 15, 2021, Denice had filed a petition to set aside an IRA transfer to Hunter, and
on April 20, 2021, Hunter moved for summary disposition as to that particular petition. The
summary disposition motion was addressed by the probate court at the hearing on December 16,
2021. At the hearing, after the probate court had summarily dismissed Counts III, VII, and VIII
of Denice’s primary petition in the case, the parties stipulated that the IRA-related petition was
now moot and should be dismissed. By order dated January 24, 2022, Denice’s petition regarding
the IRA transfer to Hunter was dismissed for mootness, but the court allowed it to be resurrected
should Denice succeed on appeal with respect to the dismissal of her eight-count petition.

                                               -12-
“[i]t is axiomatic that a party cannot wait for a subsequent final order to appeal a prior final order.”
Id.

        On July 8, 2022, Denice filed a delayed application for leave to appeal. She raised four
separate issues. The first issue challenged the probate court’s rulings on Counts VII and VIII
regarding, respectively, the constructive-trust and reformation claims that had been summarily
dismissed by order dated January 24, 2022. The second issue amounted to a challenge of the
probate court’s dismissal of Count I concerning the alleged violation of the Missouri status quo
order, which was dismissed by order dated April 29, 2021. In the third issue, Denice raised
arguments regarding Earl’s purported fiduciary duties that formed Denice’s public policy claim in
Count III of her petition, which had been summarily dismissed by the probate court by an order
entered on January 24, 2022. Finally, with respect to the fourth issue, Denice essentially disputed
the probate court’s decision to dismiss Count VI in which Denice had claimed unjust enrichment.
This claim had been dismissed by order dated April 29, 2021. This Court granted Denice’s delayed
application for leave to appeal in regard to the first and third issues, encompassing the dismissal
of Counts III, VII, and VIII. In re E Earl Lyden Trust, unpublished order of the Court of Appeals,
entered March 7, 2023 (Docket No. 362112). But the panel dismissed the application as to the
second and fourth issues covering Counts I and IV for lack of jurisdiction given that the probate
court’s orders dismissing those claims had been entered more than a year before the delayed
application was filed. Id. I now proceed to address Denice’s appellate arguments that were
allowed to go forward.20

                                           III. ANALYSIS

             A. BROAD OVERVIEW OF DENICE’S APPELLATE ARGUMENTS

        Denice presents arguments challenging the summary dismissal of her claims seeking
reformation of the 2020 Trust, imposition of a constructive trust, and invalidation of the 2020 Trust
on public policy grounds. With respect to all three claims, Denice contends that the probate court
erred by granting Hunter’s motion for summary disposition because there existed a genuine issue
of material fact regarding whether Earl intended to defraud Denice of her interest in “marital
assets.” In regard to the reformation and constructive-trust claims, Denice additionally maintains
that the trial court erred by summarily dismissing the claims because Earl breached a fiduciary
duty that he owed to Denice to protect her interest in the marital assets held by Earl and the Trust.

       B. STANDARD OF REVIEW, SUMMARY DISPOSITION PRINCIPLES, AND
                  STATUTORY AND TRUST CONSTRUCTION

        This Court reviews de novo a probate court’s ruling on a motion for summary disposition
and issues of statutory construction. In re Casey Estate, 306 Mich App 252, 256; 856 NW2d 556
(2014). “Whether to recognize a cause of action for breach of fiduciary duty is a question of law

20
  This Court denied Denice’s motion for an order enjoining waste or dissipation of Trust assets
without prejudice to her seeking such relief in the probate court. In re E Earl Lyden Trust,
unpublished order of the Court of Appeals, entered March 29, 2023 (Docket No. 362112).

                                                 -13-
reviewed de novo because the existence of a duty is generally a question of law[.]” Calhoun Co v
Blue Cross Blue Shield Mich, 297 Mich App 1, 20; 824 NW2d 202 (2012) (citations omitted). We
similarly review de novo as a question of law whether to recognize a claim for fraud on marital
assets under the circumstances presented in this case. See id. Moreover, this Court reviews “de
novo a probate court’s construction and interpretation of the language used in a will or a trust.” In
re Stillwell Trust, 299 Mich App 289, 294; 829 NW2d 353 (2012).21

       In Anderson v Transdev Servs, Inc, 341 Mich App 501, 506-507; 991 NW2d 230 (2022),
this Court set forth the guiding principles in analyzing a motion brought pursuant to MCR
2.116(C)(10):

               MCR 2.116(C)(10) provides that summary disposition is appropriate when,
       “[e]xcept as to the amount of damages, there is no genuine issue as to any material
       fact, and the moving party is entitled to judgment or partial judgment as a matter of
       law.” A motion brought pursuant to MCR 2.116(C)(10) tests the factual support for
       a party’s action. “Affidavits, depositions, admissions, or other documentary
       evidence in support of the grounds asserted in the motion are required . . . when
       judgment is sought based on subrule (C)(10),” MCR 2.116(G)(3)(b), and such
       evidence, along with the pleadings, must be considered by the court when ruling on
       the (C)(10) motion, MCR 2.116(G)(5). “When a motion under subrule (C)(10) is
       made and supported . . ., an adverse party may not rest upon the mere allegations
       or denials of his or her pleading, but must, by affidavits or as otherwise provided in
       this rule, set forth specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial.”
       MCR 2.116(G)(4).

               A trial court may grant a motion for summary disposition under MCR
       2.116(C)(10) if the pleadings, affidavits, and other documentary evidence, when
       viewed in a light most favorable to the nonmovant, show that there is no genuine
       issue with respect to any material fact. A genuine issue of material fact exists when
       the record, giving the benefit of reasonable doubt to the opposing party, leaves open
       an issue upon which reasonable minds might differ. The trial court is not permitted
       to assess credibility, weigh the evidence, or resolve factual disputes, and if material
       evidence conflicts, it is not appropriate to grant a motion for summary disposition
       under MCR 2.116(C)(10). Like the trial court’s inquiry, when an appellate court
       reviews a motion for summary disposition, it makes all legitimate inferences in
       favor of the nonmoving party. Speculation is insufficient to create an issue of fact.
       A court may only consider substantively admissible evidence actually proffered by

21
  “An appeal from the probate court is on the papers filed and a written transcript of the
proceedings in the probate court or on a record settled and agreed to by the parties and approved
by the court.” MCR 5.802(B)(1); see also MCL 600.866(1). In estate proceedings, “[a]ppellate
review, including the right to appellate review or interlocutory appeal and provisions as to time,
manner, notice, appeal bond, stays, scope of review, record on appeal, briefs, arguments, and the
power of the appellate court, is governed by the revised judicature act of 1961 and by supreme
court rule.” MCL 700.1305.

                                                -14-
       the parties when ruling on the motion. [Quotation marks, citations, and brackets
       omitted.]

         A court’s lone objective when construing the language of a trust is to ascertain and give
effect to the settlor’s intent. In re Stillwell Trust, 299 Mich App at 294. Absent an ambiguity, the
words contained in a trust serve as the best indicators when attempting to discern the meaning of
the trust and its intended operation. Id. The intent of the settlor is gauged from the trust document
itself. In re Kostin Estate, 278 Mich App 47, 53; 748 NW2d 583 (2008). A trust must be read as
a whole, harmonizing its terms with the intent expressed when possible. In re Brown Estate, 312
Mich App 684, 694; 880 NW2d 269 (2015). “In sum, a court must enforce the plain and
unambiguous terms of a trust as they are written.” Id.

       In In re Casey Estate, 306 Mich App at 256-257, this Court distilled the rules of statutory
construction as follows:

               The paramount rule of statutory interpretation is that we are to effect the
       intent of the Legislature. To do so, we begin with the statute’s language. If the
       statute’s language is clear and unambiguous, we assume that the Legislature
       intended its plain meaning, and we enforce the statute as written. In construing a
       statute, this Court should give every word meaning, and should seek to avoid any
       construction that renders any part of a statute surplus or ineffectual. It is well
       established that to discern the Legislature’s intent, statutory provisions are not to
       be read in isolation; rather, context matters, and thus statutory provisions are to be
       read as a whole. [Quotation marks and citations omitted.]

             C. BASIC PRINCIPLES – PUBLIC POLICY REGARDING TRUSTS

        Under the Michigan Trust Code (MTC), MCL 700.7101 et seq., “[e]xcept as otherwise
provided in the terms of the trust, . . . [the MTC] governs the duties and powers of a trustee,
relations among trustees, and the rights and interests of a trust beneficiary.” MCL 700.7105(1).
“A trust may be created only to the extent its purposes are lawful, not contrary to public policy,
and possible to achieve.” MCL 700.7404. In general, “a trust terminates to the extent the trust is
revoked or expires pursuant to its terms, no purpose of the trust remains to be achieved, or the
purposes of the trust have become impossible to achieve or are found by a court to be unlawful or
contrary to public policy.” MCL 700.7410(1).22 In Terrien v Zwit, 467 Mich 56, 66-67; 648 NW2d
602 (2002), our Supreme Court discussed the concept and parameters of public policy:

22
  MCL 700.7410(2) provides, in part, that “[a] proceeding to confirm the termination of a trust
under subsection (1) . . . may be commenced by a trustee or beneficiary.” And a “trustee” is
defined as “includ[ing] an original, additional, or successor trustee, whether or not appointed or
confirmed by the court.” MCL 700.1107(o). Denice was named as a successor trustee for nearly
20 years under the Trust, up until the execution of the 2020 Trust, the legal validity of which she
challenged. Under these circumstances, I conclude that Denice had standing to pose an argument
under MCL 700.7410(1). If I am in error in my construction of MCL 700.7410, my position can
nonetheless stand solely on MCL 700.7404.

                                                -15-
               In identifying the boundaries of public policy, we believe that the focus of
       the judiciary must ultimately be upon the policies that, in fact, have been adopted
       by the public through our various legal processes, and are reflected in our state and
       federal constitutions, our statutes, and the common law. The public policy of
       Michigan is not merely the equivalent of the personal preferences of a majority of
       this Court; rather, such a policy must ultimately be clearly rooted in the law. There
       is no other proper means of ascertaining what constitutes our public policy.
       [Citation omitted.]

                                        D. DISCUSSION

        At its core, Denice’s appeal assails the 2020 Trust on the grounds that it amounted to fraud
on marital assets, a violation of public policy, and a breach of fiduciary duty. Reformation of the
2020 Trust and imposition of a constructive trust are simply different equitable remedies to address
the alleged fraud and fiduciary-duty breach. See In re Filibeck Estate, 305 Mich App 550, 552;
853 NW2d 448 (2014) (“A constructive trust is an equitable remedy created not by intent or by
agreement, but by the operation of law”); Johnson Family Ltd Partnership, 281 Mich App at 377
(reformation is an equitable remedy). And the asserted public policy violation is primarily
premised on the claim of fraud on marital assets, supporting, according to Denice, statutory relief
in the form of an order invalidating or terminating the 2020 Trust. With respect to my analysis, I
will not take into consideration the alleged 2018 agreement between Denice and Earl regarding
lifetime income because doing so would effectively exceed the scope of the order granting the
delayed application for leave to appeal. See People v Farquharson, 274 Mich App 268, 279; 731
NW2d 797 (2007) (an appeal on leave granted is limited to the scope of this Court’s order granting
leave). Denice is not entitled to appellate review of her claims that relied on the asserted 2018
agreement.

        The term “marital assets” is indisputably linked to divorce litigation.23 And it is certainly
true that identifying an asset as “marital” does not speak to the legal title or formal ownership of

23
   In divorce actions, a trial court is required to include in a judgment “a determination of the
property rights of the parties[.]” MCR 3.211(B)(3). Also, the court must determine “the rights of
the parties in pension, annuity, and retirement benefits[.]” MCR 3.211(B)(2). A trial court has
the authority to divide the property that came to either party by reason of the marriage. See MCL
552.19. A court normally cannot divide property between the spouses when the property belongs
to one spouse as his or her separate property. See Korth v Korth, 256 Mich App 286, 291; 662
NW2d 111 (2003). “Thus, the trial court’s first consideration when dividing property in divorce
proceedings is the determination of marital and separate assets.” Reeves v Reeves, 226 Mich App
490, 493-494; 575 NW2d 1 (1997). The distinction between marital assets and separate assets has
long been recognized in this state. Id. at 494. A trial court, when apportioning marital property,
must strive to equitably divide increases in marital assets that occurred from the beginning of the
marriage to its end. Id. Marital property is property that was acquired or earned by the parties
during the marriage and, with certain exceptions, separate property is property that either spouse
obtained or earned before the marriage. Cunningham v Cunningham, 289 Mich App 195, 201;
795 NW2d 826 (2010). An increase in the value of separately owned property during a marriage

                                                -16-
the property. See Wengel v Wengel, 270 Mich App 86, 93; 714 NW2d 371 (2006) (discussing
various forms of concurrent ownership).24 Although Hunter devotes considerable time arguing
that “marital assets” are not pertinent to probate proceedings, I conclude that the designation of an
asset as “marital” should play an important role in resolving this appeal under the unique
circumstances of the case.

        With respect to fraud and the management or handling of marital assets, our Supreme Court
in Goddard v Goddard, 286 Mich 553, 557; 282 NW 241 (1938), explained that it is within the
authority of a divorce court to set aside a transaction consummated through the fraud of one spouse
on the other spouse “and to equitably adjust their property rights . . . the same as though such
fraudulent conveyance had not been made.” A court has the power to gauge and determine whether
assets were fraudulently transferred or conveyed to a third party in an effort to deprive a spouse of
an interest in marital property. Thames v Thames, 191 Mich App 299, 302; 477 NW2d 496 (1991).
The Thames panel specifically held that “[o]ne spouse cannot deprive the other of an interest in
the marital estate by transferring marital property into a trust for the benefit of a third party.” Id.25
Taking a glance at a foreign jurisdiction’s analysis on the subject, in Carmack v Carmack, 603
SW3d 900, 910-911 (Mo App, 2020), the Missouri court, discussing the marital fraud factors that
Denice wishes us to embrace and adopt, observed:

                 [Caselaw] identifies several factors that are relevant to determining whether
         a transferring spouse had the intent and purpose to defeat the other spouse’s marital
         rights, including: (1) whether the transfer lacked consideration; (2) whether
         transferor-spouse retained control over the asset in question; (3) whether the
         amount of the transfer is disproportionate compared to the value of the transferor-

does not become a marital asset if the increase was not the result of either spouse’s active efforts
to improve the property’s value. See Dart v Dart, 460 Mich 573, 585 n 6; 597 NW2d 82 (1999);
Reeves, 226 Mich App at 496.
24
  Of course, Michigan does recognize a form of ownership known as an estate or tenancy by the
entireties. See Lilly v Schmock, 297 Mich 513, 517; 298 NW 116 (1941). “In a tenancy by the
entireties, a husband and wife hold joint title to real property with right of survivorship[,]” and “[a]
deed or devise of real property to a husband and wife presumptively creates a tenancy by the
entireties[.]” In re VanConett Estate, 262 Mich App 660, 667; 687 NW2d 167 (2004) (citation
omitted). This is distinct, however, from property simply characterized as a “marital asset” under
divorce law.
25
     In Cassidy v Cassidy, 318 Mich App 463, 495; 899 NW2d 65 (2017), this Court stated:
                 [W]hile the general rule is that the circuit court has no jurisdiction in a
         divorce proceeding to adjudicate the rights of any party other than the husband and
         wife and Michigan divorce statutes do not permit the courts to order conveyance of
         property or interests in property to third parties, one exception exists where a third
         party has conspired with a husband or a wife to defraud the other spouse out of his
         or her property rights. [Quotation marks, citation, and alteration brackets omitted.]

                                                  -17-
        spouse’s total estate; and (4) whether the transferor-spouse made the transfer openly
        and with frank disclosure.

        As emphasized by Hunter, Earl did not actually convey or transfer any assets to Hunter or
the Trust by executing the 2020 Trust and associated will; he merely disinherited Denice. At that
point, Hunter obtained—or continued to have—a future contingent beneficial interest in the Trust,
see MCL 700.7103(l)(i), that was susceptible to the whims of his father. Earl could have further
amended or even revoked the Trust itself during his lifetime. But when Earl died in June 2020,
the assets, if not already held by the Trust, became property of the Trust, and Hunter’s interest as
sole beneficiary vested. See id.

        In this case, I agree with the majority that there is no genuine issue of material fact that
Earl did not act fraudulently or with fraudulent intent when he signed the 2020 Trust. I would
nonetheless hold that a public policy violation occurred and that it was unnecessary for the
violation to entail fraud to justify equitable relief under the MTC. I acknowledge that Denice only
argues that a violation of public policy occurred because Earl committed fraud on marital assets,
but I conclude that justice requires examination of whether public policy was violated even absent
any fraud. See People v Yost, 278 Mich App 341, 388; 749 NW2d 753 (2008) (“ ‘Generally we
do not address issues not raised by the parties on appeal. However, our function is to dispense
justice, and we are given the limited power to raise questions on our own.’ ”) (quoting People v
Noel, 88 Mich App 752, 754; 279 NW2d 305 [1979]). Sua sponte examination is appropriate. I
also note that the allegations in Count III of the petition raising the claim of a public policy
violation were sufficiently broad so as to go beyond solely a fraud-based theory.

         With respect to public policy, MCL 700.7404 provides, as cited earlier, that “[a] trust may
be created only to the extent its purposes are lawful, not contrary to public policy, and possible to
achieve.” (Emphasis added.) I disagree with any argument that MCL 700.7404 only applied to
the Trust as originally “created” in 2001. The 2020 Trust was a complete restatement of the Trust.
Moreover, it is clear that the intent of the Legislature in crafting MCL 700.7404 was to prohibit
the enforcement of a trust that is unlawful or in violation of public policy at any point throughout
the life of the trust. And MCL 700.7410(1) provides, in relevant part and as previously noted, that
“a trust terminates to the extent . . . the purposes of the trust . . . are found by a court to be unlawful
or contrary to public policy.”26

        It is beyond peradventure that under Michigan law “[t]he goal in distributing marital assets
in a divorce proceeding is to reach an equitable distribution of property in light of all the
circumstances.” Berger v Berger, 277 Mich App 700, 716-717; 747 NW2d 336 (2008) (emphasis
added); see also Seifeddine v Jaber, 327 Mich App 514, 522; 934 NW2d 64 (2019); Butler v
Simmons-Butler, 308 Mich App 195, 208; 863 NW2d 677 (2014); Hodge v Parks, 303 Mich App
552, 560-561; 844 NW2d 189 (2014); Gates v Gates, 256 Mich App 420, 423; 664 NW2d 231
(2003). Because, as stated earlier, Michigan public policy can be ascertained by reflection on the
common law, Terrien, 467 Mich at 66-67, I conclude that public policy favors the equitable
division of marital assets in divorce litigation. This is hardly debatable. Furthermore, I conclude

26
  The terms of a trust cannot prevail over the requirements of and provisions in MCL 700.7404
and MCL 700.7410. MCL 700.7105(2)(c) and (d).

                                                   -18-
that unilaterally disinheriting a spouse is contrary to Michigan public policy that favors the
protection of a surviving spouse as evidenced by MCL 700.2202(2), which allows a surviving
spouse to take an elective share of the decedent spouse’s estate despite the existence of a will
disinheriting the spouse. See Terrien, 467 Mich at 66-67 (public policy can be discerned by taking
into consideration Michigan statutes).27

        Under the particular circumstances presented in this case, I find it appropriate to consider
the public policy of equitably dividing marital assets in divorce proceedings, which were not
concluded for the sole reason of Earl’s untimely and unfortunate death, in conjunction with the
public policy that favors the protection of surviving spouses and disfavors their disinheritance. On
the authority of MCL 700.7404 and MCL 700.7410(1), I would hold that the revocable, inter vivos
Trust executed by Earl during the divorce proceedings terminated or was rendered void at the time
of his death because the purpose of the Trust had become contrary to public policy to the extent
that the Trust held, was the beneficiary of, or otherwise pertained to “marital assets” that would
have otherwise been equitably divided in the divorce proceedings had Earl survived until entry of
judgment.

        Under my analysis, there was no public policy violation by Earl at the point that he
executed the 2020 Trust. As noted earlier, there was no actual conveyance at that time, and if the
divorce action would have proceeded to judgment, which would have necessarily included a
division of the marital assets, the 2020 Trust would have had no effect on the assets or monies
awarded to Denice. In other words, colloquially speaking, no harm no foul. And to be absolutely
clear, my approach would not bar enforcement of the 2020 Trust with respect to any “separate”
property held by Earl that was not part of the marital estate and that would not have been subject
to division in the divorce case.28

        Next, I conclude that this Court’s ruling in Soltis and the Supreme Court precedent cited in
Soltis do not conflict with my position. In Soltis, Richard and Dora Soltis, a married couple, each
set up their own revocable, inter vivos trusts and pour-over wills, which they amended over the
years. Soltis, 203 Mich App at 436-437. In time, Richard transferred his interests in marital
property to Dora’s trust to avoid alimony demands made by his former wife. Id. at 437. At one

27
   I also note that regardless of any effort to disinherit a spouse, the surviving spouse is entitled to
certain personal property under MCL 700.2404. Subsection (1) of MCL 700.2404 provides that
“[t]he decedent’s surviving spouse is . . . entitled to household furniture, automobiles, furnishings,
appliances, and personal effects from the estate up to a value not to exceed $10,000.00 more than
the amount of any security interests to which the property is subject.” Additionally, “[a] decedent’s
surviving spouse is entitled to a homestead allowance of $15,000.00, adjusted as provided in
section 1210.” MCL 700.2402. Furthermore, “[f]or their maintenance during the period of
administration, a reasonable family allowance is payable to the decedent’s surviving spouse . . . .”
MCL 700.2403(1). These statutory provisions lend further support for the proposition that public
policy does not support the disinheritance of a surviving spouse.
28
  I do note that “separate” property can be invaded by a court under certain statutory circumstances
when dividing property in a divorce action. See Reed v Reed, 265 Mich App 131, 152; 693 NW2d
825 (2005), citing MCL 552.23(1) and MCL 552.401.

                                                 -19-
point, Richard and Dora’s son from a previous marriage, Brian, were beneficiaries of Dora’s trust.
Id. at 436-437. The following then occurred:

               In August 1987, Dora again amended her trust providing that all of the
       income go to Brian. Richard was eliminated as a beneficiary of the trust, with no
       explanation given in the trust itself. However, Richard has conceded that he was
       financially secure. Further evidence indicated that Dora, who had cancer at the time,
       wanted to guard against her incapacity, wished to provide for her son and grandson,
       and wished to prevent Richard’s ex-wife from attaching Dora’s property. Dora
       subsequently died of cancer on August 21, 1989. [Id. at 437.]

        Richard argued to this Court that the assets in Dora’s trust should be included in her probate
estate for purposes of the spousal election statute, that the trust was illusory and testamentary, and
that the trust constituted “a fraud on his marital rights” and was thus invalid. Id. at 438. The Soltis
panel first confronted Richard’s arguments about the trust being illusory and testamentary and
undermining the spousal election statute:

                An inter vivos trust, as in this case, is a trust created between the living. It
       is a trust created by the grantor during the grantor’s lifetime to go into effect during
       the grantor’s lifetime. An inter vivos trust is contrasted with a testamentary trust in
       that a testamentary trust is contained in a will and goes into effect at the testator’s
       death. An inter vivos transfer or gift is not testamentary and is therefore not subject
       to the spousal election.

               [Richard], however, argues that the trust is testamentary in character
       because decedent [Dora] retained substantial control over the trust assets during her
       life by declaring herself trustee and by retaining the power to amend or revoke the
       trust. The reservation of the power to revoke the trust does not render it
       testamentary, nor does it void the trust. Goodrich v City Nat’l Bank & Trust Co,
       270 Mich 222, 229; 258 NW 253 (1935). Further, a grantor may establish a trust
       naming herself as the trustee and receive the income generated by the principal held
       for the benefit of another. Thus, the trust is not testamentary in character merely
       because decedent retained substantial control over the trust.

               [Richard] further argues that the trust is illusory because decedent has, in
       effect, defeated his statutory elective share by removing the property from the
       estate. Courts in other jurisdictions have found such inter vivos trusts to be illusory,
       and therefore invalid, where the grantor in effect defeated the statutory elective
       share of the spouse by removing the property from the estate while allowing the
       grantor to retain control over the assets in the trust. However, under similar facts,
       our Supreme Court has rejected a spouse’s attempt to invalidate such a trust on the
       ground that it was illusory. In Goodrich, supra, our Supreme Court upheld a trust
       where the grantor reserved power to change the beneficiaries, amend the trust,
       revoke the trust in whole or in part, withdraw all or part of the estate, and control
       investments. In Rose v Union Guardian Trust Co, 300 Mich 73; 1 NW2d 458
       (1942), our Supreme Court indicated that the fact that the grantor makes certain
       reservations in creating the trust does not necessarily affect the validity of the trust.

                                                 -20-
       Accordingly, following the dictates of Goodrich and Rose, we find that the trust in
       the instant case is not testamentary or illusory. [Soltis, 203 Mich App 439-440
       (citations omitted).]

       The Soltis panel next addressed and rejected Richard’s contention that the trust constituted
a fraud on his marital rights or assets, concluding that there was “no indication that decedent
intended to defraud [Richard] of his marital rights.” Id. at 440. This Court reached that conclusion
because Richard “was at all times independently financially secure” and because there was
evidence that Dora desired to amend her trust to guard against her incapacity related to her cancer,
provide for her son Brian and grandson, and to prevent Richard’s ex-wife from attaching the
property. Id. The Court found that “[t]hese purposes are valid and do not indicate any intent to
defraud [Richard] of his marital rights.” Id. The Soltis panel additionally elaborated:

               We further note that the Probate Code was amended by the Legislature in
       1979 and the augmented estate concept of the Uniform Probate Code . . ., which
       would include in the decedent’s estate any transferred property in which the
       decedent retained the power to revoke the transfer or the right to enjoy, consume,
       invade, or dispose of the property for the decedent’s own benefit or retain a right to
       income, was specifically not included in the Revised Probate Code [RPC29] . . . .
       Thus, although it is clear that an inter vivos trust circumvents the purpose of the
       spousal election provision to financially provide for living spouses, the spousal
       election provision does not include the concept of an augmented estate.

               We are aware that spouses who may not be as financially secure as the
       petitioner in the instant case may effectively be disinherited by the use of an inter
       vivos trust because of the language of the spousal election statute and the Supreme
       Court’s decisions in Goodrich and Rose. However, we are bound by the Supreme
       Court’s decisions because only the Supreme Court may modify or overrule its prior
       decisions. Additionally, the Legislature could have provided for an augmented
       estate in the spousal election statute, but it chose not to do so and we must also
       follow the dictates of our Legislature through its statutes. Absent any showing of
       fraud upon petitioner’s marital rights, we must conclude that decedent’s assets in
       the inter vivos trust do not fall within the spousal election provision. [Soltis, 203
       Mich App at 440-441 (citations omitted).30]

        In Goodrich, the settlor husband placed bonds, stocks, and mortgages into a trust with a
trustee bank because “[h]e was concerned about his wife’s intense devotion to a church, and was
afraid she would make excessive donations to the denomination to her own disadvantage.”

29
  The RPC, 1978 PA 642, was replaced by the Estates and Protected Individuals Code (EPIC),
MCL 700.1101 et seq., 1998 PA 386. See In re Pollack Trust, 309 Mich App 125, 143 n 4; 867
NW2d 884 (2015). The relevant provisions of the MTC, MCL 700.7404 and MCL 700. 7410,
were enacted pursuant to 2009 PA 46.
30
 The last sentence in this passage from Soltis can be interpreted as supporting a claim of fraud on
marital assets through the use of a revocable, inter vivos trust if in fact there is evidence of fraud.

                                                 -21-
Goodrich, 270 Mich at 224. The husband did not place any real property or all of his personal
property in the trust. Id. at 224-225. He died within a couple of years, and his wife died nine
months later, leading to her heirs challenging the validity of the trust on multiple grounds in
litigation against the bank. Id. The heirs asserted that the husband’s “property devolved upon his
wife at his death and her heirs take through her.” Id. at 225. The trust had been set up to provide
the husband with income generated by the trust’s assets for his lifetime, to provide lifetime income
thereafter for the wife, to provide, upon both of their deaths, $600 each to a couple of the heirs,
and to provide the balance for the use and benefit of a charitable organization named by the
husband. Id. at 227. Under the terms of the trust, the husband had full authority to amend and
revoke the trust, change the beneficiaries, and control the investments. Id. at 226, 229. The
Supreme Court, in finding the trust valid and enforceable and not testamentary, stated that “[i]t is
plain that [the husband] wanted to make a living trust for his own benefit during his lifetime
because of his ailments, to insure certain beneficiaries of his bounty, and to prevent undesired
disposition of his estate by his wife. In providing the reservations, he was merely setting up not
uncommon safeguards against future contingencies.” Id. at 232. The Court concluded the opinion
by addressing a public policy argument:

               [The heirs] further urge that instruments of this nature are contrary to public
       policy because they would offer a means of evasion of state and federal estate
       inheritance taxes or inconvenience their collection. The government has ample
       authority to conserve its power of taxation. It can, and must, and does, provide
       against evasion. Trusts may have different private and public effect. There is no
       occasion for the courts to avoid private rights in aid of the collection of taxes by
       setting up conditions which the Legislature did not deem necessary. [Id. (citation
       omitted).]

       In Rose, 300 Mich at 74-75, the Michigan Supreme Court addressed the following factual
circumstances:

               This appeal involves the validity of a trust instrument which Benjamin Rose
       executed October 26, 1927, about a week prior to his marriage to plaintiff, Clara B.
       Rose. Benjamin Rose died testate September 16, 1933. Plaintiff renounced the
       provisions made for her in his will, and elected to take under the statute. Incident
       to creating this trust Mr. Rose conveyed eight parcels of land to the predecessor of
       the Union Guardian Trust Company. The deeds were recorded within two days. He
       changed the beneficiaries named in the trust instrument by means of a supplemental
       agreement on August 13, 1932, under which defendant Ethel Alice Rose, his
       daughter by a former marriage, was to receive the trust property outright as
       beneficiary at his death. By her bill of complaint plaintiff sought cancellation of the
       deeds through which Mr. Rose conveyed title in trust to the parcels of real estate to
       the defendant trust company, and also cancellation of the two deeds by which the
       trust company after the death of Mr. Rose sought to convey title to defendant Ethel
       Alice Rose. The circuit judge decreed to plaintiff the relief sought. Defendant Ethel
       Alice Rose has appealed.

        Pertinent to our case, one of the arguments made on appeal in Rose was that “the trust was
set up by Benjamin Rose shortly before his marriage to plaintiff in an effort to fraudulently deprive

                                                -22-
her of her dower rights[.]” Id. at 75. Our Supreme Court rejected the argument, concluding that
the record demonstrated that Benjamin had liberally provided for the plaintiff by transferring a
large part of his property to her during his lifetime by means of joint deeds and joint bank accounts.
Id. at 75-76. The Court ruled that no fraud was shown, noting “that conveyances of property
immediately prior to marriage are not per se fraudulent in Michigan.” Id. at 76.

        It is clear that Soltis, Goodrich, and Rose provide authority for a person to disinherit his or
her spouse through the employment of a revocable, inter vivos trust. There was, however, some
emphasis in all three cases that the surviving spouse was not totally disinherited or was left
financially secure. See Rose, 300 Mich at 75-76; Goodrich, 270 Mich at 224-225; Soltis, 203 Mich
App at 440. I reject, for the most part, Denice’s argument that the three cases are no longer
pertinent because the public policy provisions in the MTC were enacted after those opinions were
issued. Although the statutory language found in the MTC regarding the requirement that trusts
not violate public policy did not exist when Soltis, Goodrich, and Rose were decided, public policy
under the common law still provided an avenue to challenge a trust. See Goodrich, 270 Mich at
232 (“Plaintiffs further urge that instruments of this nature are contrary to public policy . . .”).
Indeed, the Soltis panel’s discussion regarding whether the trust in that case was “illusory” and its
recognition that the trust circumvented the statutory spousal election provision resulting in a
spouse’s disinheritance effectively constituted a public policy analysis. Nevertheless, I do not read
Soltis, Goodrich, and Rose as undermining my conclusion that Michigan public policy favors the
protection of surviving spouses and does not favor their disinheritance; rather, they merely support
the proposition that the public policy against disinheritance did not suffice to render the trusts
unenforceable. Ultimately, the distinguishing feature presented in the instant case is that it not
only entailed the disinheritance of a spouse, it involved a disinheritance during the pendency of a
divorce action with respect to marital assets that would have otherwise been equitably divided
upon judgment but for a spouse’s death. This compelling aspect of the case is not at all comparable
to the circumstances presented in Soltis, Goodrich, and Rose.

        Finally, I acknowledge that Soltis did indicate that the trust in that case was valid and
enforceable in light of the absence of a statutory provision in the now-repealed RPC allowing for
spousal election in the context of an augmented estate encompassing trust property. Soltis, 203
Mich App at 440-441. But, although EPIC similarly lacks any such provision and the MTC, which
is not focused on probating estates, does not contain any specific spousal election language, I
conclude that the MTC’s prohibition against trusts that violate public policy constitutes statutory
authority for taking into consideration EPIC’s spousal election and spousal allowance provisions
in defining the parameters of Michigan public policy.

                                        IV. CONCLUSION

         On the authority of MCL 700.7404 and MCL 700.7410(1), I would hold that the revocable,
inter vivos Trust executed by Earl during the divorce proceedings terminated or was rendered void
at the time of his death because the purpose of the Trust had become contrary to public policy to
the extent that the Trust held, was the beneficiary of, or otherwise pertained to “marital assets” that
would have otherwise been equitably divided in the divorce proceedings had Earl survived until
entry of judgment. I reach this conclusion regardless of whether Earl had an intent to defraud
Denice. I do agree with the majority that any claims for equitable relief based on breach of

                                                 -23-
fiduciary duty and fraud on marital assets fail as a matter of law. Thus, I would affirm in part and
reverse in part. Accordingly, I respectfully concur in part and dissent in part.

                                                             /s/ Jane E. Markey

                                               -24-