Court Opinion

ID: 3219215
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-06-30 22:04:16.902151+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:30:41.398237
License: Public Domain

2016 IL App (1st) 152362
                                              No. 1-15-2362
                                                                        Fifth Division
                                                                        June 30, 2016
     ______________________________________________________________________________

                                         IN THE
                             APPELLATE COURT OF ILLINOIS
                                     FIRST DISTRICT
     ______________________________________________________________________________

                                                       )
     In re ESTATE OF STEPHEN MICHAEL AGIN,             )
     Deceased                                          ) Appeal from the Circuit Court
                                                       ) of Cook County.
     (Jessica Agin, Supervised Administrator,          )
             Petitioner-Appellee,                      ) No. 2014 P 5937
                                                       )
     v.                                                ) The Honorable
                                                       ) James G. Riley,
     Janice M. Marzovillo, Stephen L. Agin, Cynthia M. ) Judge Presiding.
     McKennas, and Mary L. Agin,                       )
             Respondents-Appellants).                  )
                                                       )
     ______________________________________________________________________________

            JUSTICE GORDON delivered the judgment of the court, with opinion.
            Presiding Justice Reyes and Justice Lampkin concurred in the judgment and opinion.

                                                OPINION

¶1         The instant appeal arises from the probate court’s finding that decedent Stephen Michael

        Agin’s fractional interest in a land trust established by his uncle was an asset of decedent’s

        estate, rather than passing directly to his children, respondents Janice M. Marzovillo, Stephen

        L. Agin, Cynthia M. McKennas, and Mary L. Agin. On appeal, respondents argue that the

        probate court erred in its interpretation of the land trust and that, under the terms of the land

        trust, decedent’s interest in the trust should have passed directly to his descendants per
     No. 1-15-2362

        stirpes instead of being considered an asset of his estate. For the reasons that follow, we

        affirm.

¶2                                         BACKGROUND

¶3          Decedent Stephen Michael Agin died on April 10, 2014, at age 82, without leaving a will.

        Jessica Agin, decedent’s wife, and Stephen L. Agin, one of decedent’s children from a prior

        marriage, filed cross-petitions for letters of administration in October 2014, and, on

        November 17, 2014, Jessica was named supervised administrator of decedent’s estate. On the

        same day, Jessica filed an affidavit of heirship stating that she was decedent’s wife and that

        decedent had four children from a prior marriage, all of whom were of legal age and mentally

        competent, and the probate court entered an order declaring Jessica and respondents to be

        decedent’s only heirs.

¶4          On January 16, 2015, Jessica filed an inventory of the decedent’s estate, which listed as

        personal property “Chicago Title Escrow Account 201448039,” with a value of $8052.08. On

        February 6, 2015, respondents filed an objection to the inventory, claiming that the funds in

        the Chicago Title escrow account were the property of respondents and not an asset of the

        estate.

¶5          The objection claimed that on October 10, 2001, decedent’s uncle, Michael Yergovich,

        signed a trust agreement naming Chicago Title Land Trust Company (Chicago Title) as

        trustee of trust No. 1110232 (the trust), pursuant to which Chicago Title took legal and

        equitable title to a single family home in Chicago; the trust agreement was amended on

        October 22, 2001, and under the terms of the trust, decedent was to be awarded a 4% interest

        in the trust upon Yergovich’s death. Yergovich died on January 5, 2014, prior to the

        termination of the trust, and the objection claimed that under the terms of the trust, “a 1/25th

                                                     2
     No. 1-15-2362

        interest in said trust immediately vested in [decedent] and his descendants per stirpes.” The

        single family home was sold on November 18, 2014, and decedent’s portion of the proceeds

        was placed into the Chicago Title escrow account because Jessica claimed an interest in the

        proceeds. The objection claimed that Jessica had been advised by the attorney who

        represented Yergovich in connection with the formation of the trust that “it was the intent of

        Mr. Yergovich in forming said trust that the 1/25th interest in the proceeds from the sale of

        the subject property being held in Chicago Title Escrow Account 201448039 would be

        distributed to the per stirpal descendants of [decedent].” As respondents were decedent’s

        only per stirpes descendants and Jessica was not a per stirpes descendant, the objection

        requested that the probate court find that the funds in the Chicago Title escrow account were

        the property of respondents and not an asset of the estate.

¶6         As an exhibit, the objection contained a copy of the trust agreement and its amendment. 1

        The trust agreement was dated October 10, 2001, and gave legal and equitable title to the

        property to Chicago Title, with Yergovich named as beneficiary and retaining the sole power

        of direction. The trust agreement provided, in relevant part:

                     “The interest of every beneficiary and of any person who may become entitled to

               any interest under this trust shall consist only of (1) the power to direct the trustee to

               deal with title to the property; (2) the power to manage, possess, use and control the

               property; and (3) the right to receive the earnings, avails and proceeds from leases

               and other uses and from mortgages, sales and other dispositions of the property. Such

               rights and powers shall be personal property and may be assigned as such. On the

           1
              The February 6, 2015, objection makes reference to an “Exhibit A,” but the exhibit was not
        initially included with the objection. Respondents later filed “Exhibit A” separately on March 18,
        2015.

                                                      3
     No. 1-15-2362

                death of any beneficiary his interest, except as otherwise specifically provided, shall

                pass to his executor or administrator and not to his heirs at law. *** The death of any

                beneficiary shall not terminate the trust or affect the rights or powers of the trustee or

                of the beneficiaries except as provided by law.”

        The trust agreement further provided:

                     “On the written direction of the party or parties *** having the power of direction

                the trustee will make deeds for, or deeds conveying directly to a trust Grantee, or

                mortgages or trust deeds *** or execute leases or otherwise deal with the title to the

                trust property including cash or other assets subject to the trust. The beneficiaries by

                written instrument delivered to the trustee may revoke the foregoing power of

                direction and designate the person thereafter to exercise the power. Such instrument

                shall be signed by all the then beneficiaries.”

¶7          The amendment to the trust 2 was dated October 22, 2001, and provided that “[i]n the

        event of death of said Michael Yergovich prior to termination of this trust or prior to other

        disposition of his interest hereunder, then all interest of said Michael Yergovich shall

        immediately pass and vest, as follows, per stirpes.” The amendment then listed a 20%

        interest to each of Yergovich’s four then-living siblings, and a 4% interest to each of five

        named nieces and nephews, including decedent. 3

            2
              The title to the amendment reads, “Amendment to Trust Agreement with LaSalle National Bank
        under Trust Number 126582 dated August 24, 2000,” which is neither the entity nor the trust number
        of the Chicago Title trust at issue on appeal. We note that there is nothing in the record explaining
        this discrepancy. However, both parties used this same document before the probate court as
        representing an amendment to the trust at issue on appeal. Consequently, we will do the same.
            3
              According to respondents’ brief, the named nieces and nephews were all the children of a sister
        who had predeceased Yergovich.

                                                       4
       No. 1-15-2362

¶8            In response to respondents’ objection, petitioner claimed that the language of the trust

          vested decedent’s right to his fractional interest in the trust at the moment of Yergovich’s

          death and that decedent could thereafter dispose of the property as he wished; petitioner

          claimed that the language of the trust did not limit the disposition of the interest to decedent’s

          lineal descendants, as respondents claimed.

¶9            On May 8, 2015, the parties came before the probate court for a hearing on respondents’

          objection. According to the bystander’s report submitted by the parties and certified as

          accurate by the probate court, “[a]t the outset of the hearing, Judge Riley stated that he had

          read the materials submitted to him and that, upon Michael Yergovich’s death, the interest of

          the decedent, Stephen M. Agin, in Chicago Title Land Trust Number 1110232 *** vested, it

          became his, and Mr. Agin could have done whatever he wanted to do with it.” Respondents’

          attorney pointed out the “per stirpes” language to the court, but the court responded “that the

          ‘per stirpes’ language only applies to successor beneficiaries who died before Michael

          Yergovich.” Respondents’ attorney “replied that Trust 1110232 does not say that the ‘per

          stirpes’ language only applies to successor beneficiaries,” and the probate court “stated that

          the trust did not need to.” Respondents’ attorney “then pointed out to Judge Riley that the

          trust at issue is a land trust, not a conventional trust, and that this difference was significant.”

          The probate court responded “that it did not matter.”

¶ 10          On the same day, the probate court entered an order finding (1) that the trust agreement

          was not ambiguous and (2) that the funds in the Chicago Title escrow account were an asset

          of decedent’s estate. The probate court ordered that the funds in the Chicago Title escrow

          account be disbursed to decedent’s estate. The court further found that there was no just

          reason to delay appeal and stayed the order pending appeal.

                                                         5
       No. 1-15-2362

¶ 11          On June 5, 2015, respondents filed a motion for reconsideration of the probate court’s

          May 8, 2015, order, in which they argued that (1) “the parties did not present case law

          addressing the formation and construction of land trusts under Illinois law and properly focus

          the Court on the issues raised by said objection” and (2) there were “facts relevant to the

          issues raised by the objection which were not presented to the Court prior to its ruling.” 4

          Specifically, the motion stated that on February 25, 2014, Bruce Becker, the attorney who

          represented Yergovich in connection with the formation of the trust, sent a letter to the trust’s

          “ ‘Contingent Beneficiaries (and Successors Thereto)’ ” in which he advised that “ ‘[e]ach

          contingent beneficiary must sign a Ratification of Trust Agreement reflecting that the

          contingent beneficiary confirms and approves the terms of the Trust Agreement.’ ” Becker

          also requested that each contingent beneficiary revoke his or her fractional share of the power

          of direction and grant power of direction under the trust to Karen Giacomino and Mary Lou

          McCan 5 in order to sell the property held in the trust. On March 18, 2014, decedent signed

          the letter and returned it to McCan. Becker later also sent a letter to the same contingent

          beneficiaries setting forth the scope and terms of his legal representation, and Jessica

          returned the letter signed on decedent’s behalf shortly before his death. Thus, the motion

          argued that “[a]ll interested parties, including the decedent, ratified and confirmed the terms

          of [the trust], including the ‘per stirpes’ language, and granted the power of direction to Mary

          Lou McCan and Karen Giacomino after Mr. Yergovich passed away.”

¶ 12          The motion further stated that on August 12, 2014, Becker sent a letter to respondents

          and forwarded copies of the trust agreement and amendment; the February 25, 2014, letter

              4
                 We note that the facts and law referred to in the motion for reconsideration were in existence at the time
          that respondents filed their objection to petitioner’s inventory; that is, they were not newly discovered facts or
          newly decided cases.
               5
                 McCan was one of the nieces named in the amendment to the trust agreement; Giacomino’s relationship to
          the trust is not clear from the record on appeal.

                                                               6
       No. 1-15-2362

          signed by decedent, as well as an unsigned copy for respondents to sign; an amended version

          of the engagement letter; a listing agreement for the sale of the property held in the trust; and

          a ratification of trust agreement. In the letter, Becker stated that respondents should sign and

          return the February 25, 2014, letter; the amended engagement letter; and the ratification of

          trust agreement, advising that “ ‘this matter cannot proceed without your approval and

          participation.’ ” These documents were signed by respondents and returned to Becker, but

          respondents’ attorney enclosed a letter stating that “ ‘[his] clients strongly object to any

          characterization of Jessica Agin as a contingent beneficiary of [the trust],’ and that they ‘do

          not believe that any approval by Jessica Agin is necessary or appropriate to proceed with this

          transaction.’ ” Copies of all of the letters were attached to the motion.

¶ 13         On July 30, 2015, the parties came before the probate court for a hearing on respondents’

          motion for reconsideration. According to the bystander’s report submitted by the parties and

          certified as accurate by the probate court, “[a]t the outset of the hearing, Judge Riley stated

          that he had read the materials submitted to him and that he believed that his ruling on May 8,

          2015 was correct. Judge Riley then stated that the ratification argument in the motion for

          reconsideration piqued his interest.” The probate court indicated that it was the court’s

          understanding that any ratification of the trust would have needed to be accepted by the

          trustee and asked respondents’ attorney whether there was any documentation indicating that

          the trustee had accepted the ratification. Respondents’ attorney responded that “his clients

          did not have a copy of the trustee’s acceptance of the ratification agreement but that there

          was no dispute that the ratification agreement was accepted by the trustee.” The attorney also

          “pointed out that the ratification agreement also provided that the power of direction was

          granted to Mary Lou McCan and Karen Giacomino, and that the property which was the

                                                        7
       No. 1-15-2362

          corpus of the land trust sold pursuant to the direction of Ms. McCan and Ms. Giacomino.”

          The attorney argued that, since decedent had transferred his fractional share of the power of

          direction to McCan and Giacomino, “at the decedent’s death, his interest in the trust, which

          still existed at the time, passed pursuant to the express terms of the trust to his per stirpal

          descendants, not to his estate.” In response, the court pointed to the language of the trust

          concerning Yergovich’s death in which case “ ‘all interest of said Michael Yergovich shall

          immediately pass and vest, as follows,’ ” and “stated that, upon Mr. Yergovich’s death, the

          decedent had a vested interest in the trust asset and, at his death, that interest passed to his

          estate and not pursuant to the language of the trust even though the trust existed at that time.”

          The probate court then entered an order denying respondents’ motion for reconsideration.

¶ 14         Respondents timely filed a notice of appeal, and this appeal follows. Petitioner did not

          file a brief on appeal, so we take the instant appeal for consideration on the record and

          respondents’ brief only.

¶ 15                                            ANALYSIS

¶ 16         On appeal, respondents claim that the trial court erred in its interpretation of the trust

          language and that decedent’s fractional interest in the trust should pass to them instead of

          being considered an asset of the estate. As an initial matter, respondents argue that the

          standard of review in the instant case is de novo, as we are asked to consider the terms of a

          trust document. However, that is not entirely accurate.

¶ 17         To the extent that we consider the construction and legal effect of a trust document, we

          are reviewing the probate court’s conclusions of law. Eychaner v. Gross, 202 Ill. 2d 228, 252

          (2002). In reviewing the probate court’s conclusions of law, as respondents note, our

          standard of review is de novo. Eychaner, 202 Ill. 2d at 252 (citing Norskog v. Pfiel, 197 Ill.

                                                       8
       No. 1-15-2362

          2d 60, 70-71 (2001), and Woods v. Cole, 181 Ill. 2d 512, 516 (1998)). De novo consideration

          means we perform the same analysis that a trial judge would perform. Dass v. Yale, 2013 IL

          App (1st) 122520, ¶ 33.

¶ 18         However, in their motion to reconsider, respondents set forth new facts concerning

          correspondence of attorney Becker with alleged beneficiaries and raised new arguments

          concerning ratification, none of which had been previously raised before the probate court.

          Where the denial of a motion to reconsider “is based on new matters, such as additional facts

          or new arguments that were not previously presented during the course of proceedings

          leading to the order being challenged, we are to employ an abuse of discretion standard of

          review.” River Village I, LLC v. Central Insurance Cos., 396 Ill. App. 3d 480, 492 (2009);

          Muhammad v. Muhammad-Rahmah, 363 Ill. App. 3d 407, 415 (2006). “The purpose of a

          motion to reconsider is to bring to the trial court’s attention newly discovered evidence not

          available at the time of the first hearing, changes in the law, or errors in the previous

          application of existing law to the facts at hand. [Citations.] Accordingly, a trial court is well

          within its discretion to deny such a motion and ignore its contents when it contains material

          that was available prior to the hearing at issue but never presented. [Citations.]” River Village

          I, 396 Ill. App. 3d at 492-93. Thus, while we review the interpretation of the trust documents

          de novo, we will apply an abuse of discretion standard of review to those claims raised for

          the first time in the motion for reconsideration.

¶ 19         Turning, then, to the merits of respondents’ arguments, respondents argue that the

          probate court failed to consider Yergovich’s intent in entering into the trust. “In interpreting

          trusts, which are construed according to the same principles as wills, the goal is to determine

          the settlor’s intent, which the court will effectuate if it is not contrary to law or public

                                                        9
       No. 1-15-2362

          policy.” Citizens National Bank of Paris v. Kids Hope United, Inc., 235 Ill. 2d 565, 574

          (2009) (citing First National Bank of Chicago v. Canton Council of Campfire Girls, Inc., 85

          Ill. 2d 507, 513 (1981)). “General rules of construction of written instruments apply to the

          construction of trust instruments, whether they are contracts, deeds, or wills.” Storkan v.

          Ziska, 406 Ill. 259, 263 (1950).

¶ 20         “When the language of the document is clear and unambiguous, a court should not

          modify or create new terms.” Ruby v. Ruby, 2012 IL App (1st) 103210, ¶ 19 (citing Fifth

          Third Bank, N.A. v. Rosen, 2011 IL App (1st) 093533, ¶ 24). “However, where the language

          of a trust is ambiguous and the settlor’s intent cannot be determined, a trial court may rely on

          extrinsic evidence to aid construction.” Ruby, 2012 IL App (1st) 103210, ¶ 19 (citing Rosen,

          2011 IL App (1st) 093533, ¶ 24). Language is ambiguous when it is reasonably susceptible to

          more than one meaning. Thompson v. Gordon, 241 Ill. 2d 428, 441 (2011).

¶ 21         In the case at bar, the amendment to the trust provided that, “[i]n the event of death of

          said Michael Yergovich prior to termination of this trust or prior to other disposition of his

          interest hereunder, then all interest of said Michael Yergovich shall immediately pass and

          vest, as follows, per stirpes,” and then listed, inter alia, a 4% interest to decedent.

          Respondents claim that the inclusion of the “per stirpes” language means that Yergovich

          “intended that if one of the individuals identified by him was not alive at the time of the

          distribution that person’s share would go to his/her per stirpal descendants.” The probate

          court, however, found that the language of the trust agreement was unambiguous and that

          “upon Michael Yergovich’s death, the interest of the decedent, Stephen M. Agin, in Chicago

          Title Land Trust Number 1110232 *** vested, it became his, and Mr. Agin could have done

          whatever he wanted to do with it.” We can find no error in the probate court’s conclusion.

                                                      10
       No. 1-15-2362

¶ 22         The disagreement over the language of the trust appears to center on the timing of the

          vesting of decedent’s interest in the trust. Respondents argue that we must look to the status

          of the beneficiaries at the time that the property held in the trust was sold, while the probate

          court looked to the status of the beneficiaries at the time of Yergovich’s death. We agree with

          the probate court’s interpretation.

¶ 23         Under the express language of the trust amendment, in the event of Yergovich’s death

          prior to termination of the trust, “all interest of said Michael Yergovich shall immediately

          pass and vest” (emphasis added) in the way set out in the amendment. Thus, a 4% beneficial

          interest in the trust passed to decedent at the moment of Yergovich’s death. See Hoxha v.

          LaSalle National Bank, 365 Ill. App. 3d 80, 88 (2006) (in light of language in a trust

          agreement that “ ‘all interest of said DORIS ROBBERT shall immediately pass to and vest in

          DONNA M. FORREST (friend) if she is then surviving’ ” (emphasis in the original), noting

          that “Robbert’s interest passed to Forrest immediately upon Robbert’s death”). Decedent was

          alive at the time of Yergovich’s death and, at that moment, a 4% beneficial interest in the

          trust became his to do with what he wished. We see no reason why this would change with

          the inclusion of the “per stirpes” language.

¶ 24         “Per stirpes” is a term used to specify the method of distribution of property. Goodwine

          State Bank v. Mullins, 253 Ill. App. 3d 980, 1006 (1993). “The words per stirpes denote a

          taking by right of representation of that which an ancestor would take if living.” Goodwine

          State Bank, 253 Ill. App. 3d at 1006. However, contrary to respondents’ position, the term

          designates the method of determining how the estate will be divided among those entitled to

          take—it has no application in determining who those entitled to share in the estate are. See

          Goodwine State Bank, 253 Ill. App. 3d at 1006-07 (“[T]he specification that distribution shall

                                                         11
       No. 1-15-2362

          be made per stirpes rather than per capita is an instruction of the quantum of the estate which

          is to be given to each of Harold’s surviving descendants. This is not inconsistent with the

          requirement that only the descendants of Harold who survive him may take under the will;

          rather, it is an instruction of how the estate shall be distributed to those descendants who do

          survive Harold.”). Respondents cite no cases in which the inclusion of the term “per stirpes”

          was used to determine who was entitled to take, as opposed to how they were to take. 6

¶ 25          Respondents argue that “[t]here is nothing in Trust 1110232 which indicates that Mr.

          Yergovich did not intend to treat a successor beneficiary identified by name (and his/her per

          stirpal descendants) who outlived him the same as how he intended to treat a successor

          beneficiary identified by name (and his/her per stirpal descendants) who died before him.

          Nor is there anything in Trust 1110232 which indicates that the interest of a successor

          beneficiary who outlived Mr. Yergovich, but died while Trust 1110232 was still in existence

          and prior to the final distribution and termination of the trust, should not pass ‘per stirpes.’ ”

          However, this overlooks the critical language of the trust amendment, identified by the

          probate court: that, in the event of Yergovich’s death prior to termination of the trust, “all

          interest of said Michael Yergovich shall immediately pass and vest” (emphasis added) in the

          way set out in the amendment. Thus, the express language of the trust itself sets out a

          dividing line between the time prior to Yergovich’s death and the time after Yergovich’s

          death–at the moment of death, Yergovich’s interest would pass to those named in the

          amendment, per stirpes. This means that if decedent was not alive at the moment of

          Yergovich’s death, his 4% interest would pass to his descendants, per stirpes. However,

              6
                We note that respondents are entitled to a share of decedent’s interest, even if it is considered an estate
          asset, as half of decedent’s estate would pass to them per stirpes under the Probate Act of 1975. 755 ILCS 5/2-
          1(a) (West 2012) (“If there is a surviving spouse and also a descendant of the decedent: 1/2 of the entire estate
          to the surviving spouse and 1/2 to the decedent’s descendants per stirpes.”).

                                                              12
       No. 1-15-2362

          because decedent was alive at the moment of Yergovich’s death, his 4% interest passed to

          decedent directly. Accordingly, we cannot find that the probate court erred in finding that the

          interest in the trust was decedent’s property and properly part of his estate.

¶ 26          We also find unpersuasive respondent’s argument that the probate court “failed to

          appreciate the significance that Trust 1110232 is a land trust, not a conventional trust.” In a

          conventional trust, the trustee holds the legal title and the beneficiary holds the equitable title.

          In re Estate of Mendelson, 298 Ill. App. 3d 1, 3 (1998). However, in an Illinois land trust, the

          trustee holds both legal and equitable title to any real property held in the trust. Hoxha, 365

          Ill. App. 3d at 87. “The interest retained by the beneficiary, including any power to direct the

          sale of real property, is a personal property interest rather than a real property interest in the

          legal or equitable title.” Hoxha, 365 Ill. App. 3d at 87. Thus, a settlor of a land trust cannot

          transfer legal and equitable title in the real estate held in the trust to another but can only

          convey his beneficial interest in the trust. Favata v. Favata, 74 Ill. App. 3d 979, 982 (1979).

          In the case at bar, respondents take issue with the probate court’s comment in denying their

          motion for reconsideration that “upon Mr. Yergovich’s passing, the decedent had a vested

          interest in the trust asset.” They argue that decedent never had a vested interest “in the trust

          asset,” but only held a beneficial interest in the trust. We cannot find that this misstatement 7

          by the probate court has any effect on the court’s ultimate conclusion: that 4% of

          Yergovich’s interest in the land trust passed to decedent immediately upon Yergovich’s

          death.

              7
                We note that the language purportedly used by the probate court comes from a bystander’s report, not from
          a verbatim transcript of the proceedings. We further note that in the bystander’s report concerning the initial
          hearing before the court, the court made no reference to an interest “in the trust asset” but only discussed “the
          interest of the decedent.” Thus, this appears to be a misstatement and not a misunderstanding of the applicable
          law.

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       No. 1-15-2362

¶ 27          Additionally, respondents point to the fact that decedent assigned his share of the power

          of direction to McCan and Giacomino, arguing that this meant that his interest “was not

          vested and irrevocable” and therefore “was subject to the terms of the trust, including the

          terms defining successor beneficiaries,” at the time of his death. Respondents are correct that

          “when the settlor of a land trust retains the power to direct the acts of a trustee to the

          exclusion of a beneficiary, the settlor effectively retains the power to defeat the beneficiary’s

          interest during his lifetime, and a beneficiary will not be held to have a present irrevocable

          interest unless she can show by clear and convincing evidence that the settlor had a donative

          intent to make an irrevocable inter vivos gift of the beneficial interest.” Caleca v. Caleca, 63

          Ill. App. 3d 414, 417 (1978). However, we note that the instant case is different from those

          respondent cites in that it was not the settlor defeating a beneficiary’s interest during his

          lifetime but rather was a beneficiary voluntarily assigning his power of direction to another

          after the settlor’s beneficial interest had passed to the beneficiary. Furthermore, as explained

          earlier, the “terms of the trust” only concerned themselves with the status of the beneficiaries

          at the time of Yergovich’s death. Thus, we do not find this argument supports respondents’

          position.

¶ 28          Finally, respondents argue that the probate court “repeatedly focused on the passing of

          Michael Yergovich but ignored the actions taken by [Yergovich’s attorney] Mr. Becker to

          effectuate Mr. Yergovich’s intent” and further argue that the probate court “overlooked”

          decedent’s ratification of the trust. However, in construing a trust, “the settlor’s intent is to be

          determined solely by reference to the plain language of the trust itself, and extrinsic evidence

          may be admitted to aid interpretation only if the document is ambiguous and the settlor’s

          intent cannot be ascertained.” Espevik v. Kaye, 277 Ill. App. 3d 689, 694 (1996). The probate

                                                        14
       No. 1-15-2362

          court here found that the trust agreement was not ambiguous, and respondents do not argue

          that it was ambiguous. Accordingly, the probate court properly focused on the trust

          agreement itself and not on Becker’s actions after Yergovich’s death in interpreting the trust.

          Furthermore, the facts concerning Becker’s actions and any purported ratification were

          presented for the first time in respondents’ motion for reconsideration. As noted, “a trial

          court is well within its discretion to deny such a motion and ignore its contents when it

          contains material that was available prior to the hearing at issue but never presented.

          [Citations.]” River Village I, 396 Ill. App. 3d at 492-93. Thus, we find no error in the probate

          court’s actions here.

¶ 29                                         CONCLUSION

¶ 30         The probate court properly determined that the proceeds from the sale of the real estate in

          Yergovich’s land trust were an asset of decedent’s estate, because under the terms of the trust

          agreement, upon Yergovich’s death, a 4% beneficial interest in the land trust passed to

          decedent.

¶ 31         Affirmed.

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