Probate Litigation Settlement Agreement

A Probate Litigation Settlement Agreement is typically entered into between the Executor/Administrator and a beneficiary of the Estate or third-party creditor. https://www.courts.ca.gov/8865.htm The focus of this article is a Settlement Agreement between the Executor/Administrator and a beneficiary of the Estate. A Probate Litigation Settlement Agreement can be a vital tool in resolving undisputed issues such as any alleged breach of fiduciary duty on the part of the Executor/Administrator or the distributive share of the beneficiary. A Probate Litigation Settlement Agreement will eliminate some or all of the issues which will need to be decided through a trial and will result in less time and expense to both parties. Only matters which cannot be agreed upon need to be set for trial and decided by the Judge. Our aim as your attorney will be to resolve the uncontested issues to save you time and money and focus our time and your money on the issues which are in dispute. Any issues remaining will be brought before either the Los Angeles or Orange County Superior Courts under Probate Code Section Prob. Code, § 850 as follows:

(a) The following persons may file a petition requesting that the court make an order under this part:

(1) A guardian, conservator, or any claimant, in the following cases:

(A) Where the conservatee is bound by a contract in writing to convey real property or to transfer personal property, executed by the conservatee while competent or executed by the conservatee’s predecessor in interest, and the contract is one that can be specifically enforced.

(B) Where the minor has succeeded to the interest of a person bound by a contract in writing to convey real property or to transfer personal property, and the contract is one that can be specifically enforced.

(C) Where the guardian or conservator or the minor or conservatee is in possession of, or holds title to, real or personal property, and the property or some interest therein is claimed to belong to another.

(D) Where the minor or conservatee has a claim to real or personal property title to or possession of which is held by another.

(2) The personal representative or any interested person in any of the following cases:

(A) Where the decedent while living is bound by a contract in writing to convey real property or to transfer personal property and dies before making the conveyance or transfer and the decedent, if living, could have been compelled to make the conveyance or transfer.

(B) Where the decedent while living binds himself or herself or his or her personal representative by a contract in writing to convey real property or to transfer personal property upon or after his or her death and the contract is one which can be specifically enforced.

(C) Where the decedent died in possession of, or holding title to, real or personal property, and the property or some interest therein is claimed to belong to another.

(D) Where the decedent died having a claim to real or personal property, title to or possession of which is held by another.

(3) The trustee or any interested person in any of the following cases:

(A) Where the trustee is in possession of, or holds title to, real or personal property, and the property, or some interest, is claimed to belong to another.

(B) Where the trustee has a claim to real or personal property, title to or possession of which is held by another.

(C) Where the property of the trust is claimed to be subject to a creditor of the settlor of the trust.

(b) The petition shall set forth facts upon which the claim is based.

(Prob. Code, § 850) https://california.public.law/codes/ca_prob_code_section_850

A key difference between a Civil Litigation Settlement Agreement and a Probate Litigation Settlement Agreement is that the Executor/Administrator owes numerous fiduciary duties to the Estate and/or the beneficiaries of the Estate. Probate Code Section 8502 sets forth the grounds for removal of an Executor/Administrator:

A personal representative may be removed from office for any of the following causes:

(a) The personal representative has wasted, embezzled, mismanaged, or committed a fraud on the estate, or is about to do so.

(b) The personal representative is incapable of properly executing the duties of the office or is otherwise not qualified for appointment as personal representative.

(c) The personal representative has wrongfully neglected the estate, or has long neglected to perform any act as personal representative.

(d) Removal is otherwise necessary for protection of the estate or interested persons.

(e) Any other cause provided by statute.

(Prob. Code, § 8502) https://codes.findlaw.com/ca/probate-code/prob-sect-8502.html

As such, an Executor/Administrator must negotiate any Settlement Agreement in good faith and should not seek to act partially for any reason. An Executor/Administrator will most likely be required by the Court or remaining beneficiaries to obtain approval from any remaining beneficiaries prior to entering into any binding Settlement Agreement. If you are an Executor/Administrator or beneficiary and would like to learn more about the negotiation procedures applicable to a Probate Litigation Settlement Agreement you should contact the Law Offices of Sam Walker.