Trust and Guardianship Litigation
Trust and Guardianship Litigation
Trust disputes and guardianship contests often arise together, particularly when an aging or incapacitated family member’s finances and personal care are both in question. With more than 20 years litigating these matters throughout the St. Louis area, O’Gorman and Sandroni help families untangle overlapping trust and guardianship disputes with an eye toward protecting the vulnerable person at the center of the case.
Trust Disputes
We handle disputes over trustee conduct, ambiguous or contradictory trust terms, allegations that a trust was the product of undue influence, and disagreements among beneficiaries over how trust assets should be managed or distributed.
Guardianship and Conservatorship Contests
We represent petitioners, respondents, and concerned family members in disputes over who should serve as guardian or conservator, objections to a proposed appointment, and petitions to remove a guardian or conservator who is not acting in the ward’s best interest.
When Trust and Guardianship Issues Overlap
It’s common for a trust dispute and a guardianship proceeding to involve the same family and the same underlying concerns about a vulnerable person’s care and finances. We coordinate strategy across both matters so families aren’t litigating the same issues twice in two different proceedings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. A court-appointed guardian or conservator may need to interact with an existing trust, and disputes can arise over whether a trustee’s actions are consistent with the ward’s best interests.
Interested parties, typically close family members, generally have standing to object to a proposed guardian or conservator or to petition for removal of one already serving.
Medical records establishing capacity, financial records showing how trust or personal funds have been managed, and witness testimony about the ward’s wishes and well-being are typically central to both trust and guardianship litigation.
Since 1985 Sean O’Gorman and Andrew Sandroni have been representing clients in all areas of the law. O’Gorman & Sandroni, P.C. was founded in 1989 on the principles of honesty, integrity, and the aggressive pursuit of our client’s goals.