Leader v. Cords

Opinion

McCONNELL, P. J.

Probate Code 1 section 17211, subdivision (b) gives the probate court discretion to award attorney fees to a trust beneficiary who “contests the trustee’s account,” if the court determines the trustee’s opposition to the contest was “without reasonable cause and in bad faith.” The trustee’s account here revealed that the trust had remaining assets and no liabilities. The trustee, however, refused to make a final distribution based on a collateral dispute that did not pertain to the trust. The beneficiaries successfully petitioned the probate court for an order…