Ratchin v. Ratchin

The plaintiffs commenced this action in the Probate and Family Court. The plaintiffs seek to reform the David C. Rice Family Trust of 1996 so that the beneficial interests held by the settlor’s sister, Ann J. Ratchin, and by the Shriners Hospitals for Children, will be administered in a way that allows the trust to qualify as a charitable remainder annuity trust (CRAT) under the Internal Revenue Code. A judge in the Probate and Family Court reported the case to the Appeals Court, and we granted the plaintiffs’ application for direct appellate review.

Facts. The trust was created on February 8,…