Category: Trusts & Estates Category: Trusts & Estates (show less)

“It’s dead Jim.” By the time those words are uttered the cause is so lost that even the illustrious Dr. McCoy cannot save the patient. But for front-line trusts and estates litigators, the cause is often not lost; the patient can still be saved. Trial court errors can be corrected on appeal so long as the right groundwork is laid and the right steps are taken. Of course, the opposite is also true. Even the most mundane missteps can be a death knell for a case if not properly addressed at either the trial court or appellate levels. This article discusses the appellate process for trusts and estates litigation matters by examining the steps common to such appeals and highlighting the typical pitfalls. The doctors performing this autopsy are two appellate practitioners with extensive experience litigating trusts and estates appeals.