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Probate & Trust Law Section Conference Manual ... - Minnesota CLE

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B. Who suffers from a drafting problem with a will or trust provision?<br />

1. The Grantor/Testator. The principle guide for the drafting attorney should<br />

always be meeting the client’s intent. Rarely does a Grantor/Testator want<br />

an unclear will or trust. Preparing a document so that it meets the<br />

Grantor’s wishes should be the focus of the drafting attorney.<br />

2. The Drafting Attorney. From the attorney’s perspective, having to explain<br />

why it is necessary to petition a Court for clarification of a document<br />

provision that the attorney drafted is always an extremely unpleasant task.<br />

It can also prove to be expensive to the attorney. Certainly it will do little<br />

to inspire the Grantor’s family to have confidence in the attorney.<br />

3. The <strong>Trust</strong>ee/Personal Representative. Similarly, the <strong>Trust</strong>ee/Personal<br />

Representative is put into an uncomfortable position when needing to<br />

explain to the beneficiaries that the meaning of a document provision is<br />

unclear. The beneficiaries may lose confidence in the <strong>Trust</strong>ee/Personal<br />

Representative who wants to be viewed as being expert in the<br />

administration of the estate or trust. The need for clarification may result<br />

in the <strong>Trust</strong>ee and drafting attorney being placed in an adversarial position<br />

as well.<br />

4. The <strong>Trust</strong> Beneficiaries. Different beneficiaries, perhaps already having<br />

issues dealing with the testator’s or Grantor’s death, may find themselves<br />

at odds over a trust provision. This may cause lasting ill will within a<br />

family and may certainly create long-term problems with the<br />

administration of the estate or trust.<br />

II.<br />

Common Drafting/Administration Problems:<br />

A. Who is the <strong>Trust</strong>ee? With the need for flexibility in naming trustees, providing<br />

for serial trustees is not uncommon or unwise. Being certain that the succession<br />

is clear is critical however.<br />

1. <strong>Trust</strong>ee Succession.<br />

Consider the following language:<br />

<strong>Trust</strong>ees shall be appointed, removed and<br />

replaced as follows:<br />

x1 I shall be the initial trustee of the trust created<br />

herein.<br />

x2 Unless I am incapacitated, I reserve the power to<br />

remove any trustee and to appoint successor or<br />

additional trustees.<br />

x3 Upon my incapacity, Mary Ex shall become a<br />

trustee.<br />

x4 Upon my death, Wye Bank shall become a<br />

trustee.<br />

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