Trust Sale Case Study – Dueling Beneficiaries

HARB & CO. CLOSED: Trust Sale Case Study – Dueling Beneficiaries

John (Doe) was the trustee of his friend’s very complicated, complex, and contentious trust. The daughter and the new wife were estranged beneficiaries, and each had their own attorney. They both lived out of state and were fighting over every piece of furniture. The court finally determined who received what. Because of the litigation, we didn’t want to get the estate’s home on the market until the personal property was removed.

John was very concerned about getting the furniture to the two beneficiaries. He didn’t want to be responsible for anything that went missing. Bills were piling up. Harb and Co. fronted the moving expenses, and the personal property was divided per the court order. We videotaped one group of furniture being loaded on the moving van and videotaped the other being packed on a pallet and then shipped via UPS. We could leave nothing to chance. Now, John could focus on the house.

This home had so much dry rot that we had to lock a sliding door and place yellow caution tape to prevent access to a decaying balcony. Harb and Co. also fronted the cost of interior paint, landscape cleanup, and thorough cleaning, including power washing and window cleaning. Additions to this home did not make sense. A professional floor plan was completed so that someone could envision a future remodel.

John Doe made a promise to his friend, and we helped him keep it. Once ready for sale, Harb and Co. sold this home in nineteen days for $21,000 over the asking price.