What is the name of your state? CA
My parents passed during the past 15 months: my father in Dec 06 and my mother in Sep 07. I am a beneficiary in their trust, my brother is the Trustee and an associate of my mother's - who happens to be an attorney - named himself as co-trustee in the Trust two weeks before her death. This attorney is compelling my brother to require my siblings and I (7 in all) to sign a contract that essentially absolves the Trustee and Co-Trustee of any liability action and requires us to relinquish our rights to bring any action against them. The Trust already spells out that the Trustee is not liable for anything provided that he perfoms in good faith, and I don't feel that my brother is in any danger of performing in "bad" faith. My brother has indicated that he won't distribute the proceeds from the Trust until the 6 of us sign that contract. I am extremely reluctant to sign anything that signs away my rights since the attorney that I scarcely know is attached to the Trust and he has been less than forthcoming with us in the past 6 months. Is this contract legal and can they force us to sign it? Thank you
My parents passed during the past 15 months: my father in Dec 06 and my mother in Sep 07. I am a beneficiary in their trust, my brother is the Trustee and an associate of my mother's - who happens to be an attorney - named himself as co-trustee in the Trust two weeks before her death. This attorney is compelling my brother to require my siblings and I (7 in all) to sign a contract that essentially absolves the Trustee and Co-Trustee of any liability action and requires us to relinquish our rights to bring any action against them. The Trust already spells out that the Trustee is not liable for anything provided that he perfoms in good faith, and I don't feel that my brother is in any danger of performing in "bad" faith. My brother has indicated that he won't distribute the proceeds from the Trust until the 6 of us sign that contract. I am extremely reluctant to sign anything that signs away my rights since the attorney that I scarcely know is attached to the Trust and he has been less than forthcoming with us in the past 6 months. Is this contract legal and can they force us to sign it? Thank you