The attorneys in Pietragallo’s Estate & Trust Litigation; Estate Planning and Administration Group combine our experience in the courtroom and an understanding of the law to provide outstanding service in these personal and often sensitive matters.  We represent beneficiaries, trustees, administrators and executors in pursuing and defending claims involving the exercise of fiduciary duties and the administration and distribution of estates and trusts.

Pietragallo’s attorneys recognize that disputes involving fiduciaries, estates and trusts often arise from personal family matters and we perform each engagement with the appropriate professionalism.

We have secured favorable results for our clients at every level – from trial in the Orphans’ (Surrogate) Court through appeal in the Supreme Court – over the past 30 years.

Recent engagements include:

1. Claims presented against an estate to enforce contractual obligations;
2. Claims by a beneficiary against Trustees for breaching their fiduciary duties by distributing a trust;
3. Claims contesting the validity of a will alleged to have been the product of undue influence and a lacking testamentary capacity;
4. Claims by beneficiaries of a Trust against a Trustee for breaching his fiduciary duties by diluting the value of the corporate stock and the Trust by acquiring majority ownership through stock options of a closely held corporation in which the Trust held a substantial ownership interest; and
5. Claims against a law firm for breach of fiduciary and professional duty.

In addition to the litigation aspects of our Orphans’ (Surrogate) Court practice, Pietragallo’s attorneys can create estate plans for clients of all sizes. Also, when it comes time to administer the estate and/or trust, we can handle every aspect of the administration, from the opening of the estate, marshalling assets, preparing and filing all necessary tax returns, making distribution and closing administration. We work with clients whose assets are substantial or modest, emphasizing efficiency and timeliness.