Ethical Lawyering in Massachusetts
Use the court's equity power to achieve results

- Product Number: 2242109WFM
- Publication Date: 2/7/2024
- Edition: 6th Edition 2024
- Copyright: © 2024 MCLE, Inc.
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Ethical Lawyering in Massachusetts
Use the court's equity power to achieve results
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- Table of Contents
- Editors & Authors
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Product Description
Product Description
Use the court's equity power to achieve resultsFiduciary Litigation in the Probate Court offers essential insight and practical guidance on a wide range of issues addressed by the Massachusetts Probate and Family Court. The book covers complaints for instructions; declaratory judgments; reformation of trusts; objections to accounts; will contests; partitions; and more.
Recent updates:
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Update: June 2024
Dear Subscriber:
Thank you for choosing to stay current in your practice with this 2024 edition of Fiduciary Litigation in the Probate Court. Inside, you will find case decisions, insights, and practice tips on topics including the following:
- Complaints for instructions. See chapter 2 for a discussion regarding the distinction between a complaint for instruction and a petition for instructions. The chapter also offers a practice tip suggesting the preparation of an accompanying affidavit.
- No-contest clauses. Chapter 3 contains a discussion about whether declaratory judgment is an appropriate mechanism for determining if beneficiaries violated a no-contest clause in a trust.
- Lis pendens. See chapter 5 for a newly added sample memorandum of lis pendens.
- Removal of trustees. Chapter 7 adds a discussion regarding a 2022 case wherein the court considered whether the language of the trust, which seemed to require "cause" for trustee removal, took into account the provisions of G.L. c. 203E, § 706(b)(4).
- Hearings of contested accounts. See chapter 8 for new material about contesting accounts in the case of estates or trusts involving minors, incapacitated persons, or unborn/unascertained interests.
- Defending accounts. Chapter 9 discusses whether testamentary trust accountings require court involvement for settlement, and whether trustees of testamentary and nontestamentary trusts are still required to account at least privately to qualified beneficiaries. The chapter cites a 2023 case.
- Fraud and undue influence. Chapter 10 cites a 2023 case illustrating shifting burdens of proof of undue influence.
- Contests regarding suitability of fiduciaries. Chapter 10 also offers a new discussion about a 2023 case where the court considered the requirements for an objector to contest the suitability of a fiduciary, including that of a sufficient legal interest in the estate.
We at MCLE trust that you will find this new content useful in your fiduciary litigation and estate planning practice, and valuable in keeping your law library current.
Cordially,
MCLE Press
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Update: June 2024
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
expand allChapter 01 expandChapter 02 expandChapter 03 expandTaking the Case: Conflicts of Interest
Buy ChapterChapter 04 expandThe Attorney-Client Relationship
Buy ChapterChapter 05 expandChapter 06 expandChapter 07 expandChapter 08 expandChapter 09 expandChapter 10 expandChapter 11 expandThe Disciplinary Process
Buy ChapterChapter 12 expandEthics Issues for Business Lawyers
Buy ChapterExhibit 12A
- Letter Agreement Regarding Consent to Multiple Representation of Initial Investors in Organizing a Corporation and Acting as Its General Counsel Buy FormExhibit 12B
- Letter Agreement Regarding Lawyer Serving on Board of Directors Buy FormExhibit 12C
- Consent to Representation When General Counsel Is a Shareholder or Is Investing in the Corporation on Formation Buy FormChapter 13 expandEthics Issues in Insurance Defense
Buy ChapterChapter 14 expandEthics Issues for Personal Injury Lawyers
Buy ChapterChapter 15 expandChapter 16 expandEthics in Estate Planning
Buy ChapterExhibit 16A
- Sample Physician Statement (Client Competent) Buy FormExhibit 16B
- Sample Physician Statement (Client Not Competent) Buy FormExhibit 16C
- Sample Engagement Letter for Spouses (Joint Representation) Buy FormExhibit 16D
- Sample Withdrawal Letter When a Joint Representation Fails Buy FormExhibit 16E
- Checklist for Joint Representation Buy FormExhibit 16F
- Guide for Representing Members of the Same Family Buy FormExhibit 16G
- Sample Conflict Waiver Buy FormExhibit 16H
- Excerpt from “Representing Clients with Diminished Capacity,” by Constance V. Vecchione, Esq. Buy FormChapter 17 expandEthics Issues for Divorce and Family Lawyers
Buy ChapterDonald L. Pitman, III, Esq., The Pitman Law Offices LLCChapter 18 expandChapter 19 expandEthics Issues for Real Estate Lawyers
Buy ChapterChapter 20 expandEthics Issues for Civil Litigators
Buy ChapterChapter 21 expandExhibit 21A
- Resources Buy FormChapter 22 expandEthics, Risk, and Malpractice Avoidance
Buy ChapterChecklist 22.1
- Prospective Client Checklist Buy FormChecklist 22.2
- Documentation Checklist Buy FormChecklist 22.3
- Office Telephone Procedures Checklist Buy FormChecklist 22.4
- Confidentiality Checklist Buy FormChecklist 22.5
- Conflicts Checklist Buy FormChecklist 22.6
- Basic Law Office Requirements Checklist Buy FormExhibit 22A
- Multiple Representations Create Conflict Hazards Buy FormExhibit 22B
- First American Title Insurance Company Agency Review Summary Buy FormExhibit 22C
- Loss Prevention Self-Audit Buy FormExhibit 22D
- Ten Ways to Decrease Stress . . . and Avoid Legal Malpractice Buy FormExhibit 22E
- Sample Conflicts Check Form Buy FormExhibit 22F
- Outline of Massachusetts Legal Malpractice Law Buy FormExhibit 22G
- Twenty-four Top Rules of the Road Buy FormExhibit 22H
- Discipline and Malpractice Standards: When Rules Catch Up with Reality (“World Series” Edition) Buy FormExhibit 22I
- You Mail, I Mail, We All Send Email Buy FormExhibit 22J
- “In-House” and “Out-House”4 Buy FormExhibit 22K
- Sample Client Fee Agreement Buy FormExhibit 22L
- Sample Records Management Policy Buy FormChapter 23 expandAppendices expandAppendices
Buy ChapterAppendix A
- Self-Audits for Law Offices Buy FormAppendix B
- SJC Rule 3:16: Practicing with Professionalism Course for New Lawyers Buy FormAppendix C
- MBA Statement on Lawyer Professionalism Buy FormAppendix D
- Civility Guidelines for Family Law Attorneys Buy FormAppendix E
- List of Ethics Research Websites and Resources Buy Form -
Editors & Authors
Editor(s)
Sara N. Holden, Esq., Brecher, Wyner, Simons, Fox & Bolan LLP, Newton CentreAuthor(s)
Philip N. Beauregard, Esq., Beauregard, Burke & Franco, New BedfordJerry Cohen, Esq., Burns & Levinson LLP, BostonMichael Franco, Esq., Beauregard, Burke & Franco, New BedfordDaniel K. Gelb, Esq., Gelb & Gelb LLP, BeverlyGail Kleven Gelb, Esq., Gelb & Gelb LLP, BeverlyRichard M. Gelb, Esq., Gelb & Gelb LLP, BeverlySara N. Holden, Esq., Brecher, Wyner, Simons, Fox & Bolan LLP, Newton CentreHolly Jones, Maselan & Jones, PC, BostonGwen Nolan King, Esq., Nolan King Law, WestonDonald L. Pitman, III, Esq., The Pitman Law Offices LLC, NewburyportGilda Tuoni Russell, Los AngelesPaul R. Tremblay, Esq., Boston College Law School, Newton Centre