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Breach Of Fiduciary Duty

Breach Of Fiduciary Duty

Pursuing Justice when Trust is Violated

When a loved one appoints a trustee to handle their financial affairs, they typically choose someone in whom they have absolute confidence. When that trust is violated, it can be devastating, both financially and emotionally.

What is Breach of Fiduciary Duty?

Under Florida law, a fiduciary, such as a trustee or individual with power of attorney, is required to “administer a trust or estate impartially, based on what is fair and reasonable to all of the beneficiaries,” unless otherwise directed in the trust or will. There are many types of breaches of fiduciary duty. We often handle cases in which a trustee has wrongfully engaged in self-dealing. In this situation, a fiduciary takes advantage of their position, typically to benefit their own.

Examples of Breach of Fiduciary Duty

Instances of breached fiduciary duty are often not discovered until after a loved one’s death, and can involve a variety of issues:

  • Failure to provide annual accountings to beneficiaries
  • Misappropriation of trust or estate assets
  • Failure of the trustee to post bond
  • Mismanagement of trust assets

Often, breach of fiduciary duty can involve caregivers and their clients. While caregivers provide invaluable assistance, there are situations in which these individuals misuse their position, taking advantage of the disabled or elderly. It is important to recognize such forms of exploitation so that you can protect your loved ones. For example, caregivers are often added to their clients’ bank accounts to pay for necessary items. Over time, some caretakers may use their client’s assets for their own advantage. In other cases, someone with power of attorney or acting as financial representative may retitle assets in their own name, provide themselves with gifts, or overly compensate themselves for their services.

Why Choose Thomas Upchurch for Your Case?

Breach of fiduciary duty cases can be quite complex; therefore, it is important to hire an attorney who is equipped to handle such cases. Attorney Thomas Upchurch has extensive experience with estate litigation, and he has successfully handled a wide variety of cases involving breach of fiduciary duty. His past cases have involved a diverse range of circumstances, including classic misappropriation, unaccounted sales of personal property, and self-dealing with large amounts of money. Attorney Thomas Upchurch can help you recover what you are owed after a breach of fiduciary duty.

Contact Us for a Case Evaluation

If you or a loved one has been affected by a breach of fiduciary duty, contact Upchurch Law today to schedule a free consultation. 

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