*The Case of Joan Maynord's Trust: A Daughter’s Fight to Keep Her Share*

Joan Lee Maynord created a family trust in 1986, and after her death, her daughter Joan Mauri Barefoot, who was a trustee and beneficiary, was disinherited by amendments made to the trust. Barefoot argued the amendments were invalid because her mom was not capable of making them, and they were influenced by fraud. The court dismissed her petition, saying she didn't have the right to challenge the changes, but Barefoot appealed the decision.

Joan Mauri Barefoot was disinherited from her mother’s trust through amendments made before her mother’s death. Barefoot argued that the amendments were invalid due to fraud, undue influence, and incompetence. The court initially ruled that she lacked standing to challenge the amendments under Probate Code § 17200, which allows a trustee or beneficiary to petition the court concerning the trust. However, the Court of Appeal disagreed, stating that a person claiming they were wrongfully disinherited and has an interest in the trust, as per Probate Code § 17200 and case law (Estate of Bissinger, 1964), has standing to challenge.

THE APPEALS COURT RULED The lower court to use this law and decide the matter.