"A Judge, a Litigator, and an Estate Planner Explore No Contest Clauses," Boston Bar Association

We are proud to share that Private Client Partner Ann Hetherwick Cahill spoke on a distinguished panel hosted by the Boston Bar Association (BBA) on April 30, exploring the strategic use and litigation risks of no contest clauses in estate planning.
 
The program included Hether’s insights and perspective, offering analysis of when Massachusetts cases have held certain actions have triggered no contest clauses, and the considerations that practitioners must weigh when asserting claims in court that might invoke the no contest clause and potentially result in a client’s forfeiture of their inheritance. 
 
The panel also featured Judge Elaine Moriarty of the Fiduciary Litigation Session and Thomas Jalkut, who discussed the real-world drafting considerations, as well as a “view from the bench” on the increased litigation involving no contest clauses.
 
We thank the Boston Bar Association hosting this insightful discussion and for bringing together voices from the bench and trusts and estates bar. Events like this demonstrate the importance of interdisciplinary dialogue in shaping effective and resilient estate plans.