Sachs v. Sachs
The court held that a decedent's handwritten "Permanent Record" of lifetime distributions, when accompanied by the beneficiary's contemporaneous written acknowledgment (e-mail), satisfies the writing requirement of Probate Code § 21135, thereby permitting the trustee to treat those gifts as advancements against the beneficiaries' at-death shares and allowing the trial court's order to.
Date Filed: January 07, 2020
Case Name: Sachs v. Sachs
Case Number: B292747
Court: California Court of Appeal, Second Appellate District, Division Six
(‘The court decides that a decedent’s handwritten “Permanent Record” of lifetime distributions, together with the beneficiary’s written acknowledgment (e‑mail), satisfies the writing requirement of Probate Code §\u202f21135 and therefore permits the trustee to treat those gifts as advancements against the beneficiaries’ at‑death shares. By affirming the trial court’s order to deduct the recorded gifts from the heirs’ inheritances, the decision clarifies that informal, unsigned ledgers and contemporaneous acknowledgments are sufficient to meet §\u202f21135’s statutory writing standard, shaping how California courts handle advancement deductions in probate administration.’, ‘9622c70a’)
This case summary was prepared for educational purposes. For the authoritative version, please refer to the full opinion or the official California Courts website.