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In Connecticut, a Fiduciary can be someone with power of attorney, a personal representative of an estate, guardians, and/or trustees, and all owe a legal and ethical obligation to act in the best interest of another. It is essential for individuals in fiduciary roles to understand, and be held accountable for, their legal responsibilities and act with the utmost integrity and care. If a person in any of these positions does not act in accordance with these legal and ethical standards, they face personal exposure to financial liability to their beneficiaries.
A Breach of Fiduciary Duty can take on many forms including:
If you have reason to suspect that a fiduciary has breached their duty towards you, it is imperative that you immediately contact an attorney in order to investigate and preserve these complex claims. At Doyon & White Law Group, our experienced team is available to immediately initiate an investigation and to help guide you through the process of uncovering and prosecuting a claim for breach of fiduciary duty.
Sometimes, family members and friends are shocked by the contents of a loved one’s will after their passing and even believe it to be in direct conflict with their understanding of their deceased loved one’s intent. At Doyon & White, we have extensive experience investigating and prosecuting will contest actions against estate planning documents that were the subject of undue influence, questionable competence, improper execution and/or fraud.
Typically, once a Petition to Probate or Administer a Will, known in Connecticut as a PC-200, has been filed in the Probate Court in which the decedent passed, a notice to beneficiaries of the right to request a hearing is sent out with only 30 days to respond. Ideally, this is the best time to express your concern with the validity of a will and to prevent the misuse of estate assets. The experienced attorneys at Doyon & White can assist you with filing the appropriate objections to the proposed will and guide you through the complex and challenging process with an appropriate strategy depending on the specific circumstances of your case. Consequently, if you have concerns regarding the validity of a will, it’s imperative that you seek experienced counsel immediately.
If you disagree with a probate court decree or decision, whether you perceive there are errors in the application of law or procedure or you believe the decision is not in line with the wishes of the deceased, you have the right to appeal that decision to the Superior Court. The timeline for an appeal or to request a probate court hearing is often as little as 30 days so it’s crucial to contact an attorney as soon as possible.
Some of the many reasons for a Probate Appeal include:
Unlike most appeals in the Connecticut Court process, the appeal of a Probate Court decision typically allows for the presentation of evidence from the beginning (de novo review) and provides the parties a larger forum for discovery, including the taking of depositions and production of relevant documents under oath. This forum provides us the time and opportunity to present evidence on behalf of your claim in a full picture.
Appealing a Probate Court decision can be an emotionally and financially taxing process. Clients often endure prolonged legal battles that dig deep into family history and may exacerbate tensions within families or heirs. At Doyon & White, we understand that handling probate appeals requires comprehensive understanding of intricate legal procedures and nuances specific to your family dynamics, the decedent’s intentions before passing and often in-depth medical research. Additionally, navigating the interpersonal dynamics involved in probate disputes necessitates a delicate balance of empathy and professionalism that we always strive to provide our clients.
Partner
Partner
Office Manager
Paralegal
Paralegal
The length of time required to see your case through to completion varies by case. During your initial consultation, we will review the expected time lines and potential recovery uniquely associated with your matter.
Usually, there is a statute of limitations on bringing a claim. This means you have a limited amount of time to notify the other party of your claim for damages and filing with the appropriate courts. For most wrongful death and catastrophic injury claims, you have less than two years from the date of loss to file a lawsuit in Connecticut. It is therefore advisable to speak with an attorney as soon as you become aware of a potential issue, from there we can help you formulate a plan of action.
Linda is the seasoned probate paralegal working together with clients helping them through probate administration following the loss of a loved one. Joining the team in 2023, she has brought 25+ years of legal experience to the firm with extensive proficiency in all administrative tasks, Probate Court knowledge, complex document preparation, and case management. Linda works exceedingly well the court’s staff and cultivates close relationships with new and existing clientele.
Linda is a long-time resident of the area and loves going for walks on the beach before work. She enjoys spending time with her husband, Ken, and their three grown children. She enjoys road trips, is an avid reader, collector of sea glass and is an amateur artist.
Ashley is the paralegal working directly with our attorneys and our clients. The attorneys at Doyon & White are grateful that our clients feel comfortable reaching out to Ashley for status updates or quick questions when the attorneys are unavailable. Ashley has a background in customer service with 10 years in the hotel industry and enjoys the client relation aspect of her job the most. Ashley is intimately familiar with the details of our client’s cases, processes and reviews all medical records, and communicates with attorneys and insurance adjusters.
Ashley moved to Branford, Conn from Northern California in 2018 and hasn’t looked back since. She enjoys the four seasons New England offers by playing golf and tennis in the summer and looks forward to snow days and skiing in the winter.
Attorney Doyon was born and raised in the hills of Northwest Connecticut. Trevor began his legal career serving as the clerk for several Superior Court Judges, many of whom are now members of the Connecticut Supreme and Appellate Courts.
Before forming Doyon & White Law Group, Trevor was the Managing Partner of a successful mid-size law-firm’s Litigation Department. Trevor has favorably authored and argued hundreds of motions and hearings in every Judicial District of Connecticut, in addition to winning numerous contested arbitrations and jury trial verdicts. Attorney Doyon is known and respected for his determined approach to unique and difficult legal issues by clients and judges alike.
Trevor has been honored as a Super Lawyer’s Rising Star for 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022, a selection made by colleagues and peers and reserved for less than five percent of lawyers in Connecticut. Attorney Doyon has also been nominated to the “National Trial Lawyer’s Top 100” list, was recognized by the American Institute for Lawyers as “Top 10 for Client Satisfaction,” and has been a featured guest speaker at Yale University’s Trial Law Camp.
When he’s not in Court, Trevor enjoys spending time with his wife Becky, their two daughters and their Great Dane “Gronk,” in addition to supporting anything UConn sports and coaching Connecticut’s only national level Sled Hockey team.
Attorney White was born and raised in New Haven, Connecticut. After graduation from Fordham University, he worked in commercial finance in New York City before attending Quinnipiac University School of Law. Upon graduation he served as a clerk in the Superior Court in both the criminal and civil divisions.
Prior to forming Doyon & White Law Group, Attorney White practiced at a mid-size firm in Hamden, Connecticut where he mainly handled criminal defense, habeas cases, and civil litigation matters. Attorney White’s experience arguing before jury trials and court trials has led to winning favorable results for his clients on many occasions. Attorney White’s civil litigation experience includes personal injury representation, business litigation, and insurance coverage disputes.
Attorney White is a thoughtful and diligent advocate for all his clients and is respected for the rapport he builds and compassion he conveys.
Attorney White is a member of the New Haven County Bar Association and previously served as the President of the New Haven Young Lawyers Association.
Still a proud New Haven resident, Attorney White enjoys spending time in the city with his wife Sara, their two young children, and their pit bull, Ghost. He’s an avid UConn basketball fan and New York Yankees fan.
