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Court admits 2017 will and appoints Elizabeth Pangborn as personal representative; trust proposed for grandchildren
Summary
Lenawee County Probate Court admitted the 2017 will of the late Andrew Pangborn to probate, appointed Elizabeth Pangborn as personal representative without bond, and approved a family-proposed trust to protect contingent remainder interests for grandchildren born after the will was executed.
A Lenawee County probate judge on July 1 admitted the 2017 will of the late Andrew Pangborn to probate and formally appointed Elizabeth Pangborn as personal representative without bond. The family asked the court to include grandchildren born after the 2017 will as contingent beneficiaries and to authorize a trust to protect grandchildren's contingent remainder interests should the primary beneficiary sell the family farm.
Attorney Jessica Kelly, representing the petitioner, told the court the petition sought admission of the 2017 will and formal appointment of Elizabeth Pangborn. Kelly said the decedent listed living grandchildren, step-grandchildren and a former foster grandchild as contingent beneficiaries but that additional grandchildren were born after 2017; the family agreed those afterborn grandchildren should be included in the beneficiary class. Kelly said the petition requested a determination of heirs and inclusion of those afterborn grandchildren, and sought court authority to establish a trust to protect contingent interests if the son, Patrick, ever sold the farm.
The judge found notice was given to all interested parties and that no objections were filed. "The proposed heirs are uncontested and do appear to be consistent with law as well as the will," the judge said. The court concluded supervised administration was not necessary and that appointment of Elizabeth Pangborn without bond was appropriate. The judge signed the order admitting the will, the related trust language as requested, and letters of appointment for Elizabeth Pangborn.
The petition record indicates the family published notice of hearing, held a Zoom meeting on June 30 to discuss the petition and circulated a draft trust that the family revised with unanimous consent. Counsel said known estate assets are limited to the farm, a truck and a modest checking account; the petitioners said the farm will be the primary asset and will be held in the proposed trust. The court directed parties to the probate clerk for copies of the signed order and letters of appointment.
No objections or opposing pleadings were recorded in the hearing file at the time the judge signed the orders.
