Bob is an estate planning, trust and estate administration, and trust and estate dispute resolution lawyer. Throughout his practice, Bob strives to treat his clients as he would want someone he cares about to be treated by a lawyer. Bob’s clients (individuals, families and business owners) rely on his ability to explain complicated legal issues in plain English. Whether establishing or modifying an estate plan, administering an estate or trust, or resolving disputes related to a trust or estate, he acts as a true counselor. Bob’s practical advice and creative problem-solving are the cornerstones of his practice.
Representative Experience
- Bob works with individuals and families from all backgrounds to address important tax and non-tax issues in their estate planning. Planning for possible lifetime incapacity and for the orderly transition of assets at death present myriad issues that must be addressed effectively. Some issues are technical, such as reducing exposure to estate taxes and finding efficient ways to transfer wealth during life. Others are more personal, such as addressing a client’s concerns about a special needs child or other issues facing a loved one. Whatever the situation, Bob understands it is critical to listen first, identify the concerns and then advise on their options to address the full range of issues.
- While many complicated legal issues must be identified and addressed in estate administration, Bob understands an equally important part of his role is acting as a caring guide through what is typically a foreign and emotionally difficult process. Teaming up with a group of skilled and experienced paralegals, Bob makes sure all issues are addressed thoroughly and in an efficient manner.
- When acting as trustee, Bob understands the critical importance of both ensuring the trust is properly administered in accordance with its terms and its creator’s wishes, but also being the human bridge between the trust and its beneficiaries.
- When assisting with trust administration, Bob counsels trustees and beneficiaries on their respective rights and duties. This typically requires bringing a wide range of skills and knowledge to the situation. Understanding the terms of the trust, the law applicable to those terms and the need to foster open and meaningful interactions between the trustees and beneficiaries is key. Bob has also handled a wide range of court actions seeking instructions on ambiguous trusts and modification of defective trusts.
- As a certified mediator, probate dispute resolution is an important part of Bob’s practice. Unfortunately, disputes may arise during the administration of an estate or trust. While zealously advocating for the interests of his clients, Bob believes that, in most cases, clients are much better served if disputes are resolved without resorting to costly litigation. He helps beneficiaries, trustees and executors to resolve a wide range of disputes. Bob’s experience includes challenging, and defending challenges to, the validity of wills and trusts and the appointment of certain individuals as executors and trustees, challenging and defending the accounts of executors and trustees, and resolving a variety of disputes centered on the proper administration of estates and trusts. Additionally, trust-related disputes often flow from defective or ambiguous trust documents. Bob has resolved many such disputes by obtaining judicial reformation of defective trusts and declaratory judgments confirming his clients’ interpretation of ambiguous language in trusts.
Robert J. Morrill
Managing PartnerRelated Practices
- Estate Planning
- Estate Administration
- Fiduciary Representation and Probate Litigation
- Trust Administration
Admissions
- Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 1998
Education
- New England School of Law, J.D., summa cum laude, first in class, 1998
- Keene State College, B.A., 1990
- American Bar Association, Member
- American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC), Fellow
- Boston Probate and Estate Planning Forum, Member
- Massachusetts Bar Association, Member
- National Association of Elder Law Attorneys, Member
- Supreme Judicial Court – Volunteer at Law Day, 2010-2014, lead group discussions with high school students about legal issues and the role of the courts in American society
- Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, Law Clerk, 1998-1999
- Martindale-Hubbell AV® Rated Preeminent
Acertification mark indicating that the lawyer’s peers rank him at the highest level of professional excellence. - Massachusetts Super Lawyers
Estate Planning & Probate, Estate & Trust Litigation, 2005, 2012 and 2013.
- Defective Wills and Trusts: Why treat them differently?
Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly, September 2013 - A Golden Age of Gift Giving
The Wall Street Journal, quoted in May 2012 - Clock Quickly Winding Down on a Favorable Situation
Boston Business Journal, quoted in March 2012 - The Hard Question
The Wall Street Journal, quoted in December 2011 - Trusts as a Caretaking Tool
Private Wealth Management, March/April 2010 - Goodbye GRATs?
Forbes.com, quoted in March 2010
- What Every Estate Planner Needs to Know About Real Estate
Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education, July 2010 and September 2001 - Issues with Gifting to Irrevocable Trusts
Elder Law Institute, Suffolk University, March 2010 - Probate Practice: MCLE Basics Plus
Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education, Chairman of this Annual program, participated in program since 2007 - Estate Planning 101
Cooperative Banks Employees Retirement Association, every year since 2007