Taft’s Wealth Transfer Litigation team in Minneapolis recently helped Union Gospel Mission Twin Cities defeat a will challenge and secure its status as a devisee. Roger Abrahamson’s will directed his assets to local charities he cared about, including Union Gospel Mission Twin Cities. Abrahamson’s daughter challenged the will claiming it was improperly signed. Taft partners Phil Schenkenberg and Drew Baese handled the trial at the district court, which found the will was properly signed and witnessed, and thus valid. Schenkenberg and associate Joey Balthazor handled the subsequent appeals. The Court of Appeals affirmed the district court’s findings and conclusions and directed that Abrahamson’s charitable wishes be honored. The case was then briefed and argued to the Minnesota Supreme Court, which declined to reverse or modify the decision of the Court of Appeals. The case will now be sent back to the district court to facilitate the distribution of assets.

Union Gospel Mission Twin Cities is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that has provided care for people experiencing homelessness, hunger, and addiction in the Twin Cities since 1902.

Schenkenberg is a partner in the firm’s Wealth Transfer Litigation practice. He works closely with the firm’s private client and estate planning lawyers when wealth transfer, probate administration, and trust issues end up in litigation. He represents trustees, conservators and guardians, minority shareholders, and individuals involved in these types of disputes.

Baese is a partner in the firm’s Private Client and Wealth Transfer Litigation practices. He focuses his practice on assisting individuals in drafting wills and trusts, administering trusts and estates, preparing related federal income and estate tax returns, and litigating trust and estate disputes.

Balthazor is an associate in the firm’s Appellate and Intellectual Property practices. After law school, he clerked for the Hon. Jill Flaskamp Halbrooks at the Minnesota Court of Appeals.