Chapter 13 - Lenora’s Petition
Lenora filed in probate court.
She sought to remove me as trust protector from Caleb’s testamentary arrangements.
Not Sloane’s day-to-day trustee.
Protector.
My limited powers included:
Replacing the institutional trustee for cause.
Approving certain changes in trust situs.
Resolving specific deadlocks.
I did not control distributions directly.
Lenora argued:
Conflict of interest.
I had personally funded the Sterling Family Ventures reserve.
I was adverse to Quinn House.
I had attempted to interfere with Sloane’s discretionary benefits through my phone call to David Kessler.
That last point was real.
She included it.
I did not deny.
My lawyers wanted to argue the call was irrelevant because no distribution stopped.
The judge disagreed.
“So Mr. Sterling did attempt to use trust administration during a personal dispute?”
My attorney answered:
“He made an improper request that was refused immediately.”
Judge:
“Then it is relevant.”
Fine.
We submitted the call memo.
My written acknowledgment.
No concealment.
The court appointed an independent temporary co-protector for any decision connected to Quinn House or Lenora.
Good.
Did that humiliate me?
A little.
Was it correct?
Yes.
I had financial and emotional conflicts.
The broader request to remove me permanently was reserved.
This was Lenora’s counterattack.
Not guns.
Not scandal thugs.
Procedure.
That made me respect it even while fighting.
She had a right to challenge.
I had a duty to answer.
Annelise asked why I was going to court.
“Adult paperwork.”
“Trouble?”
“Some.”
“Jail?”
“No.”
“Okay.”
Then she went to school.
Children do not require every hearing.
May you like
Thank God.
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