Business ProfileforLegacy Care Law Firm at DeBruyckere Law Offices

DeBruyckere Law office had a conflict of interest in our trust The conflict of interest not only between my husband and I but with our retirements as well. I was set up, bamboozled and flimflammed. My husband and I instated a trust on December 18, 2020. I asked for a draft and was told they do not do drafts and "our" lawyer (who claimed represented both of us) said she/he would answer any questions at the signing. At the signing, I was limited to 3 questions and "our" lawyer was not there. I asked where our property was when they brought out our trust book that was two inches thick. He told me where the property was in the trust. I went to turn to it. My husband distracted me. He asked me what I was worried about. I told him what if my husband meet someone in Florida (he was going to Florida after the holidays) and sold our property and didn't tell me. He said, "He would be hard pressed to sell it. He would have to take it out of the trust and it had both our names on it. Both lies. Our property could be sold within the trust and he did NOT have to tell me. I thought just our real estate property was going into the trust that day. When I got to read the trust after the signing; I found out the details of my husband's retirement account was in the trust. I couldn't figure out how they got into the trust. We did not open the book at the signing. There was a meeting on December 11, 2020. I was not invited to nor informed of. That was underhanded and deceitful. I was lead to believe that this was OUR trust. I had no clue what was in our trust, how it got into the trust, and that all my powers where stripped away and anything I was entitled to was taken way. This trust gave my husband all the power while he was alive. If he died first, and we were married at the time, I would get my contribute share. I asked many times what my contributive share was. According to this trust that was all I was getting. That question went unanswered. I did not even have a right to know that. That question went unanswered. I believed, and they let me believe, that our property was going to me. Then each of my son's would inherit a property. The truth was our home went into the trust as community property. He could change the title of our property by my very own power of attorney. Which was not disclosed to me on the the day of signing. (Which I knew NOTHING about. My power of attorney took effect that day which I was NOT informed. They put about five pieces of blank paper in front of me with my name on the top and said, this This is your power of attorney. This is $10.00 to fund the trust. Blank. The few papers I signed or itialed were blank. There was less than 6. I did not know what was in my will until I read it. He could change the title of of properties by my own power of attorney. I would NOT have signed that if I saw that. And, the rep. of their firm claimed he could not. They received my power of attorney. That was all they needed. However they got it, by lying and deceit. My name was at the top. This is $10.00 to fund the trust.... My power of attorney is 16 pages with my name and signature on it. The representative that was there did NOT go over ANY of the documents in our trust. I thought what was how it was done. The high pressure and false reassurances to get it done that day is inconceivable. That I knew nothing of the what and the how it got into my trust is unethical and dishonest. I was reassured I had nothing to worry about at the signing. That I could revoke it and that I could make amendments if there was anything I wanted changed. Both lies. I could only revoke my part and I could only REQUEST amendments. I did try to make amendments on February 23, 2021. I was even asked to resend them by our lawyer. She did not got back to me on any of those amendments. They were not made. This was NOT the trust I believed we were setting up. I did try to revoke my power of attorney twice once I got to read the trust. By that time a lot of damage was done. Our house's were in the trust and I could not take them out. Our property in Florida was changed, AFTER my power of attorney took effect, to Interfamily with dissolution. The trust was the beneficiary of my husband's retirement fund. I could not change that. There was a waiver hidden within the trust that claimed I gave up all those rights. I was kept in the dark before the signing, at the signing, even after the signing. If my husband got a divorce, the asset protectors would protect him. If we stayed married, I was on not privy to that information, AFTER the signing, and died first; I would get my contributive share first (half the house's, if my husband did not sell them or change the title of our property and 5% or 5,000. I would have to apply for that benefit. If I fought for more, I would be disinherited. If my children fought with me, they would be disinheirited. When I got to read OUR trust and wanted it revoked, in January. The trust lawyer had to ask another trust lawyer to look at it. When a lawyer who specializes in trusts has to ask another trust lawyer for advice; it's understood that there is something majorly wrong with that trust. She said, our trust was "convoluted, twisted, and overkill". She recommended my husband read it. DeBruckere intentionally withheld vital information from me. They had opportunities to be honest, let me know how our property went into the trust, in emails, at the premeeting that I was not invited to, even at the signing. As far as I know, they even lied about the extra check my husband gave them that day. I was told it was for paperwork. It was for the lawyer in Florida to change the title. To change that property to Interfamily with dissolution. They withheld that information. I would have questioned that. I would have not signed the trust at all if I knew that was how that property was going into the trust. In the trust, he can change, and does change his agent from me to them. I can NOT find anything within our trust that protects me; even though our lawyer claims he/she represented BOTH of us and also claimed, I had nothing to worry about. Everything about this trust is worrisome. I asked how much they made on my husband's retirement and how often that would come into play. They did NOT answer that question. I was making a pittance on his retirement. We both depended on his retirement in three years. I believe, they would have more than me on his retirement if he passed first than I would have. It was set up for 35 years. Our assets do NOT justify that. I would NOT Recommend DeBruyckere for trusts. Run if they ask you what you are worried about. Those are RED flags. If you use them, read EVERYTHING. Watch for words such as generally and typically. Our trust talks a lot about divorce and my current wife. I asked our lawyer what would happen if he divorced me. That question was NOT answered. If I saw that at the signing or was privy to that information, I would NOT have signed. I was not informed or got to read my power of attorney, not one word. I was not aware it took effect that day. That one blank paper on my power of attorney which was 16 pages long gave up all my rights to his retirement, our home, my rights to our property in Florida, protected them. I did NOT have the right to fight this trust. They would fight for him IF we got a divorce. If he died first and we were married. I would get my contribute share, which would be used first, and I would get 5% or $5,000. If I wanted more of his retirement: 1) All three of children would have to agree. OR 2) I would have to go to court to fight for more than the 5% or $5,000. This trust was unfair, unethical, deceitful. and wrong in every way. They lied by MANY omission. My husband's retirement was already in the trust. NO disclosure and straight up lies. (How the property went into the trust. I COULD make amendments. I COULD revoke it.) It gets much worse. There is so much wrong with this trust. I would have given them no stars but I had to leave one to write a review.

OUR REPSONSE: There was no conflict of interest that existed in our representation of you and your husband as we represented both of your interests which were not adverse to one another. At our review meeting on December 11, 2018, we explained our process of signing documents. We explained that we do not typically send drafts until we have first had the opportunity to review the documents with you first and explain them to you. On 12/14/20, we emailed you asking you to let us know if you have any questions. We do not limit the number of questions a client can ask and encouraged you to keep asking questions as they came up. At the signing, you were told that you did not have to sign any document you were not comfortable signing and to let us know of any questions or concerns that you had. During your meeting on 12/11/20, we went over the process of funding your estate plan. In an email on 12/15/20, I clarified a statement that you made that said retirement accounts are in the trust. I told you that retirement accounts do not go into the trust until both you and your husband have passed away. On 12/21/20, we spoke with your financial advisor and confirmed that the beneficiary designation on the retirement accounts should have the Spouse named as the primary beneficiary, and the trust named as the contingent beneficiary. If the trust was listed as the primary beneficiary, that was done not at our direction. On November 16, 2020, we spoke with your husband and on that phone call we scheduled your review meeting for December 11, 2020. You attended this meeting.
On December 28, 2020, after receiving an email with a lot of questions and statements, I called you and we spoke over the phone. You expressed your concern that you were losing rights by having the trust in place. During that phone call I explained how this was not the case and reviewed how your trust worked while you and your husband were alive, when one of you passed, and when both of you passed. Your question was answered. At that time, you were still reviewing your estate plan, so I encouraged you to make notes about sections you had questions about or needed clarification on, then recommended we schedule a meeting to review those things. I told you that email is not always the most effective way to answer questions and I want to ensure that you felt confident that you were getting the answers and clarification you needed. You indicated you thought that was a good plan and that you would call me after you finished reviewing the documents to schedule the meeting. We do not have clients sign blank documents. There were no blank documents you signed.
During our initial meeting on February 14, 2020, we discussed, among other things, your Will and Power of Attorney; what each document means and does, how they work, and who you wanted listed as your agents on that Power of Attorney. During the meeting on December 11, 2020, this was reviewed with you again. On December 18, 2020, when you came for your signing, this was reviewed with you again before you signed the documents. The documents were prepared based on numerous conversations and after understanding your wishes relative to those documents.
During the signing meeting on December 18, 2020, we reviewed the documents with you before you signed them. You participated in every meeting with our office and in the discussions and reviews of how your estate plan was set up. In our email correspondences on December 15, 2020, December 23, 2020, and January 14, 2021, and our conversation on December 28, 2020, we encouraged you to keep asking questions and reiterated how important it was to us that you felt comfortable. Specifically, in our email to you and your husband on January 14, 2021, we reiterated again that you can ask as many questions as you'd like. We told you that it was our job to make sure your questions are answered effectively and that you feel comfortable. We again stated that email is not the most effective way to answer all questions due to the complexity of some of the questions, and once again recommended we meet in person to review outstanding questions. We also commended you for asking so many questions. We specifically stated that our recommendation to meet to review your questions was not an attempt to defer answering your questions or put you off, but instead was an attempt to answer your questions most effectively, which we believed was a face to face meeting. We told you that we looked forward to hearing from you once you finished reviewing the estate plan so we could meet and continue to answer your questions. We do not believe anything in the trust document is unnecessary, convoluted, twisted, or overkill. Our office does not make money on any of your assets as we are not a financial advisor. This question would have been explicitly answered if we were asked. At no point was our office dishonest about your estate plan. We wish you and your family nothing but the best.

There absolutely was a conflict of interest and our interest's according to this trust WERE adverse from each other. I was NOT at the meeting on December 11, 2020. That is a BLATANT lie. This trust protects our assets from me. The protections were for and from Divorce.

In January on break at work I listened to my voicemail's. I do not listen to my voicemail's or return texts. Anyone I know is aware of that. My friends and family text my husband if they want to get in touch with me. I don't know if my husband mentioned it or you took a chance by leaving that voicemail and would deal with it if I called you back.

The voicemail said, "Hi, this message is for calling and *****. This is attorney ....... calling from Deborah Kerr Law Offices. I know you met with .... earlier today, and he mentioned you may have had a couple of questions for us to talk through specifically whether or not we needed to change the way you are leaving the inheritance to one of your son's. So just giving you a call to touch base on that now. Feel free to call me at ------------. If it's something you'd still like to talk through.
Thanks so much, bye-bye.

#1 I was NOT at the meeting.
#2 It verify's you were knew how I expected our property/my son's inheritance to go into the trust.
#3 It says I had a choice how my son's inheritance went. (I had no choices in this trust)
#4 It insinuates that if I did not call back I was fine with how my son's inheritance went into the trust.
#5 This was a (small part, the start) of your proof that I was aware of what was in our trust.
#6 By placing this phone call, you knew I would question how thing's went into the trust.
#7 Lying and deception started at the very beginning. (you knew the end game)
#8 My husband went to that meeting. The day I was told he was doing his "homework" for ****.
He was on the way out the door. I asked him where he was going.
Would you claim he was lying too if he verified I was NOT there?
#9 This phone call is the start of discrediting me.
Your claim that I was at a meeting. I was not, A phone call does not prove that.
It does however prove, IF your lying about me being at a meeting that I was not; the odds are there was more lies concerning our trust. And there was many lies, the majority by omission, half answers, some completely ignored., There was no disclosure, no consent.
That you made that phone call, anticipated that you would need it speaks volumes.
#10 This meeting was when you claim to have gone over the documents and what was in our trust.
At the signing, we did NOT go over any documents and I was limited to three questions. We did not even open the book when I asked where the property was at the signing.
Now your claiming we went over the documents then. I have an email where you apologized for how I was treated at the signing.

Our trust was built on lies and deception.

I was a little late coming into this. December 13th is when my husband started the distribution list and I started asking questions. This was AFTER the meeting on December 11th when my husband was bringing in paperwork for what was going into the trust. "His Homework"

December 13th my husband started a distribution list for the three of us to correspond.
December 14th He states the reason, that I had questions and he wanted us all included.
Your response: You understood now and said, "*** please let me know if you have any questions that come up.
Is that the email you are referring to?

How can I ask questions on something I know nothing about? I was NOT at that meeting. Most of my questions were Do we? If we? I would not be asking these specific questions if we had gone over any of this information. I would be asking other questions. I did not see a hard copy until the date of signing. That was closed book that was not opened.

On December 15th, I said I had some questions.
I said, most of the questions could be answered if I knew what to expect and asked to email me a draft. This was AFTER the meeting on December 11th that you claimed I attended.
IF I was at this meeting, I would have known what to expect and I would be NOT be asking those questions. I would be asking other questions. I would Not ask for a draft at this point. I would not be anticipating what was in our trust. I would ask other questions that pertained to what was in our trust, NOT the what if's it was in our trust. What I believed, and you let me go on believing, by not contradicting my understanding when I was asking the questions shows you did not want me to know or understand our trust. Your firm was hired for your expertise. Is part of that that your job as lawyers to educate your clients so they understand their estate plans? If your firm believe's a client is totally off base to pull them back?
My questions tell a different story that contradicts how I understood our trust and what the trust actually said. Your answers are not direct. They will answer only the part where it is the truth. Lying by omission is still lying. Lying by omission is worse. You can catch someone is a verbal lie but is lying by omission you can not nail those lies down. I told you the truth over here. I didn't say answer your other part so I did not lie. Omissions are the worse lies because they are hard to catch and they are so deceptive.

When I told you I had some questions that could be answered with a draft. Your answer was that you do not typically send drafts without reviewing the documents that there were a lot of documents. Your won't send a draft. When do we review the documents? This is December 15.

December 11th was the meeting of what and how was going into the trust.

The signing is on December 18th. If there is A LOT of documents and this material was not covered and your talking about a review on 12/15 The signing is scheduled for the 18th. Where in between those two dates do we do the review?
(12/11 was going over what went into trust. ('My husband doing his homework, brought the info you requested) The trust still needed to drawn up.
This was December 15th after the meeting.
Now your putting me off to a time we can review the documents. December 18th was the signing. How are we going to review ALL this documents on that day? We could not and did not.
I didn't even realize I was being strung along until the the end when I put all the pieces together. A trust should not be a mystery or a puzzle that needs to be figured out. Our's was. My husband sent me to you. Some of your answers were evasive, selective, half answers, many omissions. Your answers baffled me more instead of clarifying those questions.
I asked you on December 15th IF we needed a will. your answer was: A will is part of the estate plan so you will sign these documents too. (The signing was on December 18th, three days away) I would not ask if we NEEDED a will if I was already aware there was a will in trust and communicated to you what I wanted in my will. You did not ask what I wanted in my will. You just said it was part of the estate and I would sign these documents as well. So, who decided what went in my will if it was not me? That would have been a good time to question what I wanted in my will when I asked if we NEEDED a will. Maybe I was expecting to much, if I asked a question a direct answer, and some direction if I was missing something. I expected more from your firm.

On December 15th, I asked you if my husband and I both grantor's, co-trustee's, each other's beneficiary, THEN my son and daughter were trustee's.
Your answer was: My daughter was first successor trustee, then my son.
Half the question was answered. You could not answer the full question without lying. That is not what is in our trust or what I expected to be in our trust.

You said WHEN I come in to SIGN the documents we would watch a video, review ALL the documents and explain them. You also said, I could make any changes. (a lie, tried, 2/23)

Then I am told at the signing that we do not have time to go over ALL the documents and there will be a lot of questions. We would watch a video. If I had any questions, I could call any time and ask questions AFTER I go over the documents.

We didn't go over the documents on 12/11. That was the day my husband met with your firm and decided the how and what. He told me he was doing his "homework" for ____.

On December 14th my husband e-mailed you that I had some questions. (After the meeting on 12/11.)

Your response was, " I understand now, thank you! ***- please let me know any questions that come up."

You and my husband obviously understood something that I did not. I didn't understand that statement for a long time, That it was already decided on December 11th the what, the how, and the whom the assets were going into our trust.

This is the beginning of me starting to go down the rabbit hole you claim to be a trust.


On December 15th I sent you my questions. No draft, no clue on yet that you had a meeting on
December 11th.
That is when I asked for a draft and that my questions could be answered if I knew what to expect. If I was at that meeting, I would asking questions on what we went over, NOT what to expect and not asking for a draft.

Your response was you do not send drafts without first having the benefit of reviewing the documents with you as there are a lot of documents. When you come in to sign your documents, we will watch a video that reviews all the documents. In additional, we will explain them. After you sign your documents, you will have ninety days to review the documents and make any changes you'd like at no additional cost.

We did NOT go over any of the documents at the signing. When ---- put on the video, I was told that your firm found the videos make it easier for clients to understand their trust/documents. It makes it easier for your clients to understand. The clincher was he mentioned it would take TO LONG to go over ALL the documents. They were complicated. I could read the trust and call with any questions.
The video's are a scam. Our trust video did not give me any idea what was in our trust. It did not tell me how our property went into the trust. That any retirement was in there. That divorce was in our trust or any of the other important details within our trust. It did not shed any light on the documents within our trust. It did not your power of attorney, what our power of attorney included, meant and when it took effect. There was nothing in that video that helped me know or understand any part of our trust.
The seminar video, the draw of your trusts. Protecting your children from divorce. That your firm will protect our assets for our children. Every parent wants to protect their children. That's the big draw. BUT your video does not say it will protect your assets from your spouse in a divorce. That thought would not enter a married couples mind when starting a trust.
If either partner/grantor thought divorce was in their future, they would be at a divorce attorney's office not instating a trust.
UNLESS that was the intention of one the partner's or your firm puts Divorce in all trusts. Either way both are wrong. That is NOT the intention or purpose of a trust.
Our trust has DIVORCE, current wife, and if we are married at the time. Are you also claiming I was aware of that?
First of all, Divorce should NOT have been in our trust.
Second, if that was true that I knew about it and you if you claim I did; why did I ask for amendments pertaining to Divorce on 2/23 when I thought it was a generic trust?
I would not have signed any documents in a trust if I even saw the word Divorce. That was another important reason not to open the trust book on the date of signing. I did ask where our property was in the trust. **** said, Section 9. If we went over the documents, I would not have to ask that question. That question would have already been answered. This was right after he brought out the book. My husband distracted me, said I would keep them all day. **** limited me to 3 questions. Ask ALL the questions you want EXCEPT on the day of signing the documents. After the video, told read the trust and call with any questions. No documents were gone over that day. We did not even open the book.
Ask all the questions you want, you encouraged that. But that does not mean you will answer them all, answer fully, or some will be ignored. Questions usually have the information you need to answer that question. Not a lot of your answers.
How is divorce being in our trust not adverse?
AT the signing I was NOT told I did not have sign anything I was not comfortable with. On the contrary. I was told I had nothing to worry about I could make amendments and revoke it.

You said you clarified a statement I made that said retirement accounts ARE in the trust and they do not go into the trust until we both pass away.
My question was IF, I repeat IF retirement plans are in a living trust, did it stipulate specific beneficiaries, how much to who and when and who can change it?
Your answer was interesting. We will each be the primary beneficiary. (While we are alive)
You can not put retirement accounts into a trust while you are alive. So that was sound advice.
THEN the trust will be the contingent beneficiary. Game change
It's irrevocable if my husband passes first. I get 5% or $5,000 apply for benefits on and on and on. He has control while he is alive. In the trust, after he passes your firm becomes my agent. I have to apply for benefits through your firm for my husband's retirement. Your firm has discretionary powers. I do not have a smidge of the power over our finances. You take over that control from me, when my husband passes. I can not even sell my home. No survivors benefits according to this trust. #1 I would have to go to the Asset protectors EVERY YEAR to apply for what is mine, my contributive share. It has a limit every year. I can not take it in one lump some. They chained me to my own assets. Disclaim: walk away with absolutely nothing. And, you can't apply for survivors benefits to help support you when you retire. You gave up that right in the trust.
if I wanted any more than my contributive share. (Cha-ching) EVERY YEAR until the day I died. I would have to answer to their firm and be held accountable to manage this trust. At a time when I should be enjoying my life, I have to worry about money and answering to a trust. My weakest time of life as I get older, I still have to answer to what they call a trust. I would have to manage the trust for my children. 2 inch's think, all the rules, regulations and laws, IMPOSSIBLE My family would need an accountant. Then of a course my children would need a lawyer to understand the trust. The asset protectors would be to "protect our assets" my children would have to go to them EVERY YEAR if not more. My children would be required to follow "our" intentions and the stipulations in the trust. IMPOSSIBLE More so, if their firm pulls any of the crap they pulled with me. My children could not fight it. I could not fight it. What kind of trust is that? The very people your setting it up don't stand a chance. They can try but it is all in the trust and the trust stipulates all the rules. Not what I intended for my children. Nor do I believe my husband wanted this for me or my children.
I would NOT pick your firm to make financial decisions for me or any decisions. I would
choice my daughter, for medical, and son and daughter for financial IF I could not make decisions for myself.
It would take me a lifetime to debate this trust, line by line word by word. A Grantor should not have to debate a trust.
The bottom line is this trust was not what I intended or signed up for. The Asset protection was for my husband. They did not represent me. They represented my husband. I was kept in the dark and this trust was build on lies, deception and misrepresentation. Anybody reading this trust can see that. I have wasted 9 months of my life trying to rectify the legal maze I was trapped in by their firm. Not counting, the anguish, my job, what it did to my family and we still have to go through probate. So this trust was for naught. Their firm turned my world upside down.
Hopefully, something I wrote in my reviews will help someone else in someway, (a POA) whatever they can take away. Hopefully, another family does not go through what my family did while we were all alive. Life as usual was not life as usual when it came to their Estate Plans. Spend all the time YOU need to instate a trust. Better spending the time before than after. Make sure you understand EXACTLY what your power of attorney says in the trust, (That's crusial) what it covers and when it can be applied. Undoing something or having to litigate it is very expensive and very time consuming. My recommendation would be to use another firm. I don't believe I am the first, last, or special. I do not believe I am the only one that had these problems concerning their trusts or estate plans nor do I believe I will be there last.
Good luck and God Bless