Skip to main content
Iowa Judicial Branch
Main Content

Case No. 23-1585

For summaries from opinions prior to August, 2018, view PDF versions here

In the Matter of the Trust of Bobby Dean Churchill

Natalie Ann Churchill, Appellant.

Attorney for Appellant

William Bracker

Attorney for Appellee

Bradford L. Davis

Court of Appeals

Court of Appeals Opinion

Opinion Number:
23-1585
Date Published:
Jul 24, 2024
Summary

            Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Taylor County, Thomas P. Murphy, Judge.  AFFIRMED.  Considered by Badding, P.J., Langholz, J., and Blane, S.J.  Opinion by Langholz, J.  (12 pages)

            Natalie Churchill appeals the district court’s order interpreting her grandfather’s trust and denying her request to remove the trustee—her aunt, Nancy Churchill.  OPINION HOLDS: The district court correctly interpreted the unambiguous terms of trust— Natalie has no interest in the trust income or property until “both” of Churchill’s daughters “are deceased.”  The court did not abuse its discretion in refusing to remove Nancy as trustee.  And we cannot consider Natalie’s attorney-fees arguments because the district court has not made a final attorney-fee award to Nancy and Natalie never requested fees.  We also decline to award Natalie appellate attorney fees.

© 2026 Iowa Judicial Branch. All Rights Reserved.