Everyday Probate Disputes: Urgent Strategies for Handling Family Conflict, Will Contests, and Neglectful Executors
Grayson Cannon, attorney, is a partner with Gullett, Sanford, Robinson & Martin, PLLC in Nashville. She practices in the areas of Probate and Estate Administration, Guardianships and Conservatorships, Family Law (with an emphasis on the division of retirement funds in divorce), and Social Security Disability.
Nicole has substantial litigation and appellate experience across Texas and has represented clients through all stages of litigation. Though her primary focus has been on fiduciary litigation, her practice has included a wide breadth of areas including oil and gas, real estate, probate, guardianship, and business-related litigation.
2 hour CLE
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Program Summary
Session I - Disputes Over Inheritance and Family Dynamics - Grayson Cannon
This session will cover the types of disputes that may arise over a will, the general legal requirements for claiming and proving each party’s position in these disputes, and how to identify potential disputed issues when doing intake on an estate administration, as well as mediation strategies for these types of disputes. Key topics that will be discussed include intake of probate matters, how to manage estate administration to reduce potential conflict among heirs and beneficiaries, and some considerations for mediation.
Key topics to be discussed:
- Types of will disputes
- Legal requirements for claims
- Identifying disputed issues during intake
- Intake of probate matters
- Conflict reduction in estate administration
- Mediation strategies
Session II - Executor Misconduct and Administrative Challenges - Nicole Thornton
This session explores the complexities that arise when executors fail to meet fiduciary obligations whether through negligence, delay, or self-dealing and teaches you how to spot early warning signs in inventories, communications, and accounting. It covers practical remedies for breach of fiduciary duty, from demands and petitions to compel an accounting to interim suspension, surcharge, and removal actions. The faculty will also show how to navigate conflicts and common layperson misunderstandings about an executor’s role, translating fiduciary duties into clear, client-friendly guidance. Finally, you’ll learn strategies for handling non cooperative beneficiaries or interested parties, including targeted discovery, status conferences, and mediation to keep administration on track.
Key topics to be discussed:
- Spotting executor negligence, delay, or self-dealing
- Remedies for breach of fiduciary duty and removal actions
- Navigating conflicts and layperson misunderstandings
- Handling non-cooperative parties
This course is co-sponsored with myLawCLE.
Date / Time: September 24, 2025
- 1:00 pm – 3:10 pm Eastern
- 12:00 pm – 2:10 pm Central
- 11:00 am – 1:10 pm Mountain
- 10:00 am – 12:10 pm Pacific
Closed-captioning available
Speakers
Grayson Cannon | Gullett, Sanford, Robinson & Martin, PLLC
Grayson Cannon, attorney, is a partner with Gullett, Sanford, Robinson & Martin, PLLC in Nashville. She practices in the areas of Probate and Estate Administration, Guardianships and Conservatorships, Family Law (with an emphasis on the division of retirement funds in divorce), and Social Security Disability. Practicing since 1988, Grayson has frequently presented continuing education seminars and informational talks to other lawyers and professionals, as well as to the public, on topics in her practice areas.
Grayson is a member of the Tennessee, Nashville and Sumner County Bar Associations, the National Organization of Social Security Claimants Representatives (NOSSCR), the Conservatorship Association of Tennessee (CAT) and the Lawyer’s Association for Women (LAW). In her spare time, she enjoys running, cycling and gardening.
Nicole Thornton | Wright Close & Barger, LLP
Nicole has substantial litigation and appellate experience across Texas and has represented clients through all stages of litigation. Though her primary focus has been on fiduciary litigation, her practice has included a wide breadth of areas including oil and gas, real estate, probate, guardianship, and business-related litigation. Nicole spent a year teaching Lawyering Skills and Strategies at University of Houston Law Center before returning to private practice.
Agenda
Session I – Disputes Over Inheritance and Family Dynamics | 1:00pm – 2:00pm
- Types of will disputes
- Legal requirements for claims
- Identifying disputed issues during intake
- Intake of probate matters
- Conflict reduction in estate administration
- Mediation strategies
Break | 2:00pm – 2:10pm
Session II – Executor Misconduct and Administrative Challenges | 2:10pm – 3:10pm
- Spotting executor negligence, delay, or self-dealing
- Remedies for breach of fiduciary duty and removal actions
- Navigating conflicts and layperson misunderstandings
- Handling non-cooperative parties
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