Christopher Bakwin v. Sanford J. Schlesinger, in the Last Will of Michael Bakwin

• Court: Court of Appeals of Virginia
• Decided: January 13, 2026
• Docket: 0839241
• Status: Unpublished

Opinion

COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA

Present: Judges AtLee, Lorish and Frucci UNPUBLISHED

CHRISTOPHER BAKWIN, ET AL. MEMORANDUM OPINION* BY v. Record No. 0839-24-1 JUDGE RICHARD Y. ATLEE, JR. JANUARY 13, 2026 SANFORD J. SCHLESINGER, EXECUTOR IN THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT DATED DECEMBER 14, 2016, OF MICHAEL BAKWIN, DECEASED

UPON A REHEARING

FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE CITY OF SUFFOLK Carl E. Eason, Jr., Judge

(Glen M. Robertson; Denis Wiley; Raymond R. Granger; Karen R. Carnegie, Guardian ad litem for the minor beneficiaries; Wolcott Rivers Gates; McLaughlin & Stern, LLP; Granger & Associates, LLC; Karen Robins Carnegie, PLC, on briefs), for appellants Peter Bakwin, Elizabeth Eason, Lisa Lindgren, Jean Bakwin, Lisa M. Morgan, Executor of the Estate of Patricia G. Morgan, and Tanna Clark.

(Jason E. Ohana; Jonathan Brooks; Wilcox & Savage, P.C., on brief), for appellant Christopher Bakwin.

(Robert W. McFarland; Michael Barker; Robert Loftin; McGuireWoods LLP, on briefs), for appellee.

The appellants are seven named beneficiaries of Michael Bakwin’s (“Bakwin”) 2016

will, which named Sanford J. Schlesinger as the executor of Bakwin’s estate and the trustee of

various pre-residuary trusts created by the will. Following a series of conflicts between the

appellants and Schlesinger arising during Schlesinger’s tenure as executor, the appellants moved

in the circuit court to disqualify Schlesinger from serving as the trustee of any of the trusts. The

* This opinion is not designated for publication. See Code § 17.1-413(A). circuit court denied that motion and found that it violated the will’s no-contest clause, forfeiting

the appellants’ interests in the estate. We agree with the appellants that the circuit court did so in

error.1 Accordingly, we vacate the judgment and remand for further proceedings consistent with

this opinion.

I. BACKGROUND2

Bakwin had three children with his first wife: Peter Bakwin, Christopher Bakwin, and

Elizabeth Eason.3 He later divorced his first wife and married Doris Jean Winchester, who had

four children from two previous marriages: James Polk (deceased), Jean Bakwin, Lisa Lindgren,

and Patricia Morgan (deceased).4 Starting in 1990, Bakwin and Winchester split their time

between Virginia and New York. Winchester died in 2004.

1 Appellant Christopher Bakwin did not file an opening brief or appear for argument. We previously dismissed his appeal but subsequently granted his petition for rehearing and ordered supplemental briefing. In his supplemental brief, Schlesinger does not contest Christopher’s right to relief, assuming the trial court erred. “If an appellant fails to file a brief in compliance with the[] Rules, this Court may dismiss the appeal.” Rule 5A:26 (emphasis added). We decline to exercise that discretion on rehearing. This Court did not issue Christopher a show cause order or otherwise notify him of a defect with his appeal. Moreover, the circuit court’s judgment affects Christopher and the other appellants equally. Cf. Roanoke v. Blair, 107 Va. 639, 647 (1908) (holding that, “where the parties appealing and the parties not appealing stand upon the same ground, and their rights are involved in the same question, and equally affected by the same decree or judgment,” appellate courts “will consider the whole case and settle the rights of the parties not appealing as well as those who bring up their case by appeal”). Finally, it would be inequitable to allow the circuit court’s erroneous judgment to impact Christopher’s descendants, particularly in light of the guardian ad litem’s Rule 5A:19(d) notice joining the opening brief filed by the other six appellants. 2 When reviewing a trial court’s grant of summary judgment, we “accept[] as true those inferences from the facts that are most favorable to the nonmoving party, unless the inferences are forced, strained, or contrary to reason.” Stahl v. Stitt, 301 Va. 1, 8 (2022) (quoting Fultz v. Delhaize Am., Inc., 278 Va. 84, 88 (2009)). 3 Elizabeth Eason, who remarried during the proceedings, is sometimes referred to in the record as Elizabeth Johnson. 4 The seven appellants in this case are Peter, Christopher, Elizabeth, Jean, Lisa Lindgren, James’s daughter Tanna Clark, and Lisa Morgan in her capacity as executor of Patricia Morgan’s estate. -2- Schlesinger, a New York lawyer, was Bakwin’s estate-planning attorney and drafted the

operative last will and testament in 2016. The will named Schlesinger as the executor of

Bakwin’s estate and directed him to sell Bakwin’s artwork and distribute the proceeds equally to

the appellants; distribute various personal and household effects equally to the appellants; and

distribute the Virginia house to Winchester’s surviving children and her granddaughter Tanna

Clark.5

In addition to those distributions, the will also established numerous pre-residuary trusts.

First, it created a trust for the appellants’ benefit funded with Bakwin’s remaining generation-

skipping-transfer-tax exemption. See 26 U.S.C. § 2631. Next, it devised $100,000 to each of

Bakwin’s and Winchester’s great-grandchildren, to be held in trust for any great-grandchildren

who were under 25 years old when Bakwin died.

The remaining estate was to be divided into equal shares for each of the appellants and

their descendants. If none of Bakwin’s children, Winchester’s children, or Clark survived

Bakwin, the will directed that Schlesinger distribute the remaining estate “to such persons and in

such proportions” as would be distributable under Virginia law if Bakwin had died intestate.

In addition to naming Schlesinger as the executor, the will also “nominate[d],

constitute[d] and appoint[ed]” him as the trustee of each of the pre-residuary trusts. It named

Schlesinger’s wife and law partner, Lianne Lazetera, as the successor executor and trustee should

Schlesinger “die or shall be or become unwilling or unable to qualify and/or act or continue to

act as Trustee.”

Finally, the will contained a no-contest clause “revok[ing] any share or interest” in the

estate “or in any trust created” by the will to any beneficiary “seeking to void, nullify or set aside

5 The will also left $200,000 to a New York hospital and $120,000 spread among four other non-appellant beneficiaries. -3- all or any part of” the will in “any proceeding or action in any court.”6 The clause also provided

for the disinheritance of any beneficiary who “makes a claim which is based upon any alleged

act or omission by [Bakwin] individually, or in [his] capacity as trustee, executor, . . . or in any

other capacity.”

Bakwin died in December 2018, and the will was admitted to probate in Virginia later

that month. Schlesinger qualified as the executor by court order, “made oath as the law directs,”

and recorded the required bond. The Commissioner of Accounts approved a total executor’s

commission of $450,000, plus reasonable attorney fees. Schlesinger hired his own law firm

6 The full no-contest clause stated:

In the event that any beneficiary, legatee and/or devisee under this my Last Will and Testament, commences, prosecutes, promotes, intervenes in, contributes to or voluntarily participates in, directly or indirectly, or counsels or aids any other person to commence, prosecute, promote, intervene in, contribute to or voluntarily participate in, directly or indirectly, any proceeding or action in any court, agency, tribunal or other forum wherein such beneficiary, legatee and/or devisee or the counseled person (1) seeks to void, nullify or set aside all or any part of this my Last Will and Testament or (2) makes a claim which is based upon any alleged act or omission by me individually, or in my capacity as trustee, executor, partner, officer or director, or in any other capacity; then I revoke any share or interest in my estate given under this my Last Will and Testament or in any trust created under this my Last Will and Testament: (i) to the person seeking to void, nullify or set aside all or any part of this my Last Will and Testament and/or making the claim (the “claimant”), (ii) to the counseling person and (iii) to the issue of each such claimant and counseling person, and such share or interest shall be immediately disposed of as if such claimant or counseling person had then died without issue. These provisions shall remain in effect from my death until no trust hereunder is in existence and shall apply to each trust hereunder, whether or not the administration of my estate has been completed. If any provision of this Article “NINETEENTH” is held to be unenforceable or void for any reason, the remaining provisions shall be fully effective. -4- (Schlesinger, Lazetera & Auchincloss LLP, or “SLA”) to assist with his executor duties and

McGuireWoods LLP to assist with Virginia-related matters.

In April 2020, Schlesinger submitted to the Commissioner of Accounts an amended

inventory showing estate assets of around $45,000,000 and a first accounting showing around

$795,000 in legal fees paid to SLA and around $149,000 in legal fees paid to McGuireWoods.

The first accounting also showed that Schlesinger had taken a partial executor commission of

$100,000.

The appellants objected to the legal fees. In February 2021, following a hearing, the

Commissioner of Accounts concluded that, at Schlesinger’s direction, the estate had paid legal

fees that “appeared to [be] extremely high and unreasonable.” For example, the Commissioner

noted that SLA had billed the estate $1,250 per hour for Schlesinger “to review the will he

prepared.” The Commissioner directed Schlesinger to restore around $485,000 in legal fees to

the estate but allowed him to recharacterize $350,000 of those fees as the rest of his executor

commission, reducing the amount of fees he had to return.7

In April 2021, the appellants moved to disqualify Schlesinger and Lazetera from serving

as trustees of any of the pre-residuary trusts and asked the court to appoint a different trustee

under Code § 64.2-1405(A)(viii).8 In support of their motion, they relied on Schlesinger’s

alleged misconduct as executor, including the overbilling found by the Commissioner of

Accounts; Schlesinger’s “impaired judgment” in managing the estate’s investment assets; and his

delay in making preliminary distributions. The appellants also claimed that Schlesinger and

7 In May 2024, after the notice of appeal was filed in this case, the circuit court largely affirmed the Commissioner’s decision over Schlesinger’s objections but sustained the objections to a portion of the Commissioner’s report that provided “further guidance” for future billing practices. 8 Code § 64.2-1405(A)(viii) allows a circuit court to appoint a trustee other than one named in a will for “good cause shown” and “on motion of any interested party.” -5- Lazetera both had conflicts of interest because SLA would desire to recoup the restored attorney

fees from the estate. Schlesinger responded that the allegations made in the motion were

meritless and also moved to dismiss the motion as a violation of the will’s no-contest clause.

Following a hearing, the circuit court dismissed the appellants’ motion to disqualify. The

court concluded that the motion violated the no-contest clause because it sought to void, set

aside, or nullify the will’s provision appointing Schlesinger as trustee and Lazetera as substitute

trustee. The court summarized the appellants’ objection to Schlesinger as based on mere

“dislike” and “a personality conflict,” which the court explained was “certainly not a basis to

disqualify an individual as Trustee.” In doing so, the court distinguished the appellants’

arguments from a claim that Schlesinger was “legally incompetent or legally disqualified from

being able to qualify as a Trustee.” The court concluded that the appellants’ violation of the

no-contest clause rendered them without standing to challenge Schlesinger’s and Lazetera’s

appointments and dismissed their motion to disqualify, making clear that its ruling was limited to

standing. The court later denied the appellants’ motion for reconsideration.

In September 2021, while the probate case was ongoing, Schlesinger filed a “complaint

seeking advice and guidance” as to how to distribute Bakwin’s remaining estate.9 Schlesinger

alleged that the appellants had violated the no-contest clause and should be treated as if they

predeceased Bakwin, authorizing Schlesinger to distribute the estate’s remaining assets to

Bakwin’s intestate heirs.10 Schlesinger later moved for partial summary judgment on his claims

9 The complaint seeking advice and guidance generated a docket number separate from the probate action, and it is the final order in the advice-and-guidance suit that is before us on appeal. 10 Specifically, Schlesinger sought to distribute 1/3 of Bakwin’s estate to the estate of Bakwin’s sister; 1/3 to one of Bakwin’s nieces; and 1/12 each to three remaining nieces and one remaining nephew. -6- that the appellants and their descendants had no rights or interests in Bakwin’s estate, which the

appellants opposed.

In November 2023, the court granted Schlesinger’s motion for partial summary

judgment. Consistent with its conclusion in the probate case, the court found that the no-contest

clause was unambiguous and that the motion to disqualify violated the clause.11 Accordingly,

the court found that the will revoked any share or interest in the estate held by the appellants and

their minor beneficiaries. The court ultimately entered a final order authorizing Schlesinger to

distribute the remaining estate as set forth in his complaint for advice and guidance.12 The

appellants now appeal.

II. ANALYSIS

“[W]hether a no-contest clause in a will has been triggered presents, on appellate review,

a mixed question of law and fact.” Keener v. Keener, 278 Va. 435, 441 (2009). Whether

conduct “constitutes a contest or attempt to defeat a will depends upon the wording of the ‘no

contest’ provision and the facts and circumstances of each particular case.” Id. (quoting Womble

v. Gunter, 198 Va. 522, 529 (1956)). “[A]pplying the language of a written document to an

undisputed fact” is “a pure question of law, subject to review de novo on appeal.” Id. at 442.

We “review questions of statutory interpretation de novo.” Stahl v. Stitt, 301 Va. 1, 8 (2022).

The appellants contend that the circuit court erred by concluding that their motion to

disqualify Schlesinger and Lazetera as trustee and successor trustee violated the will’s no-contest

11 Schlesinger initially argued that the circuit court’s ruling in the probate case collaterally estopped the appellants from arguing that they had not violated the no-contest clause but eventually abandoned that argument, as there had not yet been a final order in the probate case. The circuit court did not apply collateral estoppel. Schlesinger does not assert that the circuit court’s probate ruling presents any procedural bar to the arguments the appellants now raise. 12 Schlesinger had also sought guidance as to whether to recoup distributions previously made to the appellants; the circuit court ordered that he could not do so. -7- clause. They assert that a challenge to Schlesinger’s and Lazetera’s qualifications based on

conduct occurring after Bakwin’s death was not an attempt to “void, nullify or set aside” the

will’s provision “appointing” Schlesinger and Lazetera. We agree.13

“[N]o-contest provisions are simultaneously ‘strictly enforced’ and ‘strictly construed.’”

Hunter v. Hunter, 298 Va. 414, 424 (2020) (quoting Rafalko v. Georgiadis, 290 Va. 384, 402

(2015)). They are strictly enforced because “the common law honors ‘the societal benefit of

deterring the bitter family disputes that will contests frequently engender.’” Id. (quoting Keener,

278 Va. at 442). And they are strictly construed because Virginia “respect[s] the ancient maxim

that ‘equity abhors forfeitures.’” Id. (quoting Jones v. Guaranty & Indem. Co., 101 U.S. 622,

628 (1879)). They are also strictly construed because “the testator, or a skilled draftsman acting

at his direction, has the opportunity to select the language that will most precisely express the

testator’s intent.” Keener, 278 Va. at 443. “[S]trictly enforced” means that the provision will be

“enforce[d] . . . without any wincing . . . concerning its alleged harshness or unfairness—so long

as the testator or settlor clearly intended the forfeiture.” Hunter, 298 Va. at 424. And “strictly

construed” means “that the intent to forfeit must be very clear” and “[t]he language used must

‘precisely express’ the specific intent to cause a forfeiture.” Id. (quoting Keener, 278 Va. at

442). “Strict enforcement cannot be justified by mere inferences of intent,” and the instrument

must use “terms so clear and explicit as to leave no room for any other construction.” Id.

(quoting Davis v. Wickline, 205 Va. 166, 169 (1964)).

“Wills are most frequently contested by beneficiaries who claim the document itself is

invalid, either because the testator executed it without the requisite formalities, lacked the

13 “[T]he doctrine of judicial restraint dictates that we decide cases ‘on the best and narrowest grounds available.’” Commonwealth v. White, 293 Va. 411, 419 (2017) (quoting Commonwealth v. Swann, 290 Va. 194, 196 (2015)). Because we agree that the circuit court erred by failing to strictly construe the no-contest clause, we do not address the appellants’ remaining arguments. -8- required capacity, was induced to sign the instrument against [his] free will, or revoked it in

favor of some alternative disposition.” Deborah S. Gordon, Forfeiting Trust, 57 Wm. & Mary L.

Rev. 455, 474 (2015). “Typical testamentary forfeiture clauses seeking to prevent these types of

claims therefore provide that anyone who challenges the will forfeits any interests received under

it; if the contestant is successful, the will (including the clause) is invalidated.” Id. at 461-62.

“[A] typical forfeiture clause . . . [is] directed towards the most common types of will ‘attacks,’

which contest the validity of the testamentary instrument or any of its components.” Id. at

464-65 (emphasis added).

The no-contest clause in Bakwin’s will is just such a forfeiture clause. It applies to any

proceeding “to void, nullify or set aside all or any part of” the will. To “void” something is to

render it “of no legal effect.” Void, Black’s Law Dictionary (12th ed. 2024) (emphasis added).

A court order that is void ab initio or has been voided by a superior court, for example, cannot

legally bind the parties. Hannah v. Commonwealth, 303 Va. 106, 119-20, 123 (2024). Similarly,

to “set aside” means “to annul or vacate,” while “nullify” means “to make legally null and void.”

Set Aside, Black’s Law Dictionary, supra; Nullify, Black’s Law Dictionary, supra. Thus, the

no-contest clause applies to proceedings to invalidate the legal effects of the will or its

provisions. But it does not necessarily apply to proceedings that merely threaten to undermine a

provision’s practical effects. Put another way, it prohibits attacks against the validity of the will

or its provisions, but it does not prohibit beneficiaries from participating in proceedings that are

collateral to issues raised in the will.

The appellants did not challenge the validity of any provision in Bakwin’s will but

merely sought to intervene in a separate qualification process that the Code places squarely

within the circuit court’s authority. See Est. of Aaron Rimland, 2003 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 675, at

*6 (N.Y. Surrogate’s Ct. June 3, 2003) (“In terrorem clauses are designed to prevent attacks on

-9- the validity of a will and it has been held that they do not come into play where the issue is

whether a fiduciary nominated in the will is qualified to serve in that capacity.”). “Before

proceeding to act as trustee,” a trustee named in a will must “qualify and give bond before the

proper circuit court or clerk.” Code § 64.2-1401(B); see also Code § 64.2-1400(E)

(contemplating that “less than all the trustees named in the will” may qualify and limiting the

trust powers to only the trustees who have qualified). The court “where the will has been

probated” has “exclusive jurisdiction for the qualification of the trustee.” Code § 64.2-1401(A);

see also Code § 64.2-1400(A) (providing that the clerk of a circuit court or a duly qualified

deputy “may qualify any trustee named in a will, deed, or other writing, and require and take

from them the necessary bonds” (emphasis added)).14 Qualification places the trustee under the

supervision of the commissioners of accounts, who “have general supervision of all fiduciaries

admitted to qualify in the court.” Code § 64.2-1200(A).

Moreover, a “court may intervene in the administration of a trust to the extent its

jurisdiction is invoked by an interested person or as provided by law.” Code § 64.2-710(A). The

judicial proceeding “may relate to any matter involving the trust’s administration.” Code

§ 64.2-710(C). Notably, a beneficiary “may petition to the court to remove a trustee, or a trustee

may be removed by the court on its own initiative.” Code § 64.2-759(A). According to the

Third Restatement of Trusts, the same reasons that may justify a court removing a trustee may

also justify the court refusing the trustee’s appointment in the first place. Restatement (Third) of

Trusts, § 37 cmt. a (2012).

14 The difference between appointment and qualification is further illustrated in Code § 64.2-1400(B), which allows the clerk or deputy to “appoint and qualify an individual or a corporation” as trustee if certain conditions are met. “When the General Assembly uses two different terms in the same act, it is presumed to mean two different things.” Sauder v. Ferguson, 289 Va. 449, 457 (2015) (quoting Forst v. Rockingham Poultry Mktg. Coop., 222 Va. 270, 278 (1981)). The General Assembly’s decision to use only “qualify” in subsection (A) and “appoint and qualify” in subsection (B) demonstrates that those terms are not synonymous. - 10 - These statutes demonstrate that circuit courts have substantial supervisory authority over

trusts, especially testamentary trusts.15 Indeed, our Supreme Court has cited commentary that

“[t]he principle of strict construction applies with compounding force to no-contest provisions in

trusts” because trusts “usually last for an extended period of time and . . . vest ownership and

control of the property in the hands of a trustee.” Hunter, 298 Va. at 425 (quoting Gordon,

supra, at 474). “The rising use of expansive trust forfeiture clauses is problematic because by

disinheriting beneficiaries who seek oversight of this fiduciary relationship, the clauses threaten

to forfeit trust altogether.” Id. (quoting Gordon, supra, at 474). The qualification process is one

process by which the circuit court exercises its oversight over the trust relationship.

In fact, Bakwin’s will itself recognized that the circuit court would ultimately decide

Schlesinger’s qualifications and that qualification was not guaranteed. Although Bakwin

“appoint[ed]” Schlesinger as trustee, he named Lazetera as the successor if Schlesinger was

“unwilling or unable to qualify.” (Emphasis added). One Texas Court of Appeals was faced

with similar language in Estate of Newbill, 781 S.W.2d 727 (Tex. App. 1987). In that case, a

beneficiary objected that the named executor of the estate “was not legally qualified to serve as

executor.” Id. at 729. The will had a no-contest clause that disinherited any beneficiary who

“directly or indirectly contest[ed] or attack[ed] th[e] will or any of its provisions.” Id. at 728.

After explaining that forfeiture clauses are “strictly construed” in Texas, the court held that the

no-contest clause did not bar the beneficiary’s action. Id. at 729-30. In so concluding, the court

relied on the fact that the testator had “expressly provided for the appointment of an alternate

executor if [the named executor] should for any reason ‘fail to qualify.’” Id. at 729.

“Therefore,” the court reasoned, “to hold that [the testator] intended to disinherit any beneficiary

15 By contrast, there is no statutory requirement that inter vivos trustees qualify in court; such trustees usually may accept the role simply by undertaking performance. Code § 64.2-754(A); Code § 64.2-1403. - 11 - challenging the executor’s qualifications . . . would be erroneous.” Id.; see also Ard v. Hudson,

No. 02-13-00198-CV, 2015 Tex. App. LEXIS 8727, at *21-22 (Aug. 20, 2015) (“We join our

sister courts in holding that a beneficiary has an inherent right to challenge the actions of a

fiduciary and does not trigger a forfeiture clause by doing so.” (collecting cases)).

The same result is warranted here. Like Texas, we strictly construe forfeiture clauses and

“will not lift [a] hand to aid a litigant in enforcing a forfeiture.” Hunter, 298 Va. at 425 (quoting

Pence v. Tidewater Townsite Corp., 127 Va. 447, 459 (1920)). Rather, “[t]he heavy lifting must

be done entirely by the unmistakable language of the drafter of the putative forfeiture provision.”

Id. Although Bakwin undoubtedly intended Schlesinger to serve as trustee, the issue before us is

whether the language in the no-contest clause unmistakably conveys Bakwin’s intent that the

clause apply to the appellants’ motion. That Bakwin specifically contemplated the possibility

that Schlesinger may be unable to qualify illustrates that he did not intend to bar all challenges to

Schlesinger’s qualifications, let alone challenges based on conduct occurring after Bakwin’s

death. Moreover, the no-contest clause expressly barred conduct-based challenges to Bakwin’s

own acts or omissions but did not reference conduct-based challenges to other fiduciaries, such

as Schlesinger. That fact further undermines Schlesinger’s argument that Bakwin intended to

prohibit the beneficiaries from challenging Schlesinger’s and Lazetera’s qualifications as trustee

and successor trustee based on Schlesinger’s conduct as executor.16

16 We enforce no-contest clauses because of the “societal benefit of deterring . . . bitter family disputes.” Hunter, 298 Va. at 424 (quoting Rafalko, 290 Va. at 402). Although it ultimately plays no role in the analysis, we note that the dispute over the trustees’ qualifications was not such a dispute. We further note that it is exceedingly unlikely that Bakwin intended the no-contest clause to unravel his entire testamentary scheme by disinheriting every major beneficiary of his will in favor of family members to whom he otherwise left nothing. See id. (noting that “[m]any courts have struggled with the boundaries” of no-contest clauses because they “seek[] to protect the right of a testator ‘to dispose of his property as he sees fit,’ while not assuming that he wanted to disinherit anyone who questioned exactly how he intended to do so” (quoting Womble, 198 Va. at 532)). - 12 - The circuit court seemed to accept that the appellants could have challenged

Schlesinger’s qualifications without violating the no-contest clause had they done so on other

grounds, such as by arguing that Schlesinger was “legally incompetent or legally disqualified.”

Schlesinger appeared to adopt that position at oral argument, stating that it would not have

violated the no-contest clause had the appellants raised a “true question of fitness” in their

motion to disqualify, because “competency . . . is always relevant.” We discern no support in the

no-contest clause or statutes for treating “competency” challenges differently.

The appellants filed their motion under Code § 64.2-1405(A), which allows a circuit

court to appoint a trustee in place of one named in a will “on motion of any interested party, and

upon satisfactory evidence of any of [eight] conditions.” For instance, the court may appoint a

different trustee when the named trustee dies, becomes “incapable of executing the trust on

account of physical or mental disability or confinement in prison,” “if residency is statutorily

required, is no longer a resident of the Commonwealth,” or “for any other reason ceases to be

eligible to continue serving as trustee.” Id. But the court may also appoint a different trustee

than the named trustee “for any other good cause shown.” Code § 64.2-1405(A)(viii). Code

§ 64.2-1405(A)(viii) does not explain what may constitute good cause to remove a trustee, but

Code § 64.2-759 provides that a court may remove a trustee when “[t]he trustee has committed a

serious breach of trust.” Code § 64.2-759(B). According to the Restatement, such a breach is

not limited to the trustee’s conduct as trustee; rather “serious or repeated misconduct, even

unconnected with the trust itself, may justify removal.” Restatement (Third) of Trusts, supra,

§ 37 cmt. e (emphasis added). In short, the Code does not support the circuit court’s distinction

between legal incompetence and disqualification on other grounds. Certainly, the circuit court

could conclude that the appellants had failed to demonstrate good cause for disqualification, but

that does not mean that they were trying to “void, set aside, or nullify” a provision of the will.

- 13 - At oral argument, Schlesinger asserted that the appellants were required to allow

Schlesinger to qualify but could thereafter seek his removal without violating the no-contest

clause. If Bakwin intended such a procedure, clearer language was required. See Restatement

(Third) of Trusts, supra, § 37 cmt. a (“Courts are less hesitant to reject a designated trustee’s

appointment at the outset than to remove an acting trustee, because of the severity of the action

and the disruption in administration that the latter entails.”). Here, the language is not “so clear

and explicit as to leave no room for any other construction.” Hunter, 298 Va. at 424 (quoting

Davis, 205 Va. at 169). Accordingly, the circuit court erred by granting partial summary

judgment on Schlesinger’s claim that the appellants forfeited their rights to Bakwin’s estate.

CONCLUSION

For the foregoing reasons, we vacate the circuit court’s judgment and remand for further

proceedings consistent with this opinion.

Vacated and remanded.

- 14 - VIRGINIA: In the Court of Appeals of Virginia on Tuesday the 25th day of November, 2025.

Christopher Bakwin, et al., Appellants,

against Record No. 0839-24-1 Circuit Court No. CL21-2276

Sanford J. Schlesinger, Executor in the Last Will and Testament dated December 14, 2016, of Michael Bakwin, Deceased, Appellee.

Upon a Petition for Rehearing

Before Judges AtLee, Lorish and Frucci

On November 5, 2025 came the appellants, by counsel, and filed a petition praying that the Court set

aside the judgment rendered herein on October 21, 2025, and grant a rehearing thereof.

On consideration whereof, the petition for rehearing is granted, the opinion rendered herein on

October 21, 2025 is withdrawn, the mandate entered on that date is vacated, and this appeal will be

reconsidered by the panel of judges that originally considered the matter.

On further consideration, in Roanoke v. Blair, 107 Va. 639 (1908), the Supreme Court said that

“where the parties appealing and the parties not appealing stand upon the same ground, and their rights are

involved in the same question, and equally affected by the same decree or judgment, this court will consider

the whole case and settle the rights of the parties not appealing as well as those who bring up their case by

appeal.” Id. at 647. The rule in Blair does not appear to have been cited since by any appellate case. Since

Blair was issued, the Rules of the Supreme Court of Virginia were overhauled in 1949, effective February

1950. The parties are directed to file a supplemental brief addressing whether Blair conflicts with the modern

Rules of the Supreme Court of Virginia and, if so, whether Blair remains good law. The respective supplemental briefs must be limited to 7,000 words and must be electronically filed in

the clerk’s office of this Court by December 8, 2025, and served on opposing counsel.

A Copy,

Teste:

A. John Vollino, Clerk

original order signed by a deputy clerk of the By: Court of Appeals of Virginia at the direction of the Court

Deputy Clerk

-2- COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA UNPUBLISHED

Present: Judges AtLee, Lorish and Frucci Argued at Norfolk, Virginia

CHRISTOPHER BAKWIN, ET AL. MEMORANDUM OPINION* BY v. Record No. 0839-24-1 JUDGE RICHARD Y. ATLEE, JR. OCTOBER 21, 2025 SANFORD J. SCHLESINGER, EXECUTOR IN THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT DATED DECEMBER 14, 2016, OF MICHAEL BAKWIN, DECEASED

FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE CITY OF SUFFOLK Carl E. Eason, Jr., Judge

Raymond R. Granger (Glen M. Robertson; Denis Wiley; Karen R. Carnegie, Guardian ad litem for the minor beneficiaries; Granger & Associates, LLC; Wolcott Rivers Gates; McLaughlin & Stern, LLP; Karen Robins Carnegie, PLLC, on briefs), for appellants Peter Bakwin, Elizabeth Eason, Lisa Lindgren, Jean Bakwin, Lisa M. Morgan, Executor of the Estate of Patricia G. Morgan, and Tanna Clark.

No brief or argument for appellant Christopher Bakwin, pro se.

Robert W. McFarland (Michael Barker; Robert Loftin; McGuireWoods LLP, on brief), for appellee.

The appellants are seven named beneficiaries of Michael Bakwin’s (“Bakwin”) 2016

will, which named Sanford J. Schlesinger as the executor of Bakwin’s estate and the trustee of

various pre-residuary trusts created by the will. Following a series of conflicts between the

appellants and Schlesinger arising during Schlesinger’s tenure as executor, the appellants moved

in the circuit court to disqualify Schlesinger from serving as the trustee of any of the trusts. The

circuit court denied that motion and found that it violated the will’s no-contest clause, forfeiting

* This opinion is not designated for publication. See Code § 17.1-413(A). the appellants’ interests in the estate. Christopher Bakwin represents himself on appeal and did

not file an opening brief or argue, waiving any challenge to the circuit court’s judgment. The

remaining appellants contend that the circuit court erroneously concluded that their motion to

disqualify violated the no-contest clause. We agree. Accordingly, we dismiss Christopher

Bakwin’s appeal, vacate the judgment as to the other appellants, and remand for further

I. BACKGROUND1

Bakwin had three children with his first wife: Peter Bakwin, Christopher Bakwin, and

Elizabeth Eason.2 He later divorced his first wife and married Doris Jean Winchester, who had

four children from two previous marriages: James Polk (deceased), Jean Bakwin, Lisa Lindgren,

and Patricia Morgan (deceased).3 Starting in 1990, Bakwin and Winchester split their time

Schlesinger, a New York lawyer, was Bakwin’s estate-planning attorney and drafted the

operative last will and testament in 2016. The will named Schlesinger as the executor of

Bakwin’s estate and directed him to sell Bakwin’s artwork and distribute the proceeds equally to

the appellants; distribute various personal and household effects equally to the appellants; and

1 When reviewing a trial court’s grant of summary judgment, we “accept[] as true those inferences from the facts that are most favorable to the nonmoving party, unless the inferences are forced, strained, or contrary to reason.” Stahl v. Stitt, 301 Va. 1, 8 (2022) (quoting Fultz v. Delhaize Am., Inc., 278 Va. 84, 88 (2009)). 2 Elizabeth Eason, who remarried during the proceedings, is sometimes referred to in the record as Elizabeth Johnson. 3 The seven appellants in this case are Peter, Christopher, Elizabeth, Jean, Lisa Lindgren, James’s daughter Tanna Clark, and Lisa Morgan in her capacity as executor of Patricia Morgan’s estate. -2- distribute the Virginia house to Winchester’s surviving children and her granddaughter Tanna

Clark.4

In addition to those distributions, the will also established numerous pre-residuary trusts.

First, it created a trust for the appellants’ benefit funded with Bakwin’s remaining generation-

skipping-transfer-tax exemption. See 26 U.S.C. § 2631. Next, it devised $100,000 to each of

Bakwin’s and Winchester’s great-grandchildren, to be held in trust for any great-grandchildren

The remaining estate was to be divided into equal shares for each of the appellants and

their descendants. If none of Bakwin’s children, Winchester’s children, or Clark survived

Bakwin, the will directed that Schlesinger distribute the remaining estate “to such persons and in

such proportions” as would be distributable under Virginia law if Bakwin had died intestate.

In addition to naming Schlesinger as the executor, the will also “nominate[d],

constitute[d] and appoint[ed]” him as the trustee of each of the pre-residuary trusts. It named

Schlesinger’s wife and law partner, Lianne Lazetera, as the successor executor and trustee should

Schlesinger “die or shall be or become unwilling or unable to qualify and/or act or continue to

Finally, the will contained a no-contest clause “revok[ing] any share or interest” in the

estate “or in any trust created” by the will to any beneficiary “seeking to void, nullify or set aside

all or any part of” the will in “any proceeding or action in any court.”5 The clause also provided

4 The will also left $200,000 to a New York hospital and $120,000 spread among four other non-appellant beneficiaries. 5 The full no-contest clause stated:

In the event that any beneficiary, legatee and/or devisee under this my Last Will and Testament, commences, prosecutes, promotes, intervenes in, contributes to or voluntarily participates in, directly or indirectly, or counsels or aids any other person to commence, -3- for the disinheritance of any beneficiary who “makes a claim which is based upon any alleged

act or omission by [Bakwin] individually, or in [his] capacity as trustee, executor, . . . or in any

Bakwin died in December 2018, and the will was admitted to probate in Virginia later

that month. Schlesinger qualified as the executor by court order, “made oath as the law directs,”

and recorded the required bond. The Commissioner of Accounts approved a total executor’s

commission of $450,000, plus reasonable attorney fees. Schlesinger hired his own law firm

(Schlesinger, Lazetera & Auchincloss LLP, or “SLA”) to assist with his executor duties and

In April 2020, Schlesinger submitted to the Commissioner of Accounts an amended

inventory showing estate assets of around $45,000,000 and a first accounting showing around

$795,000 in legal fees paid to SLA and around $149,000 in legal fees paid to McGuireWoods.

prosecute, promote, intervene in, contribute to or voluntarily participate in, directly or indirectly, any proceeding or action in any court, agency, tribunal or other forum wherein such beneficiary, legatee and/or devisee or the counseled person (1) seeks to void, nullify or set aside all or any part of this my Last Will and Testament or (2) makes a claim which is based upon any alleged act or omission by me individually, or in my capacity as trustee, executor, partner, officer or director, or in any other capacity; then I revoke any share or interest in my estate given under this my Last Will and Testament or in any trust created under this my Last Will and Testament: (i) to the person seeking to void, nullify or set aside all or any part of this my Last Will and Testament and/or making the claim (the “claimant”), (ii) to the counseling person and (iii) to the issue of each such claimant and counseling person, and such share or interest shall be immediately disposed of as if such claimant or counseling person had then died without issue. These provisions shall remain in effect from my death until no trust hereunder is in existence and shall apply to each trust hereunder, whether or not the administration of my estate has been completed. If any provision of this Article “NINETEENTH” is held to be unenforceable or void for any reason, the remaining provisions shall be fully effective. -4- The first accounting also showed the Schlesinger had taken a partial executor commission of

The appellants objected to the legal fees. In February 2021, following a hearing, the

Commissioner of Accounts concluded that, at Schlesinger’s direction, the estate had paid legal

fees that “appeared to [be] extremely high and unreasonable.” For example, the Commissioner

noted that SLA had billed the estate $1,250 per hour for Schlesinger “to review the will he

prepared.” The Commissioner directed Schlesinger to restore around $485,000 in legal fees to

the estate but allowed him to recharacterize $350,000 of those fees as the rest of his executor

commission, reducing the amount of fees he had to return.6

In April 2021, the appellants moved to disqualify Schlesinger and Lazetera from serving

as trustees of any of the pre-residuary trusts and asked the court to appoint a different trustee

under Code § 64.2-1405(A)(viii).7 In support of their motion, they relied on Schlesinger’s

alleged misconduct as executor, including the overbilling found by the Commissioner of

Accounts; Schlesinger’s “impaired judgment” in managing the estate’s investment assets; and his

delay in making preliminary distributions. The appellants also claimed that Schlesinger and

Lazetera both had conflicts of interest because SLA would desire to recoup the restored attorney

fees from the estate. Schlesinger responded that the allegations made in the motion were

meritless and also moved to dismiss the motion as a violation of the will’s no-contest clause.

Following a hearing, the circuit court dismissed the appellants’ motion to disqualify. The

court concluded that the motion violated the no-contest clause because it sought to void, set

6 In May 2024, after the notice of appeal was filed in this case, the circuit court largely affirmed the Commissioner’s decision over Schlesinger’s objections but sustained the objections to a portion of the Commissioner’s report that provided “further guidance” for future billing practices. 7 Code § 64.2-1405(A)(viii) allows a circuit court to appoint a trustee other than one named in a will for “good cause shown” and “on motion of any interested party.” -5- aside, or nullify the will’s provision appointing Schlesinger as trustee and Lazetera as substitute

trustee. The court summarized the appellants’ objection to Schlesinger as based on mere

“dislike” and “a personality conflict,” which the court explained was “certainly not a basis to

disqualify an individual as Trustee.” In doing so, the court distinguished the appellants’

arguments from a claim that Schlesinger was “legally incompetent or legally disqualified from

being able to qualify as a Trustee.” The court concluded that the appellants’ violation of the

no-contest clause rendered them without standing to challenge Schlesinger’s and Lazetera’s

appointments and dismissed their motion to disqualify, making clear that its ruling was limited to

standing. The court later denied the appellants’ motion for reconsideration.

In September 2021, while the probate case was ongoing, Schlesinger filed a “complaint

seeking advice and guidance” as to how to distribute Bakwin’s remaining estate.8 Schlesinger

alleged that the appellants had violated the no-contest clause and should be treated as if they

predeceased Bakwin, authorizing Schlesinger to distribute the estate’s remaining assets to

Bakwin’s intestate heirs.9 Schlesinger later moved for partial summary judgment on his claims

that the appellants and their descendants had no rights or interests in Bakwin’s estate, which the

In November 2023, the court granted Schlesinger’s motion for partial summary

judgment. Consistent with its conclusion in the probate case, the court found that the no-contest

8 The complaint seeking advice and guidance generated a docket number separate from the probate action, and it is the final order in the advice-and-guidance suit that is before us on appeal. 9 Specifically, Schlesinger sought to distribute 1/3 of Bakwin’s estate to the estate of Bakwin’s sister; 1/3 to one of Bakwin’s nieces; and 1/12 each to three remaining nieces and one remaining nephew. -6- clause was unambiguous and that the motion to disqualify violated the clause.10 Accordingly,

the court found that the will revoked any share or interest in the estate held by the appellants and

their minor beneficiaries. The court ultimately entered a final order authorizing Schlesinger to

distribute the remaining estate as set forth in his complaint for advice and guidance.11 The

A. Christopher Bakwin has forfeited any challenge to the circuit court’s judgment.

An appellant must file the opening brief in this Court within 40 days of the record filing.

Rule 5A:19(b)(2). The opening brief must list assignments of error. Rule 5A:20(c). “Only

assignments of error listed in the brief will be noticed by this Court. If the brief does not contain

assignments of error, the appeal will be dismissed.” Rule 5A:20(c)(1). “If an appellant fails to

file a brief in compliance with these Rules, this Court may dismiss the appeal.” Rule 5A:26.

On October 11, 2024, the appellants’ attorneys moved to withdraw as to Christopher

Bakwin, stating that Christopher wished to represent himself pro se going forward. We granted

that motion to withdraw on October 15, 2024, two days before counsel filed the opening brief on

behalf of the other six appellants. Unlike the guardian ad litem of the minor beneficiaries, who

filed a Rule 5A:19(d) notice joining the appellants’ brief, Christopher has not filed anything

since he began representing himself. Absent an opening brief, he has presented no assignments

of error for us to consider, and his appeal must be dismissed.

10 Schlesinger initially argued that the circuit court’s ruling in the probate case collaterally estopped the appellants from arguing that they had not violated the no-contest clause but eventually abandoned that argument, as there had not yet been a final order in the probate case. The circuit court did not apply collateral estoppel. Schlesinger does not assert that the circuit court’s probate ruling presents any procedural bar to the arguments the appellants now raise. 11 Schlesinger had also sought guidance as to whether to recoup distributions previously made to the appellants; the circuit court ordered that he could not do so. -7- B. The circuit court erred by finding that the remaining appellants violated the no-contest clause.

“[W]hether a no-contest clause in a will has been triggered presents, on appellate review,

a mixed question of law and fact.” Keener v. Keener, 278 Va. 435, 441 (2009). Whether

conduct “constitutes a contest or attempt to defeat a will depends upon the wording of the ‘no

contest’ provision and the facts and circumstances of each particular case.” Id. (quoting Womble

v. Gunter, 198 Va. 522, 529 (1956)). “[A]pplying the language of a written document to an

undisputed fact” is “a pure question of law, subject to review de novo on appeal.” Id. at 442.

We “review questions of statutory interpretation de novo.” Stahl v. Stitt, 301 Va. 1, 8 (2022).

The appellants (minus Christopher) contend that the circuit court erred by concluding that

their motion to disqualify Schlesinger and Lazetera as trustee and successor trustee violated the

will’s no-contest clause. They assert that a challenge to Schlesinger’s and Lazetera’s

qualifications based on conduct occurring after Bakwin’s death was not an attempt to “void,

nullify or set aside” the will’s provision “appointing” Schlesinger and Lazetera. We agree.12

“[N]o-contest provisions are simultaneously ‘strictly enforced’ and ‘strictly construed.’”

Hunter v. Hunter, 298 Va. 414, 424 (2020) (quoting Rafalko v. Georgiadis, 290 Va. 384, 402

(2015)). They are strictly enforced because “the common law honors ‘the societal benefit of

deterring the bitter family disputes that will contests frequently engender.’” Id. (quoting Keener,

278 Va. at 442). And they are strictly construed because Virginia “respect[s] the ancient maxim

that ‘equity abhors forfeitures.’” Id. (quoting Jones v. Guaranty & Indem. Co., 101 U.S. 622,

628 (1879)). They are also strictly construed because “the testator, or a skilled draftsman acting

12 “[T]he doctrine of judicial restraint dictates that we decide cases ‘on the best and narrowest grounds available.’” Commonwealth v. White, 293 Va. 411, 419 (2017) (quoting Commonwealth v. Swann, 290 Va. 194, 196 (2015)). Because we agree that the circuit court erred by failing to strictly construe the no-contest clause, we do not address the appellants’ remaining arguments. -8- at his direction, has the opportunity to select the language that will most precisely express the

testator’s intent.” Keener, 278 Va. at 443. “Strictly enforced” means that the provision will be

“enforce[d] . . . without any wincing . . . concerning its alleged harshness or unfairness—so long

as the testator or settlor clearly intended the forfeiture.” Hunter, 298 Va. at 424. And “strictly

construed” means “that the intent to forfeit must be very clear” and “[t]he language used must

‘precisely express’ the specific intent to cause a forfeiture.” Id. (quoting Keener, 278 Va. at

442). “Strict enforcement cannot be justified by mere inferences of intent,” and the instrument

must use “terms so clear and explicit as to leave no room for any other construction.” Id.

“Wills are most frequently contested by beneficiaries who claim the document itself is

invalid, either because the testator executed it without the requisite formalities, lacked the

required capacity, was induced to sign the instrument against [his] free will, or revoked it in

favor of some alternative disposition.” Deborah S. Gordon, Forfeiting Trust, 57 Wm. & Mary L.

Rev. 455, 474 (2015). “Typical testamentary forfeiture clauses seeking to prevent these types of

claims therefore provide that anyone who challenges the will forfeits any interests received under

it; if the contestant is successful, the will (including the clause) is invalidated.” Id. at 461-62.

“[A] typical forfeiture clause . . . [is] directed towards the most common types of will ‘attacks,’

which contest the validity of the testamentary instrument or any of its components.” Id. at

The no-contest clause in Bakwin’s will is just such a forfeiture clause. It applies to any

proceeding “to void, nullify or set aside all or any part of” the will. To “void” something is to

render it “of no legal effect.” Void, Black’s Law Dictionary (12th ed. 2024) (emphasis added).

A court order that is void ab initio or has been voided by a superior court, for example, cannot

legally bind the parties. Hannah v. Commonwealth, 303 Va. 106, 119-20, 123 (2024). Similarly,

-9- to “set aside” means “to annul or vacate,” while “nullify” means “to make legally null and void.”

Set Aside, Black’s Law Dictionary, supra; Nullify, Black’s Law Dictionary, supra. Thus, the

no-contest clause applies to proceedings to invalidate the legal effects of the will or its

provisions. But it does not necessarily apply to proceedings that merely threaten to undermine a

provision’s practical effects. Put another way, it prohibits attacks against the validity of the will

or its provisions, but it does not prohibit beneficiaries from participating in proceedings that are

The appellants did not challenge the validity of any provision in Bakwin’s will but

merely sought to intervene in a separate qualification process that the Code places squarely

within the circuit court’s authority. See Estate of Aaron Rimland, 2003 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 675,

at *6 (N.Y. Surrogate’s Ct. June 3, 2003) (“In terrorem clauses are designed to prevent attacks on

the validity of a will and it has been held that they do not come into play where the issue is

whether a fiduciary nominated in the will is qualified to serve in that capacity.”). “Before

proceeding to act as trustee,” a trustee named in a will must “qualify and give bond before the

proper circuit court or clerk.” Code § 64.2-1401(B); see also Code § 64.2-1400(E)

(contemplating that “less than all the trustees named in the will” may qualify and limiting the

trust powers to only the trustees who have qualified). The court “where the will has been

probated” has “exclusive jurisdiction for the qualification of the trustee.” Code § 64.2-1401(A);

see also Code § 64.2-1400(A) (providing that the clerk of a circuit court or a duly qualified

deputy “may qualify any trustee named in a will, deed, or other writing, and require and take

from them the necessary bonds” (emphasis added)).13 Qualification places the trustee under the

13 The difference between appointment and qualification is further illustrated in Code § 64.2-1400(B), which allows the clerk or deputy to “appoint and qualify an individual or a corporation” as trustee if certain conditions are met. “When the General Assembly uses two different terms in the same act, it is presumed to mean two different things.” Sauder v. Ferguson, 289 Va. 449, 457 (2015) (quoting Forst v. Rockingham Poultry Mktg. Coop., 222 Va. - 10 - supervision of the commissioners of accounts, who “have general supervision of all fiduciaries

Moreover, a “court may intervene in the administration of a trust to the extent its

jurisdiction is invoked by an interested person or as provided by law.” Code § 64.2-710(A). The

judicial proceeding “may relate to any matter involving the trust’s administration.” Code

§ 64.2-710(C). Notably, a beneficiary “may petition to the court to remove a trustee, or a trustee

may be removed by the court on its own initiative.” Code § 64.2-759(A). According to the

Third Restatement of Trusts, the same reasons that may justify a court removing a trustee may

also justify the court refusing the trustee’s appointment in the first place. Restatement (Third) of

These statutes demonstrate that circuit courts have substantial supervisory authority over

trusts, especially testamentary trusts.14 Indeed, our Supreme Court has cited commentary that

“[t]he principle of strict construction applies with compounding force to no-contest provisions in

trusts” because trusts “usually last for an extended period of time and . . . vest ownership and

control of the property in the hands of a trustee.” Hunter, 298 Va. at 425 (quoting Gordon,

supra, at 474). “The rising use of expansive trust forfeiture clauses is problematic because by

disinheriting beneficiaries who seek oversight of this fiduciary relationship, the clauses threaten

to forfeit trust altogether.” Id. (quoting Gordon, supra, at 474). The qualification process is one

process by which the circuit court exercises its oversight over the trust relationship.

270, 278 (1981)). The General Assembly’s decision to use only “qualify” in subsection (A) and “appoint and qualify” in subsection (B) demonstrates that those terms are not synonymous. 14 By contrast, there is no statutory requirement that inter vivos trustees qualify in court; such trustees usually may accept the role simply by undertaking performance. Code § 64.2-754(A); Code § 64.2-1403. - 11 - In fact, Bakwin’s will itself recognized that the circuit court would ultimately decide

Schlesinger’s qualifications and that qualification was not guaranteed. Although Bakwin

“appoint[ed]” Schlesinger as trustee, he named Lazetera as the successor if Schlesinger was

“unwilling or unable to qualify.” (Emphasis added). One Texas Court of Appeals was faced

with similar language in Estate of Newbill, 781 S.W.2d 727 (Tex. App. 1987). In that case, a

beneficiary objected that the named executor of the estate “was not legally qualified to serve as

executor.” Id. at 729. The will had a no-contest clause that disinherited any beneficiary who

“directly or indirectly contest[ed] or attack[ed] th[e] will or any of its provisions.” Id. at 728.

After explaining that forfeiture clauses are “strictly construed” in Texas, the court held that the

no-contest clause did not bar the beneficiary’s action. Id. at 729-30. In so concluding, the court

relied on the fact that the testator had “expressly provided for the appointment of an alternate

executor if [the named executor] should for any reason ‘fail to qualify.’” Id. at 729.

“Therefore,” the court reasoned, “to hold that [the testator] intended to disinherit any beneficiary

challenging the executor’s qualifications . . . would be erroneous.” Id.; see also Ard v. Hudson,

No. 02-13-00198-CV, 2015 Tex. App. LEXIS 8727, at *21-22 (Aug. 20, 2015) (“We join our

sister courts in holding that a beneficiary has an inherent right to challenge the actions of a

fiduciary and does not trigger a forfeiture clause by doing so.” (collecting cases)).

The same result is warranted here. Like Texas, we strictly construe forfeiture clauses and

“will not lift [a] hand to aid a litigant in enforcing a forfeiture.” Hunter, 298 Va. at 425 (quoting

Pence v. Tidewater Townsite Corp., 127 Va. 447, 459 (1920)). Rather, “[t]he heavy lifting must

be done entirely by the unmistakable language of the drafter of the putative forfeiture provision.”

Id. Although Bakwin undoubtedly intended Schlesinger to serve as trustee, the issue before us is

whether the language in the no-contest clause unmistakably conveys Bakwin’s intent that the

clause apply to the appellants’ motion. That Bakwin specifically contemplated the possibility

- 12 - that Schlesinger may be unable to qualify illustrates that he did not intend to bar all challenges to

Schlesinger’s qualifications, let alone challenges based on conduct occurring after Bakwin’s

death. Moreover, the no-contest clause expressly barred conduct-based challenges to Bakwin’s

own acts or omissions but did not reference conduct-based challenges to other fiduciaries, such

as Schlesinger. That fact further undermines Schlesinger’s argument that Bakwin intended to

prohibit the beneficiaries from challenging Schlesinger’s and Lazetera’s qualifications as trustee

and successor trustee based on Schlesinger’s conduct as executor.15

The circuit court seemed to accept that the appellants could have challenged

Schlesinger’s qualifications without violating the no-contest clause had they done so on other

grounds, such as by arguing that Schlesinger was “legally incompetent or legally disqualified.”

Schlesinger appeared to adopt that position at oral argument, stating that it would not have

violated the no-contest clause had the appellants raised a “true question of fitness” in their

motion to disqualify, because “competency . . . is always relevant.” We discern no support in the

no-contest clause or statutes for treating “competency” challenges differently.

The appellants filed their motion under Code § 64.2-1405(A), which allows a circuit

court to appoint a trustee in place of one named in a will “on motion of any interested party, and

upon satisfactory evidence of any of [eight] conditions.” For instance, the court may appoint a

different trustee when the named trustee dies, becomes “incapable of executing the trust on

15 We enforce no-contest clauses because of the “societal benefit of deterring . . . bitter family disputes.” Hunter, 298 Va. at 424 (quoting Rafalko, 290 Va. at 402). Although it ultimately plays no role in the analysis, we note that the dispute over the trustees’ qualifications was not such a dispute. We further note that it is exceedingly unlikely that Bakwin intended the no-contest clause to unravel his entire testamentary scheme by disinheriting every major beneficiary of his will in favor of family members to whom he otherwise left nothing. See id. (noting that “[m]any courts have struggled with the boundaries” of no-contest clauses because they “seek[] to protect the right of a testator ‘to dispose of his property as he sees fit,’ while not assuming that he wanted to disinherit anyone who questioned exactly how he intended to do so” (quoting Womble, 198 Va. at 532)). - 13 - account of physical or mental disability or confinement in prison,” “if residency is statutorily

required, is no longer a resident of the Commonwealth,” or “for any other reason ceases to be

eligible to continue serving as trustee.” Id. But the court may also appoint a different trustee

than the named trustee “for any other good cause shown.” Code § 64.2-1405(A)(viii). Code

§ 64.2-1405(A)(viii) does not explain what may constitute good cause to remove a trustee, but

Code § 64.2-759 provides that a court may remove a trustee when “[t]he trustee has committed a

serious breach of trust.” Code § 64.2-759(B). According to the Restatement, such a breach is

not limited to the trustee’s conduct as trustee; rather “serious or repeated misconduct, even

unconnected with the trust itself, may justify removal.” Restatement (Third) of Trusts, § 37 cmt.

e (2012) (emphasis added). In short, the Code does not support the circuit court’s distinction

between legal incompetence and disqualification on other grounds. Certainly, the circuit court

could conclude that the appellants had failed to demonstrate good cause for disqualification, but

that does not mean that they were trying to “void, set aside, or nullify” a provision of the will.

At oral argument, Schlesinger asserted that the appellants were required to allow

Schlesinger to qualify but could thereafter seek his removal without violating the no-contest

clause. If Bakwin intended such a procedure, clearer language was required. See Restatement

(Third) of Trusts, § 37 cmt. a (2012) (“Courts are less hesitant to reject a designated trustee’s

appointment at the outset than to remove an acting trustee, because of the severity of the action

and the disruption in administration that the latter entails.”). Here, the language is not “so clear

and explicit as to leave no room for any other construction.” Hunter, 298 Va. at 424 (quoting

Davis, 205 Va. at 169). Accordingly, the circuit court erred by granting partial summary

judgment on Schlesinger’s claim that the appellants forfeited their rights to Bakwin’s estate.

- 14 - CONCLUSION

For the foregoing reasons, we dismiss Christopher Bakwin’s appeal, vacate the circuit

court’s judgment as to the other six appellants, and remand for further proceedings consistent

with this opinion.

Dismissed in part, vacated in part, and remanded.

- 15 -