Gorlick

I. INTRODUCTION

Defendant, Stanley Arouty, appeals from orders: confirming the existence and validity of a trust under Probate Code1 section 17200, subdivision (a); adjudicating the merits of a section 850, subdivision (a)(3)(A) claim; and conveying real property to a trust. Plaintiff, Lorraine Gorlick, filed a petition to confirm the validity of a trust entitled “Revocable Living Trust Agreement,” purportedly created on December 9, 2005 (December 2005 trust) by Esther Hasson, the settlor. The settlor was the mother of plaintiff and defendant. Defendant is the named trustee of the December 2005 trust. Following trial, the probate court ruled that the December 2005 trust was valid. The probate court also found the settlor had transferred her real property into the December 2005 trust. On appeal, defendant contends the settlor’s real property is not an asset of the December 2005 trust. Defendant also appeals from the admission and exclusion of certain evidence at trial. We affirm the orders under review. (Defendant has also appeared as an objector. However, the principal allegations are directed at him in connection with the December 2005 trust. For clarity’s purposes, we will…