She had read a notice about the dispute in a court filing and wanted to speak through counsel.

At the meeting she brought a copy of a letter from my father, preserved in an old correspondence file.

She was careful to explain that it was not proof of the trust’s current value, only a record of his intentions.

In the letter he described why he had created the fund.

He wanted me to have resources for education, for a home, and for any day when circumstances made me doubt that I could stand alone.

He specifically directed the trustee to explain the trust to me in person once I reached the age specified in the document.