Q: Why Do Blended Accounts Create Litigation?

The Calm Among the Storm – In each post of this blog series, Schneider Bell attorney Veronica Garofoli answers a real question she sees from families, fiduciaries, financial advisors, and CPAs — focused on the moments when a situation first becomes unstable, and what actually protects people under Ohio probate and trust law.

Answer

Because courts resolve ownership through tracing, not intention. When trust, personal, and business funds are commingled, fiduciary exposure rises and outcomes become unpredictable.

The calm move is not explaining blending. It’s stopping it.

• Separate the funds.
• Document everything.
• Force real accounting.

Because once money loses its labels, every resolution gets harder.