Helmsley Trust ruling means less for dogs

A recent court ruling has paved the way for the bulk of the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust to be spent on charitable efforts, according to a report published by The Chronicle of Philanthropy.

The ruling allows the foundation’s trustees to go against Ms. Helmsley’s wishes, expressed in a mission statement, that the majority of the money be spent on the care of dogs, the report said.

The judge in Surrogate’s Court of New York City ruled that the trust did not require the trustees to refer to the mission statement, the Chronicle said.

“I don’t think they are overturning her mission by leaving less to the dog and more to charity in general,” said Deborah Cochran, an estate planning specialist and principal of Cochran and Owen of Tysons Corner, Va. “It seems that the trustee was going to court to get an interpretation.”

Ms. Helmsley died in 2007. The foundation may receive up to $5 billion from her estate once it’s settled.