Trust Administration
If you are responsible for administering your deceased loved one’s trust, turn to our firm for the assistance you need.
What are a trustee’s responsibilities?
The process of administering a California trust varies depending on the terms of the trust, but in general, all trustees are responsible for the following:
- Identifying all of the assets that are owned or should be owned by the trust
- Determining the value of trust assets
- Identifying the beneficiaries of the trust
- Providing certain information to those beneficiaries
- Accounting for how trust resources are managed
- Making distributions to beneficiaries according to the terms of the trust
If you have been named as a trustee, we can help you understand your responsibilities. We can also help you to efficiently administer the trust by working closely with you and your existing professional advisors, including your financial advisor, accountant, and other trusted advisors.
Should I serve as a trustee?
The decision to serve as trustee should not be taken lightly. It is a difficult, time-consuming job, and a trustee can be held personally and financially liable for failure to carry out mandates of the trust to the letter. It is advisable to consult an attorney who focuses on this area of the law.
What if an estate or trust includes business holdings?
Absolute Trust Counsel founder Kirsten Howe has extensive experience in business law which enables her to provide particularly invaluable advice to estates and trusts that include business holdings.
To learn more about how Absolute Trust Counsel can help you with the California trust administration process, contact us today for an initial consultation.
Your Trust Administration Guide
Let Us Help You Navigate the Process with Ease and Get the Trustee’s Job Done
Trust administration is a long and detailed process requiring much more work than many people know or understand. And if you miss a step or make a mistake, you could be held liable. Download a copy of our Trust Administration Flyer for more information on our roadmapping session and how to get started.
Navigate the Administration of a Family Member’s Trust with Ease
The job of a trustee isn’t as easy as one may think. You must give legal notices, retitle assets, file tax returns, understand a legal document, and perform a variety of tasks most people find unfamiliar. As a trustee, if you forget a step or make a mistake, you could be held liable.
Protect yourself, have a plan, and find out the next steps about your specific trust. Get started now by scheduling a 20-minute discovery call with Absolute Trust Counsel. During this introductory call, we will gather information about your trust administration, review our trust administration process with you, and answer any questions you may have. Our goal is to help you get the job done right!
Free Resources
Whether you have become involved in the trust administration process or are just looking for more information, Absolute Trust Counsel is glad to offer an extensive list of resources for your consultation below. Have more questions about trust administration? We’re here for you. You can reach our team by emailing info@absolutetrustcounsel.com or by calling 925.943.2740.
Ebooks
Guidebook 4:
Trust Administration – What Every Trustee and Beneficiary Needs to Know
Are you a Trustee or Beneficiary? Trust administration is much more work than it seems. Let us help you navigate the complicated steps required by law.
Guidebook 3:
An Introduction to Family Trusts
Building your estate plan couldn’t be easier. Get our free introductory guide to the number one used estate planning tool, family trusts, and understand exactly how we plan to protect your family.
Podcasts
Absolute Trust Talk Ep. 10:
Thinking Outside the Family – Special Needs Trusts & Professional Fiduciaries
Absolute Trust Talk Ep. 31:
Do You Have a Firearm in Your Estate Plan?
Absolute Trust Talk Ep. 40:
How to Avoid the Most Common Estate Planning Mistake
Absolute Trust Talk Ep. 44:
Estate Administration: Executor & Trustee Dos & Don’ts
Videos
Blogs
- Clear Language Essential When Drafting Trusts
- Introduction to Family Trusts
- Mortgage Loans to Irrevocable Trusts and Probate Estates
- Trust Administration
- Trustee Compensation is a Complex Issue
- Worth Consideration: Corporate Trustees
- Changes to Social Security, Medicare, Medi-Cal and Estate Tax Rates for 2018
- Checklist: When Your Loved One Dies
- Choose Your Executor Wisely
- Estate Administration
- Estate Planning Lessons from George Washington (And Other Presidents)
- Estate Planning Glossary
- Estate Planning Lessons, Celebrity Edition: Aretha Franklin
- Estate Planning Walnut Creek Estate Planning Lawyer
- Mortgage Loans to Irrevocable Trusts and Probate Estates
- Protecting Yourself and Your Family While You Are Still Here
- Should You Name a Co-Executor?
- What The SECURE Act Might Mean for You and Your Estate Plan
- Where Do My Debts Go When I Die?
- When Someone Dies