Trust Administration

When a loved one with a living trust passes away, the successor trustee steps in. It is an important job with real legal duties, and most trustees have never done it before. I guide trustees through each step, so the trust is handled correctly and the beneficiaries are treated fairly.

Mistakes can create personal liability for a trustee. I help trustees:

• Understand their duties and the timeline ahead

• Send the notices the law requires to beneficiaries and heirs

• Collect, value, and protect trust assets

• Handle creditor claims and final bills

• Keep proper records and prepare accountings

• Distribute the trust and close it out

Sometimes an asset was meant to be in the trust but was never transferred into it. In California, a Heggstad petition can often move that asset into the trust without a full probate. I handle these petitions regularly, as well as similar petitions in Nevada.