Many of you who have been asked by a family member or close friend to serve as the trustee of a trust are honored that the trust owner feels confident in relying on you to undertake this important responsibility. And it’s very likely you have no idea what you have just said yes to take on.
Being a trustee means that you are responsible for all oversight and direction of the assets of the Trust. As a Trustee, you have what is known as a fiduciary duty to the beneficiaries of that trust. There are laws you must abide by in administering the trust, in addition to the terms of the trust that set out your duties as trustee.
A trustee's duties include, but are not limited to:
• Administering the trust according to its terms
• Communicating with beneficiaries about the various activities of the trust
• Investing and managing trust assets in a prudent manner
• Accounting for and paying any taxes or fees
• Distributing assets to beneficiaries as outlined in the trust
• Making an accounting of trust assets, liabilities, receipts, and disbursements to beneficiaries.
As a Trustee, you may find yourself involved with the probate process at some point and have to go into Court to marshal assets. If some of the assets of the estate were not properly transferred into the trust, this process can be overwhelming, especially if you do not have prior experience in this area.
Thankfully, with a good lawyer on board, you do not have to navigate this process alone. Engaging experienced legal help is always the best option for trustees, with the trust being responsible for any fees incurred for legal services.
This article is a service of the Law Office of Keoni Souza, LLC, an estate planning law firm in Honolulu, Hawaii. We don’t just draft documents; we ensure you make informed and empowered decisions about life and death, for yourself and the people you love. That's why we offer a Family Wealth Planning Session, during which you will get more financially organized than you’ve ever been before, and make all the best choices for the people you love. You can begin by contacting our office today to schedule a Family Wealth Planning Session and mention this article to find out how to get this $750 session at no charge.
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