Many people agree to administer a trust without having the slightest idea of what it entails. Most believe it to be a simple matter of distributing the trust assets, but it involves much more. A trustee assumes a fiduciary relationship with the beneficiaries of a trust and, as discussed under the article “A Trustee’s Fiduciary Responsibility,” there is an extensive array of legal duties and obligations imposed on a trustee.
A trustee must take care to avoid co-mingling the assets of the trust with the trustee’s own assets. A trustee must be prepared to report to the beneficiaries to keep them informed of the trust’s activities and a trustee generally will have a duty to account to the beneficiaries for the assets, the income, and the expenses of the trust.
Unfortunately, disputes involving wills and trusts cannot always be settled without some form of intervention. This is because emotions run high. The matters often involve disputes among family members. Sometimes, one member of the family believes that another family member has been wrongfully favored, or one family member has abused the trust placed in that person by other family members.
Our office, in Marin County, California, represents clients regarding many aspects of real property. These matters involve both commercial and residential properties. Our clients range from real estate brokers and agents, to individuals and privately held businesses.
24 Professional Center Parkway
Suite 120
San Rafael, CA 94903
