When a person dies leaving a trust into which he or she has transferred assets (such as a home and various financial accounts) and has appointed a successor trustee to administer the trust on his or her death, we can assist the new trustee in administering the trust. This means doing all things necessary to enable the trustee to transfer the trustor’s assets or interests in such assets, and/or cash from the sale of various assets, to the trustor’s intended beneficiaries, as called for by the terms of the trust.

In this connection, here are some of the specific things we may do (depending on each particular situation):

• Provide legally required notices to beneficiaries and other heirs for a trust which has become irrevocable upon the death of the trustor
• Assist in the transfer of the particular trust assets to the rightful beneficiary or beneficiaries
• Prepare a federal estate tax return if required/or desired to assure portability to the remaining spouse of the unused federal exemption amount belonging to the estate of the first spouse to die
• Represent parties in any litigation issues that may arise

The successor trustee is bound to administer the trust assets in complete conformity to the directives of the trust document and the laws guiding such administrations.  This can be a very lengthy and complex process.

Here at The Law Office of Richard F. McEntyre, we have significant years of experience bringing numerous trust administrations to successful closure.  If you are a successor trustee and just need a road map of your duties or find yourself buried under the complexity of a trust administration, or you are unsure that trust assets are being cared for properly, we are here to assist you.