A trustee does not need beneficiary approval to sell trust property. However, a trustee who wants to avoid litigation would be wise to at least seek approval of the trust beneficiaries, and, at a minimum, be able to substantiate why the property was sold and how that sale benefited the trust beneficiaries.
A beneficiary can override a trustee using only legal means at their disposal and claiming a breach of fiduciary duty on the Trustee's part. If the Trustee stays transparent and lives up to the trust document, there is no reason to “override” the Trustee.
At times, the Trustee or Executor may face the need to sell assets to satisfy claims of creditors. Here, there is also procedure that must be adhered to. California Probate Code section 16226 states that a trustee "has the power to dispose of property, for cash or on credit, at public or private sale".
This means that the trust will convey ownership of the property to the subsequent buyer. The money from the sale will go into the trust, and then it will either be disbursed to you and your brother or not, depending on what the trust says or what you and your brother decide.
When you have a trustee that refuses to provide you with information or communicate with the beneficiaries, you need to take action. The enforcement of your rights is filing a petition with the Court to enforce your right to obtain the information and get the answers you are entitled to.
The trustee cannot grant legitimate and reasonable requests from one beneficiary in a timely manner and deny or delay granting legitimate and reasonable requests from another beneficiary simply because the trustee does not particularly care for that beneficiary. Invest trust assets in a conservative manner.
The trustee cannot do whatever they want. They must follow the trust document, and follow the California Probate Code. More than that, Trustees don't get the benefits of the Trust. The Trust assets will pass to the Trust beneficiaries eventually.
—Where the trustee is empowered to sell any trust property, he may sell the same subject to prior charges or not, and either together or in lots, by public auction or private contract, and either at one time or at several times, unless the instrument of trust otherwise directs.
Other Benefits of a Property Protection Trust Will
For example, the surviving spouse can move house, downsize etc. The terms of the Trust will still apply to the new house. They cannot sell or spend the trust funds but the trust can be transferred to another house.
A trustee does not need beneficiary approval to sell trust property. However, a trustee who wants to avoid litigation would be wise to at least seek approval of the trust beneficiaries, and, at a minimum, be able to substantiate why the property was sold and how that sale benefited the trust beneficiaries.
What is the 65-Day Rule. The 65-Day Rule allows fiduciaries to make distributions within 65 days of the new tax year. This year, that date is March 6, 2021. Up until this date, fiduciaries can elect to treat the distribution as though it was made on the last day of 2020.
Keeping proper accounts
An executor must account to the residuary beneficiaries named in the Will (and sometimes to others) for all the assets of the estate, including all receipts and disbursements occurring over the course of administration.
A trust is a legal arrangement through which one person, called a "settlor" or "grantor," gives assets to another person (or an institution, such as a bank or law firm), called a "trustee." The trustee holds legal title to the assets for another person, called a "beneficiary." The rights of a trust beneficiary depend ...
Fortunately, California law protects beneficiaries by requiring trustees to communicate throughout the trust administration process and act in the best interests of beneficiaries.
The trustee usually has the power to retain trust property, reinvest trust property or, with or without court authorization, sell, convey, exchange, partition, and divide trust property. Typically the trustee will have the power to manage, control, improve, and maintain all real and personal trust property.
Generally, a beneficiary designation will override the trust provisions. There are situations, however, in which the beneficiary designation will fail and the proceeds of the account will pass under the terms of the trust.
Acting in beneficiary's interests
In 1996 an act was introduced, the TLATA, which meant that trustees no longer have a duty to sell meaning beneficiaries can occupy the property or sell, whichever they wish.
Will you need to appoint a second trustee? A sole trustee cannot choose to sell property or land that's held in trust and use overreaching to convert all interests to interests over the proceeds. A second trustee is needed to confirm that the sale is in the best interests of the beneficiaries of the trust.
All of the inheritors of the house will need to agree before a sale goes ahead. One of the biggest questions around inheriting property with a sibling is if a sale can be forced. The short answer is no; if more than one person has inherited shares, then any sale must have all shareholder's consent.
Can An Executor Sell Estate Property Without Getting Approval From All Beneficiaries? The executor can sell property without getting all of the beneficiaries to approve. However, notice will be sent to all the beneficiaries so that they know of the sale but they don't have to approve of the sale.
The Delhi High Court has said prima facie no trust property can be held, sold, mortgaged or exchanged without prior permission of the court. NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court has said prima facie no trust property can be held, sold, mortgaged or exchanged without prior permission of the court.
This means that one Trustee cannot simply break a deadlock by acting on his own. One of the Co-Trustees does not have the power and authority to act alone. Of course, the Trust document can change this requirement and allow one or both of the Co-Trustees to act alone, but Trust provisions rarely provide for that.
Whether it is buying, selling, paying, or bartering, the Trustee calls the shots. That's just how Trusts work. The Trustee is the legal owner, meaning he has the right to make ownership decisions.
You must agree with all of the other trustees when making trust decisions. So it's worth understanding who they are and deciding if you think the relationship will work.
A Trustee owns the assets in the sense that the Trustee has the sole right, and responsibility, to manage the Trust assets. That includes selling and buying assets. Since the Trustee is the legal owner, the Trustee can exercise his or her power unilaterally with no input required from the Trust beneficiaries.