A trustee is the person or entity legally responsible for managing the assets in a trust, and distributing the property according to the trust's terms. A trustor is the person who creates a trust. An executor is the person you name in your last will and testament to carry out your wishes after you die.
An executor is the person who will help execute the plan you laid out in your last will and testament. A trustee is responsible for managing a trust on behalf of its beneficiaries.
Selecting an individual trustee
Choosing a friend or family member to administer your trust has one definite benefit: That person is likely to have immediate appreciation of your financial philosophies and wishes. They'll know you and your beneficiaries.
Is a trustee the same as the owner of a trust? The trustee of a trust is not considered the legal owner of the trust's assets in the traditional sense. Instead, the trustee holds legal title to the trust property, but they do so for the benefit of the trust beneficiaries, who hold equitable title.
An executor does not possess the power to overrule or change the terms established by a trust; these roles carry separate responsibilities. An executor's role consists of overseeing and closing an estate as per its will's instructions without disrupting or interfering with their independent functions as trustee.
It is not unusual for the successor trustee of a trust to also be a beneficiary of the same trust. This is because settlors often name trusted family members or friends to both manage their trust and inherit from it.
Anyone 16 and over (18 for an Unincorporated Association or Charitable Trust) who is not 'disqualified' can be a Trustee. The reasons for disqualification were set down by the Charities Act 2011, and were designed to prevent people convicted of financial crimes, or who made serious financial errors, becoming trustees.
A trustee typically has the most control in running their trust. They are granted authority by their grantor to oversee and distribute assets according to terms set out in their trust document, while beneficiaries merely reap its benefits without overseeing its operations themselves.
Attorneys as Trustees
Attorneys in California are uniquely positioned when it comes to serving as fiduciaries. They do not require additional licensing to serve as trustees, executors, or conservators, unlike other non-relatives.
A trustee must abide by the trust document and the California Probate Code. They are prohibited from using trust assets for personal gain and must act in the best interest of the beneficiaries. Trust assets are meant for the benefit of the trust beneficiaries and not for the personal use of the trustee.
While executors have discretion in some areas, your core decision-making is bounded by: The deceased's will. You must follow their distribution wishes rather than diverging based on your own judgments.
As a trustee, you are responsible for managing trust property for another person or organisation, as outlined by the terms of the trust. Trust property includes money, shares and real estate. A testamentary trust is a trust established under a valid Will.
All in the family
In most instances, clients select family member trustees for both emotional and financial reasons. Clients may believe that a family member will have an emotional attachment to the beneficiary of the trust and as trustee will stick with the job, come what may.
In essence, while both roles are powerful within their domains, trustees often have more enduring and autonomous control over the assets they manage.
No, a trustee does not have the authority to change the terms of a will. A will is a legal document that becomes irrevocable upon the death of the individual who created it. However, in certain situations, a will can be contested in court.
A Trustee is a person who acts as a custodian for the assets held within a Trust. He or she is responsible for managing and administering the finances of a Trust per the instructions given. Often, the person who creates the Trust is the Trustee until they can no longer fill the role due to incapacitation or death.
While trustees may temporarily be able to delay trust distributions if a valid reason exists for them doing so, they are rarely entitled to hold trust assets indefinitely or refuse beneficiaries the gifts they were left through the trust.
Typically, a revocable trust with clear provisions for outright distribution might conclude within 12 to 18 months. However, in simpler cases, the process can take an average of 4 to 5 months without complications.
Serving as the trustee of a trust instills a person with significant power. They have access to all the trust assets, but with a catch: They can only use those assets to carry out the instructions of the trust.
The answer is a resounding yes. The ability to seek removal and replacement of a trustee is one of your most important rights as a trust beneficiary. And it may be the only option you have for ensuring you receive your rightful inheritance from a deceased loved one's trust.
It is not always necessary to appoint a Trustee when writing your Will. It is essential to choose and name a Trustee if you create a Trust in your lifetime or if the terms of your Will create a Trust. However, it will likely not be needed if your estate is only passing to adult beneficiaries who have full capacity.
A trustee may withhold money or assets from a beneficiary if they must focus on other responsibilities surrounding the estate. For example, if the estate becomes subject to a tax audit or litigation arises, a trustee may refuse to give beneficiaries their share of the assets until these issues are resolved.
A A Trustee is disqualified 'as Trustee' upon his death, loss of his legal competence, removal from trusteeship, liquidation, rescinding his licence or declaring his bankruptcy. The Trust shall then be transferred to the other Trustees in case of multiple Trustees, unless the Trust Instrument provides otherwise.
Depending on the complexity of the case, it may cost anywhere from a few thousand dollars to $100,000 or more to dispute the terms of a trust.