What Laws Protect A Trust From A Trustee? As a trust beneficiary, you may feel that you are at the mercy of the trustee. After all, you have no real way to force a trustee to act in your best interest or to stop them from mismanaging the trust funds. However, you may be happy to know that there are certain legal protections that can help prevent a trustee from doing things that are bad for the beneficiaries. Right To Payment The trustee of an irrevocable trust must comply with the terms of the trust document. This means distributing money... View Article
How To Remove A Beneficiary From A Trust Trustees have certain powers and duties in order to ensure that their responsibilities to the trust and its beneficiaries are met. While the trustee has broad control over the trust’s assets, it is often advisable for them to meet with beneficiaries before making decisions regarding distributions. This can help avoid situations in which beneficiaries feel forced to sell real estate they want to inherit because the trustee feels it is a good way to meet distributions. The Powers And Duties Of A Trustee A trustee has a number of powers granted to them... View Article
How Long Does It Take To Distribute Assets From A Trustee? If you are a beneficiary waiting for asset distribution from a trust, it is likely that you are concerned about the timing of this process. A trustee must administer the trust according to the terms of the trust instrument, including any asset distribution plan set forth in the trust document. Here are some guidelines for that process from our experienced legal attorneys. The Trustee’s Role The trustee is responsible for managing the assets placed in a trust. This responsibility entails three primary duties: investment, administration, and distribution. The trustee... View Article
The beneficiaries of a trust are people or entities that the grantor (the person who created the trust) wants to support. The grantor usually indicates what the beneficiaries are supposed to receive and when, in a written document. The trustee manages the assets of the trust until the trust is distributed to the beneficiaries. The Beneficiaries Are The Ones Due To Receive The Trust Assets Trustees are supposed to treat trust beneficiaries fairly and take actions that benefit the Trust rather than themselves. Despite this, some Trustees are guilty of taking Trust assets to themselves or using them for personal... View Article
When a person dies, their last will and testament is the document that determines how their estate will be distributed to the people they choose. Occasionally, family members challenge a last will because they suspect it might be fraudulent. Fraudulent wills can be difficult to identify. However, there are a few red flags that can point to potential fraud in an estate plan, at which point, you’ll want to contact a legal attorney immediately. Signing A Will Signing a will is a vital part of ensuring that your wishes are recorded properly and legally. One of the main ways a will... View Article