At one time, trusts were used almost exclusively by wealthy families as a tool to pass down the family wealth while maintaining a certain degree of control over how that wealth is used by future generations. It is now common, however, to find a trust in even a relatively simple estate plan. When a trust is created, the trust creator must appoint a Trustee to administer the trust. If you recently learned that you were appointed to be the Trustee of a trust for the first time, you may be a bit intimidated at the prospect of doing so. A Grand Forks trust administration attorney at German Law explains what is involved in administering a trust.
How a Trust Works
A trust is a legal relationship that entails property being held by one party for the benefit of another. A trust is created by a Trustor (also referred to as a Maker or Grantor), who transfers property to a Trustee, also named by the Trustor. The Trustee holds that property for the benefit of the beneficiaries named in the trust agreement. All trusts are first divided into one of two categories – testamentary or inter vivos – the latter of which is more commonly referred to as a living trust. A testamentary trust is a trust that arises upon the death of the Trustor and which is typically activated by a provision in the Trustor’s Will. A living trust is a trust that takes effect as soon as all the formalities of creation are in place. Living trusts are further divided into revocable and irrevocable trusts. As the name implies, a revocable living trust is one that can be modified or revoked by the Trustor at any time and without the need to provide a reason. An irrevocable living trust, once it takes effect, cannot be modified or revoked by the Trustor for any reason.
What Does It Mean to Administer a Trust?
The Trustee’s overall job is to administer the trust. Administering a trust entails managing and investing the trust assets and following the trust terms, created by the Trustor, to achieve the stated trust purpose. The trust terms, which are found in the trust agreement, will dictate when trust assets are to be distributed as well as identify the beneficiary that is to receive the distribution. The trust may also provide details that direct how the trust assets are to be invested. The Trustee must abide by all trust terms unless a term is illegal, impossible, or unconscionable.
Trust Administration Checklist for the New Trustee
No two trust agreements are identical, meaning the administration of no two trust will be exactly the same. Nevertheless, there are some common steps a Trustee should take when administering a trust to create a checklist.
- Gather and review all estate planning documents. If the Trustor is recently deceased, get copies of all estate planning documents, such as the Last Will and Testament, life insurance policies, powers of attorney, and any other documents that might be connected to the trust you are administering.
- Review the trust agreement. Take your time and read through the trust agreement several times. Unless you are familiar with the legal jargon, you may not understand everything right away – but you need to understand it all eventually.
- Consult with an attorney and financial advisor. Most Trustees retain an experienced trust attorney to help them administer the trust to prevent making costly errors. At a bare minimum, go over the trust agreement with an attorney to make sure you understand all the terms. Also, meet with a financial advisor who can help guide you with regard to investing the trust assets.
- Transfer assets into the trust. Often, after the death of a Trustor, assets must be transferred into the trust from the Trustor’s estate. This should be done as soon after the Trustor’s death as possible.
- Create an inventory. Once you have transferred all known assets into the trust, create an inventory so you know what the trust owns, where the assets are located, and what they are worth.
- Establish a bank account. A trust is a separate legal entity for tax purposes. A trust also needs its own bank account to pay trust expenses.
- Communicate with beneficiaries. Let the beneficiaries of the trust know that you are the Trustee and that you will be handling the administration of the trust. You have an ongoing duty to communicate with the beneficiaries and keep them updated on trust business.
- Keep detailed records. Everything you do as the Trustee should be well documented. This protects you in the event that questions arise regarding your role as Trustee and it allows you to be compensated for acting as the Trustee.
Contact a Grand Forks Trust Administration Attorney
Please join us for an upcoming FREE seminar. If you have additional questions about serving as a Trustee during trust administration, contact a Grand Forks trust administration attorney at German Law by calling 701-738-0060 to schedule an appointment.
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