What a Successor Trustee Should Know

The creators of the trust (the Trustors) often name themselves the initial managers of the trust (the Trustees) and you are inactive until they resign, are incapacitated or are deceased. Once you are active, follow the trust's instructions.

Prior to an incapacitation or death, the Trustors should review their trust's instructions with the Successor Trustees and a list of assets and liabilities. It is not necessary to disclose asset values at this time at this time unless estate taxes are a concern.

Here are answers to common trust questions:

1. What is a trust?
   
   Picture a trust as a box for holding assets. It is a legal entity, like yourself or a business, with instructions how to operate. Trusts usually terminates when its listed instructions are fulfilled and it no longer holds any assets, which may be years after the trust's creators (the Trustors) pass.
2. Why put assets in a trust?
   During your incapacitation trusts can make management of assets easier for the temporary person(s) managing your estate.
   A common misconception is revocable living trusts shield assets from lawsuits resulting from an accident in your home or car. They do not offer that protection.
   After the Trustors' passing, trusts can control distributions for young beneficiaries, help assets avoid probate, reduce the likelihood of someone contesting the estate and minimize estate taxes (which affect few of our clients).
3. What assets are in a trust?
   
   Trustors typically place a home, bank accounts, vehicles, life insurance payouts and personal property.
   Assets such as IRAs, 401ks and annuities typically are not in a trust for tax reasons.
4. How will you know if an asset is in a living trust?
   
   Assets such as bank accounts and property will have the trust name listed as the owner.
   Example: John and Sally Doe's titled assets would show the owner as:
   The JS Doe Family Living Trust Dated January 8, 2008
5. What roles are there in a trust?
   
   Trustors (also known as Grantors or Settlors) create the trust. Trustors are the only ones able to change trust language. Trustors often appoint themselves as the initial Trustees.
   Trustees manage trust assets for the Trustors and Beneficiaries.
   Beneficiaries receive income and assets from the trust. While he or she is living, the Trustor(s) is(are) the beneficiary(ies) of the trust. When no more Trustors are living, the beneficiaries typically become family, friends and/or charities.

During An Incapacitation or Resignation

• Successor Trustees act like financial powers of attorneys. They have control of all trust assets and must act only in the Trustor's interest, not beneficiaries who may inherit the estate when the Trustor passes
• Once the initial Trustee is healthy again, you become inactive.

• Ensure the Trustor is receiving quality care.
• Contact family members, employers and friends.
• Get copies of health care power of attorneys and directives to the primary physician.
• Get a note of incapacitation from the doctor(s) or note of resignation from the initial Trustee(s).

• Review the Grantor's insurance coverage and limits for health, disability and long-term care policies.
• Search for a list of assets and liabilities. Gather all financial statements, insurance information and property deeds.
• Apply for disability benefits through the Trustor's employer, social security, private insurance and veteran's services.
• If there are dependents, you will need to look after their care. A court may appoint a guardian if the incapacitation will be lengthy.
• Contact the preparer of the trust or similar advisor for additional advice.

• Pay the bills. Identify bills / payments payment due dates.
• Keep track of all medical expenses during the Trustor's incapacitation
• Keep accurate records of all your activities.

• Prepare and file tax returns by April 15th.
• Pay property taxes.

After the Trustors pass

• Successor Trustees act like an executor of a last will and testament. However, if all assets are in a trust or list beneficiaries, the court process of probate is avoided allowing you to work at your own pace.
• Repay all estate debts prior to distribution. Otherwise creditors can reclaim money from beneficiaries, which causes more problems if money is already spent.
• Once the trust has been distributed and accounting is wrapped up, your job is finished. Some trusts hold inheritances for young beneficiaries or maintain residences for a surviving spouse/children, in which case you remain the Successor Trustee until all the trust's tasks are completed.

• Order at least 15 death certificates. These can take over a week to receive and will be needed for many steps. Death certificates are available in the state the death occurred. In Arizona: http://www.azdhs.gov/vitalrcd/death_index.htm
• Contact the family, beneficiaries and other Successor Trustees asking if they have any questions as you begin handling the estate.
• Keep accurate records of final medical and funeral expenses.
• Search for a list of assets and liabilities. Gather all financial statements, insurance information and property deeds, including values at time of death.
• Make sure anything of value is insured otherwise you may be personally liable. Start by contacting the Trustor's insurance agent.
• Estimate the estate size. Estate taxes are due on estates valued past a state or federal limit. These limits change over time. Research current estate tax limits and contact a professional if this threshold may be passed.
• Read the trust and other related documents. Power of Attorney documents are only useful during the Trustor's lifetime so ignore these documents.
• If probate is needed for assets outside the trust, contact the executor / personal representative (you are likely serving this role as well - read the will).

• Be ready with your ID, death certificates and a copy of the trust.
• Collect payouts from life insurance, IRAs, 401k's and other assets listing beneficiaries. If beneficiaries are named on policies, this money may be immediately distributed. If the trust is the beneficiary, deposit the payout into a trust bank account - this money may not be distributed until all debts, liabilities and taxes are paid.
• Pay all debts & liabilities. Contact credit card companies, lenders for updated balances. Debts are typically not in the trust's name. Debts are found in the deceased's name.
  No need to pay off a mortgage balance if a property is being solid but continue cutting checks for monthly mortgage payments, real estate taxes and insurance on the property.
• Prepare and file final tax returns

• Prior to distribution, do not combine trust assets with your own.
• Prior to distribution, do not use trust assets for your benefit unless explicitly directed by the trust.
• If you are managing financial assets, do not make risky investments.
• Do not undertake any step you are unsure about doing. Get professional advice or assistance.

• Gather all information including assets inventories, accounting and taxes and prepare copies for the beneficiaries.
• Ask the beneficiaries to sign a document approving your accounting, waiving any claims against you and promising to pay any trust expenses that arise after the beneficiaries have received the trust's assets.

• Most trusts have No Contest Clauses disinheriting anyone legally challenging the trust. This clause should make your job easier.
• To settle disputes have beneficiaries prioritize items they would like to inherit.
• Some assets may need appraisal for settling disputes, an estate sale/auction or estate tax calculations.
• Making distributions to young beneficiaries could be one of your biggest responsibilities. Most trusts restrict access to beneficiaries until they meet certain requirements, such as age. Distributions can be made prior to this age by the Successor Trustee for reasonable health, education, maintenance or support needs.

  Some requests, such as doctor's visits and school supplies, are easy decisions to make. Other requests can be more difficult so ask the Trustor before they pass for examples, such as requests for:

  A couple hundred dollars for a trip to Disneyland for a child or backpacking across Europe for a recent grad qualifies as mental "health".

  Money for a used car to get to and from a new job or money for a down payment on a house qualifies under maintenance or support.

  Out-of-state / out-of-country tuition under "education".

Successor Trustee accounting recommendations

• Consult an accountant or CPA for advice. This guide may not be comprehensive depending on the year the Trustors pass.
• Prepare an annual accounting report for the other successor trustees and beneficiaries. Allow them to ask questions.
• Inventory all trust assets, including approximate values, insurance information and relevant information
• Gather statements for all trust bank accounts and investments;
• List debts of the trust
• List claims to the trust and what actions the Trustee has taken
• List disbursements from the trust including whether the disbursement came from principal or income
• Gather all receipts
• Gather all tax statements
• Provide details of the trustee's compensation and the method used to calculate the compensation.
• Successor Trustee should have the beneficiaries sign receipts of a) distributions and b) accounting reports.