{"id":9346,"date":"2026-05-26T19:01:42","date_gmt":"2026-05-26T19:01:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\/?p=9346"},"modified":"2026-05-26T19:01:42","modified_gmt":"2026-05-26T19:01:42","slug":"what-does-it-mean-that-i-am-the-trustee","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\/?p=9346","title":{"rendered":"What does it mean that I am \u2018the trustee\u2019?"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Q:<\/strong> My dad has accumulated properties and assets. He confided in me that I am the trustee of his trust should he be unable to manage things, or worse yet die. He is single \u2014 he and mom divorced years ago. Dad is in his early 70s, and is having chemotherapy for cancer. What are my responsibilities as trustee? At what point am I the trustee? Do I get paid?<\/p>\n

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G.A., Rancho Palos Verdes<\/p>\n

A:<\/strong> I will give you a summary here of salient points, but your wisest course is to review matters with a competent, reliable trust\/probate lawyer.<\/p>\n

Bottomline, being the trustee carries genuine responsibility. It does not signify you owe the debts, however, or that you have to handle the chores by yourself or on your own. The word \u201ctrustee\u201d means that you are the key person legally responsible for managing and carrying out the terms of the trust.<\/p>\n

Typically, you can hire professionals, if necessary. These can include an accountant, attorney, financial advisor and\/or property manager. Their payment would be made by the trust. You are also often entitled to \u201creasonable compensation,\u201d unless the trust indicates to the contrary, or you choose to handle the work without compensation.<\/p>\n

You become the trustee upon a triggering event set forth in the trust, such as death or incapacity. The latter (incapacity) may be defined in the trust; a court determination may be one part of the criteria.<\/p>\n

Your tasks include paying bills, filing tax returns, handling property taxes, communicating reasonably with the interested parties and making decisions about what is in the best interest of the trust and its beneficiaries. If your dad is alive but incapacitated, then you are to determine what is in his best interest as well. Distributions possibly are to be made, which you are to effectuate. Record keeping is very important \u2014 and accountings are commonplace.\u00a0 As trustee, you are a steward with basic responsibility to use due care and diligence acting for and on behalf of the Trust.<\/p>\n

Finally, you can explore if the trust has liability insurance, or if could obtain any, or if you could be insured for your role as trustee.<\/p>\n

\n<\/div>\n

Q:<\/strong> My sister is challenging what my mom decided in her will. She thinks mom was not in stable mental condition when she made the will, that I am receiving items that I should not, and she demands an accounting.\u00a0 For the last six months of mom\u2019s life, I had the power of attorney, and the advanced health care directive. Mom\u2019s will has a no contest clause that if someone challenges the will, they are cut out of the will. Can my sister get her way here or will she lose whatever is provided?<\/p>\n

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I.C., Laguna Beach<\/p>\n

\u00a0A:<\/strong> A no-contest clause can result in a person forfeiting anything he or she may otherwise receive from the decedent\u2019s estate, but such a clause is subject to a number of limitations. If your sister has actual \u201cprobable cause\u201d to make her claims, it is possible that even if she is unsuccessful, the no contest clause will not be enforceable against her.<\/p>\n

Based on your description, your sister is claiming that your mom had a lack of capacity at the time she finalized and signed the will. Perhaps your sister is also claiming that somehow you unduly influenced your mom at the time of the will.<\/p>\n

\n<\/div>\n

Items that come into focus here are your mom\u2019s medical records, testimony from the person (presumably an attorney) who prepared the will, medications your mom was taking, any illnesses she had at the time, whether the language in the will is consistent with any prior estate planning, whether you somehow could be said to have isolated and\/or pressured her, and to what extent it can be determined the will was prepared independently. Witnesses could be important to testify about your mom\u2019s state of mind and overall condition.<\/p>\n

Under these circumstances, I cannot predict the outcome of your sister\u2019s claims, but I certainly recommend you have a good, competent lawyer handle the matter for you. Your sister has the burden(s) of proof, at least initially, to try to show that her position is meritorious.<\/p>\n

Certified specialist<\/h4>\n

The California Bar provides for a \u201cCertified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law.\u201d Any lawyer can practice estate law, but only a certified specialist can designate or list him or herself as such. The following criteria must be met by the applicant: (a) licensed and practicing law five or more years; (b) at least 25% of the attorney\u2019s practice is in estate planning\/trust\/probate law; (c) passing of a written specialization exam; (d) favorable peer and judicial references; (e) complete additional continuing legal education; and (f) demonstrate substantial experience handling a wide range of pertinent matters.<\/p>\n

Ron Sokol has been a practicing attorney for over 40 years, and has also served many times as a judge pro tem, mediator, and arbitrator.\u00a0 It is important to keep in mind that this column presents a summary of the law, and is not to be treated or considered legal advice, let alone a substitute for actual consultation with a qualified professional.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Being the trustee carries genuine responsibility, columnist Ron Sokol writes.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9345,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[36,2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9346","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-based-on-facts-either-observed-and-verified-directly-by-the-reporter-or-reported-and-verified-from-knowledgeable-sources","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\nWhat does it mean that I am \u2018the trustee\u2019? - Silicon Valley Moving Post<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\/?p=9346\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"What does it mean that I am \u2018the trustee\u2019? 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