Entering the world of Wills, Trusts and probate can be confusing. One of the first questions people often ask is: what is the difference between a Trustee and an Executor? To put it simply, a Trustee is the person who oversees a Trust, while an Executor is the person who oversees a Will, which often
"trust administration"
Can Trustees Charge for an Accounting?
California Trustees can charge reasonable fees for their services. The amount considered reasonable varies depending on the circumstances. Professional fiduciaries typically charge a certain percentage of the total value of the Trust assets (usually around 1%), while layperson Trustees (such as family members) often charge by the hour (typically around $30-$80).
Trustees’ fees also depend…
Can a Minor be a Beneficiary of a Trust?
Minors in California (people under the age of 18) cannot own assets directly. Minors must own assets through a guardian. However, minors can be Trust beneficiaries. Typically, when a Trust is established with minor beneficiaries, the Trust terms require the minors’ shares to be held in Trust rather than distributed outright.
Trust shares for minor…
Accounting of Trust Assets
How do Trust beneficiaries know how much they are entitled to? Often, rather than stating a specific dollar amount for each beneficiary, the Trust will state that each beneficiary is entitled to a certain percentage of the Trust estate. This can cause frustration if the Trustee will not provide the value of the Trust assets.…
Are Beneficiaries Liable for Trust Debts?
Who is liable for Trust debts? Is it the Trustee, the Beneficiaries, or the Trust itself? It helps to remember that a Trust is a separate legal entity. The Trustees and beneficiaries are not personally liable for debts owed by the Trust.
The Trustee is acting in a fiduciary capacity. The Trustee is…
How Does a Trustee Resign?
How does a Trustee resign? By following the procedure in the Trust document. The Trust terms usually contain a resignation procedure to follow. The Trustee typically must give notice to the beneficiaries and to the new Trustee. This notice can be drafted by a Trust administration attorney. If there is no resignation provision, the…
Is Inheritance Taxable in California?
Generally speaking, inheritance is not subject to tax in California. If you are a beneficiary, you will not have to pay tax on your inheritance. There are a few exceptions, such as the Federal estate tax. However, an estate must exceed $11.58 million dollars per person in 2020 to be subject to estate tax…
What is a Living Trust?
A Trust is an entity that holds assets. Living Trusts are set up to benefit the Trust creators, (also referred to as the “Settlors,” or “Grantors,”) during their lifetimes. Living Trusts also provide the terms for management and distribution of the assets once the Grantors pass away.
Living Trusts are typically drafted by an…
Where’s the Money? How Can I figure Out Where All the Money Went?
The Following is a Transcript of this Video. For More Information, Click Here
Hi, this is Stewart Albertson with Albertson & Davidson and I want to talk to you about how we find assets in a trust or will contest case. And this is a problem. This is something that we have a hard…
Step-Mommy Dearest…Can my Step-Mom Change my Father’s Will After my Father Dies?
THE FOLLOWING IS A TRANSCRIPT OF THIS VIDEO. FOR MORE INFORMATION, CLICK HERE
Hi, this is Keith Davidson at Albertson & Davidson. And in this video, I want to discuss step-parents. And I don’t mean to disparage step-parents, there’s a lot of very good step-parent and step-child relationships out there. But, there’s also some…