You have created a trust. Now, how do you administer it?

On Behalf of | Jul 3, 2015 | Trusts

You may already know about the advantages of a trust when it comes to avoiding probate, minimizing estate taxes and more. But if you are a new trustee, or are working with one, you may discover that there are many things that you did not know: such as, how do you conduct an inventory and asset valuation? What actions, if any, are you supposed to take with regard to creditors of the estate? What are the tax implications, and how do you make sure that they are properly complied with?

There are two ways that you can learn to do anything: learning by doing, also known as “the school of hard knocks”, or you can retain the services of people who already know. Which of these two approaches you choose depends in part on the potential consequences when you commit an error. If you are learning how to knit a sweater and make a mistake, that is one thing. If you make a mistake in trust administration, the ramifications can be more serious and far-reaching. These can include delays, unanticipated or unnecessary expenses, and even legal problems.

At the Cassady Law Offices, we possess the necessary knowledge and experience to help trustees to navigate the complexities of their administrative duties. We may also be able to help to avoid financial and legal pitfalls that you or your administrator may not be fully cognizant of. To learn more about our trust administration services, we encourage you to examine our webpage on the topic.