How beneficiaries can effectively work with trustees

On Behalf of | Nov 15, 2018 | Blog

A trust beneficiary is allowed to receive a copy of the trust document that he or she is named in. This is true in Nevada and most other states. At a minimum, the beneficiary is entitled to receive information pertaining to his or her inheritance contained within that document. The first step in resolving a trust dispute is for the beneficiary to contact the trustee about the problem.

In some cases, the issue could be nothing more than a misunderstanding. For instance, the beneficiary could have read the document wrong or misread a key term within it. Those who have specific concerns about terms of a trust not being met should schedule a meeting with the trustee. If that fails to remedy the problem, it may be a good idea to speak with an attorney. However, it is generally in the interest of all interested parties to avoid going to court.

This is because there is the potential to spend a lot of time and funds litigating the matter. Generally speaking, most problems between a beneficiary and a trustee can be resolved through a simple conversation. This is because the trust itself can provide clarity or determine what actions should be taken in the event of a dispute. Therefore, a thorough review of the trust’s language is often enough to get all parties to fulfill their obligations.

Spending time going through the trust planning process may help prevent disagreements between trustees and beneficiaries. Appointing an attorney or other neutral party as the trustee may also reduce the odds of a dispute occurring. However, individuals may name any adult of sound mind to this role.