St. Petersburg Trustee Attorney
Trustee and Trust Representation
If your parent, spouse, or other family member creates a trust, it greatly simplifies the process of settling his or her estate when he or she dies. Nonetheless, you may want or need an attorney to ensure a smooth transfer of assets and to deal with any legal issues that may arise during the trust administration.
Susan M. Charles can serve as attorney to the trustee charged with these duties. She can also serve in the role of successor trustee if the grantor (creator) of the trust does not have a trusted family member or friend to serve in this capacity. The Charles Law Offices represents clients throughout the Tampa Bay area, statewide in Florida, and also from out-of-state. Call 866.607.6531 to discuss arrangements with an experienced estate and trust administration lawyer.
AV Preeminent* rated, Master of Laws in Elder Law, member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA), member of the Academy of Florida Elder Law Attorneys (AFELA)
Trust Administration
A trust is an entity in which a trustee holds and manages property for the benefit of another. The grantor (the person who creates the trust) can name himself or herself as trustee. A grantor should also name a successor trustee or succession of trustees to administer the terms of the trust if he or she becomes incapacitated or in the event of his or her death.
Trusts can be used to manage property during a person's life and avoid the delays associated with the probate process (which can take up to a year) after death. Distributions to heirs, charities, and other beneficiaries are accomplished in a few short months, without the substantial probate costs or delays. These are reasons why trusts make sense in planning your estate.
Depending on the type of trust established, trust administration may be a one-time process or the duties may be ongoing. Susan Charles is an experienced estate planning and estate administration lawyer familiar with revocable and irrevocable trusts, life insurance trusts, retirement trusts, special needs trusts, and all such trust instruments.
Trust administration duties include:
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Distributions on behalf of a grantor still living
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Valuations and liquidations of assets
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Paying debts and taxes of the trust
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Distribution of remaining assets to beneficiaries
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Filing income tax returns (1041 and 706)
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Reporting and accounting requirements to the state and courts
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Defending the trust against claims, such as creditors or excluded heirs
If the trust is set up to continue after death, there may be annual duties that continue for many years. The Charles Law Offices can assist with or take over these duties for reasonable fees.
Contact our Largo, Florida office to discuss your trust administration needs. We represent many out-of-state clients who need help with a Florida friend or relative's trust.
Offices in Clearwater - Largo - St. Petersburg
*AV Preeminent and BV Distinguished are certification marks of Reed Elsevier Properties Inc., used in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies. Martindale-Hubbell is the facilitator of a peer review rating process. Ratings reflect the confidential opinions of members of the bar and the judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell ratings fall into two categories: legal ability and general ethical standards.
