in ca when to name your attorney as trustee of your trust

by Tatyana Carter Sr. 8 min read

Some trust attorneys think it is appropriate for them to serve as trustee or co-trustee of their clients’ trusts after their clients have died. The California Probate Code provides a way of removing those attorneys from their role as successor trustee.

Full Answer

Can my attorney be my trustee?

Apr 09, 2015 · Attorneys must exercise professional judgment. When an attorney drafts a trust for a client, and discusses trustee options, the attorney is allowed to inform the client of his or her own availability to serve as trustee. However, the attorney cannot allow self-interest to interfere with the duty to recommend the best choice of fiduciary to the client. The attorney must also …

What is a trustee?

Dec 31, 2020 · Deciding who should be your trustee is an important decision. At Ellis Law Group, we help people create trusts that are uniquely suited to meet their needs. If you would like to schedule an appointment with a Boca Raton living trust lawyer to discuss your trust, call us at 561-910-7500 or complete our online contact form.

Can a trustee limit compensation for trust management?

Apr 10, 2018 · If the attorney does not act fairly or follow the California trustee rules relating to compensation, he or she could be subject to litigation brought by a beneficiary. Beneficiaries who suspect that the attorney trustee of a trust is not acting properly should consult with a San Diego trust attorney immediately to protect their legal rights.

What are the ethical risks of a drafting attorney as trustee?

Feb 04, 2022 · Trusts are regularly drafted by attorneys, so at first glance, appointing your attorney as your trustee seems like a convenient and great idea. However, there are a number of ethical risks that may arise for an attorney when they are appointed as a trustee. Additionally, trustee compensation for trust management may be limited when the drafting ...

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Can an attorney serve as a trustee in California?

It is possible for an attorney to serve as a trustee and as the legal advisor of a California trust. ... If the attorney does not act fairly or follow the California trustee rules relating to compensation, he or she could be subject to litigation brought by a beneficiary.

Who can be a trustee of a trust in California?

Any beneficiary who is 14 years of age or older can nominate a trustee, even though a minor under the age of 18 is not legally qualified to serve as trustee. be appointed as trustee of any trust unless the Court finds that no other qualified person is willing to act as trustee.

What's the difference between power of attorney and trustee?

The Trustee only manages the assets that are owned by the trust, not assets outside the trust. ... The Power of Attorney controls assets that are not inside your trust such as retirement accounts, life insurance, sometimes annuities, or even bank accounts that are not in trust title.

Can an attorney act on behalf of a trustee?

The short answer is that, although an attorney has wide powers to deal with both the donor's personal financial affairs and their investments, an attorney cannot act on behalf of the donor when the donor is acting as trustee.Mar 16, 2018

Is the trustee the owner of the trust?

A Trustee is considered the legal owner of all Trust assets. And as the legal owner, the Trustee has the right to manage the Trust assets unilaterally, without direction or input from the beneficiaries.Oct 8, 2021

Can a trustee do whatever they want?

The trustee cannot do whatever they want. They must follow the trust document, and follow the California Probate Code. More than that, Trustees don't get the benefits of the Trust. The Trust assets will pass to the Trust beneficiaries eventually.Apr 30, 2019

Who holds the real power in a trust the trustee or the beneficiary?

A trust is a legal arrangement through which one person, called a "settlor" or "grantor," gives assets to another person (or an institution, such as a bank or law firm), called a "trustee." The trustee holds legal title to the assets for another person, called a "beneficiary." The rights of a trust beneficiary depend ...Jun 22, 2021

What are the powers of a trustee?

The three primary functions of a trustee are: To make, or prudently delegate, investment decisions regarding the trust assets; To make discretionary distributions of trust assets to or for the benefit of the beneficiaries; and. To fulfill the basic administrative functions of administering the trust.May 9, 2018

Is executor same as trustee?

An executor manages a deceased person's estate to distribute his or her assets according to the will. A trustee, on the other hand, is responsible for administering a trust. A trust is a legal arrangement in which one or more trustees hold the legal title of the property for the benefit of the beneficiaries.

Can a power of attorney take over as a trustee?

Can a Trustee appoint a Power of Attorney? Generally speaking, a Trustee (who is not also the Grantor) cannot appoint a Power of Attorney to take over the Trustee's duties or responsibilities, unless this is something that is directly permitted by the Trust Deed or a court order.

What happens if trustee loses capacity?

When a trustee has lost capacity, action needs to be taken to remove and replace them with someone who does have capacity to carry out the trustee functions. As a starting point, consideration should be given to the issue of capacity.Aug 16, 2016

Can an attorney appoint a trustee?

Appointing additional trustees The attorney can work around this problem by appointing another trustee of the property (in addition to the other joint proprietor) solely for the purpose of dealing with the property transfer. There is provision under s.Feb 12, 2018

How to Select A Name For Your Trust

  • Creation of trusts. Laws stating the requirements for forming a trust are stated at California Probate Code §§15200 through 15312. A trust is created by a written document known as a declaration of trust which is signed by the “Trustor”, sometimes known as the “Trust Creator” and a transfer of property or money to a “Trustee”. Probate Code §15200. A trust also must designat…
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No Law Describes How A Trust Is to Be named.

  • There are no laws about the naming of your trust as with other legal entities such as corporations, limited liability companies and limited partnerships. Since a trust is not registered with the state or with the federal government or the IRS, there is no government official or government regulations that have to approve of the name of your trust. Thus, the Trust Creator is able to sele…
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Typical Trust Naming.

  • Most trusts are named after the Trust Creators and also include the date the trust was created. Examples are “John and Jane Smith Revocable Trust dated 1/1/20”; or “Smith Family Trust dated 1/1/20”; or “John W. Smith and Jane A. Smith Revocable Family Trust dated 1/1/20”. Also, the name of the trust and the names of the trustees will appear on trust checks and bank statement…
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Practical suggestions.

  • 1. The shorter the name the easier it is to deal with. Thus, “Smith Family Trust dated 1/1/20” is preferable to “John W, Smith and Jane A. Smith Revocable Family Trust dated 1/1/20.” Longer names in-crease the chances of misspelling and often will necessitate some abbreviation where there is not enough space on a printed bank or real estate form. 2. If confidentiality as to who o…
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Conclusion.

  • When it comes to trust names and the names of the Trustors, Trustees and Beneficiaries, names do matter a great deal. Any misdesignation or mistake can cause needless problems and delays with (i) trust money and property handling; (ii) notary acknowledgments of trust documents; (iii) court procedures if the trust is unfortunate enough to have to go to court; and (iv) with ultimate …
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