What types of fiduciary duties does a trustee have to the beneficiaries? The fundamental duties of a trustee are as follows: (1) the duty of good faith and loyalty; (2) the duty of reasonable skill and diligence; (3) the duty to give personal attention; and (4) the duty to keep and render accounts.
If a trustee has not provided beneficiaries with the required annual accounting or requested information, they could be regarded as breaching their duties, which could make them liable to legal recourse.
Below, we have broken the process down into manageable steps. Step 1: Start with a Proper Salutation. Step 2: Introduce Yourself and Your Relationship to the Deceased. Step 3: Clearly State the Purpose of the Letter. Step 4: Provide Detailed Information about the Inheritance.
Beneficiaries are entitled to request bank statements from the executor by making an informal written request for them. Some executors may attach bank statements to their accountings for added transparency without beneficiaries having to ask, but it's usually not a requirement for them to do so.
Here are some things to consider when drafting a letter to your executor or trustee. Your thoughts about wealth. Share your story about how you came to the assets that you are leaving in your will. How was your wealth created, what do you value and what are your long-term goals for your wealth?
Under California Probate Code §16062, trustees are obligated to account to each beneficiary annually, upon trust termination, and following a change in trustee. Additionally, if a beneficiary requests an accounting in writing, the trustee must provide it within 60 days.
California statutory law requires a trustee to account annually to current trust beneficiaries, i.e., those who are currently entitled to receive distributions of income and principal during the accounting period. Any trustee, other than the settlor(s) who established the trust, has a duty to account.
Terminating an active trust requires court intervention or unanimous beneficiary consent. A party with legal standing must demonstrate compelling reasons for a judge to order dissolution, or alternatively, all beneficiaries must concur on ending the trust, ensuring adherence to the trust's purpose and legal procedures.