SAPC may serve as a trustee or Personal Representative for clients. These services are specific to your estate planning documents & circumstances. Please schedule a consultation to discuss your matter.
The determination of who will be the trustee of your trust is a very important decision. The person who becomes your trustee will have to oversee administrative tasks, determine when distributions are made and be cognizant of the tax and trust laws that affect the administration.
Sometimes, our clients are at a loss in selecting a non-professional trustee because their inner circle does not include anyone they trust in this role or do not want to burden any one person with this responsibility. In limited instances we agree to serve as a successor professional trustee. Note that this is a very different role from OMNI 360 serving as attorneys to the trust.
As attorneys to the trust, we represent the trustee in advising them in their role, while, as an appointed professional trustee, we take on the fiduciary duty to serve in the best interests of the beneficiary and take on the responsibility of all trustee duties.
PROFESSIONAL TRUSTEE SERVICES BENEFITS INCLUDE:
- Professional guidance through the administration of their or their loved one’s Trust;
- Assurance that the Trust is properly administered, thereby reducing liability exposure;
- Ensure that their loved one’s wishes are properly carried out;
- Relieve family members from trust administrative burdens;
- Continued relationships with the client’s advisors including financial and accountant professionals;
- Remove the tension that may exist between family members by providing a professional process for the administration;
- Explain trustee provisions including permissible distributions and pertinent terms;
- Help the beneficiary understand the client’s legacy goals;
- Work with the beneficiary to understand goals and objectives and how trusts are best used;
- Maintain asset information and accounting of distributions, fees, taxes and cost basis of assets for tax filings;
- Timely file and pay taxes in conjunction with the CPA;
- Provide statements to beneficiaries;
- Pay trust expenses including professional advisory fees, insurance, etc.;
- Ensure that distributions are made in the most advantageous and tax efficient manner;
- Determine when and how distributions are made, as permitted by the trust.
Neel Shah, Esq., CEPA, CFP®
