Trust Administration Services in California
When a loved one passes away, managing their trust is one of the most important (and often overwhelming) tasks left to the family.
At Cookman Law, we guide successor trustees through the entire trust administration process, ensuring that everything is done legally, efficiently, and with care. Whether we drafted the original trust or not, we’re here to help you carry out your responsibilities and honor your loved one’s wishes.
We work with individual trustees, families, private fiduciaries, and banks to provide skilled, compassionate legal support during a difficult time.
What Is Trust Administration?
Trust administration is the legal and financial process of managing and distributing the assets of a revocable living trust after the death of the person who created it (also called the grantor or settlor).
A properly funded trust allows you to avoid probate, but it doesn’t operate automatically. After the settlor’s death, the named successor trustee is legally responsible for taking a series of steps under California law to:
- Notify beneficiaries and government agencies
- Manage, value, and protect trust assets
- Pay outstanding debts and taxes
- Distribute assets to beneficiaries
This is known as post-death trust administration – and doing it correctly is essential to avoid legal, tax, and family complications.
What Does a Trustee Need to Do?
The duties of a successor trustee may include:
Legal Notices & Compliance
– Notify beneficiaries and heirs under California Probate Code §16061.7
– Notify the California Department of Health Care Services (Medi-Cal)
– File notices with the county assessor’s office for real estate
Obtain a Tax ID Number
– Apply for a new EIN (Employer Identification Number) if the trust has become irrevocable
Marshal and Value Assets
– Identify and gather trust assets (“marshal the estate”)
– Obtain date-of-death values for bank accounts, investments, and real property
– Order professional appraisals if necessary
Pay Debts and Expenses
– Locate and pay valid creditor claims
– Pay funeral costs and final expenses
– Maintain property and manage insurance during administration
Tax Filings
– File final personal income tax returns
– File trust fiduciary income tax returns
– File estate tax return (Form 706), if required
Transfer and Distribute Assets
– Retitle assets in the name of the successor trustee
– Distribute assets to beneficiaries according to the trust
– Provide an accounting to beneficiaries, if required
Why Trustees Work with Us
Even if a trust seems “simple,” trustees carry significant legal and financial responsibilities. Mistakes, however unintentional, can lead to lawsuits, penalties, or tax issues.
At Cookman Law, we:
- Provide step-by-step guidance through the administration process
- Help you understand your fiduciary duties
- Prepare and file required legal documents
- Coordinate with CPAs and financial advisors
- Ensure all assets are properly transferred or distributed
- Minimize risk and keep everything compliant with California law
Whether you’re the named trustee, a co-trustee, or the beneficiary of a trust, we can help.
We Assist With:
Client Story: Calm in the Storm
“I had to handle my mom’s estate after she passed away. I knew I needed a specialist to handle the trust administration, especially with a lot of family involved. Ellen calmed us down, handled the documents, signed the papers, and made the process so much easier. We gave her a big hug and walked out the door.”
– Alice and Bill Whitley
Trust Administration vs. Probate: What’s the Difference?
Trust Administration
– Avoids court involvement
– Private and confidential
– Faster (often 4-6 months)
– Lower cost
– Guided by trust terms
Probate
– Supervised by the probate court
– Public court process
– Longer (9-18 months or more)
– Statutory attorney and executor fees
– Guided by a will or California law
If your loved one had a properly funded revocable trust, you can typically avoid probate entirely,
but administration of the trust is still required.
Let Us Lighten the Load
Losing a loved one is difficult enough. You don’t have to navigate trust administration alone.
We’re here to answer your questions, guide you through each step, and help ensure everything is handled properly, with compassion and competence.
Schedule a consultation today to speak with a trust administration attorney and get the support you need.