Trust Administration Attorney in Tustin, CA

If you’re looking for a trusted trust administration attorney in Tustin, Rehmani & Associates is here to help. Our firm specializes in guiding trustees throughout Orange County in managing trust responsibilities effectively. At Rehmani & Associates, we are proud to offer expert trust administration services to clients in Tustin and throughout Orange County. With extensive experience in handling complex trust administration cases, our team is here to guide you through every step of the process.

Trusts are an integral part of an estate plan and determining how to administer a trust can be difficult at times. If you need assistance with how to administer your trust, one of our experienced trust attorneys  can help guide you through the process.

Why Work with a Trust Administration Attorney in Tustin?

Administering a trust comes with legal responsibilities that can be overwhelming without professional guidance. A trust administration attorney in Tustin can help you:

• Ensure all legal obligations are met.
• Minimize conflicts among beneficiaries.
• Avoid costly errors that could lead to disputes or probate.
• Manage tax filings and financial complexities.

Rehmani & Associates has been a trusted law firm in trust administration for over 20 years, guiding trustees in Tustin and across Orange County with personalized support and proven solutions. Our deep local expertise ensures families receive effective legal counsel while avoiding costly mistakes and disputes. We’ve built a reputation for personalized, efficient trust administration services. Whether you’re activating a trust, distributing assets, or resolving disputes, our team is here to help every step of the way.

What Are the Legal Responsibilities of Trustees?

While trusts do eliminate the probate procedure, if you have been appointed as trustee there are certain laws, procedural guidelines and time deadlines to carry out your trust administration responsibilities.

• The Successor Trustee takes over the trust
• Notice is given to the heirs of the living trust
• Assets of the trust are gathered together and valued
• Debts of the deceased trust owner are paid
• Sales of trust assets may be made
• Estate taxes are paid, if applicable
• Final distribution to the heirs, either outright or in some form of trust

Our Tustin trust administration attorneys help trustees fulfill these duties while ensuring compliance with all legal requirements

What is the difference between Trust administration and probate?

Trust administration is the management of assets and property within the trust, and commonly the trustee is responsible for ensuring that the trust is handled and distributed to the beneficiaries and/or heirs according to the trustor’s wishes.

Probate is the court-supervised process of managing your estate and transferring your property at death according to the terms of your will. It also means that the court must decide on the legitimacy of a decedent’s will (if a will does exist); establish who the decedent’s heirs or beneficiaries are; the decedent’s asset or estate value; and begin the process of transferring the decedent’s estate to the heirs or beneficiaries. If a will does not exist, then the court appoints an administrator who will then handle the administering and distribution of the deceased’s estate according to intestacy laws of where the deceased resided at the time of death.

If you’re unsure about trust administration versus probate, a trust administration attorney in Tustin can help clarify your responsibilities.

How A Trust Administration Can Lead to Probate

Trust administration can lead to probate if certain assets were not properly transferred or were not funded into the living trust during the decedent’s lifetime, and/or if a trust will be contested. If a beneficiary is incapacitated, the appointment of a guardian or conservator may be required. The probate court will likely oversee and supervise the use of funds or certain assets for the benefit of the incapacitated beneficiary through a guardianship/conservatorship. This is because the institution will not knowingly release to someone who is incapacitated and may request court supervision. If the beneficiary is a minor, the appointment of a guardian may be required. Most institutions will usually require proof of a court-supervised guardianship and will not pay directly to a minor or to another person for the child’s benefit as legal liabilities can potentially arise.

Ambiguities in the drafting of the trust document can require a trip to the Probate Court to have a judge decide what the trust means. Property left out of the trust name at death may also cause a trip to the Probate Court to have the property declared as part of the trust, or even to force the property through the Probate process in order to get it transferred into the trust.

Do I need a lawyer to Help Administer A Trust?

Although an attorney is not required for trust administration, they  will help alleviate a lot of the stress that is associated with administering one. Which is why hiring a trust administration attorney in Tustin is recommended. As the trustee, you do have certain legal obligations that need to be fulfilled. Having an experienced attorney to administer a trust will not only help alleviate said stress but will help avoid any potential errors and disputes that may arise.

There are some instances in which we would highly recommend hiring an attorney using the funds from the trust:

• A beneficiary or an heir has threatened or filed a lawsuit to reduce the value of a trust.
• You have a difficult relationship with the beneficiaries of the trust.
• You are not familiar with the assets in the trust.
• Co-managing a trust; this can lead to decisions not being agreed on.

Can I be held personally liable for trust administration errors?

As the trustee, you do have a legal responsibility to correctly manage the trust, as a result, you are liable for the mismanagement or errors that may occur by mismanaging a trust. Hiring an experienced trust administration attorney in Tustin can help you avoid costly errors.

How Long does it take to settle a trust?

There are many factors that affect how quickly a trust can be administered and resolved. A simple trust administration can take 3-9 Months, while a more complex and contested case may take several years to resolve. 

What Will Rehmani Associates do for Me?

As the leading trust administration attorneys in Orange County, our attorneys will begin by properly notifying the beneficiaries of the trust and reviewing the trust for any assets and property included. Once the assets and properties have been determined, we will help you determine the monetary value of each asset. Once the valuation and other details have been completed the attorney will begin to distribute the assets and property to the beneficiaries.

What happens if I do not administer my trust properly?

The administration of a trust can be daunting and result in a legal battle costing you tens of thousands of dollars if it is administered incorrectly. Sometimes a beneficiary may feel like they are being deprived of their inheritance or being treated unfairly which you would need legal representation for in order to resolve the trust dispute. If you are currently involved in a trust dispute please contact Rehmani & Associates today to have one of our  attorneys review your trust dispute case and help plan an effective strategy to protect your interests.

What Will it Cost to Hire an Attorney to Administer a Trust?

The cost to administer a trust can vary substantially depending on the value and complexity of the trust. In addition to this, the attorney fees will usually reflect a rate that coincides with the attorney’s level of expertise.

Directions to Our Office in Tustin

Our office is conveniently located in Tustin, serving clients throughout Orange County. We’re easily accessible from Irvine, Santa Ana, Orange and surrounding areas. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.