Trust Accounting Requirements in California
Northridge Trust Accounting Lawyer Helps Clients Administer Trusts in Los Angeles, CA
Trusts are an important estate planning tool. One of the various fiduciary duties that trustees have when it comes to administering trusts is fulfilling the trust accounting requirements. While this involves maintaining accurate records regarding all of the trust’s financial transactions, it also includes some reporting requirements. Trustees can delegate some of these accounting requirements to others, but the trustee will still be personally responsible for ensuring that all of them have been satisfied in a timely manner.
If you are a trustee and need some guidance regarding your obligations when it comes to trust accounting requirements (or with any aspects of administering trusts), you can count on the experienced North Hills trust administration attorney at the Law Offices of Darrell C. Harriman.
Trust Accounting Requirements in Los Angeles: An Overview of What Trustees Should Know
While there is a lot to know about accounting for trusts, the following provides an overview of some of the most important aspects of trust accounting requirements:
- Frequency of reporting – For trusts created after June 30, 1987, trustees will be required to annually report all of a trust’s accounting activities to all of the beneficiaries of the trust. Additionally, such reporting must be done whenever a beneficiary specifically requests it.
- What should be included in trust accounting reports – Any and all financial transactions associated with a trust must be reported (for the specified reporting period). While this can include tax payments, attorneys’ fees and other trust administration costs, it may also involve income to the trust (which can, for instance, come in the form of income from the sale of trust property, from rental properties, etc.).
- Exceptions to trust accounting requirements – There can be cases in which these trust accounting requirements can be streamlined. For instance, when the trustee is also the only beneficiary of the trust, such extensive reporting may be simplified (if not bypassed entirely).
It’s important that trustees are aware that there is a lot more to trust reporting requirements in California and that failing to meet these requirements can result in trustees being removed from their position (or even facing breach of fiduciary lawsuits).
San Fernando Valley Trust Administration Lawyer at the Law Offices of Darrell C. Harriman
Do you need help administering a trust? If so, the experienced San Fernando Valley trust administration attorney at the Law Offices of Darrell C. Harriman is here to help you. For more than 38 years, our San Fernando Valley trust administration attorney has been dedicated to providing his clients with personalized, highly responsive service, as well as superior representation for all of their trust administration needs.
Contact an Experienced North Hills Trusts Lawyer Today
Let’s talk about your role as a trustee. You can contact our firm by calling (818) 462-8355 or by filling out the contact form on this page.
From our offices based in North Hills, we provide the highest-quality legal services to our clients throughout the San Fernando Valley, Simi Valley, North Hills and the greater Los Angeles area.