Named trustee? You don't have to figure it out alone.

What a trustee is required to do

Being named trustee is not just an honor, it's a legal job. California law requires you to notify beneficiaries and heirs within set deadlines, gather and value the trust's assets, handle debts and taxes, keep records, provide accountings, and distribute property according to the trust's terms. Those duties exist whether or not anyone ever told you about them.

Most trustees are doing all of this for the first time, in the middle of grieving, while siblings and relatives watch every move. It's a lot, and no one should be embarrassed to ask for guidance.

The part nobody warns you about

A trustee can be held personally liable for mishandling the administration, even with good intentions. Missed notices, sloppy records, and informal early distributions are the kinds of mistakes that turn into disputes later. Death is hard, and people handle it differently. Money and grief together can change how even close siblings treat each other.

Jonette's approach protects the trustee first: do the required steps, in the right order, with everything documented. Openness does the rest. When beneficiaries are kept informed, suspicion has nowhere to grow, and most families stay out of court.

How she helps

From the first meeting, she sorts out what has to happen now and what can wait, handles the notices and filings, coordinates appraisals and accountings, and guides the distributions so they're done correctly and finally. When a dispute does surface, she protects your position as trustee, and she has stood behind trustees who were being pushed around by siblings and their lawyers. If you've just lost a parent and don't know where to start, her calm checklist is a good first read: What to do when a parent dies.

"Handling a parent's estate is hard for most people. Everyone deals with death differently, and they need guidance and some hand-holding during that time. That's a real part of this work, and I don't mind saying so."

Jonette M. Montgomery

Am I personally liable as trustee?

You can be, if the administration is mishandled. Following the required steps, keeping good records, and providing the notices and accountings the law requires is what protects you. That's a big part of what an attorney is for here.

How long does a trust administration take?

It depends on the assets and the family. A straightforward administration often takes a number of months. Complicated estates, real property sales, or family disputes can stretch it much longer.

Do I have to keep my siblings informed?

Yes. California requires formal notice to beneficiaries and heirs, and beneficiaries are generally entitled to information and accountings. Beyond the legal requirement, openness is what keeps families out of court.