CALIFORNIA TRUST ADMINISTRATION │ STATEWIDE

You were named successor trustee. Here is your guide.

Experienced California attorneys who walk you through every step of administering a living trust. From the first 16061.7 notice to the final distribution. Fixed fee. Throughout California.

Schedule a Free Consultation

YOU WERE CHOSEN

You did not ask for this job. Now you have it.

Someone you loved died and left you in charge. They picked you because they trusted you and because they thought you could handle it. You probably can. Most successor trustees we work with had no idea what trust administration was until they were doing it. There is real work ahead of you. California Probate Code section 16061.7 gives you 60 days to send formal notice to the beneficiaries and heirs. The original will has to be lodged with the local probate court. The decedent's Social Security number is deactivated at death, so you will need to get an Employer Identification Number from the IRS for the trust. You have a fiduciary duty to the beneficiaries, which means you can be held personally liable if you miss a step. None of this is intuitive. None of it is something a successor trustee should figure out alone. Most trustees hire an attorney. We work with hundreds of them across California. We will walk you through every step, in plain English, on your timeline.

why trustees hire us

You should not have to figure this out alone.

Trust administration is a job most successor trustees never imagined doing. There are deadlines you have not heard of, statutes you have not read, and a fiduciary duty to beneficiaries who are watching every move. The right firm walks you through the work in plain English, handles the legal pieces directly, and stays with you from the first call to the final distribution. No billable hours. No surprises. Most administrations are done in four to six months.

Experienced attorneys

Our attorneys have handled hundreds of California trust administrations. Estate planning and trust administration is the only thing this firm does.

Attorney-direct from start to finish

You work with one attorney through the entire administration. No handoff to a paralegal after the first meeting. Same attorney on the first call, the 16061.7 notice, the accounting, and the final distribution.

Fixed fee, no billable hours

We quote a fixed fee in writing before the engagement starts. No hourly billing. No surprise invoices for phone calls.

Throughout California, by Zoom, or in-person

Many of our trust administrations happen virtually. Trustees in Los Angeles, the Bay Area, Orange County, San Diego, the Central Coast, the Central Valley, and the North Coast. Sacramento area clients usually work with us in our El Dorado Hills or Roseville office.

First call and intake

A free initial Zoom or phone call. You tell us what happened, who you are in the trust, and what you know about the trust estate and people involved. We tell you what to expect, what the timeline looks like, and what it will cost. If we are a fit, we send you a written fee agreement and a short intake list.

Notices, EIN, and asset gathering

Within 60 days of death we send the California Probate Code section 16061.7 notice to every heir and beneficiary, which starts their 120-day clock to contest. We lodge the original will with the local probate court. We get the trust's EIN from the IRS, prepare the Certification of Trust, and help you open the trust bank account. You start gathering statements and we start building the asset list.

Administration: accounts, real property, taxes

We help you consolidate the financial accounts into the trust bank account and liquidate brokerage holdings. We record the Affidavit Death of Trustee for each piece of California real property and file the Change in Ownership Report and, where it fits, the Proposition 19 parent-child exclusion claim. We coordinate with your accountant on the decedent's final Form 1040 and the trust's Form 1041. If the first spouse has died and 706 portability is on the table, we coordinate with the accountant to file the return. If the trust was not fully funded, we file a Heggstad petition to bring assets in without a full probate.

Accounting, waivers, distribution

We prepare the trust accounting and send it to the beneficiaries with a waiver of the 120-day contest period and a waiver of further accounting. Once the waivers come back, we work with you to make the primary distributions. You will hold a reserve for final tax returns and any late bills, and about one year later distribute the balance.

How We Can Help

Our family law attorneys bring decades of courtroom and negotiation experience to every case. During your free consultation, we will listen to your situation, explain your options, and outline a strategy tailored to your goals.

Call Us +1 (215) 555-0100
Email family@vosscrane.com
Office 500 Market Street, Suite 1200, Philadelphia, PA 19103

Schedule Your Confidential Consultation

Everything you share is protected by attorney-client privilege. Your privacy is our priority.

How long does a divorce take?

An uncontested divorce can be finalized in as little as 90 days. A contested divorce typically takes 12 to 24 months depending on complexity. Your attorney will give you a realistic estimate during your consultation.

How is custody determined?

Pennsylvania courts determine custody based on the best interests of the child — weighing each parent's ability to provide stability, the child's relationships, any history of domestic violence, and the child's own preferences depending on age.

Will I have to go to court?

Not necessarily. Many family law matters are resolved through negotiation or mediation. However, if agreement cannot be reached, our attorneys are fully prepared to represent you in court.

How much will this cost?

Cost depends on complexity and whether the matter is contested. During your free initial consultation, we provide a transparent overview of expected fees so you can make an informed decision. No surprises.