One of the first things every fiduciary should understand is their actual role. An Executor generally handles assets passing through an estate. A Trustee manages assets held in a Trust. You might be one. You might be both. And the responsibilities can be different. Before signing documents, moving money or making decisions, know: - Which role you are acting in - What document gives you authority - Which assets belong to that role Sometimes the biggest problems start when someone acts before figuring out which legal hat they are wearing. 💬 Are you serving as Executor, Trustee, or both?

When you agree to serve as a successor trustee, nobody warns you that 80% of the role is managing relationships, old sibling dynamics, and unrealistic distribution timelines. During today’s Trustee School Office Hours session, I broke down the 3 biggest communication mistakes successor trustees make when dealing with demanding beneficiaries—and the exact scripts to fix them: 1. Conducting trust business over informal text messages (and how to professionally transition to email without causing friction). 2. Apologizing for legal and administrative delays that are actually required by law to protect everyone. 3. Taking demands personally instead of using the trust agreement and fiduciary duties as your shield. Catch the 20-minute replay below. 💡 A quick note on how Trustee School Office Hours work: These live sessions happen every third Thursday at 1:30PM. You do not need a formal presentation or a crisis to drop in. They are a part of our ACTIVE tier, which is cheaper for a year's subscription than a single consult with an attorney. Bring: - The awkward email from a sibling you don’t know how to answer - Questions on where to start with tax IDs, inventory, or asset titling - Or just come lurk, listen, and learn from other trustees' real-world scenarios If you are currently serving as a trustee—or have been named as one in someone's estate plan—you don't have to navigate personal liability and family dynamics alone. Drop your biggest trustee question in the comments, or bring it to our next live session November 19th at 1:30PM.

Please choose the option that best describes your current situation.

If a beneficiary is not responding, document document document. Try multiple methods of communications on varying dates and times. Keep a record of those attempts and eventually you will either have a record that they are neglecting and abandoning or they will show up because you're too annoying.

When someone dies, one of the safest early principles is: PRESERVE FIRST. DISTRIBUTE LATER. You may not yet know: → Which Will controls → What belongs to the probate estate → Whether debts exist → Whether taxes are due → Whether the executor has been formally appointed → Whether someone will object → Whether an item was actually owned by the person who died So those first days are usually much more about: Secure it. Document it. Understand it. And much less about: “Who gets what?” Estate administration rewards patience.