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What Are Fiduciary Duties in Estate Planning?
Understanding the Role of a Trustee in Estate Planning
“As you plan how you will leave your estate, it is important to your family’s future that you leave a legacy with well-executed documents. It’s also essential that you understand all of the roles of the people involved in your estate, especially the person or organization who will manage your estate.”
One of the reasons people uses trusts in their estate planning, is that the person named as a trustee has a legal duty to put the trust’s interests first, rather than their own interests. This is called a “fiduciary duty,” and it becomes very important when planning for the future of your assets and family. It’s an enforceable legal obligation says the article “Fiduciary Duties in Trusts and Estate Planning” from yahoo! finance.
The Importance of Fiduciary Duties in Trust Management
A trustee is the person appointed to be in charge of a trust. There are many different kinds of trusts, created to own assets, including money, life insurance policies and homes. The person named as trustee in the trust document makes decisions about the trust assets to benefit the beneficiary’s best interests.
Different Types of Trusts and Their Purposes
Trusts created while a person is living are known, appropriately enough, as living trusts.
There are people who choose to be their own trustees and manage their trusts for as long as they are able.
Married couples may be co-trustees on their trusts. The trust documents should be prepared, so that upon the death of one spouse, the surviving spouse becomes the trustee and manages the account.
Key Fiduciary Duties of a Trustee
Ensuring the Best Interests of Beneficiaries
The person creating the trust should also name a successor trustee. This is the person who will manage the trust when the trustee or the co-trustees are no longer competent to manage the trust. That might be because they have died or because they have become incapacitated due to an injury or illness.
Guidelines for Trust Management and Compliance
The fiduciary duties of a trustee are to act in the best interest of the beneficiaries. These are some guidelines:
The assets a trustee manages do not belong to them, and the trustee must not mix personal assets with assets in the trust.
A trustee may not use the trust’s assets for their benefit.
The trustee must not favor one beneficiary over the other.
The trustee must follow the directions in the trust document.
The trustee must keep accurate records, file tax returns and report to beneficiaries, as directed in the trust.
Selecting a Trustee and Successor Trustee
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Trustee
There are three fiduciary duties when it comes to a trust: loyalty, care and full disclosure.
The Significance of a Successor Trustee in Estate Planning
The trustee(s) must act in the best interest of the trust and its beneficiaries. This is a high standard and why the decision on who to name as a trustee is so important.
The terms of every trust vary, depending on the type of trust and the needs of the estate plan. The trustee needs to be familiar with the trust and its directions, so they can perform correctly.
The Role of an Estate Planning Attorney
Drafting Trusts Tailored to Individual Needs
An estate planning attorney is needed to draft trusts, so they reflect the wishes of the person and their goals. Using a downloaded form or even a standard legal form is a big risk for families.
Reference: Yahoo! finance (July 8, 2020) “Fiduciary Duties in Trusts and Estate Planning”
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