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Trust Administration

Estate & Trust Administration

Carry Out Their Wishes with Trust Administration Guidance

Trust Administration helps successor trustees administer a trust after death or incapacity. We’ll help you understand your responsibilities, follow the terms of the trust, and take the necessary steps to manage and distribute trust assets properly.

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What it does

Understand Your Responsibilities as a Successor Trustee

Serving as a successor trustee comes with important legal and financial responsibilities. You may need to gather and manage trust assets, notify beneficiaries, pay expenses, maintain records, and make distributions according to the trust agreement and Arizona law. Our Trust Administration Attorneys guide you through those responsibilities from beginning to end, helping you understand what needs to happen next and reduce the risk of mistakes, beneficiary disputes, or personal liability.

Who it’s for

Have You Been Named a Successor Trustee?

Trust Administration services may be helpful if you:
  • Want to put your wishes in writing, choose who inherits your assets, or name a personal representative to administer your estate.
  • Want to name a guardian for your minor children or other dependents instead of leaving that decision to the courts.
  • Are an Arizona homeowner, an unmarried partner, or part of a blended family and don’t want important decisions left to Arizona probate laws.
  • Have an estate below Arizona’s probate threshold ($200,000 in personal property or $300,000 in real estate) and are comfortable with beneficiaries receiving their inheritance outright.
  • Are creating a trust-based estate plan and need a pour-over will to help direct assets left outside your trust.

How it works

Getting Started as a Successor Trustee

  • 1

    Review the Trust & Your Role

    Meet with one of our Trust Administration Attorneys to review the trust, understand your responsibilities as successor trustee, and identify the next steps.

  • 2

    Gather the Necessary Documentation

    We’ll help identify the documents needed to move forward, which may include death certificates, letters of incapacity, and other records related to the trust and trustee transition.

  • 3

    Establish Your Trustee Authority

    We’ll prepare the necessary documents for you to step into your role as successor trustee and to execute the trust.

45+
Years Serving Arizona
9
Offices Statewide
3rd
Generation Family Firm
100%
Estate Planning Focus

What's included

Documents you receive.

  • Trust Review & Interpretation

    Review the trust agreement and help you understand its requirements and your responsibilities as trustee.

  • Trustee Duties & Beneficiary Notice

    Provide guidance on trustee responsibilities, beneficiary communications, required notices, and publications when applicable.

  • Trust Assets & Records

    Help identify, inventory, value, and organize trust property, accounts, and financial records.

  • Expenses, Debts & Taxes

    Guide you through paying trust expenses, outstanding debts, and tax-related responsibilities while coordinating with accountants or other professionals when needed.

  • Trust Accounting

    Provide support with the records and accounting needed to document how trust assets have been managed.

  • Asset Distributions

    Plan and document distributions to beneficiaries according to the terms of the trust.

  • Professional Coordination

    Coordinate with financial advisors, accountants, and other professionals when their expertise is needed during administration.

  • Trustee Risk & Liability

    Help you understand your fiduciary obligations and reduce the risk of mistakes that could lead to disputes or personal liability.

Why Phelps LaClair

Experience That Extends Beyond Creating the Trust

As a third-generation estate planning law firm, we’ve helped implement and administer hundreds of Revocable Living Trusts after clients have passed away.

We guide successor trustees from beginning to end, helping them avoid common mistakes, beneficiary disputes, and personal liability.

Many of the trusts we administer were originally prepared by Phelps LaClair, giving our team firsthand familiarity with how those plans were designed to work when administration becomes necessary.

Because estate planning is our sole focus, we approach Trust Administration in the broader context of Arizona trust law, probate avoidance, taxes, asset protection, and family dynamics.

What it costs

Transparent Pricing You Can Count On

Custom Quote

Trust Administration needs vary depending on the trust, assets, and responsibilities involved. We’ll provide a quote for services once we understand what’s required to help you administer the trust.

Common questions

What clients ask.

  • A successor trustee manages and distributes trust assets according to the terms of the trust after the trust maker dies or becomes incapacitated. Responsibilities may include gathering assets, notifying beneficiaries, paying expenses, maintaining records, and making distributions.

  • In many cases, no. Trust Administration can often be handled privately without court oversight, which is one reason people create Revocable Living Trusts. However, successor trustees still have legal and fiduciary responsibilities under the trust and Arizona law.

  • Yes. A trustee may face personal liability for failing to follow the trust, ignoring legal duties, mishandling assets, or making improper distributions. Working with a Trust Administration Attorney can help you understand your responsibilities and reduce that risk.

  • The timeline depends on the trust, its assets, taxes, creditor issues, beneficiary concerns, and whether any disputes arise. Some trusts can be administered quickly, while more complex Trust Administration may take longer.

  • Not every Trust Administration requires the same level of legal assistance, but successor trustees have important legal and fiduciary responsibilities. A Trust Administration Lawyer can help you understand the trust, follow the applicable requirements, document your actions, and reduce the risk of mistakes or personal liability.

  • Trust Administration generally involves distributing assets held in a trust and can often take place privately without court oversight. Probate is a court-supervised process that may be required for certain assets that do not transfer through a trust, beneficiary designation, or other private method.

This information is educational and not a substitute for advice from a licensed Arizona attorney.

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Get started

Personalized Guidance Starts Here

Meet with one of our attorneys to discuss your situation, your assets, and what matters most to you. We'll answer your questions and provide clear, upfront pricing with no obligation.

Schedule your consultation