If you have been named as the beneficiary of a trust and the trustee is not acting appropriately, it is important to get help as soon as possible. Improper distributions of trust assets can be made by mistake or by intentional wrongdoing. Whatever the cause, the quicker you take action, the more likely you are to obtain a successful result.

It is important to understand that a trustee must be fair in his or her treatment of the beneficiaries. The trustee is also obligated to comply with the terms of the trust. Failure to comply with his or her duties could result in you having a claim against the trustee. Some of the possible claims you may have against the trustee of a trust include:

• The trustee made a distribution of property or the payment of money to a party that was not named as a beneficiary of the trust.
• The trustee gave a beneficiary an excessive payment not authorized by the trust, which caused a reduction in the distribution to you.
• One of the contingent beneficiaries that is entitled to receive the distribution of a primary beneficiary that died before the settlor of the trust did not receive his or her share.

There are other forms of misconduct by a trustee that may warrant legal action. If you have concerns regarding how a trustee is managing a trust or about the accuracy of your distributions from the trust, it is important to contact us immediately to protect your inheritance.

The Astill Law Office has provided high quality legal services for over 30 years. We specialize in wills, trusts, estate planning, and asset protection. If you have any questions about creating a Trust, Will, or estate planning in general, contact The Astill Law Office at 801-438-8698.