Legal Question in Wills and Trusts in California
My father died on 8/02/11 in LA county (Santa Clarita)
He established a revocable trust in 2001.
I am a 50% beneficiary; my sister is trustee and other beneficiary.
The trust is represented by my sister to have a value of $94,535.27
as of year end 2011.
My sister has a lawyer. No filing has been made in probate court, due to all assets
are in trust, according to this lawyer.
I have used two San Diego local attorneys already to obtain detailed financial
information to no avail. Neither lawyer represents me at this time.
I have been told by these two previous lawyers that going to probate court in Los
Angelas county would be to expensive to justify in this case.
I have been lied to already by my sister in regards to the real estate appraisal of
my fathers property, which is why I question the asset amounts provided to me for
the estate, and her failure to provide any type of bank statements to support
this.
What is your opinion?
2 Answers from Attorneys
My opinion is that it would be foolish for me or anyone to think anything we could say would be more accurate than what attorneys who have actually looked at the situation and gone over it with you have told you.
Haven't you asked for an accounting? The trustee must provide an accounting to beneficiaries, when demanded in a timely manner. If the trustee fails to account, get an attorney to file an action to compel the accounting and to remove her as trustee.