Legal Question in Wills and Trusts in California

I do not know how a withdrawal is illegal. No one can be forced to be a trustee. You have to look to the Trust documents to see what is provided for in obtaining a replacement Trustee. If there is nothing and the grantor/trustor is dead, you would probably have to petition the court to appoint a new trustee. Heirs are in a Will, beneficiaries in a Trust. A notary just verifies signatures on documents.

You may have some problems. Although a trustee is essential to the operation of a trust, once the trust it was established, it will not fail simply because of resignation of the trustee. Normally, the court appoints a successor trustee. If this was a testamentary trust, there is a court procedure for this, and I suggest speaking to your probate attorney.

You may have a problem, however, if this was an attempt to create an intervivos trust. An intervivos trust must have a present and effective transfer of property to create the trust. If the trustee has refused to act, or has absented himself or herself, their may be a failure of delivery, and therefore a failure of a trust.