Legal Question in Wills and Trusts in Massachusetts
trust
I am a trustee & a beneficiary of my deceased family member'' trust.''
How can i find out how much money
he has in the trust. HOW. His family won't tell me
i found prperty (real estate) but
not the money.
3 Answers from Attorneys
Re: trust
I suggest you contact an attorney immediately. As a Trustee you have a duty/obligation to collect and account for all Trust Assets. If you are a Co-Trustee, then the other Trustees must provide the relevant information to you. There are addtional issues depending upon whether the Trust was created by Will or was a Revocable Living Trust or an Irrevocable Trust.
If an estate was opened in the Probate Court by filing the Will, you should start with any information provided there. You might want to contact the deceased's attorney for some basic information such as a copy of the Trust, if you have not yet been given a copy.
Please feel free to contact me if you have more questions.
Re: trust responsibilities
I am not sure that I understand.
Is this a trust established by a will or is it a trust the existed before the death of the person.
As a trustee you have a legal right to force disclosure of assets that you are suppose to control. If those who have knowlege of the location of the assets refuse to disclose the pertinent information, you can file a legal action against them.
If you have any questions, or need assistance, contact me.
Re: trust
As a trustee, you have a DUTY to know what is in the trust. Therefore, the first step is to get your hands on a copy of the trust document and read it carefully. Are you a sole trustee or a co-trustee? If you are a joint trustee, what rights (if any) do you have to act on your own? The second thing is to send a letter (preferably certified) demanding that the financial documents be turned over to you.
If the demand letter doesn't work, you should go see a lawyer to discuss your options, which may include going to court.
Please feel free to contact me if I can be of assistance.