TRUST ADMINISTRATION SERVICES FOR SONOMA COUNTY FAMILIES
When someone dies with a living trust, you inherit responsibility for managing their assets and distributing them to beneficiaries.
Let us handle the complexity while you focus on what matters.
Call (707) 658-4602 for Your Consultation. Serving Petaluma, Santa Rosa, and all of Sonoma County
Schedule your consultation and let us provide the help you need with trust matters.
Sonoma County Trust Administration Attorney Andrew Kern
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WHAT IS TRUST ADMINISTRATION ACTUALLY IS
When someone you care about dies with a living trust in place, you have a responsibility. As the successor trustee (or family member supporting one), you need to settle the trust, manage assets, and distribute money to beneficiaries. The process sounds straightforward until you actually start doing it.
That's where professional trust administration help saves time, money, and family relationships.
Trust administration is the process of managing a deceased person's assets after they die, when those assets are held in a living trust. Unlike probate (which happens in court with judge oversight), trust administration happens privately. You don't file papers in court. A judge doesn't supervise your work. The trustee manages everything directly.
But "managing everything" involves serious legal and financial responsibilities.
YOUR DUTIES AS TRUSTEE
Under California Probate Code, trustees must:
Locate and secure all trust assets – bank accounts, real estate, investment accounts, vehicles, business interests, personal property
Notify beneficiaries – within 60 days of death, beneficiaries must receive notice and a copy of the trust
Inventory and value assets – determine what the trust owns and what it's worth
Pay debts and taxes – including final income tax returns, estate taxes if applicable, and any outstanding bills
Manage property during administration – maintain insurance on real estate, pay property taxes, handle ongoing expenses
File trust tax returns – if the trust holds certain assets or generates income during administration
Keep detailed records – document every transaction, payment, and decision
Distribute remaining assets – once debts are paid, distribute what's left according to the trust document
Provide accounting to beneficiaries – show where money went and what's being distributed
Miss one of these, and you can be sued by beneficiaries or face liability for damages.
WHY PROFESSIONAL HELP MATTERS
Here's what typically happens when someone tries to handle trust administration alone:
They don't notify beneficiaries correctly, leading to lawsuits. They forget about obscure assets the decedent owned. They miss tax filing deadlines. They improperly value real estate. They don't understand how to handle the income the trust generates during administration. They make mistakes distributing assets, then have to fix it later (expensive).
The bigger picture: beneficiaries get frustrated waiting for money. Family members who don't know what's happening assume the trustee is taking advantage. Simple disagreements become serious conflicts.
A professional handles this cleanly. Beneficiaries know what to expect. Assets get properly valued. Taxes get filed on time. Money gets distributed correctly.
THE TRUST ADMINISTRATION PROCESS: WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENS
Phase 1: Initial Steps (Month 1-2)
When someone dies with a trust, the first priority is securing assets and notifying beneficiaries. You'll locate the original trust document, notify all beneficiaries within 60 days (California law requirement), secure property, change locks if needed, and stop unnecessary expenses. Contact all financial institutions holding trust assets and request account statements as of the date of death.
Phase 2: Asset Inventory and Valuation (Month 2-4)
Create a complete list of everything the trust owns. This means getting professional appraisals for real estate, valuations for business interests, account statements for retirement accounts, and values for personal property like vehicles and collectibles. Determine which assets should be sold versus kept for distribution.
Phase 3: Management and Tax Filing (Month 4-9)
File the deceased's final income tax return and open a trust bank account for administration funds. Pay creditor claims and outstanding bills. Manage real estate during administration—maintain insurance, handle property taxes, manage ongoing expenses. File trust income tax returns if required and determine whether estate tax returns are needed (federal and/or state).
Phase 4: Distribution Planning (Month 9-15)
Review the trust document carefully to understand how distributions should work. Calculate what each beneficiary receives based on the trust terms. Resolve any unclear provisions. Plan the timing of distributions and arrange property transfers or sales as needed.
Phase 5: Final Distribution and Closing (Month 15-18)
Make distributions to beneficiaries, get signed acknowledgments, close trust bank accounts, and file any required closing documents. Keep records for at least 7 years (IRS requirement).
Timeline note: This assumes straightforward situations with no complications. Asset disputes, business valuations, or beneficiary disagreements can extend the process significantly.
COMMON PROBLEMS DURING TRUST ADMINISTRATION
Beneficiary disputes. Beneficiaries disagree about what the trust says, how much they're receiving, or whether the trustee is acting fairly. These derail the process for months.
Missing or hidden assets. The decedent owned property nobody knew about. You discover it months into administration, requiring revaluation and potentially changing distributions.
Asset valuation disagreements. Beneficiaries think real estate or business interests are worth more than your valuation. This creates conflict and sometimes requires independent appraisers.
Tax complications. You didn't file trust income tax returns on time. The IRS sends notices. Penalties and interest accrue.
Real estate sales. You need to sell property to fund distributions, but the market is slow or you can't agree on listing price. Asset remains tied up.
Business succession issues. The trust holds a business interest. You're not sure whether to sell it, keep it, or distribute it to specific beneficiaries. Different options create vastly different outcomes.
Income during administration. The trust generates rental income, dividend income, or business income while you're settling it. You're not sure how to handle it tax-wise or distributively.
LAW OFFICE OF ANDREW KERN TRUST ADMINISTRATION SERVICES
We handle everything or supplement your work depending on your needs.
SERVICE OPTIONS
Full Administration Services – We serve as attorney for the trustee, handling all legal matters, communicating with beneficiaries, managing the timeline, and ensuring compliance with California Probate Code.
Specific Issue Assistance – You're handling administration but need help with a particular problem (real estate sale, business valuation, tax filing, beneficiary dispute).
Review and Guidance – You're doing the work but want an attorney reviewing decisions before you finalize them.
Beneficiary Representation – You're a beneficiary who questions the trustee's administration. We represent your interests.
OUR PROCESS
Initial consultation – 60 minutes, $350 (applied to fees if you hire us). We review the trust, understand assets, identify complications.
Fee proposal – We provide written proposal with timeline, scope, and costs. Transparent pricing throughout.
Administration – We handle legal work, communicate with beneficiaries and institutions, manage timeline, file tax returns, prepare distributions.
Distribution and closing – Final distributions to beneficiaries, signed receipts, account closing, record archiving.
PRICING
Trust administration fees vary significantly based on complexity.
Simple trusts (small estates, few beneficiaries, liquid assets, no disputes): $5,000–$12,000 total in legal fees
Standard trusts (moderate assets, some real estate, multiple beneficiaries): $12,000–$25,000 total in legal fees
Complex trusts (substantial assets, real estate sales, business interests, beneficiary disputes): $25,000–$50,000+ in legal fees
These fees cover legal work only. Court costs, appraisals, property tax bills, and other third-party expenses are separate.
Many trusts complete within the legal fee estimates. Some require additional work.
TRUST ADMINISTRATION VS PROBATE: WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE?
This comparison shows why trusts are superior for most families. However, some situations benefit from probate representation instead.
TABLE: TRUST ADMINISTRATION VS PROBATE
| Factor | Trust Administration | Probate |
|---|---|---|
| Court Involvement | None (private) | Extensive (public) |
| Timeline | 9–18 months typically | 12–24 months typically |
| Cost | Attorney fees only | Statutory fees (4–7% of estate) |
| Beneficiary Notice | Private notification | Published in newspaper |
| Asset Privacy | Private | Public court records |
| Disputes | Handled privately | Court supervised |
| Judge Approval | Not needed | Required for distributions |
The takeaway: Trusts are faster, cheaper, and private. That's why families create them. But they still require careful administration.
WHAT TO EXPECT WITH LAW OFFICE OF ANDREW KERN
We focus on straightforward communication. You'll know what's happening. Beneficiaries will know what's happening. Deadlines get met. Assets get valued correctly. Money gets distributed on time without surprises.
We've handled trust administration for estates ranging from $200,000 to $5 million+. We understand California law, local court procedures, tax implications, and family dynamics.
Most importantly, we handle the complexity so you don't have to. You can grieve, work, and live your life. We manage the legal and financial details.
Learn more about our estate planning services to understand how proper planning prevents administration complications.
READY TO GET STARTED
If someone recently died with a trust in place, call (707) 658-4602 or schedule a consultation online.
WHAT TO BRING
Original trust document
Death certificate (certified copy)
List of assets you know about
Recent bank and investment statements
Any correspondence from beneficiaries
OUR SERVICE AREA
We serve families throughout Sonoma County: Petaluma, Santa Rosa, Sebastopol, Healdsburg, Windsor, Sonoma, and surrounding communities.
Visit kernlawoffice.com to learn more or schedule online.
Evening and weekend appointments available for working families.
The Law Office of Andrew Kern provides trust administration, estate planning, and probate representation throughout Sonoma County. This information is educational and does not constitute legal advice for your specific situation. Consult with an attorney about your particular circumstances.