Trust and Estate Administration

Trust and Estate Administration and Probate

When you lose a loved one, navigating legal and financial obligations can feel overwhelming during an already difficult time. At Marshall Law Offices, our trust and estate administration practice provides compassionate, efficient guidance through the complex process of settling estates and administering trusts.

For estates requiring probate, we handle all aspects of the court-supervised process—from filing the initial petition and validating the will to identifying and inventorying assets, notifying creditors, preparing tax returns, resolving disputes, and ultimately distributing assets to beneficiaries. Our methodical approach ensures compliance with all legal requirements while minimizing delays, expenses, and family stress.

Trust administration involves different responsibilities but similar attention to detail. When serving as or advising trustees, we provide comprehensive guidance on fiduciary obligations, investment standards, accounting requirements, beneficiary communications, and distribution protocols. We help trustees understand and fulfill their legal duties of loyalty, impartiality, and prudence while honoring the trust creator's intentions. Tax compliance represents a critical component of estate and trust administration. Our team prepares and files essential tax documents including the decedent's final income tax return, estate income tax returns, estate tax returns, and gift tax returns when required. We identify opportunities for post-mortem tax planning, including disclaimer planning, tax election strategies, and income tax basis management to minimize tax burdens for beneficiaries.

Asset marshaling and management require particular care during administration. We assist in locating assets, changing titles, working with financial institutions, managing real estate, addressing business interests, and ensuring appropriate investment management during the administration period. For complex assets, we coordinate with appraisers, business valuators, and other specialists to establish accurate valuations.

Beneficiary communication remains essential throughout the administration process. We help executors and trustees maintain transparency with beneficiaries regarding timeframes, procedures, and distribution expectations. When appropriate, we facilitate family meetings to address questions and prevent misunderstandings that could lead to disputes.

Special situations often arise during administration, including discovering additional assets, addressing creditor disputes, managing difficult beneficiaries, or interpreting ambiguous document provisions. Our extensive experience helps navigate these complications efficiently, protecting fiduciaries from personal liability while honoring the decedent's intentions.

For ongoing trusts, we establish administration systems that facilitate long-term compliance and effective management. This includes developing distribution policies, creating beneficiary communication protocols, establishing investment guidelines, and implementing tax compliance and planning strategies that serve beneficiaries for generations.

Throughout the administration process, we combine technical expertise with genuine compassion, recognizing that we're not just handling legal matters but helping families through profound transitions. Our goal is to provide peace of mind during difficult times, ensuring your loved one's legacy is administered with integrity, efficiency, and respect.