Do All Beneficiaries Get a Copy of the Trust?

Once your position as a beneficiary of an irrevocable trust (after your loved one passes and their revocable trust becomes irrevocable, for example) vests, you have the right to receive a copy of the trust documents. The trust document operates like a contract and will spell out your rights and the trustee’s obligations, as supplemented by their duties at law.

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To become a vested beneficiary, you must have a right to receive some benefit under the terms of the trust, whether currently or at some point in the future, as in the case of a presumptive or contingent beneficiary who may become direct beneficiaries some day, after some condition is met, but have no present interest in the trust.

In the case of a revocable living trust, which is commonly used for estate planning purposes, beneficiaries become vested beneficiaries only upon the grantor’s death. This way, the grantor can amend or revoke the trust at any time before their death.

For a revocable living trust, the beneficiaries are all contingent upon the death of the grantor and lack the right to see the trust until the grantor passes. Once that occurs, the successor trustee takes control of the trust and its property listed in the document. The successor trustee must then provide a copy of the terms to all direct beneficiaries.

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Are Beneficiaries Entitled to a Copy of the Estate Accounts?
As equitable owners of the trust assets and accounts, direct beneficiaries are entitled to an accounting from the trustee. A good, responsive trustee will compile an accounting soon after the grantor’s death.

First, the trustee needs to understand the extent of the trust’s assets and ensure they have access to the accounts. Second, the trustee should share this accounting with all beneficiaries.

An estate accounting should contain at least the following information:

All the assets which were transferred to the trust upon the grantor’s death.
Any income that has been generated by the assets (rent, interest, dividends, etc.)
A description of all the trust’s expenditures.
A listing of unpaid debts or creditor claims on the trust property (such as a mortgage).
An outline of how the trustee will begin distributions or sales of trust assets before distributions.
Many revocable living trusts will explicitly include instructions for the trustee to compile an estate accounting, what to include, and how soon it should be created and shared with beneficiaries.

After the initial estate accounting, the trustee should keep beneficiaries informed periodically. While a revocable living trust should have all its assets wound down and distributed relatively quickly, some assets or trusts are more complicated. At the least, updated accountings should be provided after selling significant assets or making partial distributions.

Can a Beneficiary Ask To See a Bank Statement?
Beneficiaries of a revocable living trust can always request to see a trust’s bank statements. The trustee has a fiduciary duty to manage trust assets on behalf of the beneficiaries, and reviewing bank statements can quickly confirm good stewardship.

However, there is typically no right for a beneficiary to demand a bank statement from a trustee. It may be unreasonable to expect weekly or monthly updates, especially for more complex trusts. A trustee should attempt to maintain open and forthright communication with beneficiaries. But unless there is a strong suspicion of wrongdoing by the trustee, beneficiaries badgering them for constant updates can be counterproductive.

As an interested party, you have the right to compel an estate accounting from a reluctant trustee. If you believe a trustee is withholding information from you and other beneficiaries, you have options. First, you should consider speaking with an experienced trust litigation attorney about what is happening and whether your requests are reasonable.

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About RMO Lawyers:
RMO LLP serves clients in Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Orange County, San Diego, Kansas City, Miami, and communities throughout California, Florida, Missouri and Kansas.

Our founder, Scott E. Rahn has been named “Top 100 – Trust and Estate Litigation” by SuperLawyers, Trusts and Estates Litigator of the Year, and Best Lawyers in America for Litigation