Trusts Administration Attorney in Edina

Devoted to Estate Planning & Probate in Edina Since 2001

Trust administration is the process of managing and distributing a trust’s assets to beneficiaries after the grantor passes away or becomes incapacitated. The legal responsibility falls immediately on whoever is named successor trustee, often a family member who has never served in that role and isn’t sure where to start. Guttman Law, PLLC is located in Edina, just off the Crosstown, and our practice has been devoted entirely to estate planning, estate administration, and probate since 2001. We work with trustees and families throughout the Edina area and surrounding communities, including Minneapolis.

Unlike probate, trust administration generally moves outside of court. But that doesn’t make it simple. The successor trustee assumes legal responsibility for decisions from the moment they accept the role, and mistakes can carry personal liability.

If you’ve been named a trustee and aren’t sure what comes next, call us at (612) 324-4055 to schedule a free consultation with a trusts administration attorney at our Edina office.

What a Trustee Is Legally Required to Do

A trustee holds a fiduciary duty under Minnesota law, meaning they must act in the best interests of the beneficiaries, not their own. That standard isn’t abstract. It translates into concrete obligations: notifying beneficiaries of the trust, taking an inventory of trust assets, managing or liquidating those assets responsibly, filing required income and estate tax returns, maintaining detailed records and accountings, and making distributions according to the trust document’s terms.

Trustees who make errors, mismanage assets, or fail to follow the trust’s terms can be held personally liable. That risk is real even when the trustee’s intentions are good. One practical note: attorney fees for trust administration guidance are generally payable from the trust itself, not from the trustee’s personal funds, which means getting legal guidance typically doesn’t come out of your pocket.

We Can Help with Any Trust, Regardless of Who Drafted It

One concern we hear often is whether we can help when a trust was prepared somewhere else. The answer is yes. Attorney Matt Guttman has administered and updated hundreds of estate plans originally prepared by the Molever Law Firm and other law firms throughout Minnesota. If a loved one has passed away and their trust was drafted by a different attorney, that isn’t a barrier to working with us.

We offer a complimentary consultation to review any existing trust document and walk through what the administration process may involve. We explain every step in plain language so trustees and families have a clear picture of what’s ahead before any work begins.

Why Edina Families Work with Guttman Law, PLLC

Our practice is devoted solely to estate planning, estate administration, and probate. We don’t split attention across unrelated areas of law, and our guidance on trust administration draws on more than two decades of focused work in this field.

No charges for estate planning calls: We don’t charge clients for phone calls related to their estate plan, so trustees can stay in contact throughout the administration process without watching the clock.

Complimentary periodic reviews: We provide periodic reviews at no charge so trust documents stay aligned with changing circumstances over time.

Step-by-step guidance: We walk each client through the process piece by piece, in plain terms, so the process is easier to follow.

Schedule a Free Consultation with Our Edina Trust Administration Team

Whether you were just named trustee, are navigating an administration already in progress, or want to understand what a trust document requires before acting, we’re ready to help. We serve clients in Edina, Minneapolis, and communities throughout the Twin Cities area. Call Guttman Law, PLLC at (612) 324-4055 to get started.