Trust & Probate Administration
Steady guidance through
legal and fiduciary duties.
After a death or incapacity, trustees and personal representatives must make decisions while managing documents, assets, notices, claims, taxes, and beneficiary expectations.
Understand your role
Authority comes with duties, deadlines, and recordkeeping.
Trust administration and probate are different processes, but both require careful handling of property and communication. The governing documents, asset titles, family circumstances, claims, and tax issues determine the appropriate path.
We help fiduciaries identify what must be done, what should not be done yet, and how to document decisions throughout the administration.
Administration support
Practical help at each stage
Establish authority
Review the will, trust, death certificate, asset ownership, beneficiary designations, and court requirements.
Protect and identify assets
Secure property, obtain information, coordinate valuations, and keep estate or trust property separate.
Notices, claims, and expenses
Address required communications, creditor issues, ongoing bills, professional assistance, and tax coordination.
Accounting and distribution
Maintain records, provide information, resolve issues, make authorized distributions, and complete closing steps.
Before moving property
Avoid acting before authority and ownership are confirmed.
Closing accounts, transferring vehicles, selling real estate, distributing personal property, or paying disputed claims too early can create complications. Start by reviewing the documents and asset titles.
Administration FAQ
Common questions
Every administration depends on the documents, assets, relationships, and procedural requirements involved.
See the complete FAQ →What is the difference between trust administration and probate?
Trust administration generally concerns property governed by a trust and often proceeds without routine court supervision. Probate is a court process for administering property in a decedent’s probate estate.
Is probate always required?
No. The answer depends on what property exists, how it is titled, beneficiary designations, trust ownership, and whether another transfer procedure is available.
What does a successor trustee do?
A successor trustee may need to secure assets, review the trust, notify interested persons, keep records, address expenses and taxes, communicate with beneficiaries, and make distributions according to the trust.
What does a personal representative do?
A personal representative administers a probate estate under Arizona law and court authority. Duties may include collecting property, giving notices, addressing claims, maintaining records, filing required documents, and distributing assets.
When should I contact an attorney after a death?
Promptly, especially before transferring, selling, distributing, or retitling property. Early review can identify authority, deadlines, and steps that should occur before assets are changed.
Can a fiduciary be personally liable?
Trustees and personal representatives have legal duties. Personal exposure can arise from improper distributions, misuse of assets, inadequate records, ignored claims, or other breaches. Advice before significant action can reduce avoidable risk.
The Reidhead Law Group
Get oriented before taking major action
Contact our office with the will, trust, death certificate, and any available asset information. Missing documents should not prevent an initial conversation.