⏱️ This will take you 6 minutes to read—and it could save your family years of legal trouble.
When you set up a revocable living trust, you aren’t just planning for what happens right after you pass. You’re building a legacy that could last decades. But here’s the question most people forget to ask:
➡️ What happens if the person managing your trust—your successor trustee—dies while the trust is still active?
In California, there’s a plan B. But it’s far from perfect. Here’s how to protect your trust—and your family’s future—without missing a beat.
If your trust doesn’t name backup trustees, California law steps in.
➡️ Beneficiaries (aka your family) have to petition the court to appoint a new trustee. ➡️ Your trust accounts could be frozen during the process. ➡️ Support payments to your kids or grandkids could be delayed. ➡️ Rental properties, businesses, or investments might go unmanaged—costing your family real money.
This creates stress, confusion, and in some cases, family disputes about who should take over.
Want to learn how to prevent this? Attend our powerful estate planning seminar on Tuesday, July 22nd in Inglewood. Reserve your free seat here.
A well-drafted trust doesn’t just name a successor trustee. It names a full bench of backups:
✅ Primary Successor Trustee (your first choice) ✅ 1st Alternate Trustee ✅ 2nd Alternate Trustee ✅ Professional trustee or trust company, if needed
This way, if someone passes away, declines, or becomes unable to serve, the next in line takes over—without court involvement.
You can also name co-trustees, meaning two people serve together. If one dies, the other keeps things running smoothly.
Want to see real-world examples of how this works? Join us on July 22nd. Save your spot today.
Should You Consider a Professional Trustee?
If your trust is going to last decades (say, for a child with special needs, or to preserve family property), consider naming a professional trustee:
A trust company or bank A private fiduciary with experience managing trusts long-term
Professional trustees have internal systems to seamlessly replace individual officers, ensuring your trust is managed without interruption.
If your trust is 5, 10, or 20 years old, your original trustees may no longer be the right fit.
✅ Maybe someone has passed away. ✅ Maybe you’ve moved or changed family dynamics. ✅ Maybe a trusted friend or advisor is now your top choice.
The solution? Amend your trust now, while you still can. Updating trustees is simple when you’re alive and well—but it’s impossible once something happens.
Take control before life forces your family to react. Join us on July 22nd to learn how. Register here—space is limited.
✅ Name multiple successor trustees. ✅ Revisit your trust every 3–5 years. ✅ Keep your plan as dynamic as your life.
Tuesday, July 22nd | Inglewood, CA
Reserve your free seat now.
Collins Law Group: Protecting California families for over 40 years.
(310) 677-9787
collinslawgroup.com
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