El texto completo de esta guía está en inglés; el resumen anterior está en su idioma. Los resúmenes de las leyes y el inglés siguen siendo la fuente de referencia.
La respuesta breve · 10 min de lectura
An Illinois successor trustee takes office by accepting — by the trust's method or by acting as trustee, and silence for 120 days after notice is a declination (760 ILCS 3/701) — and then administers the trust in good faith, by its terms and purposes and under the Code (760 ILCS 3/801). Within 90 days after accepting, the trustee notifies each qualified beneficiary of the acceptance (760 ILCS 3/813.1(d)(1)(A)).
Última revisión contra los Estatutos de Illinois y actualización: 2026-10-11.
What "successor trustee" means in Illinois
A successor trustee is the person the trust names to serve when the current trustee stops — at the settlor-trustee's death, resignation or incapacity, or another vacancy. A vacancy occurs when a designated trustee declines, cannot be identified or does not exist, resigns, is disqualified or removed, dies, has a guardian appointed or becomes incapacitated; a vacancy that must be filled is filled by the person the trust instrument designates, then by a person appointed by a majority of the beneficiaries who are income distributees, then by the court (760 ILCS 3/704).
The Illinois Trust Code is 760 ILCS 3/101 et seq. A trust is not subject to continuing judicial supervision unless the court orders it (760 ILCS 3/201), and the court issues no letters of trusteeship for a living trust.
Taking office: accepting, declining, and preserving
A designated trustee accepts by substantially complying with the method of acceptance the trust instrument provides or — where it provides none, or its method is not expressly exclusive — by accepting delivery of the trust property, exercising powers or performing duties as trustee, or otherwise indicating acceptance (760 ILCS 3/701(a)). A designated trustee who has not accepted may decline; one who does not accept within 120 days after receiving notice of the designation is deemed to have declined (760 ILCS 3/701(b)).
Without accepting, a designee may act to preserve the trust property if a declination is sent within the 120 days, and may inspect or investigate the property, without liability for acts taken in good faith (760 ILCS 3/701(c)). A trustee gives bond only where the court finds one is needed or the instrument requires it (760 ILCS 3/702).
The notices: 90 days, counted from what happens
Within 90 days after accepting, the trustee notifies each qualified beneficiary of the acceptance and of the trustee's name, address and telephone number (760 ILCS 3/813.1(d)(1)(A)). Within 90 days of the trust becoming irrevocable — or of the acceptance, if no trustee was then acting — the trustee notifies them of the trust's existence, of the right to request a complete copy of the instrument (or only the beneficiary's portions, where the instrument so provides), and of whether the beneficiary has a right to receive or request trust accountings (760 ILCS 3/813.1(b)(1)). A change in the rate or method of the trustee's compensation is noticed in advance (760 ILCS 3/813.1(d)(1)(B)).
These rules apply to a trust that became irrevocable, or a trustee who accepted, after January 1, 2020; an older trust with a trustee already acting follows 760 ILCS 3/813.2.
The duties that come with the role
The statutes describe what a trustee owes:
- Good faith, in accordance with the trust's purposes and terms and the Code (760 ILCS 3/801).
- Loyalty: a transaction for the trustee's own account, or affected by a conflict of interest, is voidable by an affected beneficiary unless an exception applies (760 ILCS 3/802).
- Impartiality among two or more beneficiaries (760 ILCS 3/803), and prudent administration with reasonable costs (760 ILCS 3/804, 760 ILCS 3/805).
- Control and protection of the trust property, including the search for unclaimed property (760 ILCS 3/809), and records and separation (760 ILCS 3/810).
- Furnishing a complete copy of the instrument on a qualified beneficiary's reasonable request (760 ILCS 3/813.1(b)(6)).
- A trust accounting at least annually, and at termination (760 ILCS 3/813.1(b)(2)–(4)).
First steps before acting
Read the trust and every amendment; note the trustee provisions, any directing party, and the distribution terms. List the property by how it is titled — real property reaches a trust only by a written instrument of conveyance to the trustee (760 ILCS 3/115). A successor has the predecessor's rights, powers and duties, is under no duty to inquire into the predecessor's acts and is not liable for them; with the approval of a majority in interest of the income beneficiaries, a successor may accept the predecessor's account as a full discharge (760 ILCS 3/812). Banks and title companies usually accept a certification of trust (760 ILCS 3/1013).
Plazos del fideicomisario en Illinois: lo que disponen las leyes
Revisado contra los Estatutos de Illinois el 2026-10-11. Información general, no asesoría legal; el texto oficial prevalece.
| Cuándo | Plazo | Lo que dispone la ley | A quién | Ley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| You receive notice that you are named trustee | Within 120 days after receiving notice of the designation; a designated trustee who does not accept within those 120 days is deemed to have declined. | Accept by substantially complying with a method of acceptance the trust instrument provides or — where it provides none, or its method is not expressly exclusive — by accepting delivery of the trust property, exercising powers or performing duties as trustee, or otherwise indicating acceptance. Without accepting, a designated trustee may act to preserve the property if a declination is sent within the 120 days, and may inspect or investigate it. | — | 760 ILCS 3/701 ↗ |
| You accept | At once and throughout; no day-count. | Administer the trust in good faith, in accordance with its purposes and the terms of the trust, and in accordance with the Illinois Trust Code. | — | 760 ILCS 3/801 ↗ |
| You accept | At once and throughout; no day-count. | Take reasonable steps to take control of and protect the trust property, including searching for and, if practicable, claiming any unclaimed property (as amended by P.A. 104-116 from January 1, 2026). Where a corporation serves as co-trustee with individuals, the corporate trustee has custody unless all the trustees agree otherwise. | — | 760 ILCS 3/809 ↗ |
| You accept | Throughout; no day-count. | Keep adequate records of the administration, keep trust property separate from your own, and — unless you are a regulated bank — cause the trust property to be designated so that the trust's interest, to the extent feasible, appears in a third party's records. | — | 760 ILCS 3/810 ↗ |
| You accept | Within a reasonable time after the acceptance; no day-count. | Review the trust assets and make and implement decisions about the retention and disposition of the original investments, to conform to the Illinois Prudent Investor Law. | — | 760 ILCS 3/904 ↗ |
| The trust becomes irrevocable — at the settlor's death, where it was revocable until then | Within 90 days of the trust becoming irrevocable; or, if no trustee was then acting, within 90 days of the trustee's acceptance. | Notify each qualified beneficiary of the trust's existence, of the beneficiary's right to request a complete copy of the trust instrument (or, if the instrument so provides, only the portion that sets forth the terms in which the beneficiary has an interest), and of whether the beneficiary has a right to receive or request trust accountings. The section applies to a trust that became irrevocable, or a trustee who accepted, after January 1, 2020; an older trust follows 760 ILCS 3/813.2. | Each qualified beneficiary (760 ILCS 3/103(30)) | 760 ILCS 3/813.1(b)(1) ↗ |
| You learn that a qualified beneficiary has a representative who was not notified, no longer has one, or that there is a new qualified beneficiary | Within 90 days of acquiring that knowledge. | Give the same notice of the trust's existence and the beneficiary's rights to the newly identified qualified beneficiary or representative. | The qualified beneficiary, or the representative under Article 3 | 760 ILCS 3/813.1(b)(1) ↗ |
| You accept the trusteeship | Within 90 days after you accept. | Notify each qualified beneficiary of the acceptance and of your name, address and telephone number. A corporate successor by merger, consolidation or an affiliate transfer with unchanged contact information chooses its own timing and manner. | Each qualified beneficiary (760 ILCS 3/103(30)) | 760 ILCS 3/813.1(d)(1)(A) ↗ |
| You plan a change in the rate of, or the method of determining, your compensation | In advance of the change; no day-count. | Notify each qualified beneficiary before the change. | Each qualified beneficiary | 760 ILCS 3/813.1(d)(1)(B) ↗ |
| Another trustee becomes incapacitated, dies, is disqualified or is removed, and you continue as trustee | Within 90 days after the event. | Notify each qualified beneficiary of the other trustee's incapacity, death, disqualification or removal. | Each qualified beneficiary | 760 ILCS 3/813.1(d)(2) ↗ |
| Your address, telephone number or other contact information changes | No later than 90 days after the change takes effect. | Notify each qualified beneficiary of the change. | Each qualified beneficiary | 760 ILCS 3/813.1(d)(3) ↗ |
| A qualified beneficiary reasonably requests the trust instrument | Promptly; no day-count. | Furnish a complete copy of the trust instrument — or, where the instrument so provides, only the portion that sets forth the terms in which the qualified beneficiary has an interest. Each request concerns a single, sufficiently identified trust; a reasonable fee may be charged for repeat information or to a beneficiary who is not a qualified beneficiary. | — | 760 ILCS 3/813.1(b)(6) ↗ |
| Each year of the administration | At least annually. | Send a trust accounting — the trust property, liabilities, receipts and disbursements, including the amount of your compensation; the value of the assets on hand at the close of the period, to the extent feasible; and all other material facts of the administration (760 ILCS 3/103(38)) — to all current beneficiaries and to all presumptive remainder beneficiaries (760 ILCS 3/813.1(b)(3)). An asset with no readily available market value may carry an estimated or nominal value in your discretion. | All current beneficiaries and all presumptive remainder beneficiaries | 760 ILCS 3/813.1(b)(2) ↗ |
| The trust terminates | On termination; no day-count. | Send a trust accounting to all beneficiaries entitled to receive a distribution of the residue of the trust. On termination the trustee may require a written approval of the accounting and, at the trustee's election, a refunding agreement, and may withhold a reasonable reserve pending them (760 ILCS 3/817). | All beneficiaries entitled to a distribution of the residue | 760 ILCS 3/813.1(b)(4) ↗ |
| A vacancy occurs in the trusteeship and no co-trustee remains in office | Upon the vacancy; no day-count. | The former trustee sends the trust accounting to the beneficiaries entitled to it; a personal representative, guardian of the estate or guardian of the person may send it on behalf of a deceased or incapacitated trustee. | The beneficiaries entitled to the accounting | 760 ILCS 3/813.1(c) ↗ |
| A qualified beneficiary delivers a written waiver, or withdraws one | At any time; the withdrawal reaches future trust accountings. | A qualified beneficiary may waive the right to receive information the section requires, such as a trust accounting, by an instrument in writing delivered to the trustee, and may withdraw the waiver by a later writing. Silence is not a waiver. | — | 760 ILCS 3/813.1(g) ↗ |
| The trust became irrevocable, or you accepted the trusteeship, before January 1, 2020 | A current account at least annually; a final account on termination. | Furnish a current account showing the receipts, disbursements and inventory to the beneficiaries entitled to or receiving the income (or, if none, those eligible to it), and on termination a final account to the beneficiaries entitled to distribution, with prior accounts made available; an incapacitated beneficiary's account goes to the representative of the beneficiary's estate or, if none, a spouse, parent, adult child or guardian. | The income beneficiaries; on termination, the beneficiaries entitled to distribution | 760 ILCS 3/813.2 ↗ |
| The trust is revocable and the settlor is living | While the trust is revocable; no day-count. | While the settlor personally has capacity to revoke, the beneficiaries' rights are subject to the settlor's control and the trustee's duties are owed exclusively to the settlor; while the settlor lacks that capacity, the duties are owed to the settlor and the current beneficiaries, the settlor's interests first. | — | 760 ILCS 3/603 ↗ |
| Co-trustees cannot reach a unanimous decision | After prior written notice to, or written waiver of notice by, each other co-trustee. | Co-trustees who cannot agree may act by majority decision after that written notice or waiver; each co-trustee participates unless unavailable or the function was delegated, and where prompt action is needed and a co-trustee is unavailable, the remaining co-trustee or a majority of the remaining co-trustees may act. | Each other co-trustee | 760 ILCS 3/703 ↗ |
| You decide to resign | Upon notice; no day-count. | Resign upon notice to the settlor, if living, to the beneficiaries who are distributees or permissible distributees of trust income, and to all co-trustees — or with the court's approval; the trustee also notifies each qualified beneficiary of the resignation (760 ILCS 3/813.1(d)(1)(C)). Resignation does not discharge liability for the trustee's acts; a former trustee delivers the property expeditiously (760 ILCS 3/707). | The settlor if living, the income distributees and all co-trustees; each qualified beneficiary | 760 ILCS 3/705 ↗ |
| You propose to transfer the trust's principal place of administration | Not less than 60 days before initiating the transfer; the objection date the notice states is not less than 60 days after the notice. | Notify the qualified beneficiaries of the new jurisdiction, the address and telephone number at the new location, the reasons, the anticipated date and the date by which they may object. A timely objection ends the authority to transfer without the court. | The qualified beneficiaries | 760 ILCS 3/108 ↗ |
| Interested persons propose a nonjudicial settlement agreement | Where the trust has a charitable interest, written notice to the Attorney General at least 60 days before the effective date; any interested person may petition the court to approve within 60 days after the effective date. | Interested persons may settle the matters the section lists — the terms' interpretation, approval of an accounting, a trustee's powers, appointment and compensation, transfer of the place of administration, bona fide disputes and, with the court's approval, termination — by an agreement that binds as a court order. | The Attorney General's Charitable Trust Bureau, where the trust has a charitable interest | 760 ILCS 3/111 ↗ |
| You consider terminating a small trust as uneconomic | After notice to the qualified beneficiaries; notice to the current beneficiaries at least 30 days before the effective date. | The trustee of a trust whose property is worth less than $100,000 may terminate it after notice to the qualified beneficiaries if the costs of continuing it will substantially impair its purpose, distributing to the current beneficiaries as the section directs; the court may also modify or terminate an uneconomic trust. | The qualified beneficiaries; the current beneficiaries | 760 ILCS 3/414 ↗ |
| You decide to convert the trust to a total return trust | A qualified beneficiary may object in writing within 60 days after the notice is sent. | Send a written notice of the decision, with a prospective effective date and a copy of Article 11, to all of the qualified beneficiaries; the conversion proceeds if none objects within the 60 days. | All of the qualified beneficiaries | 760 ILCS 3/1102 ↗ |
| You intend to distribute the trust's property to a second trust | Notice not later than 60 days before the exercise; the notice period ends 59 days after the notice is given, unless every person entitled to notice waives it in a signed record. | Give notice in a record of the intended exercise — the manner, the effective date, the first-trust instrument and every second-trust instrument — to each living settlor, each qualified beneficiary, each holder of a presently exercisable power of appointment, each person who may remove or replace the fiduciary, every other fiduciary of the first trust, each fiduciary of the second trust and, where there is a charitable interest, the Attorney General's Charitable Trust Bureau. | The persons 760 ILCS 3/1207(c) lists | 760 ILCS 3/1207 ↗ |
| The settlor of a trust that was revocable at death dies | The earlier of 2 years after the death and — where the settlor's will admitted to probate gives the trust a legacy — the time to contest the will (6 months after admission, 755 ILCS 5/8-1), or otherwise 6 months after you send a copy of the trust instrument with a notice of the trust's existence, your name and address and the 6-month period. | The period within which a judicial proceeding to contest the validity of the trust may be commenced. | — | 760 ILCS 3/604(a) ↗ |
| The settlor of a trust that was revocable at death dies | Nine months after the death; no protection where you know of a pending contest, or a potential contestant notified you of a possible proceeding and a proceeding is commenced within 60 days after the notification. | Nine months after the death the trustee may proceed to distribute under the trust instrument without liability for doing so, subject to those two conditions; a beneficiary of a trust determined to have been invalid returns the distribution with its income and appreciation. | — | 760 ILCS 3/604(b) ↗ |
| The settlor of a trust that was revocable at death dies | Nine months after the death, absent a written notice from the personal representative that the probate estate is or may be insufficient (or after its withdrawal or revocation). | A trustee who distributes nine months or later after the settlor's death, in accordance with the trust instrument, is released from liability under the section for the assets distributed — unless the personal representative's written insufficiency notice was received and not withdrawn. | — | 760 ILCS 3/505(a)(6) ↗ |
| The settlor of a trust that was revocable at death dies | Throughout the estate's administration; no day-count. | The property of a trust that was revocable at the settlor's death is subject to the settlor's creditors' claims, the costs of administering the estate, the funeral expenses and the statutory awards to the spouse and children to the extent the probate estate is inadequate; a claim barred against the personal representative is barred against the trust, and the Probate Act's classification and priority apply once a right to collect from the trust is perfected. | — | 760 ILCS 3/505(a)(5) ↗ |
| You furnish a trust accounting or other writing that adequately discloses a matter (a trust irrevocable, or a trustee who accepted, after January 1, 2020) | 2 years after the date the information is furnished. | The matter disclosed is binding on each person who receives the information, and those the person represents, unless an action against the trustee is instituted within those 2 years. A disclosure is adequate if it provides sufficient information so that the person knows of the potential claim or should have inquired into its existence. | — | 760 ILCS 3/1005(a)(1) ↗ |
| You furnish a current or final account (a trust irrevocable, or a trustee who accepted, before January 1, 2020) | 3 years after the date the account is furnished. | A current account binds each beneficiary receiving it, and a final account each beneficiary receiving it and those claiming through them, unless an action against the trustee is instituted within those 3 years. | — | 760 ILCS 3/1005(a)(2) ↗ |
| The trustee is removed, resigns or dies; the beneficiary's interest ends; or the trust terminates | 5 years after the first of those events, unless barred earlier; fraudulent concealment, 5 years after discovery (735 ILCS 5/13-215). | The outer period within which a beneficiary's judicial proceeding against a trustee for breach of trust must be commenced. | — | 760 ILCS 3/1005(b) ↗ |
| A transfer is made or an obligation incurred that a creditor may challenge | 4 years after the transfer or obligation, or, for actual intent, 1 year after it was or could reasonably have been discovered if later; 1 year for an insider's antecedent debt. | The periods within which a creditor's action under the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act is brought, or is extinguished. | — | 740 ILCS 160/10 ↗ |
| The trust terminates | A copy of the governing instrument kept for a minimum of 7 years after the termination; the unclaimed-property search before the termination. | Maintain, for at least 7 years after the termination, a copy of the governing trust instrument under which you were authorized to act when the trust terminated, and, before the termination, conduct a reasonable search for any trust property reported and remitted to a state unclaimed-property administrator (760 ILCS 3/810(f); as amended by P.A. 104-116 from January 1, 2026). | — | 760 ILCS 3/810(e) ↗ |
| The trust terminates, in whole or in part, or a beneficiary exercises a right to withdraw principal | Expeditiously; no day-count. | Proceed expeditiously to make the distribution. The trustee may require a written approval of the trust accounting and, at the trustee's election, a refunding agreement, and may withhold a reasonable amount or require a reasonable reserve for debts, expenses and taxes pending them or a judicial settlement of accounts; an approved accounting binds the approving beneficiary and successors. | — | 760 ILCS 3/817 ↗ |
| The decedent dies and the gross estate plus adjusted taxable gifts exceeds the Illinois exclusion amount ($4,000,000, 35 ILCS 405/2) | The return and the tax are due on the due date, including extensions, for the federal return — nine months after the death; a supplemental return within 3 months of a federal change (35 ILCS 405/7). | The person who files the federal return (or who would have to if a federal tax were due) files the Illinois transfer tax return (Form 700) with the Attorney General and pays the tax to the State Treasurer; where no federal return is required, schedules of assets are filed with it. | The Attorney General (the return); the State Treasurer (the tax) | 35 ILCS 405/6 ↗ |
| The trust's tax year ends | The 15th day of the fourth month after year-end (April 15 for a calendar-year trust), with the automatic filing extension. | File the Illinois fiduciary income and replacement tax return where the trust is required to file one, alongside the federal Form 1041. | — | Illinois Form IL-1041 ↗ |
| The testator dies and you hold the will | Immediately upon the death; wilfully secreting a will for 30 days after the death is known is a Class 3 felony. | Any person who has the testator's will in possession files it with the clerk of the court of the proper county; on failure the court may compel its production. | — | 755 ILCS 5/6-1 ↗Sucesión relacionada |
| A will is admitted (or denied admission) to probate, or a representative is appointed | Not more than 14 days after the order: a copy of the petition and the order mailed to each heir and legatee, or published once a week for 3 successive weeks where a name or address is unknown. | The representative (or the petitioner) mails or publishes the notice, which includes the Supreme Court's explanation of the rights to formal proof and to contest (Ill. S. Ct. R. 108), and files proof. | Each heir and legatee | 755 ILCS 5/6-10 ↗Sucesión relacionada |
| A will is admitted to probate before notice | Within 42 days after the effective date of the order admitting the will. | Any person entitled to notice may petition to require formal proof of the will by the witnesses' testimony. | — | 755 ILCS 5/6-21 ↗Sucesión relacionada |
| A will is admitted to probate | Within 6 months after the admission. | Any interested person may petition to contest the will's validity; an action to contest a revocable trust to which the will gives a legacy is commenced within the same time. | — | 755 ILCS 5/8-1 ↗Sucesión relacionada |
| A married testator's will is admitted to probate | Within 7 months after the admission — or further time the court allows on a petition filed in those 7 months showing pending litigation that affects the spouse's share. | The surviving spouse may renounce the will by a signed written instrument filed in the court where it was admitted, and takes one-third of the estate after claims if the testator leaves a descendant, one-half if none; the spouse's own decision. | — | 755 ILCS 5/2-8 ↗Sucesión relacionada |
| A resident decedent's estate is administered in Illinois | Nine months' support after the death; paid in up to three installments as the court directs. | The surviving spouse's award — a reasonable sum for nine months' support, not less than $20,000 plus not less than $10,000 for each minor or dependent child residing with the spouse — exempt from creditors' process; a child's award where there is no spouse or the child did not reside with the spouse (755 ILCS 5/15-2). A dependent adult child's award requires written notice within 30 days of the representative's notice. | — | 755 ILCS 5/15-1 ↗Sucesión relacionada |
| A personal representative is issued letters | Within 60 days after the letters; a supplemental inventory within 60 days after later property comes to the representative's knowledge. | The representative files a verified inventory of the real and personal estate and any cause of action; an independent representative serves the inventory on the interested persons instead, not less than 30 days before the closing report (755 ILCS 5/28-6). | — | 755 ILCS 5/14-1 ↗Sucesión relacionada |
| A personal representative is appointed | Published once a week for 3 successive weeks and mailed or delivered to each known or reasonably ascertainable creditor; the claims date is not less than 6 months from the first publication or 3 months from the mailing or delivery, whichever is later. | The representative's notice states the death, the representative and the attorney, the claims date, and that a claim not filed by then is barred. | Each known or reasonably ascertainable creditor; publication for the rest | 755 ILCS 5/18-3 ↗Sucesión relacionada |
| The representative disallows a claim not filed with the court | The notice of disallowance states a date not less than 2 months from the notice by which the claim must be filed with the court, or it is barred. | The representative may at any time pay or consent in writing to a claim that is not barred, or disallow a claim by a notice of disallowance mailed or delivered to the claimant. | — | 755 ILCS 5/18-11 ↗Sucesión relacionada |
| The decedent dies | 2 years after the death, whether or not letters of office are issued — unless a claim is barred sooner by the creditor notice or a disallowance. | Every claim against the estate, except expenses of administration and the spouse's or child's award, is barred as to all of the decedent's estate; the section does not bar an action to establish the decedent's liability to the extent of liability insurance. | — | 755 ILCS 5/18-12 ↗Sucesión relacionada |
| 12 months pass after the issuance of letters | Within 60 days after the expiration of the 12 months, or further time the court allows, and thereafter whenever the court requires. | The representative presents a verified account of the administration to the court, unless written consents of all interested persons excuse it. | — | 755 ILCS 5/24-1 ↗Sucesión relacionada |
| An independent representative files the closing report | Objections within 42 days after the report was filed; a copy of the report mailed not more than 14 days after the filing. | The independent representative mails or delivers an accounting to all interested persons, files the verified report the section describes, and is discharged and the estate closed if no objection is filed within the 42 days. | — | 755 ILCS 5/28-11 ↗Sucesión relacionada |
| The decedent leaves a small personal estate and no letters are outstanding or contemplated | No day-count; the personal estate, excluding motor vehicles registered with the Secretary of State, does not exceed $150,000. | A person holding the decedent's personal estate pays or delivers it to the persons the affidavit names, on the small estate affidavit in the statutory form; the affiant pays the valid claims in their statutory order before distributing and indemnifies those who rely on the affidavit. A successor's instrument, never the trustee's. | — | 755 ILCS 5/25-1 ↗Sucesión relacionada |
| An interested person petitions for distribution on summary administration | Notice published once a week for 3 successive weeks, the first publication not less than 30 days before the hearing. | Where the gross estate subject to administration in Illinois does not exceed $100,000 and the section's other conditions are met — among them every heir's and legatee's written consent and each distributee's refunding bond — the court may direct distribution and excuse letters. | — | 755 ILCS 5/9-8 ↗Sucesión relacionada |
| The trust becomes irrevocable | Before the trust receives income or files under its own number. | Obtain the trust's employer identification number; a revocable trust used the settlor's Social Security number, and that stops at death. | — | IRS Form SS-4 ↗Federal |
| The decedent dies | Nine months after death; a six-month extension is available. | File the federal estate tax return when the gross estate exceeds the filing threshold, or to elect portability for a surviving spouse. | — | IRS Form 706 ↗Federal |
| The trust's tax year ends | The 15th day of the fourth month after year-end (April 15 for a calendar-year trust). | File the trust's income tax return and issue a Schedule K-1 to each beneficiary who received distributable income. | — | IRS Form 1041 ↗Federal |
Co-trustees and directing parties
Co-trustees who cannot reach a unanimous decision may act by majority after prior written notice to, or written waiver by, each other co-trustee; each participates unless unavailable or a function was delegated, and a trustee may delegate a function to a co-trustee (760 ILCS 3/703). Where the instrument names an investment trust advisor, a distribution trust advisor or a trust protector, the directing party is a fiduciary and the excluded fiduciary follows its direction, has no duty to monitor it, and is not liable for a loss from following it except for the excluded fiduciary's own willful misconduct (760 ILCS 3/808). A trustee may delegate duties and powers a prudent trustee could properly delegate, with reasonable care in selecting and reviewing the agent (760 ILCS 3/807).
Resigning, being removed, and the vacancy
A trustee may resign upon notice to the settlor, if living, to the beneficiaries who are distributees or permissible distributees of trust income, and to all co-trustees — or with the court's approval; resignation does not discharge liability for the trustee's acts (760 ILCS 3/705), and the trustee notifies the qualified beneficiaries of the resignation (760 ILCS 3/813.1(d)(1)(C)). The court may remove a trustee for a serious breach of trust, lack of cooperation among co-trustees that substantially impairs the administration, unfitness or persistent failure to administer effectively, or a substantial change of circumstances (760 ILCS 3/706). A trustee who resigns or is removed keeps a trustee's duties and the powers needed to protect the property until it is delivered, and delivers it expeditiously to the co-trustee, successor or other person entitled (760 ILCS 3/707).
Compensation, accountings, and the ways trustees get into trouble
Where the trust does not set it, a trustee is entitled to reasonable compensation; where it does, the court may raise or lower it in the circumstances the statute states (760 ILCS 3/708). Expenses properly incurred are reimbursed (760 ILCS 3/709). A breach of trust exposes the trustee to the remedies of 760 ILCS 3/1001 and to liability for the greater of the loss and the trustee's profit (760 ILCS 3/1002). A trust accounting that adequately discloses a matter starts a two-year period (760 ILCS 3/1005).
When a licensed Illinois attorney is the right next call
TrusteeClear explains the role and organizes the record; it does not decide who is a qualified beneficiary or how a directed-trust provision divides the work. A licensed Illinois attorney of your choosing can advise on those questions and on a resignation or a dispute.
Preguntas frecuentes
How does a successor trustee accept an Illinois trust?
By substantially complying with the method the trust instrument provides or, where it provides none or its method is not exclusive, by accepting delivery of trust property, exercising powers or performing duties as trustee (760 ILCS 3/701(a)); a designee who does nothing for 120 days after notice is deemed to decline.
Who must an Illinois successor trustee notify?
Each qualified beneficiary — each current and presumptive remainder beneficiary (760 ILCS 3/103) — within 90 days after accepting (760 ILCS 3/813.1(d)(1)(A)) and within 90 days of the trust becoming irrevocable (760 ILCS 3/813.1(b)(1)).
Is an Illinois successor trustee paid?
Yes, reasonably, unless the trust instrument sets the compensation; the court may raise or lower a specified amount in the circumstances the statute states (760 ILCS 3/708). A change in the rate or method is noticed in advance (760 ILCS 3/813.1(d)(1)(B)).
Can an Illinois trustee resign?
Yes, upon notice to the settlor if living, the income distributees and all co-trustees, or with the court's approval (760 ILCS 3/705).
Is an Illinois successor trustee responsible for what the predecessor did?
No. A successor is under no duty to inquire into the predecessor's acts and is not liable for them (760 ILCS 3/812).
Disposiciones clave del Código de Fideicomisos de Illinois
Accepting or declining trusteeship
760 ILCS 3/701 ↗Explicación clara y sencilla; el texto literal del estatuto aún no está atestiguado en nuestra biblioteca. Consulte el estatuto oficial en el enlace de arriba.
Vacancy in trusteeship; appointment of successor
760 ILCS 3/704 ↗Explicación clara y sencilla; el texto literal del estatuto aún no está atestiguado en nuestra biblioteca. Consulte el estatuto oficial en el enlace de arriba.
Duty to administer trust
760 ILCS 3/801 ↗Explicación clara y sencilla; el texto literal del estatuto aún no está atestiguado en nuestra biblioteca. Consulte el estatuto oficial en el enlace de arriba.
Duty to inform and account; trusts irrevocable and trustees accepting appointment after effective date of Code
760 ILCS 3/813.1 ↗Explicación clara y sencilla; el texto literal del estatuto aún no está atestiguado en nuestra biblioteca. Consulte el estatuto oficial en el enlace de arriba.
Descubra qué requiere su rol de fideicomisario sucesor.
Comenzar la evaluación de función gratuitaInformación general sobre la ley de Illinois, no asesoramiento legal.