What to do if you've been named Trustee in Florida

Being named Trustee means you may be responsible for administering a Trust under Florida law. Here's a clear starting point — then confirm the specifics for your situation before you act.

Get a tailored starting point in a few minutes.

Start the free role check

1
Confirm your role
Read the Trust instrument to confirm you are in fact the acting Trustee, what powers you have, and what the Trust directs. Note any amendments or restatements.
2
Secure the documents
Locate the original Trust and any amendments, and gather related documents (deeds, account statements, and — where applicable — a death certificate).
3
Identify and safeguard assets
Make an inventory of what the Trust owns and take reasonable steps to protect it. Do not commingle Trust assets with your own.
4
Identify the beneficiaries
Determine who the qualified beneficiaries are. You'll owe them duties to inform and, generally, to account.
5
Handle required notices
Florida law may require a Notice of Trust filing and a notice to qualified beneficiaries within set timeframes. Get the sequence and timing right.
6
Don't rush distributions
Understand the Trust terms and your obligations before paying anyone. Premature or incorrect distributions are a common source of Trustee liability.

Keep reading

General information about Florida law, not legal advice, and no attorney-client relationship is created by using this page.