The order that actually works: secure the home, serve notice, open the trust's EIN and bank account, build the inventory, pay what's owed, then distribute and close. Nine steps, in the sequence that avoids the common mistakes.
The 60 day window to notify beneficiaries, the 120 day window they have to contest, and when the annual accounting is due. Miss one of these and a straightforward job gets a lot harder.
A ready made spreadsheet with the columns already built: what it is, where it lives, what it's worth, and its value on the date of death. Copy it and start filling it in today.
The six mistakes that get trustees in real trouble, from mixing trust money with your own to guessing at a home's value, and how to tell when it's time to bring in a professional fiduciary.
It arrives in your inbox in minutes. Start with whichever section matches where you are right now.
At your own pace. The order of operations does the thinking, so you always know the next right step.
We apply it to your exact trust and you leave with a written action plan. You don't need to have anything figured out first.
It's a checklist, not a manual. Open the step you're standing in right now.
What legal authority you have right now, what you're waiting on, and the first practical steps: securing the home, getting certified copies of the death certificate, and notifying the banks.
The 60 day window to notify beneficiaries, the 120 day window they have to contest, and when the annual accounting is due, straight from the California Probate Code.
A ready made spreadsheet with the columns already built, plus a linked copy you can start filling in today: what it is, where it lives, and what it's worth on the date of death.
How to title the trust account correctly, why mixing funds is the single most common trustee mistake, and what you're actually entitled to be paid for the time this takes.
Distributing before debts are settled, going silent with beneficiaries, missing the notice deadline, letting insurance lapse, and guessing at a home's value instead of getting it appraised.
What a professional fiduciary actually does, and the situations where bringing one in saves you real time and real stress, without taking the decision out of your hands.
Not sure where to start? Start with number one. Until you know exactly what you're responsible for, everything else is just guessing.
A free step by step checklist from Scott Stollar, C.A.R. Certified Probate and Trust Specialist, that walks you through being named successor trustee of a California trust: securing the home, notifying beneficiaries, opening the trust account, building the inventory, paying what's owed, and distributing and closing the trust.
Anyone named successor trustee of a family trust in California, whether you're the only beneficiary or splitting the role with co-owners or family, and even if you've never handled anything like this before.
Yes. No pressure and no sales pitch. Enter your name and email and it arrives in your inbox instantly.
You'll get a friendly follow up text to see if you have questions, and you can book a complimentary Inherited Home Strategy Session whenever you're ready.
The checklist works the same way. The deadlines and the order of operations don't change based on how many people are named. What changes is who does which piece, and that's exactly the kind of thing worth confirming in a session together.
It happens more than people think, and it's rarely as damaging as it feels in the moment. The checklist still gives you the right next step, and a session can help you figure out what, if anything, needs to be fixed.
A short checklist with the deadlines and the order of operations, so you're not guessing. It lands in your inbox in minutes.
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