Wealth Preservation, Trusts and Estates

Avoiding Trustee Mistakes - David M. Frees III

How To Avoid The Most common Mistakes Trustees Make

Failing To Do The Job Of Trustee

by: Pennsylvania Attorney David M. Frees III

This is the last in our series of brief articles about the most common  mistakes trustees make and how to avoid them. It is important to understand the language of the trust, to follow rules such as the Prudent Investor Rule, abiding by the Uniform Trust Act, to seeking professional assistance. Read these very brief articles to get a hold on your job as a trustee and how you can avoid personal liability and lawsuits.

See all ten of our articles on How To Avoid The Most Common Mistakes Trustees Make:

Avoiding Trustee Mistakes No. 1:  Trustees Failing To Understand The Trust Language

Avoiding Trustee Mistakes No. 2: Trustees In Trouble  Making Early Distributions

Avoiding Trustee Mistakes No. 3: Trustees Failing To Follow The Prudent Investor Rule

Avoiding Trustee Mistakes No. 4: Trustees Failing To Follow The Uniform Trust Act

Avoiding Trustee Mistakes No. 5: Trustees Failing to Follow The Principle And Income Act

Avoiding Trustee Mistakes No. 6: Trustees Failing to Communicate Properly

Avoiding Trustee Mistakes No. 7:  Failing to Properly Reform, Amend, or Terminate

Avoiding Trustee Mistakes No. 8: Failing to File Tax Returns Or To Seek Professional Assistance

Avoiding Trustee Mistakes No. 9: Failing To Understand The Role Of Multiple Trustees

Avoiding Trustee Mistakes No. 10: Trustees Failing To Do The Job

Call David Frees for trustee consultation to avoid liability as trustee of a Pennsylvania trust.

Offices are located in Malvern, Phoenixville, and West Chester serving the Main Line, Exton, Chester County and surrounding counties.

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Avoiding Trustee Mistakes - David M. Frees III

How To Avoid The Most Common Mistakes Trustees Make

Failing To Understand The Role Of Multiple Trustees

by: Pennsylvania Attorney David M. Frees III

One very big mistake trustees make is failing to understand their role as a trustee among trustees. It is important to understand what a trustee is and what duties and obligations they have so you can decide if being a trustee is right for you. You may not understand the ramifications of being a trustee. So, before you agree to be the trustee or if you are a trustee and you are in way over your head take a step back and revisit what a trustee is and what it means to be a trustee.  Avoid personal liability and lawsuits by having an understanding of your role in the trust administration process and if that role is the right fit for you.

See all ten of our articles on How To Avoid The Most Common Mistakes Trustees Make:

Avoiding Trustee Mistakes No. 1:  Trustees Failing To Understand The Trust Language

Avoiding Trustee Mistakes No. 2: Trustees In Trouble  Making Early Distributions

Avoiding Trustee Mistakes No. 3: Trustees Failing To Follow The Prudent Investor Rule

Avoiding Trustee Mistakes No. 4: Trustees Failing To Follow The Uniform Trust Act

Avoiding Trustee Mistakes No. 5: Trustees Failing to Follow The Principle And Income Act

Avoiding Trustee Mistakes No. 6: Trustees Failing to Communicate Properly

Avoiding Trustee Mistakes No. 7:  Failing to Properly Reform, Amend, or Terminate

Avoiding Trustee Mistakes No. 8: Failing to File Tax Returns Or To Seek Professional Assistance

Avoiding Trustee Mistakes No. 9: Failing To Understand The Role Of Multiple Trustees

Avoiding Trustee Mistakes No. 10: Trustees Failing To Do The Job

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Avoiding Trustee Mistakes - David M. Frees III

How To Avoid The Most Common Mistakes Trustees Make

Failing To File Tax Returns Or To Seek Professional Assistance

by: Pennylvania Attorney David M. Frees III

Too many trustees have been sued for failing to properly administer or invest trust assets under Pennsylvania law.

Pennsylvania has recently become more highly regulated from a trustee’s standpoint due to the Uniform Trust Act and The Prudent Investor Rule as well as the Pennsylvania Principal and Income Act.

All of this means more things for trustees to do and more opportunity for error and for lawsuits and personal liability. Sometimes asking for help is the smartest decision you could make.

Read this brief article about why seeking professional assistance can save you time, money, and headaches that a lawsuit could bring.

See all ten of our articles on How To Avoid The Most Common Mistakes Trustees Make:

Avoiding Trustee Mistakes No. 1:  Trustees Failing To Understand The Trust Language

Avoiding Trustee Mistakes No. 2: Trustees In Trouble  Making Early Distributions

Avoiding Trustee Mistakes No. 3: Trustees Failing To Follow The Prudent Investor Rule

Avoiding Trustee Mistakes No. 4: Trustees Failing To Follow The Uniform Trust Act

Avoiding Trustee Mistakes No. 5: Trustees Failing to Follow The Principle And Income Act

Avoiding Trustee Mistakes No. 6: Trustees Failing to Communicate Properly

Avoiding Trustee Mistakes No. 7:  Failing to Properly Reform, Amend, or Terminate

Avoiding Trustee Mistakes No. 8: Failing to File Tax Returns Or To Seek Professional Assistance

Avoiding Trustee Mistakes No. 9: Failing To Understand The Role Of Multiple Trustees

Avoiding Trustee Mistakes No. 10: Trustees Failing To Do The Job

Call David Frees for trustee consultation to avoid laibility as trustee of a Pennsylvania trust.

Offices are located in Malvern, Phoenixville, and West Chester serving the Main Line, Exton, Chester County and surrounding counties.

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Avoiding Trustee Mistakes - David M. Frees III

How To Avoid The Most Common Mistakes Trustees Make

Failing to Properly Reform, Amend, or Terminate

by: David M. Frees III

As a trustee do you need to have all the beneficiaries consent to amend the trust?

How does the trust I am managing terminate?

Many Pennsylvania trustees fail to reform, amend, or terminate when needed the trust properly. Learn how a trustee can gain everyones consent or if there are non-agreeing parties learn how to reform, amend, terminate anyway. Avoid making a mistake that will land you in hot water with the beneficiaries or lead to personal liability and a lawsuit.

We have researched some of the most common trustee mistakes so please take a moment to read this and other articles on  how to avoid trustee mistakes.

So, if you’re the trustee of a trust for a minor or even another adult read on to limit the chances of personal liability.

See all ten of our articles on How To Avoid The Most Common Mistakes Trustees Make:

Avoiding Trustee Mistakes No. 1:  Trustees Failing To Understand The Trust Language

Avoiding Trustee Mistakes No. 2: Trustees In Trouble  Making Early Distributions

Avoiding Trustee Mistakes No. 3: Trustees Failing To Follow The Prudent Investor Rule

Avoiding Trustee Mistakes No. 4: Trustees Failing To Follow The Uniform Trust Act

Avoiding Trustee Mistakes No. 5: Trustees Failing to Follow The Principle And Income Act

Avoiding Trustee Mistakes No. 6: Trustees Failing to Communicate Properly

Avoiding Trustee Mistakes No. 7:  Failing to Properly Reform, Amend, or Terminate

Avoiding Trustee Mistakes No. 8: Failing to File Tax Returns Or To Seek Professional Assistance

Avoiding Trustee Mistakes No. 9: Failing To Understand The Role Of Multiple Trustees

Avoiding Trustee Mistakes No. 10: Trustees Failing To Do The Job

Call David Frees for trustee consultation to avoid liability as trustee of a Pennsylvania trust.

Offices are located in Malvern, Phoenixville, and West Chester serving the Main Line, Exton, Chester County and surrounding counties.

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Avoiding Trustee Mistakes - David M. Frees III

How To Avoid The Most Common Mistakes Trustees Make

Failing To Communicate Properly

by: Pennsylvania Attorney David M. Frees III

You have heard that communication is vital in marriage and communication is important with your children but communication is also critical in trust administration.

As a trustee to avoid unnecesary hostility from family and beneficiaries communicate with them. It is not only important to keep the beneficiaries informed it may also limit your liability and limit the ability to be sued.

Read this article about the mistake many trustees make of failing to communicate properly and how you can take advantage of of keeping the beneficiaries informed.

See all ten of our articles on How To Avoid The Most Common Mistakes Trustees Make:

Avoiding Trustee Mistakes No. 1:  Trustees Failing To Understand The Trust Language

Avoiding Trustee Mistakes No. 2: Trustees In Trouble  Making Early Distributions

Avoiding Trustee Mistakes No. 3: Trustees Failing To Follow The Prudent Investor Rule

Avoiding Trustee Mistakes No. 4: Trustees Failing To Follow The Uniform Trust Act

Avoiding Trustee Mistakes No. 5: Trustees Failing to Follow The Principle And Income Act

Avoiding Trustee Mistakes No. 6: Trustees Failing to Communicate Properly

Avoiding Trustee Mistakes No. 7:  Failing to Properly Reform, Amend, or Terminate

Avoiding Trustee Mistakes No. 8: Failing to File Tax Returns Or To Seek Professional Assistance

Avoiding Trustee Mistakes No. 9: Failing To Understand The Role Of Multiple Trustees

Avoiding Trustee Mistakes No. 10: Trustees Failing To Do The Job

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Avoiding Trustee Mistakes - David M. Frees III

How To Avoid The Most Common Mistakes Trustees Make

Failing To Follow The Uniform Trust Act

by: Pennsylvania Attorney David M. Frees III

The Pennsylvania Uniform Trust Act has mandatory  requirements for the trusts creation, termination, modification among others. It is important to follow all of the rules and regulations as a trustee so you do not set yourself up to be held personally liable or to get sued.

So if you are a trustee read this brief article on the Pennsylvania Uniform Trust Act to avoid personal liability and lawsuits.

See all ten of our articles on How To Avoid The Most Common Mistakes Trustees Make:

Avoiding Trustee Mistakes No. 1:  Trustees Failing To Understand The Trust Language

Avoiding Trustee Mistakes No. 2: Trustees In Trouble  Making Early Distributions

Avoiding Trustee Mistakes No. 3: Trustees Failing To Follow The Prudent Investor Rule

Avoiding Trustee Mistakes No. 4: Trustees Failing To Follow The Uniform Trust Act

Avoiding Trustee Mistakes No. 5: Trustees Failing to Follow The Principle And Income Act

Avoiding Trustee Mistakes No. 6: Trustees Failing to Communicate Properly

Avoiding Trustee Mistakes No. 7:  Failing to Properly Reform, Amend, or Terminate

Avoiding Trustee Mistakes No. 8: Failing to File Tax Returns Or To Seek Professional Assistance

Avoiding Trustee Mistakes No. 9: Failing To Understand The Role Of Multiple Trustees

Avoiding Trustee Mistakes No. 10: Trustees Failing To Do The Job

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Avoiding Trustee Mistakes - David M. Frees III

How To Avoid The Most Common Mistakes Trustees Make

Failing To Follow The Prudent Investor Rule

by: Pennsylvania Attorney David M. Frees III

Are you a trustee of a Pennsylvania trust?

Do you want to avoid personal liability and lawsuits?

If you answered yes to either of these questions you will want to read the series of brief articles for Pennsylvania trustees on the Most common Mistakes that Pennsylvania Trustees Make And How To Avoid Them.

Too many trustees have been sued for failing to properly administer or invest trust assets under Pennsylvania law such as failing to follow the Prudent Investor Rule.

Read this article about what the Prudent Investor Rule is and how to follow its rules and regulations so you can avoid the headache, money, and time a lawsuit can bring.

See all ten of our articles on How To Avoid The Most Common Mistakes Trustees Make:

Avoiding Trustee Mistakes No. 1:  Trustees Failing To Understand The Trust Language

Avoiding Trustee Mistakes No. 2: Trustees In Trouble  Making Early Distributions

Avoiding Trustee Mistakes No. 3: Trustees Failing To Follow The Prudent Investor Rule

Avoiding Trustee Mistakes No. 4: Trustees Failing To Follow The Uniform Trust Act

Avoiding Trustee Mistakes No. 5: Trustees Failing to Follow The Principle And Income Act

Avoiding Trustee Mistakes No. 6: Trustees Failing to Communicate Properly

Avoiding Trustee Mistakes No. 7:  Failing to Properly Reform, Amend, or Terminate

Avoiding Trustee Mistakes No. 8: Failing to File Tax Returns Or To Seek Professional Assistance

Avoiding Trustee Mistakes No. 9: Failing To Understand The Role Of Multiple Trustees

Avoiding Trustee Mistakes No. 10: Trustees Failing To Do The Job

Call David Frees for trustee consultation to avoid laibility as a trustee of a Pennsylvania trust.

Offices are located in Malvern, Phoenixville, and West Chester serving the Main Line, Exton, Chester County and surrounding counties.

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Avoiding Trustee Mistakes - David M. Frees III

How To Avoid The Most Common Mistakes Trustees Make

Making Trust Distributions Too Soon

by:  Pennsylvania Attorney David M. Frees III

Throughout history, trustees have been sued for failing to properly
administer or to invest trust assets under Pennsylvania law.

And, to make matters worse, (or  much better depending on your perspective)
Pennsylvania has  recently become more highly regulated from a trustee’s standpoint
thanks to the Uniform Trust Act and The Prudent Investor Rule as well as the
Pennsylvania Principal and Income Act.

Bottom line?  More things for trustees to do and more opportunity for error and for
lawsuits and personal liability.

What’s a trustee to do?

Well, we have researched some of the most common trustee mistakes and will, in this and related articles review 10
of the most common mistakes and how to avoid them.

For example, many trustees distribute assets too early, only to find that they owe bills, taxes, or other charges and
that the recipients of those funds have spent them, making the trustee potentially personally liable .

So, if you’re the trustee of a trust for a minor or even another adult read on to limit the chances of personal liability.

See all ten of our articles on How To Avoid The Most Common Mistakes Trustees Make:

Avoiding Trustee Mistakes No. 1:  Trustees Failing To Understand The Trust Language

Avoiding Trustee Mistakes No. 2: Trustees In Trouble  Making Early Distributions

Avoiding Trustee Mistakes No. 3: Trustees Failing To Follow The Prudent Investor Rule

Avoiding Trustee Mistakes No. 4: Trustees Failing To Follow The Uniform Trust Act

Avoiding Trustee Mistakes No. 5: Trustees Failing to Follow The Principle And Income Act

Avoiding Trustee Mistakes No. 6: Trustees Failing to Communicate Properly

Avoiding Trustee Mistakes No. 7:  Failing to Properly Reform, Amend, or Terminate

Avoiding Trustee Mistakes No. 8: Failing to File Tax Returns Or To Seek Professional Assistance

Avoiding Trustee Mistakes No. 9: Failing To Understand The Role Of Multiple Trustees

Avoiding Trustee Mistakes No. 10: Trustees Failing To Do The Job

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Avoiding Trustee Mistakes - David M. Frees III

If you are a trustee of a Pennsylvania trust and you want to avoid personal liability and lawsuits by the beneficiaries, then you’ll want to read David Frees’ latest post on avoiding trustee mistakes and liability. It will take less than three minutes and might save you emotional pain and lost time, money,
and energy.

This article should be of interest to trustees of living or revocable trusts as well as irrevocable trusts of all types including GRATs, CRUTs,
and irrevocable life insurance trusts.

This is the first in a series of brief articles for Pennsylvania trustees on the most common mistakes that trustees make and how to avoid them.

David M. Frees III
dfrees@utbf.com
610-933-8069

See all ten of our articles on How To Avoid The Most Common Mistakes Trustees Make:

Avoiding Trustee Mistakes No. 1:  Trustees Failing To Understand The Trust Language

Avoiding Trustee Mistakes No. 2: Trustees In Trouble  Making Early Distributions

Avoiding Trustee Mistakes No. 3: Trustees Failing To Follow The Prudent Investor Rule

Avoiding Trustee Mistakes No. 4: Trustees Failing To Follow The Uniform Trust Act

Avoiding Trustee Mistakes No. 5: Trustees Failing to Follow The Principle And Income Act

Avoiding Trustee Mistakes No. 6: Trustees Failing to Communicate Properly

Avoiding Trustee Mistakes No. 7:  Failing to Properly Reform, Amend, or Terminate

Avoiding Trustee Mistakes No. 8: Failing to File Tax Returns Or To Seek Professional Assistance

Avoiding Trustee Mistakes No. 9: Failing To Understand The Role Of Multiple Trustees

Avoiding Trustee Mistakes No. 10: Trustees Failing To Do The Job

Call David Frees for a trustee consultation to avoid liability as trustee of a Pennsylvania trust.

Offices in Malvern, Phoenixville, and West Chester serving
the Main Line, Exton, Chester County and surrounding counties.

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James Douglas Kaune, Attorney to be?

This article was posted
by Douglas L. Kaune, Esquire
Estate Planning, Estate Administration, Wills,
Trusts, Elder Law,
Unruh, Turner, Burke & Frees
Phoenixville, Malvern, West Chester
Pennsylvania Attorney
dkaune@utbf.com PH: 610-933-8069

I have had a recent addition to the family, my son, James Douglas Kaune.  Welcome to our lives James!! Taking my own advice, my wife and I immediately updated our estate planning documents including wills, powers of attorney and trusts.  We also modified our beneficiary designation forms in IRA’s, 401k’s and life insurance to name the testamentary trust for my son if something happens to my wife and me.  We want to make sure James is well taken care of and that the correct trustee is apppointed to oversee his inheritance. This will help to make sure these assets are protected from poor spending habits, future creditors and possible divorce (A long time from now I hope!)  Take a look at this article for some advice when determining what type of trust, what trust provisions and what trustee would be best suited to take care of the assets you leave for your children. We are looking forward to long healthy lives with James, but want to make sure that we take all the necessary steps to make sure he is well cared for under all circumstances.

Douglas L. Kaune, Esquire
Serving, Chester, Montgomery, Delaware
Bucks and Philadelphia Counties

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