Trustee Accountability
Learn how trustee accountability works in a revocable living trust and what beneficiaries can do when a trustee fails to meet their duties.
What happens if a trustee is not doing their job properly?
When a trustee fails to act in the best interests of beneficiaries — by mismanaging assets, ignoring distribution requests, or keeping poor records — beneficiaries have the right to request a formal accounting of trust activity. If the trustee still does not comply, beneficiaries can petition a court to compel an accounting, surcharge the trustee for losses, or have the trustee removed and replaced. Most trust documents include a process for naming a successor trustee specifically for situations like this. Keeping clear records and understanding the trustee's duties from the start helps prevent disputes before they escalate.
