Serving as a trustee carries serious legal responsibilities, from managing assets prudently to ensuring every beneficiary is treated fairly under the terms of the trust. Many people accept the role without realizing how complex trust administration can become. At Nosal & Jeter, LLP, we provide clear, practical, and legally grounded guidance to trustees throughout North Carolina and South Carolina. Our attorneys help you understand your fiduciary duties, avoid costly mistakes, and administer the trust in full compliance with state law.
A trustee is responsible for managing and distributing trust assets according to the trust document and applicable state law. This often includes investing assets appropriately, preparing periodic accountings, paying expenses, communicating with beneficiaries, and making discretionary decisions that could affect tax outcomes or family relationships. Because trustees can be held personally liable for mismanagement or breaches of fiduciary duty, obtaining legal guidance early in the process is essential.
Trustees frequently encounter situations in which the correct legal step isn’t obvious. These issues may include interpreting ambiguous provisions, determining what qualifies as income versus principal, deciding when to make discretionary distributions, documenting expenses, or responding to beneficiary disputes. Even well-intentioned trustees can expose themselves to legal risk if they fail to keep adequate records, neglect to obtain required consents, or make financial decisions that conflict with their fiduciary obligations.
Our trust attorneys assist trustees with every stage of administration, including reviewing the trust document, preparing trust accountings, advising on investment standards, documenting major decisions, and communicating with beneficiaries. We also provide guidance to help trustees avoid allegations of self-dealing, conflicts of interest, or breach of trust. In many cases, trustees may pay attorney fees from the trust as a legitimate administrative expense.
Most trust litigation arises from preventable misunderstandings or administrative errors. By working with a lawyer who understands both the legal framework and the practical realities of trust management, trustees can significantly reduce the likelihood of beneficiary challenges or fiduciary lawsuits. Our goal is always to keep trustees out of court by ensuring proper administration from the start.
If a beneficiary has raised concerns, threatened litigation, or formally accused you of breaching your fiduciary duties, early legal involvement is critical. We represent trustees facing claims related to accounting, mismanagement, unequal treatment, investment decisions, or other alleged violations of trust law. Our attorneys work to protect your position, resolve disputes efficiently, and ensure the trust continues to be administered correctly.
Serving Charlotte, NC, Fort Mill, SC, and surrounding communities throughout North and South Carolina, our firm provides guidance to both individual trustees and corporate fiduciaries. Whether you are administering a simple family trust or a complex multi-beneficiary trust, we can help you navigate your responsibilities with confidence.
If you need advice about serving as a trustee or have questions about your legal duties, contact our office at (704) 608-3429 or email in**@***********aw.com to schedule a consultation.