Fiduciary Services

When you are developing an estate plan, a key question is, who do I have in my life who can manage my finances if I become incapacitated?  Who do I have in my life who can manage my estate at my death? 

For many of us, these are easy questions.  Our spouse, our children, our brother or sister, may be perfect choices. 

However, these are much more difficult questions in many cases.  Some clients worry about:

• imposing on family members whose lives are already busy with family, work, home, church; or 
• asking family members who may not be the best money managers or may not be good record keepers to act in these capacities; or
• sibling conflict when choosing one child over another. 

Some clients simply have no family, or have no family physically near enough to act. 

For those who prefer a professional fiduciary, your estate planning attorney can recommend various bank trust departments, or private trust companies, who may be willing to act for you.  Alternatively, our firm may be willing to act in these capacities.  If you are interested in this service, please discuss your wishes with your estate planning attorney.  We will not normally recommend ourselves, but may be willing to act as a fiduciary if asked.  Before we will be named, we will fully disclose all fees associated with acting as your fiduciary. 

When we agree to be named in these fiduciary positions, we will normally schedule an annual review of your financial status, so that if we are required to act, we have a head start.  This annual appointment is normally a free appointment.