Trusts Administration Attorney in Annapolis

Guidance For Trustees During A Difficult Time

Being named as a trustee or successor trustee after a loved one’s death can feel overwhelming. You are suddenly responsible for legal, financial, and family decisions that you may never have faced before. You want to honor your loved one’s wishes, protect beneficiaries, and avoid personal liability, but you may not know where to start.

At Hartman - Attorneys at Law, we help trustees and families in Annapolis and across Maryland understand what trust administration requires and how to move forward with confidence. Our firm has served this community since 1931, and we are committed to providing clear, practical guidance at every step of the process. We offer complimentary consultations in person and virtually, so it is easy to talk with us about your situation.

If you are searching for a trusts administration attorney in Annapolis who can explain your duties in plain language and stand beside you as you carry them out, our team is ready to help.

Call (443) 335-9661 or reach out online to schedule your consultation with a trusts administration attorney. Get started today.

What Trust Administration Involves

Trust administration is the process of carrying out the instructions in a trust after the person who created it dies or becomes incapacitated. Instead of having the court oversee every step, the trustee manages and distributes trust assets according to the written terms and Maryland law. This can apply to revocable living trusts that become irrevocable at death, as well as certain irrevocable trusts created during life.

In many Maryland estates, the trust works alongside a will, and some assets pass through the probate estate while others pass under the trust. This may involve filings with offices such as the Anne Arundel County Register of Wills. It is common for trustees to feel confused about which rules apply to which assets and what notices or paperwork may be needed.

Even when a trust seems straightforward, administration usually involves tasks such as locating and valuing assets, notifying beneficiaries, paying valid debts and expenses, and addressing tax reporting. The wording in the trust document can leave room for interpretation, especially when it describes how and when beneficiaries should receive funds. Our trusts administration attorneys in Annapolis help trustees interpret these provisions and apply them to the real-world facts of the trust.

Trust administration also takes place in the context of family relationships. It often involves grieving family members, long-standing tensions, or beneficiaries who live outside Maryland. Our goal is to give you a clear picture of the process so you can make thoughtful decisions and reduce the chance of misunderstandings or disputes.

Your Duties As Trustee

When you accept the role of trustee, you take on legal and financial responsibilities that go beyond ordinary family obligations. Under Maryland law, a trustee has a fiduciary duty to act in the best interests of all beneficiaries, follow the trust terms, and manage trust assets prudently. This duty applies whether the trust holds a single home or a substantial investment portfolio.

Trustees are expected to keep accurate records, avoid conflicts of interest, and treat beneficiaries fairly. This does not always mean treating every beneficiary the same, because the trust language may create different rights for different people. It does mean that decisions about investments, expenses, and distributions should be made carefully and documented, in case questions arise later.

If a trustee mishandles funds, disregards the trust’s instructions, or fails to provide required information, beneficiaries can potentially seek court involvement. That can lead to personal liability for the trustee, especially if a court finds that the trustee breached their duties. Many trustees are understandably concerned about being blamed for mistakes when they were simply unfamiliar with what the law requires.

Core responsibilities that trustees commonly face include:

• Review the trust document and any amendments in full, andunderstandg the basic structure.
• Identifying, collecting, and safeguarding trust assets, including real estate, bank accounts, and investments.
• Maintaining separate trust accounts and detailed records of all income, expenses, and distributions.
• Keeping beneficiaries reasonably informed and providing accountings when appropriate.
• Paying valid debts, expenses, and taxes from trust funds as allowed by the trust and Maryland law.
• Making distribution decisions that comply with the trust language and are consistent with fiduciary duties.

At Hartman - Attorneys at Law, we work with trustees throughout the Annapolis area to explain these duties at the outset and help create a plan to carry them out. Our trust administration attorneys in Annapolis are available to answer questions as they come up, so you are not forced to guess about important decisions that could affect your own financial exposure and your relationships with family members.

How Our Firm Guides Trust Administration

Once you understand that trust administration involves both legal obligations and family dynamics, the next question is how to manage those responsibilities practically. Our role is to serve as your legal guide, so you can move through the process step by step instead of trying to solve everything at once.

During an initial consultation, we typically review the trust document, any related estate planning documents, and a general list of known assets and beneficiaries. From there, we work with you to outline the likely phases of administration, identify immediate priorities, and discuss where you may need additional support, such as tax advice from an accountant. Our goal is to give you a roadmap tailored to your situation, rather than a one-size-fits-all checklist.

As a family-led firm that has served the Annapolis legal community since 1931, we understand how important communication is in long-running matters like trusts. We strive to respond promptly to your questions, provide updates on key developments, and help you prepare accurate information for beneficiaries. When difficult conversations are needed, such as explaining why distributions cannot be made as quickly as some family members might hope, we can help you approach those discussions with clarity and respect.

Our trusts administration lawyers are licensed in Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia. This can be especially helpful when a trust includes property, business interests, or beneficiaries across the region. Because our practice also includes estate planning, business law, and civil litigation, we are positioned to address related needs that often arise in trust administration, such as transferring interests in a closely held company or responding to a beneficiary’s legal challenge. While we cannot predict how any specific matter will unfold, we work to provide consistent, thoughtful representation from start to finish.

If you are considering whether to work with a trusts administration lawyer in Annapolis, we encourage you to contact our office to learn how our approach fits your needs. We offer complimentary consultations, in person or virtually, so you can talk with us about your questions before deciding how to proceed.

First Steps After You Become a Trustee

The period right after you become a trustee often feels like the most confusing. You may be getting calls from family members, letters from financial institutions, and notices from different offices. Taking a few organized steps early can make the rest of the administration smoother and help you feel more in control.

When we meet with new trustees at Hartman - Attorneys at Law, we usually begin by clarifying exactly when your responsibilities started and what the trust requires in the first few months. We then help you prioritize tasks and decide what you can handle yourself and where you might want our ongoing assistance. This approach lets you move forward without feeling that every decision must be made immediately.

Helpful early steps for many trustees include:

• Obtaining complete copies of the trust document and any amendments, along with the will and related estate planning documents.
• Ordering death certificates or gathering medical documentation of incapacity, as needed for financial institutions or other parties.
• Making a preliminary list of trust assets, including real estate, bank and investment accounts, retirement assets titled to the trust, and any business interests.
• Securing property, such as changing locks if appropriate, and confirming insurance coverage on real estate and valuable items.
• Opening a separate trust bank account, when appropriate, so that all receipts and payments are clearly tracked.
• Identifying the beneficiaries named in the trust and gathering their current contact information.

We help trustees in and around Annapolis complete these steps and prepare necessary notices or letters. If the estate also involves proceedings before the Anne Arundel County Register of Wills or related offices, we can explain how those processes interact with the trust so you know which tasks belong to which part of the administration. Having a clear set of first actions can significantly reduce stress and set the stage for a more orderly process.

Why Trustees Choose Hartman

When you decide whom to trust with legal guidance for a loved one’s trust, you are not just choosing a firm for today. You are often choosing a partner who may assist you for years as the trust continues to operate. Many trustees in Annapolis and throughout Maryland turn to Hartman - Attorneys at Law because of who we are and how we practice.

Our firm has been part of the local legal community since 1931. That history reflects more than age. It reflects decades of working with Maryland families, local professionals, and the courts on matters that affect their lives and businesses. As a family-led firm, we value long-term relationships and understand that trust administration often involves more than one generation.

Our trust administration lawyers are licensed in Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia, which is especially valuable when trust assets or beneficiaries are spread across this region. We handle a broad range of civil and estate-related matters, including estate planning, business law, and litigation. This means we can address connected issues that sometimes emerge during administration, such as the transfer of a family business interest or a dispute between beneficiaries.

Clients also choose us for how we serve them. We work to provide personalized attention, prompt communication, and clear explanations, so you know what is happening and why. We offer complimentary consultations, both in-person and virtual, which makes it easier for busy trustees, including those who live outside Annapolis, to get advice. If you are looking for a steady hand to guide you through trust administration in this part of Maryland, our firm is ready to talk with you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I really need a lawyer to administer a trust?

You are not legally required to hire a lawyer, but many trustees find that legal guidance helps them avoid mistakes and manage risk. We can explain your duties, help you plan each stage of administration, and answer questions as they arise, so you are not handling everything alone.

Can I be personally liable as a trustee in Maryland?

Trustees can face personal liability if they breach their fiduciary duties or misuse trust assets. The specific risk depends on the facts of the administration. We help trustees understand these duties, document decisions carefully, and address concerns early, which can reduce the likelihood of disputes or claims.

How long does trust administration usually take?

The length of administration varies with the complexity of the trust, the number of beneficiaries, and the types of assets involved. Some matters resolve in months, while others continue for years. We work with you to set realistic expectations and build a timeline that reflects your trust’s particular circumstances.

How are attorney fees paid in a trust administration?

In many cases, reasonable attorney fees for trust administration are paid from trust assets, if the trust and applicable law allow. We discuss our fee structure during your complimentary consultation, so you understand how costs are handled before you decide how you want to proceed.

What if beneficiaries disagree with my decisions?

Disagreements among beneficiaries are common, especially when expectations differ from the trust terms. We help trustees communicate clearly, document decisions, and respond to concerns. If a dispute escalates, our background in civil litigation allows us to advise you on options for addressing potential challenges.

Talk With Our Team About Your Next Steps

If you have been named trustee of a loved one’s trust, you do not have to navigate the legal and practical details on your own. Meeting with our team gives you a chance to ask questions, understand your duties, and decide what level of support you want for the administration.

During your complimentary consultation, we review your situation, discuss how Maryland law and the trust language interact, and outline possible paths forward. You can meet with us in our Annapolis office or virtually, depending on what works best for you. 

If you are looking for a trusts administration attorney in Annapolis who can provide steady, long-term guidance, we invite you to reach out online or call (443) 335-9661.