What is a successor trustee’s liability if found to have breached their duties?

What is a successor trustee’s liability if found to have breached their duties?

A successor trustee assumes both general duties and specific duties as trustee. It is an important job. If you are found to have breached any of these duties (which is also sometimes referred to as a “breach of trust”), a beneficiary can file a lawsuit seeking:

  1. To compel you to perform your duties.
  2. To enjoin you from committing breach of trust.
  3. To compel you to redress a breach of trust.
  4. To require an accounting. 
  5. To remove you as trustee.
  6. To reduce or deny you compensation. 

These are the most common claims that the beneficiaries make against a successor trustee of the trust. The successor trustee is able to defend his or her actions, and usually can use the trust’s assets to pay an attorney for the cost of such defense. 

There are also several defenses available to a trustee charged with breach of the trust. 

Davis
530–763-0014
750 F Street, Suite 2
Davis, CA 95616

Sacramento
916–975-7560
333 University Ave, Suite 200
Sacramento, CA 95825

Roseville
916–975-7721
3017 Douglas Blvd, Ste 300
Roseville, CA 95661

Monterey
831-777-2557
288 Pearl Street
Monterey, CA 93940

San Antonio
210-750-1800
18756 Stone Oak Pkwy, Ste 200
San Antonio, TX 78258

We operate on an appointment-only basis other than our Davis office.
Need Assistance? Call us at (916) 273-4777

Skip to content