The answer is yes, although it may depend on the reasons the trustee and beneficiaries don’t get along. However, if the trustee is following the terms of the trust, acting in the beneficiaries’ best interests, and following the law, a disagreement between the beneficiaries and trustee shouldn’t interfere with the trust being implemented legally and fully.
It Is in the Best Interests of All Parties to Resolve Disputes
If either party is unhappy, each has the right to take legal action. However, that could delay or negatively impact the administration of the trust. While the trustee and beneficiaries do not necessarily have to like one another, it is in their best interests to resolve disputes quickly before they become bigger problems that end up in court.
To help keep disputes to a minimum, trustees and beneficiaries can agree to:
- Regular meetings.
- Periodic accounting statements of trust investments and values.
- A plan that outlines the steps if a disagreement or problem arises.
Trustees and beneficiaries don’t get along, the trust must still be implemented properly. Here, find out more about how to do that. As a trustee, your job is not to have the beneficiary like you. Instead, it is to administer the trust according to California law and the terms of the specific document. If you believe that a dispute with a beneficiary is getting in the way of your duties, it is important to contact an estate planning lawyer quickly to get the advice you need to do your job effectively and prevent future problems. To learn more, please watch our free videos, and start a live chat with us today.