Why Choose a Non-Family Trustee?, Elder Law Attorney, Woodstock, GA

When naming the trustees to administer a trust, the first people who come to mind are beloved family members. Some people stop there and appoint one of those family members, but they really should think twice before doing so.

When creating trusts, most people are aware that they should appoint someone trustworthy to be the trustee. Most people believe that one of their family members is trustworthy enough to tackle the job.

They are most likely correct about that.

However, there are other considerations to take into account when choosing a trustee and there are a few good reasons why you should consider someone who is not a member of your family.

The Wills, Trusts & Estates Prof Blog recently listed some of those reasons in an article titled “Why It Is a Good Idea to Choose a Non Family Trustee.”

The list includes:

Time – Being a trustee can require a big commitment of time that can be burdensome on family members who have families and jobs of their own.
Personal Liability – If something goes wrong with a trust, the trustee might be held personally responsible to make up any losses. It is not always a good idea to open up that possibility for a family member.
Family Disputes – It is not unusual for the beneficiaries of a trust to come into conflict over trust management with the trustee. It can easily become a family dispute that spills over into other areas of life.

As you can see, there is more to the decision of selecting a trustee than one would think.

Contact an estate planning attorney for some ideas appropriate for your circumstances.

Reference: The Wills, Trusts & Estates Prof Blog (June 10, 2015) “Why It Is A Good Idea To Choose A Non Family Trustee.”

Hear From Our Clients

I heard Cindy’s presentation at a Senior Luncheon at my church, and was very impressed. She helped my daughter and me understand many aspects of elder law. Josh has also been very helpful in my planning to enter an independent living situation . I have told many friends about them.

- Charlotte

The very best elder law attorney and staff anyone could ever ask for! I have referred a number of clients to Cindy and she never disappoints. She is kind, caring, and extremely thorough in making sure everything is completed as it should be. I highly recommend Cindy for anyone needing lawyer services; she truly goes above and beyond for every client she helps and has had a huge impact in so many peoples’ lives. Thank you, Cindy and staff, for everything that you do- I’m so glad to know you!

- Kerri

Cindy and the Nelson Elder Care Law team are trustworthy and helpful. They are the experts in elder care law. At Leaf Cremation, we entrust our families to the care of the Nelson team when their services are needed.

- Pierce

Josh Nelson, and his staff, have been amazingly helpful to our family. The ins and outs of nursing homes, the rules and regulations that govern Medicare and Medicaid are daunting and the folks at Nelson Elder Care Law have been informative, responsive, and above all, empathetic. I cannot emphasize enough how their service has taken a weight off of our shoulders especially during a world pandemic that has targeted nursing homes across our country. I highly recommend retaining Josh and his firm!

- Marcia

I had a simple legal question to them that I needed answered and they very helpful in giving me the information I needed. I highly recommend them and will reach out to them if I need more advice or assistance. Thank you for taking your time to just answer a couple of questions I had!

- Ben