Trust & Estate Administration

Trust and estate administration is the process of transferring the assets of a decedent to the beneficiaries of his or her estate, according to the terms of the decedent's will or trust. It is a structured legal process — not a paperwork exercise — and federal and state tax laws complicate it materially.

What we help administrators and trustees do

If you have been appointed as a trustee of a revocable or irrevocable trust, or as the personal representative of an estate, you have specific fiduciary duties under Arizona law. We work with you on each of the steps that follow:

• ·Probate proceedings when required — opening the estate, providing notice, and shepherding the case through the Arizona probate court.
• ·Trust administration — fulfilling the trustee's duties under the trust instrument, including notification, accounting, and distribution to beneficiaries.
• ·Asset inventory and valuation — identifying, gathering, and valuing the decedent's property, including real estate, financial accounts, business interests, and personal items.
• ·Tax filings — final individual income tax returns, fiduciary income tax returns for the estate or trust, and federal and Arizona estate tax returns when applicable.
• ·Creditor claims and debt resolution — handling claims against the estate, paying valid debts, and protecting the estate from improper claims.
• ·Distribution to beneficiaries — drafting receipts, releases, and the documents needed to close out administration cleanly.

Why a trust does not always avoid administration

One of the most common misunderstandings: a revocable living trust avoids probate, but it does not avoid administration. The successor trustee still has work to do — notifying beneficiaries, gathering assets, paying debts, filing tax returns, and distributing what remains. We help trustees do this efficiently and in compliance with both the trust document and applicable law.

Tax considerations

Estate plans seek to maintain the maximum amount of wealth available for intended beneficiaries. Federal and state tax laws complicate that goal. Greg Gadarian's background — including his LL.M. in Taxation from NYU and his earlier service as a Legislation Attorney for the Joint Committee on Taxation — informs the tax-efficient choices we make during administration.