How to Choose a Trustee for Your Trust: Questions to Ask

Picking a trustee sounds simple until you picture the real job. This person is basically the “adult in the room” for your trust. They may need to manage money, deal with banks, keep records, follow strict legal duties, answer beneficiaries, and stay calm when family emotions get loud.

This matters more than people think because a lot of families still have no estate plan at all, and when planning is rushed, trustee choices get rushed too. In Caring.com’s 2025 study, only 13% of respondents said they have a living trust. (Source: Caring.com)

Start by understanding what the trustee is legally on the hook to do

A trustee is a fiduciary, which means they must follow the trust terms and act with care for the beneficiaries. In real life, that turns into unglamorous work: sending notices, sharing information when it is reasonably requested, and providing accountings on schedule. If that sounds like bookkeeping mixed with customer service, that is a pretty fair mental picture.

So when you are evaluating a person, do not just ask “Do I trust them?” Ask “Will they actually do the work, on time, for years, even when it gets awkward?” Many states spell out these trustee communication and accounting duties in their trust codes. Florida’s 2025 trust statute is one example, requiring trustees to keep qualified beneficiaries reasonably informed and to provide accountings in set situations. (Source: Florida Legislature)

Ask questions that reveal follow-through, not just good intentions

A good trustee is organized, responsive, and steady under pressure. That is the boring trio that saves families from drama later. The easiest way to test that is to ask scenario questions, not personality questions.

You can ask: “If you got a beneficiary request for information, how quickly would you respond?” “If the trust needed a new bank account, an insurance claim, or a CPA, would you handle it yourself or bring in help?” “If two beneficiaries disagreed, how would you document your decision and communicate it?” These answers will tell you if the person has a process or if they are just hoping vibes will carry them.

One more important nuance: trustees often can delegate certain tasks, and doing that can be smart. Under rules like Florida’s 2025 trust statute on delegation, a trustee may delegate functions a prudent trustee would delegate, must use reasonable care in selecting and monitoring the agent, and if they do that properly, they are not liable for the agent’s actions on the delegated function. State rules vary, but the big idea is consistent: delegation is allowed, yet oversight still matters. (Source: Florida Legislature)

Build a backup plan, because life happens and trusts can last a long time

Even if your first-choice trustee is perfect today, the trust might still be running when they are dealing with health issues, relocation, burnout, or just a totally different life. That is why naming a successor trustee is not optional in any practical sense. It is your safety net.

This is also where people are getting more realistic in 2025. Trust & Will’s 2025 report found a growing number of Americans prefer non-family members as executors, trustees, and guardians, with nearly 1 in 4 Millennials and Gen Z respondents preferring trusted friends or professionals over relatives. That is not anti-family. It is just people choosing the person who will actually do the job. (Source: Trust & Will)

If you want extra stability, you can also bake in guardrails through the trust language, like requiring regular reporting, setting clear distribution standards, or giving someone limited power to replace a trustee if the trustee stops performing. Those are design choices you make upfront, so your beneficiaries do not have to improvise later.

When a professional trustee makes sense, and what to do next

A professional trustee, often a corporate trustee, can be a great fit when the trust is complex, the family situation is tense, or you simply want a neutral party with systems already in place. The tradeoff is cost. Corporate trustees commonly charge a percentage of assets for trustee services, and one 2025 source cites a range of about 0.5% to 2% of trust assets for many corporate trustees. (Source: Dominion)

If you are leaning that direction, the next step is making sure your trust is drafted to match your goals and your real family dynamics, including who should serve, who should be backup, and what standards the trustee must follow. Legacy Promises Network helps families get estate planning set up with the right documents and guidance, so your trustee choice is not a guess and your plan is built to work when it is needed. If you want, you can book a quick appointment to talk through the right trust setup and trustee structure for your situation.

Start your journey with Legacy Promises Network Today.

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