Successor Trustee Resource
What Happens Next
Emergency checklist and contact guide for your successor trustee
What Happens Next
Emergency Action Guide for Successor Trustee
Complete your estate plan setup to personalize this guide with your trust details and contacts.
Your Family Trust
Grantor: [Your Name]
Successor: [Successor Trustee Name]
Established: [Date Established]
Important: Do not distribute any assets until you have spoken with the estate attorney. This guide helps you take the right steps in the right order.
Action Timeline
Locate the original Trust document (see Document Vault for location)
Obtain certified copies of the Death Certificate (minimum 10 copies)
Notify the estate attorney (see Key Contacts below)
Do NOT distribute any assets until advised by the attorney
Secure the home and any physical valuables
Contact the financial advisor to freeze brokerage accounts
Notify all financial institutions of the death with a certified death certificate
Contact financial institutions to begin beneficiary claims
Notify all life insurance carriers and begin claims process
File for Social Security survivor benefits if applicable
File for probate if any assets were held outside the trust
Obtain a Federal Tax ID (EIN) for the trust from the IRS
Open a trust checking account at a financial institution
Notify all financial institutions of the trustee change
File the grantor's final income tax return with the CPA
Key Contacts
Estate Attorney
Call first[Add in Account Setup]
CPA / Tax Advisor
Call within 72 hrs[Add in Account Setup]
Financial Advisor
Call within 72 hrs[Add in Account Setup]
Backup Successor Trustee
Notify immediately[Add in Account Setup]
Where to Find Important Documents
Original Trust Document
[Add location in Account Setup]
[Add access instructions]
Pour-Over Will
[Add location in Account Setup]
[Add access instructions]
Power of Attorney
[Add location in Account Setup]
[Add access instructions]
Property Deed(s)
[Add location in Account Setup]
[Add access instructions]
Life Insurance Policies
Document Vault (LegaciVault)
Policy numbers in Asset Inventory
Safe Deposit Box
[Add location in Account Setup]
[Add access instructions]
Financial Accounts & Required Actions
No accounts added yet. Add your assets in the Asset Inventory to populate this section.
This checklist was generated by LegaciVault. For the most current version, log in to legacivault.com or contact your estate attorney. This document does not constitute legal advice.