- Call us today! 559-431-6800
- Call us today! 559-431-6800
Trusts can feel like one of those legal topics everyone’s heard of but not many people really understand. If you’ve recently lost someone close and are suddenly faced with handling a trust, it can feel overwhelming. You might be wondering, “What exactly am I supposed to do? What happens if I mess something up?” That’s a very real concern—and honestly, one a lot of folks in Clovis have shared with me when they’ve first stepped into this role.
At Barrus and Roberts, PC, we’ve seen families in our community struggle through the details of trust administration. We get it—Clovis isn’t some faraway place with faceless estates. It’s neighborhoods, familiar streets, church gatherings, and local farms. These are people’s lives, their homes, and often their legacies. Trust administration is about carrying out someone’s wishes while keeping family harmony and legal requirements in balance. If you’re in this position, you’re not alone. You can always learn more or reach out to us directly through www.brlawyer.net.
At its core, trust administration is simply the process of managing and distributing the assets in a trust after the person who created it—the grantor—has passed away. Unlike probate, which usually requires going through court, trust administration can often be handled privately.
But here’s the thing: “privately” doesn’t mean “easily.” There are deadlines, documents, and duties that can be stressful if you’re juggling them on your own. As the trustee, you’re expected to act in the best interests of the beneficiaries, follow the terms of the trust, and meet California’s legal requirements. That’s a lot of responsibility, especially if you’ve never done it before.
Most people don’t get handed a roadmap when they’re named trustee. Suddenly, you’re left trying to figure out next steps while still dealing with grief.
In Clovis, it usually starts with locating the trust document itself. Sometimes it’s in a safe deposit box, other times it’s tucked away in a home office or even the back of a filing cabinet. Once you have it, you’ll need to notify beneficiaries and certain government agencies, gather financial records, and sometimes even arrange for appraisals of property.
It sounds like a lot—and it is—but breaking it down into steps helps. For example, one local family we worked with didn’t realize they had to send out a formal notice to beneficiaries within a certain time frame. That’s the kind of detail that, if missed, can cause headaches down the road.
If you’re reading this, you might already be running into some of these:
It’s normal to feel like you’re in over your head. One trustee from Clovis once told me she felt like she was suddenly running a small business—balancing accounts, answering family members’ questions, and making sure nothing fell through the cracks.
Living in the Central Valley brings its own unique situations. Many families here own farmland, rental properties, or small businesses. Trust administration in Clovis often involves handling these kinds of assets, which is very different from managing a trust that only includes bank accounts and a family home.
For example, deciding whether to keep or sell farmland can create real conflict among beneficiaries. Some might want to continue the family tradition, while others may need the cash. We’ve sat at kitchen tables in Clovis homes where these conversations happened, and it’s not always easy. That’s why having clear trust terms and guidance can make a huge difference.
If you’re serving as trustee, one of the most important things to understand is your fiduciary duty. In plain English, that means you’re legally obligated to put the interests of the beneficiaries above your own. Even if you’re also a beneficiary, you can’t let personal interests cloud your judgment.
It’s not about being perfect—it’s about being fair, honest, and careful. One slip, like loaning trust money to a family member or forgetting to provide an accounting, can create serious problems. The beneficiaries have rights, and you’re accountable to them as well as to California law.
You don’t need to have a law degree to handle trust administration, but you do need to know when to ask for help. At Barrus and Roberts, PC, we’ve walked many trustees through the process in Clovis and nearby areas. Our approach is straightforward—we explain what’s happening, why it matters, and what comes next without drowning you in legal jargon.
Sometimes, it’s just about having someone confirm you’re on the right track. Other times, it’s stepping in to handle complex issues like disputes, real estate transfers, or tax filings.
A few years ago, we worked with a family whose parents had set up a trust that included both their home in Clovis and several acres of farmland outside town. The trustee, one of the adult children, felt completely overwhelmed. Not only did she need to figure out what to do with the land, but her siblings weren’t in agreement about selling or leasing it.
We helped her navigate those conversations, explained the legal options, and handled the paperwork for transferring titles. In the end, the family reached a resolution that worked for everyone—and the trustee could breathe again.
Stories like that remind us trust administration isn’t just about assets. It’s about people, relationships, and preserving someone’s legacy.
If you’re in Clovis and you’ve found yourself responsible for trust administration, know this: you don’t have to do it alone. Our team understands both the legal side and the human side of this process. We’ve been part of this community long enough to see firsthand how trusts can either make life easier or, without the right guidance, cause unnecessary stress.
At Barrus and Roberts, PC, we offer support tailored to your situation. Whether you just need answers to a few questions or full legal guidance through every step, we’re here to walk with you.
You can learn more or reach us directly through www.brlawyer.net. Sometimes the hardest part is making that first call, but once you do, things tend to feel a little less overwhelming.