Contested Accountings

Our Oakland Probate Litigation Attorneys Contest and Defend Fiduciary Duties

contested accountings
Estate administrators, executors and trustees act in a fiduciary capacity, and they have a duty to provide beneficiaries with the information necessary to ensure proper management and distribution of the estate or trust. To comply with that duty, these estate administrators must provide beneficiaries with statements of financial transactions, which is called an accounting. Our Oakland probate litigation attorneys frequently represent executors and trustees and have over 30 years of experience in dealing with fiduciary accountings. If beneficiaries receive an accounting evidencing a breach of fiduciary duty, or if they fail to receive an accounting, they may have an actionable claim against the executor or trustee in probate court.

Fiduciary Accounting for Probate Estates

When a person dies with a probate estate, the estate administrator or executor must file a fiduciary accounting to close the estate after paying debts and taxes and resolve creditors’ claims, but before distributing money or assets to beneficiaries. The accounting must be filed in accordance with the guidelines provided in the California Probate Code and must include all relevant financial information about the estate.

When the beneficiary receives the final probate accounting, if it is inadequate, incorrect or incomplete, the beneficiary may have an actionable claim in probate court against the administrator, executor or trustee. Fiduciaries may be liable to beneficiaries for monetary damages suffered for breaches of fiduciary duties.

Fiduciary Accounting for Trusts

Trust beneficiaries are entitled to receive annual trust accountings from the trustee, showing statements of assets, income and distributions from the trust. The California Probate Code details exactly what trust accountings must contain, which include very detailed schedules and documentation. If the trustee fails to produce a proper accounting, the probate court may compel the trustee to do so upon motion by the beneficiary.

A beneficiary may have an action for breach of fiduciary duty by the trustee in the following situations, although this list is not exhaustive:

  • If the trustee fails to provide an accounting annually or after 60 days upon demand
  • If the accounting is incomplete or inaccurate
  • If the trust property is being mismanaged or not prudently invested
  • If the trustee is not following the terms of the trust

The Triay Law Office Specializes in Fiduciary Accountings

If an accounting evidences a breach of fiduciary duty or if an executor or trustee fails to file a required accounting, beneficiaries must file claims within the probate court to protect their rights. Charles Triay, the founder of Triay Law Office, has been practicing contested probate litigation for over 30 years and has provided unsurpassed representation in contested accounting cases throughout Northern California. Unlike other law firms, the Triay Law Office gives clients the option to pay attorney fees an hourly or contingency basis. Contact our Oakland probate litigation lawyers if you are a beneficiary who needs to file a claim against an estate or trust, or if you are a fiduciary who must defend an accounting in probate court.

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