Straightforward
One trustee, cooperative beneficiaries, and assets already properly titled.
Typically Includes
- Beneficiary notices
- Asset inventory and retitling
- Final accounting
- Distribution and closing
Trust Administration AttorneySettle the Trust, Without the Court Process.
When someone passes with a living trust already in place, a successor trustee settles it privately — no court petition required.
Deborah Smiley is a Missouri estate attorney and a CFP® — a Certified Financial Planner — so the financial side gets handled as carefully as the legal side.
Free 30-minute consultationNo obligation
30 Years
Practicing law
11 Years
In wealth management, alongside her law practice
CFP®
Certified Financial Planner
AEP®
Accredited Estate Planner
What it does
What Trust Administration Actually Does
Six steps, handled privately, without a court petition.
The successor trustee named in the trust document takes over automatically — no court appointment needed.
Trust administration isn't filed with the court, unlike probate, which becomes public record.
The trustee locates, values, and takes control of everything actually titled in the trust's name.
Before beneficiaries receive anything, valid debts and final tax obligations are addressed.
Beneficiaries are entitled to see what's happening with the trust's assets.
Remaining assets are transferred to beneficiaries according to the trust's terms, and the administration is formally wrapped up.
Deborah Smiley is a Missouri estate attorney and a CFP® — a Certified Financial Planner — so the financial side gets handled as carefully as the legal side.
What it doesn't do
What Trust Administration Doesn't Do
Said plainly, so you know what else to expect.
Anything left outside the trust at death typically still has to go through probate.
Learn about Probate →A successor trustee has fiduciary duties and can be held personally liable for mismanaging the trust.
Missouri law generally requires formal notice to beneficiaries, even in a private trust administration.
Not sure how this applies to your situation?
Call 636-214-0546What we watch for
How We Help
Being named successor trustee doesn't mean you're expected to already know trust law. Here's what we take off your plate.
Beneficiary notices, tax filings, and deadlines are tracked and completed correctly.
As trustee, mismanaging the trust can expose you personally. We make sure you're following the process correctly.
Clear communication reduces the chance that a beneficiary question turns into a bigger dispute.
Pricing
How Trust Administration Is Priced
Pricing depends on how many beneficiaries are involved, what the trust owns, and whether anyone disagrees. Most matters are quoted as a flat fee or a clear hourly rate, agreed to before work begins.
Standard
Multiple beneficiaries, or sub-trusts for a minor child or surviving spouse.
Typically Includes
- Sub-trust funding and administration
- Coordinating multiple beneficiaries
- Tax filings
- Ongoing trustee guidance
Complex or Contested
Disputes among beneficiaries, unclear trust terms, or a large or complicated trust.
Typically Includes
- Resolving beneficiary disputes
- Interpreting ambiguous trust terms
- Complex asset valuation
- Litigation, if it becomes necessary
Get an exact number for your situation — the first call is free.
Call 636-214-0546The process
How We Handle Trust Administration
What's actually titled in the trust, who the beneficiaries are, and what the trust requires — in one real meeting.
1
We map the trust and its assets
What's actually titled in the trust, who the beneficiaries are, and what the trust requires — in one real meeting.
2
We notify beneficiaries and open administration
Formal notice sent, and your role as successor trustee documented correctly.
3
We handle debts, taxes, and accounting
So creditors, tax deadlines, and beneficiary questions don't become your problem to manage alone.
4
We distribute and close the trust
Assets transferred, final accounting provided, and the administration properly closed.
Your attorney
Why Families Trust Deborah With This
Deborah Smiley
JD · CFP® · AEP®Deborah has practiced law in Missouri for 30 years. For 11 of those years, she also worked in wealth management — a combination that matters here too, since trust administration often means retitling real financial accounts and filing real tax returns, not just legal paperwork.
She's a CFP® (Certified Financial Planner) and an AEP® (Accredited Estate Planner) — credentials very few estate attorneys hold together.
30 yrsPracticing law in Missouri
11 yrsIn wealth management, alongside her law practice
CFP®Certified Financial Planner
AEP®Accredited Estate Planner
Past ChairProbate & Trust Committee, Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis
Ready to talk through your plan?
Call 636-214-0546Client Reviews
Deb has been a great partner over the years and takes great care of my referrals/clients for their planning needs.
Harvey
I met Deb and I thought I had all my estate and business planning affairs in order; then she asked me questions that made me realize I had a lot more planning to do.
Jamie
Deb and I have been collaborative partners for almost 20 years. She has taken great care of my clients.
Paul
I have known Deb for years and she has given me peace of mind with my estate planning needs.
Carol
Deb has been instrumental in helping my family with their estate planning needs. We are grateful for her.
David
Deb has been very helpful with my and my family's estate and business planning.
Kelly
When we first moved here, I didn't realize how many legal revisions and details were needed. I heard Deb speak at a luncheon and was so impressed with her legal knowledge. Deb has been very helpful with my family's estate planning. She gave us peace of mind.
Jenny
Deb, thank you so much, we really appreciate all of your work and concern.
Bob and Myra
Deb was very responsive and helpful.
Chris
Deb was so helpful and even came to our house.
Missy and Ray
Deb was very responsive, helpful and intelligent.
John and Julie
Deb has been a great partner over the years and takes great care of my referrals/clients for their planning needs.
Harvey
I met Deb and I thought I had all my estate and business planning affairs in order; then she asked me questions that made me realize I had a lot more planning to do.
Jamie
Deb and I have been collaborative partners for almost 20 years. She has taken great care of my clients.
Paul
I have known Deb for years and she has given me peace of mind with my estate planning needs.
Carol
Deb has been instrumental in helping my family with their estate planning needs. We are grateful for her.
David
Deb has been very helpful with my and my family's estate and business planning.
Kelly
When we first moved here, I didn't realize how many legal revisions and details were needed. I heard Deb speak at a luncheon and was so impressed with her legal knowledge. Deb has been very helpful with my family's estate planning. She gave us peace of mind.
Jenny
Deb, thank you so much, we really appreciate all of your work and concern.
Bob and Myra
Deb was very responsive and helpful.
Chris
Deb was so helpful and even came to our house.
Missy and Ray
Deb was very responsive, helpful and intelligent.
John and Julie
Questions
Questions
The process a successor trustee follows to settle a living trust after the person who created it passes or becomes unable to manage it.
Trust administration is private and doesn't require court involvement. Probate is court-supervised and becomes public record.
Yes. Missouri law generally requires a successor trustee to give beneficiaries formal notice, even though the process itself stays private.
You can be, if the trust isn't administered correctly. Mismanaging assets or missing deadlines can expose a trustee personally.
They generally aren't covered by trust administration and typically have to go through probate instead.
It varies with the size and complexity of the trust. Straightforward trusts with cooperative beneficiaries typically resolve faster than contested or complex ones.
It's not always legally required the way probate is, but a trustee who administers a trust incorrectly can be held personally liable — most people choose guidance for exactly that reason.
It depends on the size of the trust and how many beneficiaries are involved. Call for a free 30-minute consultation and we'll give you a clear cost estimate before you commit to anything.
Ready for Help With Trust Administration?
Call to schedule your free 30-minute consultation with Deborah — no obligation.
Call 636-214-0546Free 30-minute consultationNo obligationReal person answers