TRUSTEE RESOURCES

Free Guides for TrustOffice Users & Private Trustees

Practical resources for trust administration, written by Kenneth Kohler, founder of TrustOffice. No legal jargon, no generic advice.

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Course

Trustee 101, Free Video Course

10 video lessons that teach you what your attorney didn't have time to explain. Lessons 1–3 are free instantly. Enroll to unlock all lessons with downloadable PDFs.

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Guide

How to Document Trust Distributions

Step-by-step guide for properly documenting trust distributions with audit-ready records. Learn what information to capture and how to maintain compliant documentation.

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Checklist

Trust Administration Checklist

Comprehensive checklist covering all aspects of trust administration, from initial acceptance through ongoing governance and record-keeping requirements.

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Template

Trust Meeting Minutes Template

Free template for trustee meeting minutes with guidance on what to include. Covers attendance, financial reviews, distribution decisions, and action items.

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Guide

What Is a Private Trustee?

Understanding the role, responsibilities, and legal obligations of serving as a private trustee. Essential reading for anyone named as trustee.

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Guide

What Is a Trust Officer?

A trust officer administers trusts for banks and trust companies. Learn their duties, cost, and when you need one versus a private trustee.

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Guide

Fiduciary Duty Explained

Deep dive into fiduciary duties, duty of loyalty, duty of care, duty of impartiality, and how they apply to day-to-day trust administration decisions.

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Guide

Trust Fund Management Software

Evaluation guide for trust administration software. What to look for, questions to ask, and how to choose the right tool for your needs.

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Guide

New Trustee Guide: What to Do First

A step-by-step roadmap for the first 30 days as a trustee. Covers accepting the role, setting up accounts, giving notice, and establishing your documentation system.

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Guide

Trust Formalities Guide

The formalities that separate a valid trust from an unenforceable one. Understand record-keeping, trustee discretion, and the documentation that protects the trust structure.

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Guide

Distribution Authorization Guide

How to properly authorize and document trust distributions. Covers discretionary vs. mandatory distributions, beneficiary requests, and audit trails.

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Guide

Commingling Explained

What commingling is, why it pierces the trust shield, and how to keep trust and personal funds properly separated. Real court examples of trustees who lost everything.

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Checklist

The Commingling Checklist

A practical checklist for preventing commingling. Covers account setup, documentation habits, and red flags that signal trouble before it becomes a legal problem.

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Guide

Trust Governance System

How to build a trust governance system that stands up to scrutiny. Covers meetings, minutes, resolutions, and the cadence of governance activities.

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Assessment

Fiduciary Assessment

Self-assessment tool to evaluate how well you're meeting your fiduciary duties. Rate your governance, documentation, and compliance practices against best standards.

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Kit

Liability Protection Kit

A collection of templates, checklists, and guides designed to protect trustees from personal liability. Covers the documentation that creates a defensible shield.

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Checklist

Trustee 90-Day Checklist

A day-by-day checklist for your first 90 days as trustee. Know exactly what to do, when to do it, and what documentation to produce at each milestone.

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