Many client plans incorporate the use of ongoing trusts to oversee distributions to the beneficiaries, whether it be until a certain age or for life.  The trustee is tasked with approving distributions to beneficiaries and making sure that the distributions are allowed under the terms of the trust.  This relationship can often be a difficult one, especially if the beneficiary and trustee do not have a good relationship and open communication.  If a beneficiary is denied access to trust assets, the beneficiary may blame the trustee, and this may strain the relationship even more.

After making decisions about who will handle your estate and who you intend the beneficiaries of your estate to be—there is one more vital conversation to be had. This conversation should be one between you, your designated trustees and your beneficiaries. Although this relationship may not seem important now, building a relationship between trustees and beneficiaries will help in the administration of your estate. You should discuss your intentions around why you created the plan. What were your thoughts in designating these beneficiaries? Why did you choose the trustees? What do you hope their relationship will be like? Communicating your thoughts about the plan, and opening a line of communication between the trustees and beneficiaries is one of the final and most important steps in the estate-planning process.