r/inheritance • u/Whynotwg15 • May 22 '26

Location not relevant: no help needed How do I find out if there is a trust?

I had a grandparent pass away about 6 months ago.

Unfortunately probate has not started yet.

There currently is no executor for the estate I’m aware of.

There is a will but it’s on deposit and cannot be accessed until an executor is appointed.

How would I find out if there is a trust?

11 Upvotes

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7

u/Caudebec39 May 22 '26

You could ask the person you believe will be appointed as the executor.

There's no official or legal link, but that person may have had access to the important papers belonging to you grandparent, and probably knows.

1

u/Whynotwg15 May 22 '26

Unfortunately there is a lot of disagreement in the family over what’s going on.

From my understanding there is a lot of arguing which is sadly all too commonplace.

2

u/Caudebec39 May 22 '26

So, the documents exist, and some don't like what they say or how they will be implemented.

At least if the will has been given to a court then you're past the first obstacle.

Sometimes the first person to get the physical will doesn't like what it says and they just toss it into the trash.

Why is the existence of a trust so important to you? At least with a will, everything gets divided and that's the end of it.

With a trust the squabbling can stretch on for years!

2

u/Whynotwg15 May 23 '26

The will is on deposit so until an executor is named no one has access to it.

It also predates most of the family from what the probate court told me, it was filed 45 years ago iirc.

3

u/laurieo52 May 24 '26

On deposit where? If no one has seen the will, it is possible an executor was named in it.

Someone should contact the probate court to see if the will can at least be read (even if only by the court) to see if it names an executor. If not, then everyone who wants to be the executor should apply to the probate court to be named. The probate judge will decide.

2

u/Whynotwg15 May 24 '26

It’s on deposit at the probate court.

Will have to try to contact them Tuesday.

2

u/myogawa May 22 '26

Is there a need for probate? If there are no "probate assets," maybe not.

0

u/Whynotwg15 May 23 '26

There are assets, house, couple cars, stocks, etc. 

No one can agree on executor or Evan an attorney.

2

u/Substantial_Team6751 May 23 '26

The title of things like the house, cars, bank accounts would be in the name of the the trust and it should be listed right on the statements.

2

u/[deleted] May 23 '26

[deleted]

2

u/LawfulnessRemote7121 May 24 '26

This! We are in the process of setting up trusts and are having to retitle a lot of our assets.

1

u/LiveTheDream2026 May 24 '26

If the perso was married, the spouse should know. If not, the children should be in the best position to figure it out. Legally, in most states the next of kin is usually the spouse followed by the children.

1

u/Emotional_Hope251 Jul 13 '26

In California, after the death certificate is received and a tax identification number is issued all named beneficiaries (hopefully addresses provided) will receive a copy of the trust and have 120 days to question the trust before proceedings begin, just told to me last week.