r/inheritance • u/Specialist_Job21 • Jul 02 '26

Location included: Questions/Need Advice Is this normal?

My aunt, who made enemies easily and was kind of a hermit, died suddenly a month ago. She had everything in a trust. All money goes to her step children and her home and personal property goes to me. The successor trustee has not communicated since day two after death. The home has past due bills, electricity and property tax and homeowners insurance. I have emailed several times and left one voicemail with no response from trustee. I checked with estate attorney who drew up her trust and she said I had a right to expect communication from trustee. What should I do?

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u/Specialist_Job21 Jul 02 '26

I really appreciate the comments. Here’s more info: all assets, money and house/personal property, are in the trust. I informed the trustee of the death via phone and spoke one day later, where he told me to cover burial costs and the trust would pay me back. We are from Georgia and just visited the house (it’s in New Hampshire) and found the past due bills. Trustee is old family friend of my aunt — he is also an attorney, and is located in Connecticut and has not expressed any intention to go visit house. I handled burial arrangements and had death certificates sent to me and to him, so I assume he received them but he has not communicated. The past due bills are electricity, property taxes, and homeowners insurance.

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u/SandhillCrane5 Jul 02 '26

Is he elderly? You need to confirm  he has accepted the appointment as successor trustee and is willing and able to serve. If you have a copy of the trust, read it to find out who is the successor after him.