Skip to main content
(866) 465-5395 Schedule a Consultation (866) 465-5395 Schedule a Consultation

Trust Litigation and Administration

Trust Litigation and Administration

You’ve worked for years to build your business and your estate. Your goal is to make sure your family is cared for, even after you are gone. But, without proper planning, you could lose those hard-earned assets to taxes, family disputes, or litigation. A trust is one way to protect your assets for your heirs. A trust provides you with the ability to decide which of your heirs will receive certain assets and how these assets will be distributed.

In legal terms, a trust is a fiduciary agreement in which a grantor (the creator of the trust) allows a trustee or trust administrator to hold property on behalf of his heirs or beneficiaries. Trusts can be established for any type of real or personal property, including money, businesses, real estate, stocks, bonds, personal possessions, motor vehicles or collections. Trusts are often used to protect assets from taxes and to prevent probate after death.  They can also be used to insure that money intended for heirs is used according to the grantor’s wishes.

Trust Administration

A properly drafted trust will not need to go through probate. However, the trust will still be administered. You have the option of appointing a trusted friend as a trustee or hiring a law firm to act as a trust administrator. The role of the trust administrator is to manage assets placed in a trust according to the instructions of the trust document or trust instrument. The trust administrator is responsible for protecting trust assets, maintaining accurate records, paying any taxes, and making reports to beneficiaries of the trust.

When the grantor dies, the trust administrator is responsible for paying any debts and filing the grantor’s final income tax return.  The trust administrator may also file estate tax and fiduciary income tax returns. Once debts are paid, the trust administrator will make distributions to the beneficiaries of the trust.

Trust administration requires strong ethics, attention to detail, and a comprehensive knowledge of the law.  Petrelli Previtera provides trust administration services as well as assistance to trustees. We have the legal skills and knowledge to ensure that your trust is in safe hands.

Trust Litigation

When the grantor of a trust dies, the beneficiaries of the trust may disagree on the terms of the trust. This is especially true when the trust involves substantial assets or when family members don’t get along.   Because trusts are not as flexible as wills, a trust may be disputed if it doesn’t adequately provide for grandchildren or other members of the family who are born after the creation of the trust.

Petrelli Previtera works on behalf of both beneficiaries and trustees when the terms of a trust need to be interpreted or modified. Our job is to clarify the terms of the trust and resolve any disputes. We strive to resolve the issues among the beneficiaries through informal means such as mediation. However, we are prepared to go to court if litigation becomes necessary.

Ready to discuss your estate planning needs? Please contact the Petrelli Previtera Firm at 215-645-4297.

Contact Petrelli Previtera, LLC for Assistance

Ensure your assets are protected now and in the future. Contact the highly-qualified attorneys at Petrelli Previtera, LLC for a confidential consultation. We will discuss your needs and come up with the best course of action.

Client Testimonials

They are amazing! I highly recommend anyone that is in need of assistance with child support hearings to seek out the expertise and experience of this law firm and staff! They handled my case quickly and I feel that my money was put to good use. Much appreciated! Nothing less than five stars!

Alana Deverson

I just want to say GREAT JOB! She is a no nonsense professional with years of experience that qualifies her as a skilled Family Law attorney. She is seasoned, sensitive, and most of all she cares. She made things easy for me. Definitely recommend!

Kimberly Colby

Overall I was pleased with the results of my divorce case. The entire Petrelli Previtera team truly cares about their clients. Luckily for me, I was paired up with an amazing team helping all the way. If you happen to work with this firm and with the lawyers you’ll be in great hands. It was such an excellent service and it was beyond I expected.

A Family Law Client Chevy Chase , MD

Serving Clients at the Following Locations

Philadelphia1845 Walnut Street 19th Floor Philadelphia, PA 19103(215) 523-6900view details
Montgomery County516 DeKalb Street Suite C Norristown, PA 19401(610) 924-2870view details
Doylestown123 N Broad Street, Doylestown, PA 18901(267) 938-4480view details
Abington1147 Easton Road, Abington PA 19001(610) 890-4833view details
West Chester203 W. Chestnut St., Suite 204
West Chester, PA. 19380
(610) 431-4012view details
Princeton475 Wall St, Suite 214, Princeton, NJ 08540(609) 917 9560view details
Linwood210 New Road #15 Linwood, NJ 08221(609) 375-0351view details
Parsippany8 Campus Dr, Parsippany, NJ 07054(973) 310-5320view details
Covington1148 Washington St SW, Covington, GA 30014(678) 730-6310view details
Bethesda4800 Hampden Lane, Suite 200 Bethesda MD 20814(301) 234-7409view details
Maryland5425 Wisconsin Ave Chevy Chase, MD 20815(301) 889-8085view details
ChicagoTwo Prudential Plaza 180 North Stetson Suite 3500 Chicago, IL 60601(312) 252-2085view details
Schaumburg1750 E. Golf Rd, Suite 382 Schaumburg, IL 60173(630) 491-9670view details
Texas500 W 2nd St Suite 1900 Austin, TX 78701(512) 883-1684view details
Washington DC1717 K Street NW, Suite 900 Washington DC 20006(202) 519-0366view details
Denver7900 E. Union Ave. Suite 1100, Denver, CO 80237(720) 821-6440view details