A beneficiary's guide to trust accountings.
If you're a beneficiary, you have a right to know what's happening with the trust. Here's how to ask for an accounting, how to read one, and what to do if it never comes — or doesn't add up.
The short version
- As a beneficiary, you have a right to be informed and, on request, to an accounting.
- Ask in writing — name the period you want covered.
- Read it in two steps: confirm the balances, then trace the detail.
- If it never comes or doesn't add up, a court can compel one — and an independent accounting can show what really happened.
You have a right to information
The trustee works for the beneficiaries, and owes you a duty to keep you reasonably informed and to account for what they've done with the assets. The cites:
- California — Probate Code §16060–16062.
- Florida — Florida Statutes §736.0813.
The exact triggers and timing vary by state and by the trust instrument, but the principle holds: you are owed transparency.
How to request one: put it in writing
A clear, polite written request does most of the work. A letter or email is fine.
- Address it to the trustee.
- Name the period you want covered — the last calendar year, or the time since the trust was funded.
- Ask for an accounting of receipts, disbursements, and distributions for that period.
- If the trust has an attorney, copy them so everyone works from the same request.
HintSend it in writing, not by phone. An email or letter creates a record and sets a clear date — useful later if the request is ignored. An accounting is a normal part of the job; most trustees comply once asked directly.
How to read one: balances first, then detail
A few checks tell you a lot:
- Confirm the summary balances — total charges should equal total credits, to the dollar.
- Trace the detail — receipts (money in), disbursements (money out), distributions (paid to beneficiaries).
- Check the principal / income split — it affects who gets what.
- Note the asset values — carry (original) value or current market value.
Unfamiliar terms? Our explainers on principal vs. income and what a trust accounting is walk through the basics.
Red flags to watch for
- No accounting at all, despite repeated written requests.
- Unexplained or suspiciously round-number withdrawals.
- Trust funds commingled with the trustee's personal accounts.
- Missing periods or gaps where statements should be.
- Distributions that don't match what the trust document says should happen.
Watch outNone of these prove wrongdoing on their own — a single gap or round number can have an innocent explanation. But several together, or any of them left unexplained, are a reason to ask harder questions and get the underlying records.
If it's refused or doesn't add up
You don't have to take the trustee's word for it. Two paths:
- Compel it. A probate or trust attorney can formally require an accounting through the court.
- Reconstruct it. An independent accounting, built from the bank and brokerage records rather than the trustee's summary, shows what actually happened with the assets.
We prepare neutral, independent accountings from the source documents — the kind that hold up when parties disagree and give everyone a shared, verifiable picture.
Common questions
Do I have a right to a trust accounting?
Generally, yes. You're entitled to information about the trust and, on request, to an accounting. In California those duties live in Probate Code §16060–16062; in Florida, in Florida Statutes §736.0813. Triggers and timing vary by state and by the trust instrument.
How do I request one?
Send the trustee a clear written request — a letter or email — naming the period you want covered. Writing it down creates a record and sets a date. If the trust has an attorney, copy them.
What if the trustee won't give me one?
You have options. A probate or trust attorney can compel an accounting through the court, and an independent reconstruction can show what happened with the assets from the bank and brokerage records.
Does a red flag mean the trustee did something wrong?
Not on its own. A single gap or round number can be innocent. But several together, or any left unexplained, are a reason to ask harder questions and get the underlying records.
This is general information, not legal or tax advice. Your rights and deadlines depend on the trust instrument and the laws of your state; confirm specifics with your attorney.
Think something's off — or just want the truth?
We build an independent accounting from the actual records, so you can see exactly what happened with the trust. Free scope, fixed price before you commit.