Imagine finding out that the person you trusted to manage your parent’s estate has been using it as their personal piggy bank. Unfortunately, this nightmare happens to families across Los Angeles every day. If you suspect a trustee is stealing from a trust, you need to act fast.

Understanding Trustee Theft: It’s More Common Than You Think

When someone creates a trust, they choose a trustee to manage it. This person has a legal duty to protect the trust’s assets for the beneficiaries. But what happens when the protector becomes the thief?

Trustee theft can look like taking cash directly from trust accounts, using trust credit cards for personal expenses, “borrowing” money without paying it back, selling trust property to themselves for cheap, or paying themselves excessive fees for being trustee.

Legal Alert: In California, stealing from a trust isn’t just wrong – it’s illegal. Trustees who steal can face both civil lawsuits and criminal charges.

Questions Families Ask When They Suspect Theft

“How can I prove the trustee is stealing if they won’t show me records?”

You have the legal right to see trust financial records. If a trustee refuses, The Legacy Lawyers can file a petition with the Los Angeles Superior Court to force them to provide an accounting. This accounting must show every penny that came in and went out of the trust.

“My sister says she deserves extra money because she’s doing all the work as trustee. Is this true?”

Trustees can receive reasonable compensation for their work, but “reasonable” has limits. California law provides guidelines for trustee fees. If your sister is paying herself thousands of dollars monthly for managing a simple trust, that’s likely excessive.

“The trustee sold my mom’s jewelry and says it was worthless. How do I know the truth?”

Trustees must get fair market value for trust assets. If valuable jewelry mysteriously became “worthless,” you can demand receipts, appraisals, and sale documents. The Legacy Lawyers can hire experts to investigate what really happened to missing assets.

A Real Example: The Disappearing Bank Accounts

Robert’s uncle managed a trust worth $800,000 for Robert and his cousins. Over three years, the uncle claimed the trust had “lost money in bad investments.” But when Robert finally got a lawyer involved, they discovered his uncle had written himself checks totaling $300,000, claiming they were “reimbursements” for expenses he could never prove.

The Legacy Lawyers helped Robert file a surcharge petition against his uncle. The court ordered the uncle to pay back every stolen penny, plus interest. The uncle also had to step down as trustee immediately.

Client Testimonial: “I felt so stupid for trusting my uncle with everything. But The Legacy Lawyers never made me feel bad about it. They just focused on getting our money back, and they did.” – Robert K., Pasadena

Signs a Trustee Might Be Stealing

Watch for these warning signs that something’s wrong:

The trustee gets defensive or angry when you ask questions. They claim records were “lost” or “destroyed.” Trust bank statements show large cash withdrawals or transfers to the trustee’s personal accounts. The trustee suddenly has expensive new cars, vacations, or home renovations. They delay distributions to beneficiaries with weak excuses. Trust tax returns don’t match what the trustee tells you.

What The Legacy Lawyers Can Do About Trustee Theft

The Legacy Lawyers have seen every trick dishonest trustees use. They know how to uncover hidden theft and get your money back. Here’s how they help:

Demand Full Accounting: They’ll force the trustee to show every financial transaction, no matter how much the trustee resists.

Trace Missing Assets: Using financial experts, they can follow the money trail to find where stolen assets went.

Remove Bad Trustees: They’ll petition the court to kick out dishonest trustees and appoint someone trustworthy.

Recover Stolen Money: They’ll fight to get back every dollar stolen, plus interest and possibly punitive damages.

Pursue Criminal Charges: In serious cases, they can work with prosecutors to hold thieves criminally responsible.

Know Your Rights: California Probate Code Section 16060 gives you the absolute right to information about the trust. No trustee can legally hide financial records from beneficiaries.

Time Is Critical – Don’t Wait

The longer a dishonest trustee has control, the more damage they can do. Money can disappear into offshore accounts. Property can be sold to friends for pennies on the dollar. Evidence can be destroyed.

If your gut tells you something’s wrong with how a trust is being managed, listen to it. The Legacy Lawyers offer consultations to review your situation and explain your options. You don’t have to let a trustee steal your inheritance.

Protect Your Family’s Legacy

Your loved one created their trust to take care of family, not to enrich a dishonest trustee. If you suspect theft, you owe it to their memory – and to your family’s future – to investigate.

Contact The Legacy Lawyers today. They’ll help you uncover the truth and fight for every dollar that belongs to you and your family.