What an Accounting Must Show
An Arizona trust accounting typically lists the assets the trust held at the start of the period, every receipt and disbursement, gains and losses on investments, distributions to beneficiaries, fees paid, and the assets on hand at the end of the period. The level of detail depends on the trust terms and beneficiary requests.
Frequency and Beneficiary Rights
The Arizona Trust Code requires the trustee to keep qualified beneficiaries reasonably informed and to provide accountings on request. Many trusts call for annual accountings as a default. Beneficiaries who suspect mismanagement can petition the court to compel a formal accounting and to surcharge a trustee who breached duty.
Why It Matters
Clear, consistent accountings protect both trustees and beneficiaries. A trustee who provides regular accountings starts a limitation period on beneficiary claims; a trustee who fails to account can face open-ended exposure for years of activity.
Arizona Fiduciary Duty Backdrop
The duty to account flows from Arizona's fiduciary definitions in A.R.S. 14-7501.