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A.R.S. § 14-10813

Trustee's Duty to Inform and Report to Beneficiaries

Verified April 4, 2026 • 57th Legislature, 1st Regular Session

Arizona law requires trustees to keep beneficiaries reasonably informed about how a trust is being managed. That includes providing annual reports, notifying beneficiaries when a trust becomes irrevocable, and responding promptly to reasonable requests for information.

Title 14, ARIZONA TRUST CODE

azleg.gov

What Beneficiaries Are Entitled to Know

A trust is not a black box. Arizona's trust code gives beneficiaries the right to stay informed about what is happening with trust assets. When someone is named as a qualified beneficiary, the trustee has a duty to share material facts about the trust's administration, not just when asked, but proactively.

A trustee shall keep the qualified beneficiaries of the trust reasonably informed about the administration of the trust and of the material facts necessary for them to protect their interests.

A.R.S. § 14-10813(A)

That means beneficiaries do not have to guess whether the trustee is handling things properly. They can request copies of relevant portions of the trust instrument. And when a trustee accepts a new role or when a trust becomes irrevocable (often after the settlor's death), the trustee must notify beneficiaries within sixty days.

Annual Reports and Compensation Transparency

The statute also requires an annual accounting. Trustees must send a report that includes trust property, liabilities, receipts, disbursements, the source and amount of trustee compensation, and a listing of trust assets with market values when feasible. This report goes to current distributees and anyone else who requests it.

A trustee shall send to the distributees or permissible distributees of trust income or principal and to other beneficiaries who request it, at least annually and at the termination of the trust, a report of the trust property, liabilities, receipts and disbursements, including the source and amount of the trustee's compensation.

A.R.S. § 14-10813(C)

Trustees must also provide at least thirty days' notice before changing their compensation. A beneficiary can waive the right to reports, but that waiver can be withdrawn at any time for future reports. Transparency is the default, and the burden falls on the trustee to maintain it.

14-10813. Duty to inform and report A. Unless the trust instrument provides otherwise, a trustee shall keep the qualified beneficiaries of the trust reasonably informed about the administration of the trust and of the material facts necessary for them to protect their interests. Unless the trustee determines that it is unreasonable under the circumstances to do so, a trustee shall promptly respond to a beneficiary's request for information related to the administration of the trust. B. A trustee: 1. On request of a beneficiary, shall promptly furnish to the beneficiary a copy of the portions of the trust instrument that are necessary to describe the beneficiary's interest. 2. Within sixty days after accepting a trusteeship, shall notify the qualified beneficiaries of the acceptance and of the trustee's name, address and telephone number. 3. Within sixty days after the date the trustee acquires knowledge of the creation of an irrevocable trust or the date the trustee acquires knowledge that a formerly revocable trust has become irrevocable, whether by the death of the settlor or otherwise, shall notify the qualified beneficiaries of the trust's existence, of the identity of the settlor or settlors, of the trustee's name, address and telephone number, of the right to request a copy of the relevant portions of the trust instrument and of the right to a trustee's report as provided in subsection C of this section. 4. Shall notify the qualified beneficiaries at least thirty days in advance of any change in the method or rate of the trustee's compensation. C. A trustee shall send to the distributees or permissible distributees of trust income or principal and to other beneficiaries who request it, at least annually and at the termination of the trust, a report of the trust property, liabilities, receipts and disbursements, including the source and amount of the trustee's compensation, a listing of the trust assets and, if feasible, their respective market values. On a vacancy in a trusteeship, unless a cotrustee remains in office, a report must be sent to the qualified beneficiaries by the former trustee. D. A beneficiary may waive the right to a trustee's report or other information otherwise required to be furnished under this section. A beneficiary, with respect to future reports and other information, may withdraw a waiver previously given. E. Subsection B, paragraphs 2 and 3 of this section apply only to a trustee who accepts a trusteeship on or after January 1, 2009, to an irrevocable trust created on or after January 1, 2009 and to a revocable trust that becomes irrevocable on or after January 1, 2009. F. Except for the notice requirement in subsection B, paragraph 2 of this section, for the purposes of this section, a person is not a qualified beneficiary, distributee or other beneficiary who requests a report pursuant to subsection C of this section solely because the person is or would be entitled under the terms of the trust instrument to one or more specific distributions of property that already have been made to the person or have otherwise been satisfied.
View on azleg.gov

This page provides general legal information about Arizona statutes and is not legal advice. For guidance on how this law applies to your situation, speak with a qualified attorney.

Related Questions

What does a trustee actually do?

A trustee manages trust assets according to the rules the trust creator set. While you are alive, you are typically both trustor and trustee. After you pass, your successor trustee distributes assets as instructed.

What is a Revocable Living Trust and how does it work?

A Revocable Living Trust lets you transfer asset ownership into a trust you control during your lifetime. When you pass, a successor trustee distributes assets to beneficiaries without probate.

How do I prepare my successor trustee to manage my estate?

Create a binder or digital folder listing financial accounts, professional advisors, document locations, bill payment details, and contacts. Your trustee should not have to guess their way through your estate.

Related Statutes

§ 14-10101The Arizona Trust Code: Short Title and What It Covers
§ 14-10102Which Trusts Are Covered by the Arizona Trust Code
§ 14-10103Key Definitions in the Arizona Trust Code

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