They Called Us With No Idea Where To Start

In short

When both parents have died, the first weeks are about order, not speed: what has to be handled now, what can wait, and how to honor the wishes in the documents. A successor trustee or personal representative who takes it one step at a time, with someone to call, usually turns the panic into a plan within the first conversation.

Key points

• First: secure the home and mail, order death certificates, and locate the trust or will.
• Within 60 days, a successor trustee must notify the beneficiaries that the trust exists (A.R.S. 14-10813).
• Bills, taxes and creditor claims are handled before distributions, with an accounting at the end.
• A funded trust typically settles in six to twelve months; probate takes longer.

Full written answer: Successor trustee guide: settling an Arizona trust