- Jurisdiction
- California
So we're just starting the process of settling up my Uncle's Irrevocable Trust here in CA and I am a bit confused about a couple of things;
The Trust itself is pretty straightforward, but they (my late Auntie and Uncle) added an Amendment (a Contingent Beneficiary) to the Trust after the original was written which I understand was legal, but it is simply a typed amendment which is signed by the both of them and then Notarised on a separate page. Does this still count? I have read conflicting information about whether Trust amendments need to be witnessed/signed.
Also, apparently we are obligated to inform any potential heirs about the details of the Trust via letter, which is fine except we don't really know anyone on my Auntie's family or even how to locate them so it seems impossible to fulfil that. Does my Auntie's family have to be informed as she was one of the original Grantors/Trustee or is it only heirs of my Uncle as the last surviving Trustee? Any help would be appreciated!
The Trust itself is pretty straightforward, but they (my late Auntie and Uncle) added an Amendment (a Contingent Beneficiary) to the Trust after the original was written which I understand was legal, but it is simply a typed amendment which is signed by the both of them and then Notarised on a separate page. Does this still count? I have read conflicting information about whether Trust amendments need to be witnessed/signed.
Also, apparently we are obligated to inform any potential heirs about the details of the Trust via letter, which is fine except we don't really know anyone on my Auntie's family or even how to locate them so it seems impossible to fulfil that. Does my Auntie's family have to be informed as she was one of the original Grantors/Trustee or is it only heirs of my Uncle as the last surviving Trustee? Any help would be appreciated!