Choosing a trustee is a decision about people as much as property. The right person or institution should be able to follow your instructions, exercise sound judgment, keep clear records, and communicate thoughtfully with the people your trust is meant to help.
What does a trustee do?
A trustee manages the property held in a trust under its terms and applicable law. Depending on the trust, the work may include safeguarding assets, investing, paying proper expenses, coordinating tax filings, providing required information and accountings, and deciding when distributions are appropriate. Some trusts distribute their property promptly; others continue for many years or generations.
The trustee serves the beneficiaries within the framework you establish. Being a beneficiary does not excuse a trustee from duties of loyalty, prudence, and appropriate impartiality toward other beneficiaries.
A family member or friend
Someone who knows your family may understand its circumstances and bring a welcome personal connection to the role. Consider that person’s availability, organizational skills, ability to handle disagreement, and willingness to seek legal, accounting, or investment advice when needed.
A family trustee does not necessarily serve without compensation. Under Florida law, the trust’s terms generally govern compensation; if the document is silent, a trustee is ordinarily entitled to reasonable compensation. A person may agree to waive a fee, but that should be discussed rather than assumed. Appropriate expenses and professional assistance may also need to be paid from the trust.
Discuss the appointment before signing your documents, and name a successor in case your first choice cannot serve. Co-trustees can combine personal knowledge and professional experience, but the document should explain how they make decisions and resolve disagreements.
A professional or corporate trustee
A trust company or bank trust department may offer continuity, administrative systems, investment resources, and experience with complex distributions. These services can be particularly useful when a trust will last a long time, beneficiaries have competing needs, or no suitable individual is available.
Ask about minimum account size, the people who will work with your family, investment approach, distribution procedures, and all fees. Annual, investment, extraordinary-service, and termination charges differ among providers. An institution’s involvement does not eliminate the need to understand its service terms or monitor the administration.
Choose for the trust you are creating
The best choice depends on the assets, the beneficiaries, and the decisions the trustee will face. I can help you compare the options and write succession provisions that give your family a practical path forward. Contact Verras Law to discuss your plan.
Sources: Florida trustee compensation statute.
Updated October 26, 2026.