Are trusts public records?

[amdforever2]

My great grandpa who died 5 years ago allegedly had a trust, that went to his son, who died last august, and is now due to me, my uncle, my mom, and my cousin. Uncle who doesn't really like me and mom all that much is the only one with real information. I don't have social security numbers of either great grandpa or grandpa grandpa, so, how exactly should I get a copy of this trust?

 

[gopunk]

if i were you i would hire a lawyer

 

[amdforever2]

Lawyers are asses on the phone.

They tell me I need a copy of the trust before they can analyze it for me.

How do I get a copy? If I ask uncle, he'll ask me why I'm so eager for it, and then just try harder to keep it away. He already told me he was having it analyzed to keep it away from mom. If it says "descendants of" he's going to use that to direct it to people other than her, if it says "sons and daughters of" he'll have no choice. He said when grandpa died I could maybe use it to go to school, but I've never taken the educational path he wanted me too.

 

[GeekDrew]

Call the courthouse for the county in which your grandfather passed away - they *should* have the trust on file. Some people have told me that they are public record, but I've not verified that.

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: GeekDrew
Call the courthouse for the county in which your grandfather passed away - they *should* have the trust on file. Some people have told me that they are public record, but I've not verified that.

its public record if it was recorded... if it wasn't recorded then you'd have to get a copy elsewhere.

 

[GeekDrew]

Originally posted by: ElFenix

Originally posted by: GeekDrew
Call the courthouse for the county in which your grandfather passed away - they *should* have the trust on file. Some people have told me that they are public record, but I've not verified that.

its public record if it was recorded... if it wasn't recorded then you'd have to get a copy elsewhere.

Yeah... I just worded that very poorly.

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: amdforever2
Lawyers are asses on the phone.

They tell me I need a copy of the trust before they can analyze it for me.

How do I get a copy? If I ask uncle, he'll ask me why I'm so eager for it, and then just try harder to keep it away. He already told me he was having it analyzed to keep it away from mom. If it says "descendants of" he's going to use that to direct it to people other than her, if it says "sons and daughters of" he'll have no choice. He said when grandpa died I could maybe use it to go to school, but I've never taken the educational path he wanted me too.

It's a sticky situation. You don't necessarily have to have a lawyer ever, but unless you understand the laws then it's a requirement.

Are you calling lawyers that work for a cut or one's that work for fees you pay? You will need to find the latter as the former is busy chasing ambulances to screw victims out of the "lion's share" of a settlement.

If it was never recorded/notarized/witnessed etc...then you may be out of luck. It's a case of who's holding the cards...many many assets got lost throughout time this way.

Å

 

[Nuriko]

Okay, some more info is needed I think. When you say it is due to your uncle, mom and yourself, are you saying you are the benefitairies or the trustees? You have different rights depending on which you are. Secondly, who put it due on all of you, your grandfather's lawyer or someone else? Depending, maybe you could go ask them about it. Thirdly, what is at stake, money, part of a business, real estate or what?

Also, part of the reason people use trusts are so that people can't find out who the benefitairies are, though the trustee should be listed as part of public record (your county recorder or clerk of courts can help with finding this info).