One of the most common questions we hear from estate planning clients is:
“What happens if I don’t have anyone to name as my trustee, executor, or financial power of attorney?”
Fortunately, many experienced professional fiduciaries throughout California provide these services. A professional fiduciary can serve as a neutral third party to carry out your wishes if you become incapacitated or after your passing.
Below are several companies and organizations that provide professional fiduciary services in California.
Common Services Provided
Depending on the company, professional fiduciaries may provide services such as:
- Successor Trustee
- Professional Trustee
- Estate Executor or Personal Representative
- Trust Administration
- Conservatorship Services
- Financial Power of Attorney Services
- Bill Paying and Financial Management
- Special Needs Trust Administration
- Elder Care Coordination
- Asset Management Oversight
Not every firm provides every service, so it is important to discuss your specific needs before making a selection.
California Professional Fiduciary Firms
Professional Fiduciary Services (PFS)
Location: Orange County
Services include:
- Professional trustee services
- Trust administration
- Estate administration
- Conservatorships
- Financial management
PFS has extensive experience administering trusts and assisting clients who have no available family members to serve.
Private Fiduciaries of California, Inc.
Location: San Francisco Bay Area
Services include:
- Trustee services
- Executor services
- Financial power of attorney
- Trust administration
- Care management
- Health care advocacy
The firm works with individuals, families, attorneys, and financial advisors.
Advocate Fiduciary Services
Location: Northern California
Services include:
- Trustee administration
- Conservatorships
- Estate administration
- Fiduciary management
- Financial oversight
Hitchman Fiduciaries
Location: Newport Beach
Services include:
- Professional trustee
- Estate executor
- Conservatorships
- Estate administration
Diablo Valley Fiduciary Services
Location: East Bay
Services include:
- Trustee services
- Conservatorships
- Financial management
- Estate administration
Paladin Fiduciary Services LLC
Location: Santa Rosa
Services include:
- Trust administration
- Trustee services
- Financial management
- Fiduciary administration
Walcott & Hartin Professional Fiduciaries
Location: Sacramento
Services include:
- Trustee services
- Estate administration
- Conservatorships
- Professional fiduciary management
ProFiduciary, Inc.
Location: San Diego
Services include:
- Professional trustee
- Estate administration
- Conservatorships
- Financial management
SoCal Private Fiduciary
Location: Los Angeles
Services include:
- Trustee services
- Estate administration
- Conservatorships
- Financial management
Paige Fiduciary Services
Location: San Jose
Services include:
- Trustee services
- Trust administration
- Estate administration
- Financial management
Larger Institutional Trustees
For individuals with larger or more complex estates, corporate fiduciaries may also be an appropriate option. These institutions often serve as trustees for high-net-worth clients and multigenerational trusts.
Examples include:
- Bessemer Trust
- Northern Trust
- Fidelity Personal Trust Company
- Bank of America Private Bank
- Charles Schwab Trust Company
- Wilmington Trust
- PNC Private Bank
- City National Bank Trust Services
- Whittier Trust
These institutions generally provide:
- Corporate trustee services
- Investment management
- Trust administration
- Estate settlement
- Charitable trust administration
- Family office services
Choosing the Right Professional Fiduciary
Selecting a fiduciary is an important decision. Consider asking:
- How long have you been serving as a professional fiduciary?
- Are you licensed (where required)?
- What types of trusts and estates do you typically administer?
- How are your fees calculated?
- Will I have one primary contact?
- How often will beneficiaries receive accountings?
- What professionals do you work with (CPAs, attorneys, financial advisors)?
- Do you have experience administering estates similar to mine?
We Can Help You Make an Informed Decision
At Ginsburg Law Group, we frequently assist clients who do not have an appropriate family member or friend to serve as trustee, executor, or agent under a power of attorney. As part of the estate planning process, we can discuss whether naming a professional fiduciary is appropriate for your circumstances and help you understand the responsibilities these professionals undertake.
Disclaimer
The companies listed above are provided solely for informational purposes to illustrate the types of professional fiduciary services available in California. Ginsburg Law Group does not endorse, recommend, or guarantee the services of any particular fiduciary, company, or institution. Every client’s circumstances are unique, and individuals should conduct their own due diligence, interview prospective fiduciaries, review qualifications and fee structures, and determine which professional, if any, best meets their needs. Inclusion in this article does not constitute a recommendation or referral.
