ESTATE PLANNING IN MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, SHOULD I APPOINT MY THREE ADULT CHILDREN AS CO-TRUSTEES?

October 22, 2025

In our last celebrity blog we discussed how choosing the right trustee is important. Specifically, we talked about Jimmy Buffet’s financial advisor and his wife as co-trustees, and the fighting that could have been prevented. That was between a wife and a financial planner, but what happens if your co-trustees are your adult children? Is this good or bad? 

I HAVE THREE ADULT CHILDREN, WHAT ARE THE POSITIVES OF APPOINTING THEM ALL AS CO-TRUSTEES?

  1. To prevent fighting; all three are required to co-sign and receive all statements so there can be no secrets and no stealing.
  2. Put all three together if feelings will be hurt if one or two are left out; avoiding the visual that the favorite child got picked to do the job.
  3. All three provides checks and balances in decision making.
  4. Giving them all the job guarantees happy kids with a team effort.
  5. Nothing is left to chance or mystery.

WHAT ARE THE CONCERNS OF APPOINTING ALL MY ADULT CHILDREN AS CO-TRUSTEES?

  1. Can they all take the job as co-trustee seriously and act responsibly? 
  2. Are they all available and have the time and attention for the job?
  3. Do they prefer one trustee handle it and wish to pass on the responsibility?
  4. Are any of them better suited for the job; are they an attorney, financial planner, or CPA? Are they familiar with trusts? 

IN MY OTHER DOCUMENTS, WOULD PUTTING ALL OF THEM IN CHARGE LEAD TO COMPLICATIONS? 

Designating more than one adult child as your durable power of attorney, health care surrogate, trustee as discussed above, and personal representative of your will can be tedious and time consuming. Because of liability, institutions may require all three signatures and approval on every move, causing unnecessary delays and paperwork. Every situation is different and should be discussed with your Miami Beach estate planning attorney. Call my office or reach out through my website to schedule an appointment. 

WHY SHOULD I USE ALLY M. GLASER, PA TO HANDLE MY WILLS AND TRUSTS, ESTATE PLANNING, AND PROBATE MATTERS?

I sell peace of mind and protect my clients and their loved ones with my holistic approach to estate planning. I am authentic, knowledgeable, and caring. As an Estate Planning, Wills and Trusts and Probate Attorney in Miami Beach, Florida with over twenty-eight years of experience and both a Psychology and Law degree, I handle these matters with knowledge and sensitivity. I am familiar and comfortable with both the Miami-Dade probate court system and Broward County probate court and I know how to get things done. I handle both estate planning and probate cases, thus, I am familiar with the challenges of each and provide my clients with additional protections. Call or email me today to discuss your matters.  I am happy to help you and your loved ones during this important process.