Inter Vivos Trusts-Potential Beneficiary’s Right To Compel Trustee To Render a Formal Accounting and Disclose Information

In recent years the inter vivos or living trust has become a popular method of disposing of property and in the future its use is likely to be even more widespread. Consequently, it has become increasingly important that the law governing such dispositions be both unequivocal and just. Unfortunately, in at least one situation this is not the case: When a person, believing himself to be a potential beneficiary of an inter vivos trust, seeks to compel the trustee to render a formal accounting or disclose information concerning the extent of his interest, he will find the law ambiguous and often inequitable.