Select a trustworthy, capable successor trustee who will protect your family's assets and carry out your wishes.
Based on: Who Should Be Your Successor Trustee? Don't Just Pick the Oldest Child by American Estate Planning Series
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What if the person you're planning to name as your successor trustee is actually the wrong choice — and you don't even know it yet? Most people default to the oldest child without thinking twice. It feels like the natural thing to do. But as estate planning attorney Michael Pebbney explains, that assumption can create serious problems for your family down the road.
Here's the reality: when you're gone or medically incapacitated, your successor trustee steps into one of the most consequential roles imaginable. They control every asset inside your trust — your home, your financial accounts, your legacy. If they lack judgment, organization, or willingness, your carefully built estate plan can unravel fast. The wrong trustee can mismanage assets, miss critical deadlines, fail to work with attorneys or accountants, or simply refuse the role entirely when the time comes. Your family pays the price.
Now imagine a different outcome. You've worked through a clear, methodical process to evaluate every potential trustee — not just by age or family order, but by the traits that actually matter. You've named a primary trustee, at least one solid alternate, and you know exactly when a professional or corporate fiduciary makes more sense. Your trust has the right person in the right role. Your beneficiaries are protected. Your wishes get carried out. That's peace of mind that lasts.
Michael Pebbney is an estate planning attorney practicing in California who has guided countless families through exactly this decision. His channel, American Estate Planning Series, breaks down complex legal concepts into practical, plain-English guidance you can actually use. This checklist distills his complete framework for selecting a successor trustee into a clear, step-by-step action plan.
This PDF checklist walks you through every key decision: understanding what a trustee actually does, evaluating candidates by the right criteria, knowing when to choose a co-trustee versus alternates in order, identifying red flags, and recognizing when a professional or corporate fiduciary is the smarter call. Use it to have an informed conversation with your estate planning attorney and make a choice you can feel confident about. Download it, work through it, and give your family the protection they deserve.
Every checklist item comes with actionable notes to guide you — things like "Don't forget to do this before you start," "Avoid this common mistake," or "Set a reminder for 30 days out." Nothing vague, just clear next steps.
+ 14 more action items inside...
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