Should You Appoint Co-Trustees? Why One May Be Better

When creating a trust, choosing the right trustee is one of the most important decisions you’ll make. Many of my clients initially want to name co-trustees—usually their adult children—as a way to be fair or encourage collaboration.  But in my experience, that well-intentioned approach often backfires. I recommend appointing one trustee. It’s almost always simpler, faster, and less risky.

Let’s examine why co-trustees can create problems, when they might make sense, and how to structure the trust properly if you decide to go that route. The Case for a Solo Trustee

1. Clarity and Efficiency

One trustee means streamlined administration. Decisions get made quicker, paperwork gets signed without delay, and no coordination is needed to execute everyday actions—like selling real estate, filing taxes, or distributing assets. 2. Lower Risk of Disagreement

When multiple people must jointly agree on financial and legal decisions, even minor conflicts can escalate. If co-trustees don’t get along—or even just have different work styles—deadlocks can stall the entire trust.

3. Less Burden on the Family

Trust administration can already be emotionally difficult—especially after the death of a loved one. Naming a single trustee helps avoid friction among siblings or other beneficiaries over how the trust is being managed. Common Reasons People Choose Co-Trustees – and Why They Backfire

• “I want to treat my children equally.”

This may result in unequal effort, growing resentment, and family friction - not fairness.

• “Two heads are better than one.”

Without clearly defined roles, co-trustees can stall decision-making rather than enhance it.

• “I don’t want to offend anyone”

The trustee role is a job, not a reward. Choose the person most capable of carrying out your wishes, and explain your reasoning if needed. 

• “Our Children Get Along Well”

Grief, money, and legal responsibilities can change even the best of relationships

When Co-Trustees Might Make Sense

While I usually recommend naming just one trustee, there are some situations where co-trustees can be the right choice—if the individuals are cooperative, and the trust is drafted with clear structure and flexibility.

1. Desire for Checks and Balances

Some clients prefer to avoid placing too much authority in one person’s hands. Co-trustees can provide built-in accountability and oversight, even in modest estates. This can be reassuring in families where beneficiaries want transparency.

2. Sharing the Workload

Trust administration can be time-consuming. Co-trustees can divide responsibilities. For example, one can handle financial and legal tasks while the other manages communication with beneficiaries or property upkeep.

3. Complementary Strengths and Perspectives

Two trustees may bring different forms of value: financial acumen, legal knowledge, family insight, or emotional intelligence. Together, they may make better, more well-rounded decisions than either could alone.

4. Emotional Support

Administering a trust, especially after the death of a parent, can be emotionally taxing. Co-trustees can support one another through difficult decisions and ease the burden during a time of grief. 5. Desire for Balanced Family Representation

In blended families or families with complicated dynamics, co-trustees from different branches can help maintain neutrality and prevent accusations of favoritism—as long as they work well together.

How to Make Co-Trustees Work

If you do choose co-trustees, consider these safeguards:

1. Allow Independent Authority

By default, co-trustees must act jointly. But, you can give the trustees the power to act independently. This allows either trustee to make decisions or sign documents without waiting on the other.

2. Clearly Define Roles

Divide tasks based on skillsets—e.g., one manages finances, the other handles distributions. Avoid redundant effort and confusion.

3. Build in Tie-Breakers

Include a clause specifying how disagreements are resolved: majority vote (for 3+ trustees), mediation, or final say by a neutral third party.

4. Add Flexibility to Resign or Remove

Make it easy for a trustee to resign if it’s not working. Allow remaining trustee to remove a non-performing trustee with cause.

5. Appoint an Advisor

A neutral third party (often an attorney or CPA) can serve as a trust protector, resolving disputes or stepping in if something goes wrong. Better Alternatives to Co-Trustees

If your main concern is fairness or oversight, consider these effective and flexible structures:

One Trustee with Named Successors 

Instead of appointing co-trustees, name one primary trustee and list successor trustees in a clear order of priority. This keeps administration simple while still ensuring continuity if the first trustee becomes unavailable. This maintains efficiency and avoids conflict between trustees.

Professional Trustee with Family Advisory Input

Appoint a neutral, professional trustee to handle administration, while giving a trusted family member the right to be consulted or kept informed on key decisions. This balances expertise with family awareness—without creating shared control.

Trust Protector Role

Appoint a trust protector—typically a trusted advisor or attorney—with limited powers to monitor the trustee, break deadlocks, or replace the trustee if necessary. This adds oversight without requiring day-to-day involvement.

Conclusion

Appointing co-trustees may feel fair, but in practice, it often leads to inefficiency, conflict, or delays. In most cases, naming one capable, trustworthy individual as trustee is the wisest path. With the right planning, you can still ensure fairness, transparency, and continuity—without compromising the administration of your trust. Please contact me with any questions.

About the Author

Kendra Hampton has nearly 20 years of legal experience. She manages her own estate planning practice and has helped hundreds of clients create and update their trust, will, and powers of attorney. Kendra is committed to educating clients on the importance of estate planning and crafting personalized planning strategies.