Expenses and Unequal Trust Distribution

[miserlymoms]

My mother left a trust in California where my brother got 80% of the house (value ($2M) and I got 20%, and then the rest of her stuff was divided 50/50 (value maybe $5000). The trust says he is the executor and to be reimbursed for expenses in resolving the trust. He thinks I owe 50% of all expenses, when I got 25% of the value of the trust. What does the law say on expense sharing?

 

[Dandy Don]

If this is his first time serving as a trustee, he may be confused about exactly how to administer one. The correct term for the person handling a trust is "trustee" (not executor, who only handles the will).
The trust reimburses him for the expenses, not the beneficiaries, but he probably doesn't know that or understand that. His fees are paid before the trust is disbursed to the beneficiaries. It would be smart for him to read a book about the duties of a trustee and occasionally consult with a trust attorney whenever he has questions about different aspects of the the trust.