What Are the Duties of a Colorado Personal Representative or Trustee?

In Colorado, five appointments or roles carry fiduciary duties. They are: 

1. Power of attorney
2. Conservator
3. Guardian
4. Trustee
5. Personal representative 

Each role carries statutory requirements (i.e., a duty of loyalty to protect a protected person’s assets for his or her benefit) and/or instrument-specific duty (for example, provisions in a trust document that instruct when to disburse funds). Court rules may also require you to file financial accountings or other reports at regular intervals. 

Understanding the Role: Who Tells Me What to Do? 

Many situations exist where you might be asked to take on one of these roles. Your parents may ask you to be an agent for a financial power of attorney or medical durable power of attorney. Or you may have a special needs loved one – a sibling, aunt or cousin – in need of a guardian/conservator to make housing and financial decisions after the loss of a parent who had served in the role. 

Because these jobs are serious, it is important to think beyond “am I a fiduciary or agent?”. If you have agreed to take on the responsibility of one of the above five roles, what should you do? 

As soon as possible, seek legal advice from an attorney who not only knows the law, but also understands the practical aspects from being regularly appointed a fiduciary. Initial deadlines can approach quickly. You also need to know the “what” related to the specific role – what decisions do you need to make, what documents should you collect and what information does the court need.   

If you make a mistake, you could face liability. Failing to act or breaching a fiduciary duty could result in lengthy litigation. A personal judgment is even possible if a court finds you inappropriately redirected any funds for your own benefit. 

Necessary Conversations in the Planning Stages 

During the estate planning process, it is crucial to have a talk about your wishes with the person(s) you intend to nominate to serve as a trustee, personal representative or agent. Make sure they are comfortable taking on the role. Nominating the wrong person, one who will not or cannot serve, may cause delays, conflict and added costs.  

An appointment as trustee, personal representative or agent should not come as a surprise. It is also a good practice to list one or two successors.