Fiduciary Representation
Being named a fiduciary is an honor and a real legal obligation. We're here to help.Whichever fiduciary role you’re stepping into, the CFPB publishes a practical guide for it. The Sketchley Law Firm has co-branded these guides as part of our resources for clients and the broader community.
If you need any of these documents in an accessible format, please contact our office at (850) 894-0152 or info@sketchleylaw.com and we will provide one promptly.
From the CFPB
For Power of Attorney Agents
For agents managing money for a parent, spouse, or other principal under a power of attorney. Covers duties, recordkeeping, and how to spot exploitation.
For Guardians of Property
For court-appointed guardians managing money for an adult under guardianship. Covers fiduciary duties, accounting, and court reporting.
For Representative Payees
For Social Security representative payees and VA fiduciaries managing benefits for someone else. Covers eligible expenses, recordkeeping, and reporting.
For Living Trust Trustees
For trustees managing a revocable living trust. Covers trustee duties, recordkeeping, and obligations to beneficiaries.
Many Families Come to Us When...
- They’ve been named as power of attorney agent and aren’t sure what they’re authorized to do.
- They’ve been named as the agent under a durable power of attorney and aren’t sure what they’re authorized to do.
- They’ve been appointed personal representative of an estate and need guidance on what comes next.
- A family member is questioning their decisions or threatening legal action.
- They want to make sure they’re doing everything correctly and protecting themselves from personal liability.
- They are being asked to make medical and long-term care decisions for a loved one and don’t know whether they have the legal authority to do so.
- They are being asked to sign assisted living or nursing home admission documents and don’t know whether they are going to be legally responsible for paying a loved one’s costs.
How We Help
If you’ve been named as a power of attorney, agent, trustee, or personal representative, you have real legal obligations and real exposure if those duties aren’t carried out correctly.
Planning Guidance
We help you understand your options and choose the legal path that fits your family’s needs.
Clear Next Steps
We explain what needs attention now, what can wait, and how to move forward with confidence.
Legal Protection
We put the right legal tools in place to help protect your loved one, your wishes, and your future.
How We Can Help Fiduciaries
POA Agent Guidance
We advise agents acting under a power of attorney on what the document authorizes, what it prohibits, and how to document decisions properly.
Trustee Representation
We help trustees understand Florida law, meet their fiduciary duties, prepare required accountings, and handle distributions correctly.
Personal Representative Support
We guide personal representatives through every stage of estate administration and help them avoid the costly mistakes that expose them to liability.
Fiduciary Accounting
Florida law requires certain fiduciaries to provide formal accountings to beneficiaries. We help you prepare accurate, complete, and legally compliant records.
What Working Together Looks Like
Step 1 - Listen
We begin by listening and learning about your family's circumstances, concerns, and goals.
Step 2 - Explore Options
We walk you through the legal options available and explain what makes sense for your specific situation.
Step 3 - Build Your Plan
We put the right legal protections in place and make sure you know exactly what happens next.
Helpful Resources
These articles may help you better understand the questions, decisions, and planning options involved.
How To Check Credentials of Financial Planners
Our financial planners have their hands on our life savings and access to our personal and financial information. We confide in them about our goals, our dreams, and the future of our children. But, what do we really know about them when we give them access to our financial life? Often very little or nothing at all....
When You Are Appointed to Act Using a Power of Attorney…
Every day, I work with adult children who discover, usually in crisis, they were appointed to act on behalf of a parent using a durable power of attorney. The vast majority of those appointed do not know what they are supposed to do or that there may be liability associated with the actions they take in when using the...
Making Decisions on Behalf of Another–What Is Needed
When an individual become incapacitated, others may need to assist by making financial and medical decisions on behalf of the individual. These decision makers can use a variety of tools to make decisions, depending on documents the incapacitated individual created. Below is a list of tools available under Florida law...
Ready to Talk? We're Here to Help.
Every family's situation is different. If you're unsure what steps to take next, we're here to listen and help you understand your options.