What's my play here?

[tinydepp]

I just found out im a beneficiary of an irrevocable trust my dad set up in Austin, Texas about 32 years ago. He recently passed, and the trustee is his ex-wife, who I havent talked to in 25 years. When I asked her about the trust money, she said it was never funded, but I dont buy it, I think she moved it somewhere else. The bank listed as co-trustee said their records don't go back that far. Aside from hiring an estate lawyer, what can I do to prove the trust was funded? Can I request tax records or try something else?

 

[Logical 1ron]

A trust that held assets would have filed its own tax returns over the years. You could also check county records for any property that may have been put in the trust's name. Your right as a beneficiary begins with getting a full copy of the trust document from her.

 

[Brendan.C]

You can try requesting your dad's old tax records from the IRS, if the trust was ever funded, it likely had a tax ID and would've shown up in his filings and you're legally entitled to see the full trust document as a beneficiary, so if she won't share it, that raises questions

 

[O.kaka]

If you're named in the trust, you're entitled to a full copy of it, including any amendments, I'd start by demanding that from the trustee in writing and if he refuses, that's already a red flag

 

[tinydepp]

You can try requesting your dad's old tax records from the IRS, if the trust was ever funded, it likely had a tax ID and would've shown up in his filings and you're legally entitled to see the full trust document as a beneficiary, so if she won't share it, that raises questions

My thoughts exactly, cant believe shes being shady after all these years. She knows my dad's plans ever since.. Would they hand it to me without the trustee?

@O.kaka
If she refuses, is my last resort is to hire an attorney?

 

[Aprilwise]

If she refuses, is my last resort is to hire an attorney?

I think your first step would be to hire an attorney. A friend of mine was in a somewhat similar situation where he was positive that the money he was entitled to was moved around and he was told it was gone. He tried digging things up himself and he made some progress, but some things weren't available for him as common folk. The moment he hired an attorney, everything was revealed. In addition to that, these people know the legal system and can even find things that most of us wouldn't even think of.