What is a Licensed Fiduciary, Trustee & PoA?

A California Licensed Professional Fiduciary (CLPF) is a legally authorized and regulated professional who manages assets, makes decisions, and acts on behalf of another person, usually in matters related to finances, healthcare, or estate management.  

Common roles for a licensed fiduciary include:

Trustee:  A trustee is an individual or entity appointed to manage and administer a trust according to the terms specified in the trust document, with the duty to act in the best interests of the beneficiaries. 

Successor Trustee:  A successor trustee is a person or entity named in a trust document to take over the trustee's responsibilities if the original trustee can no longer fulfill their role due to death, incapacity, or resignation. 

Power of Attorney (POA):  A POA is a legal document that grants an individual (the agent or attorney-in-fact) the authority to act on behalf of another person (the principal) in specified matters, which can include financial decisions, healthcare, or other personal affairs. Unlike a trustee, a POA's authority typically ends upon the principal's death or revocation of the document.