Annual Trust Accounting (Delaware — 12 Del. C. §§ 3520-3528, 3585)

Delaware Estate Planning & Wills Updated October 26, 2026 Free Word and PDF

ANNUAL TRUSTEE'S ACCOUNT

Trustee Accounting under 12 Del. C. §§ 3521-3526 and Applicable Trust Duties


I. TRUST IDENTIFICATION

Field Detail
Name of Trust [________________________________]
Date of Original Trust Instrument [__/__/____]
Settlor(s) [________________________________]
Trust Tax ID / EIN (last 4) [XXX-XX-________]
Type of Account ☐ Annual ☐ Interim ☐ Final / Termination ☐ Change of Trustee ☐ Formal (Chancery, § 3521) ☐ Informal
Accounting Period — From [__/__/____]
Accounting Period — Through [__/__/____]
Principal Place of Administration (County) ☐ New Castle ☐ Kent ☐ Sussex

II. TRUSTEE IDENTIFICATION

Trustee Name Capacity Dates Served During Period Mailing Address Telephone
[____________________] [____________________] [__/__/____] to [__/__/____] [____________________] [____________________]
[____________________] [____________________] [__/__/____] to [__/__/____] [____________________] [____________________]

III. RECIPIENTS OF THIS ACCOUNT

# Name Capacity Beneficiary Represented (if applicable) Mailing Address
1 [____________________] ☐ Current beneficiary ☐ Remainder beneficiary ☐ Designated representative (§ 3339) ☐ Virtual representative (§ 3547) ☐ Trust protector [____________________] [____________________]
2 [____________________] ☐ Current beneficiary ☐ Remainder beneficiary ☐ Designated representative (§ 3339) ☐ Virtual representative (§ 3547) ☐ Trust protector [____________________] [____________________]
3 [____________________] ☐ Current beneficiary ☐ Remainder beneficiary ☐ Designated representative (§ 3339) ☐ Virtual representative (§ 3547) ☐ Trust protector [____________________] [____________________]

IV. SUMMARY OF ACCOUNT

Line Principal Income Total
Beginning Balance (Schedule A — Carrying Value as of Start of Period) $[____________] $[____________] $[____________]
Plus: Receipts During Period (Schedule B) $[____________] $[____________] $[____________]
Plus: Net Realized Gains on Sales (Schedule C) $[____________] $[____________] $[____________]
Less: Disbursements During Period (Schedule D) ($[__________]) ($[__________]) ($[__________])
Less: Distributions to Beneficiaries (Schedule E) ($[__________]) ($[__________]) ($[__________])
Less: Net Realized Losses on Sales (Schedule C) ($[__________]) ($[__________]) ($[__________])
Less: Trustee Compensation (Schedule F) ($[__________]) ($[__________]) ($[__________])
Less: Agent Compensation (Schedule G) ($[__________]) ($[__________]) ($[__________])
Ending Balance (Schedule H — Carrying Value as of End of Period) $[____________] $[____________] $[____________]

V. SCHEDULE A — BEGINNING STATEMENT OF ASSETS (As of [__/__/____])

Asset Description Carrying Value Fair Market Value Allocation (P/I)
[____________________] $[____________] $[____________] [____________]
[____________________] $[____________] $[____________] [____________]
[____________________] $[____________] $[____________] [____________]
[____________________] $[____________] $[____________] [____________]
Total Beginning Assets $[____________] $[____________]

VI. SCHEDULE B — RECEIPTS DURING PERIOD

A. Income Receipts

Date Source / Description Category (Interest / Dividend / Rent / Other) Amount
[__/__/____] [____________________] [____________________] $[____________]
[__/__/____] [____________________] [____________________] $[____________]
[__/__/____] [____________________] [____________________] $[____________]
Total Income Receipts $[____________]

B. Principal Receipts

Date Source / Description Category (Sale Proceeds / Contribution / Refund / Other) Amount
[__/__/____] [____________________] [____________________] $[____________]
[__/__/____] [____________________] [____________________] $[____________]
[__/__/____] [____________________] [____________________] $[____________]
Total Principal Receipts $[____________]

VII. SCHEDULE C — GAINS AND LOSSES ON SALES / EXCHANGES

Date Asset Sold Carrying Value Sale Proceeds Gain / (Loss)
[__/__/____] [____________________] $[____________] $[____________] $[____________]
[__/__/____] [____________________] $[____________] $[____________] $[____________]
Net Gain / (Loss) $[____________]

VIII. SCHEDULE D — DISBURSEMENTS DURING PERIOD

A. Ordinary Administration Expenses

Date Payee Description P / I Amount
[__/__/____] [____________________] [____________________] [_______] $[____________]
[__/__/____] [____________________] [____________________] [_______] $[____________]
[__/__/____] [____________________] [____________________] [_______] $[____________]
Subtotal $[____________]

B. Taxes

Date Taxing Authority Tax Year / Type P / I Amount
[__/__/____] [____________________] [____________________] [_______] $[____________]
[__/__/____] [____________________] [____________________] [_______] $[____________]
Subtotal $[____________]

IX. SCHEDULE E — DISTRIBUTIONS TO BENEFICIARIES

Date Beneficiary Purpose P / I Amount
[__/__/____] [____________________] [____________________] [_______] $[____________]
[__/__/____] [____________________] [____________________] [_______] $[____________]
[__/__/____] [____________________] [____________________] [_______] $[____________]
Total Distributions $[____________]

X. SCHEDULE F — TRUSTEE COMPENSATION (12 Del. C. §§ 3560, 3561)

Trustee Basis of Compensation Amount Paid During Period P / I
[____________________] [____________________] $[____________] [_______]
[____________________] [____________________] $[____________] [_______]

XI. SCHEDULE G — AGENTS HIRED BY TRUSTEE

Agent / Firm Role / Services Relationship to Trustee Compensation Paid
[____________________] [____________________] ☐ None ☐ [____________] $[____________]
[____________________] [____________________] ☐ None ☐ [____________] $[____________]
[____________________] [____________________] ☐ None ☐ [____________] $[____________]

Related-Party Transactions

☐ The Trustee did not engage in any related-party transactions during the period other than as disclosed above.

☐ The following related-party transactions occurred and are disclosed for the recipient's review: [________________________________]


XII. SCHEDULE H — ENDING STATEMENT OF ASSETS (As of [__/__/____])

Asset Description Carrying Value Fair Market Value Allocation (P/I)
[____________________] $[____________] $[____________] [____________]
[____________________] $[____________] $[____________] [____________]
[____________________] $[____________] $[____________] [____________]
[____________________] $[____________] $[____________] [____________]
Total Ending Assets $[____________] $[____________]

Statement of Liabilities

Liability / Creditor Nature of Obligation Balance as of End of Period
[____________________] [____________________] $[____________]
[____________________] [____________________] $[____________]
Total Liabilities $[____________]

☐ The Trust has no outstanding liabilities as of the end of the accounting period.


XIII. STATUTORY LIMITATION NOTICE — 12 DEL. C. § 3585

NOTICE OF LIMITATION OF ACTIONS UNDER 12 DEL. C. § 3585

Pursuant to 12 Del. C. § 3585, a person may initiate a judicial proceeding against the Trustee for breach of trust or other claim only until the first to occur of:

(1) One (1) year after the person received a report (including this Annual Account) that adequately disclosed the facts constituting the claim, or such longer period as is provided by the governing instrument;

(2) One hundred twenty (120) days after the date a resigning, removed, or otherwise outgoing Trustee sent a report that (a) notified the recipient of the Trustee's cessation, (b) adequately disclosed the facts constituting the claim, and (c) adequately disclosed the time limit under § 3585; or

(3) The date the proceeding was otherwise precluded by adjudication, release, consent, limitation, or pursuant to the terms of the governing instrument.

For the one-year and 120-day periods, receipt begins the clock. Absent contrary evidence, § 3585(b) presumes receipt seven days after a report was sent in accordance with § 3534. If § 3585(a) does not apply, § 3585(e) requires a proceeding to be commenced within five (5) years after the first to occur of the Trustee's removal, resignation, or death; termination of the person's interest; or termination of the Trust. Section 3585(f) preserves actions for fraud or misrepresentation related to the report and actions concerning administration during or after a limitations period.

THIS ANNUAL ACCOUNT IS INTENDED TO CONSTITUTE A REPORT UNDER § 3585(a)(1) AS TO EACH ITEM DISCLOSED HEREIN. IF YOU BELIEVE ANY ITEM IS NOT ADEQUATELY DISCLOSED, OR IF YOU HAVE ANY OBJECTION TO ANY ITEM, YOU SHOULD CONSULT INDEPENDENT COUNSEL PROMPTLY.


XIV. BENEFICIARY OBJECTION MECHANISM — COURT OF CHANCERY (10 DEL. C. § 341)

You may petition the Delaware Court of Chancery for the county of the principal place of administration identified in Section I to:

  • Seek a Court of Chancery order requiring an account for an inter vivos trust for cause shown under 12 Del. C. § 3522(2), or seek an order concerning a testamentary trust under § 3524;
  • Object to and contest any item in this Account under 12 Del. C. § 3525;
  • Seek Court of Chancery review and approval of a required filed account under 12 Del. C. § 3525;
  • Surcharge the Trustee for breach of trust or remove the Trustee under applicable Chapter 35 provisions; or
  • Obtain instructions on any matter relating to administration of the Trust.

Informal Objection. You are encouraged (but not required) to communicate any objection in writing to the Trustee at the address in Section II within [____] days of receipt of this Account. Informal objection does not extend, shorten, or substitute for the statutory limitations periods stated in Section XIII.

Alternative resolution by nonjudicial settlement agreement under 12 Del. C. § 3338 is available to interested persons (including Designated Representatives under § 3339 and virtual representatives under § 3547).


XV. BENEFICIARY RECEIPT AND RELEASE

The undersigned recipient acknowledges:

  1. Receipt of the foregoing Annual Trustee's Account for the period [__/__/____] to [__/__/____];
  2. Review of each schedule and supporting documentation reasonably necessary to understand the Account;
  3. Approval of the Account as filed and the acts of the Trustee disclosed in the Account;
  4. Release and discharge of the Trustee from any and all claims arising out of acts or omissions adequately disclosed in the Account; AND
  5. Express acknowledgment that this Receipt and Release does NOT release any claim based on fraud, material non-disclosure, or breach of duty not reasonably ascertainable from the Account, and does NOT extend any laches or discovery-rule limitation that would otherwise apply to such claims.

Signed:

Recipient Signature Date
[____________________] [____________________] [__/__/____]
[____________________] [____________________] [__/__/____]
[____________________] [____________________] [__/__/____]

☐ Recipient declines to execute the Receipt and Release at this time. (Declination does not affect the running of § 3585 limitations.)


XVI. TRUSTEE CERTIFICATION

I, the undersigned Trustee, certify to the recipients of this Account that:

  1. I have reviewed the foregoing Annual Trustee's Account and each schedule;
  2. The information set forth is true, correct, and complete to the best of my knowledge, based on the books, records, and supporting documentation of the Trust;
  3. All material receipts, disbursements, distributions, assets, liabilities, Trustee compensation, and agent compensation (including any related-party agents) for the accounting period are disclosed;
  4. This Account is furnished pursuant to 12 Del. C. Chapter 35 and is intended to constitute a report under 12 Del. C. § 3585(a)(1) for purposes of the limitations periods stated in Section XIII.

Executed on [__/__/____] at [____________________], Delaware.

Trustee Signature: [________________________________]

Print Name: [________________________________]

Capacity: [________________________________]


XVII. PROOF OF SERVICE

Field Detail
Name of Person Effecting Service [____________________]
Age (must be 18 or older) [____]
Address [____________________]
Relationship to Trustee [____________________]
Method of Service ☐ U.S. first-class mail ☐ Certified mail, return receipt requested ☐ Commercial overnight carrier ☐ Personal delivery ☐ Electronic delivery as permitted by governing instrument
Date of Mailing / Delivery [__/__/____]
Place of Mailing / Delivery [____________________]

I, the undersigned, confirm that I am over the age of 18 years and not a party to the within matter, and that on the date above I served the foregoing ANNUAL TRUSTEE'S ACCOUNT on each recipient identified in Section III by the method indicated.

Signature: [________________________________]

Print Name: [________________________________]

Date: [__/__/____]


SOURCES AND REFERENCES

  • 12 Del. C. §§ 3521-3526 (Trustee accounts; filing, approval, and release from filing obligation) — https://delcode.delaware.gov/title12/c035/sc02/index.html
  • 12 Del. C. § 3303 (Permissible Variation of Default Informational Duties) — https://delcode.delaware.gov/title12/c035/sc01/index.html
  • 12 Del. C. § 3339 (Designated Representatives) — https://delcode.delaware.gov/title12/c033/index.html
  • 12 Del. C. § 3547 (Virtual Representation) — https://delcode.delaware.gov/title12/c035/index.html
  • 12 Del. C. § 3585 (Limitation of Action Against Trustee Following Report) — https://delcode.delaware.gov/title12/c035/sc07/index.html
  • 10 Del. C. § 341 (Court of Chancery General Equity Jurisdiction) — https://delcode.delaware.gov/title10/c005/sc02/index.html
  • 10 Del. C. § 8106 (Three-Year Residual Personal-Action Limitations Period) — https://delcode.delaware.gov/title10/c081/index.html
  • 12 Del. C. §§ 3560, 3561 (Trustee Compensation) — https://delcode.delaware.gov/title12/c035/sc05/index.html
  • Chambers, "Know Your Limitations: The Importance of Statutes of Limitation for Trustees" — https://chambers.com/articles/know-your-limitations-the-importance-of-statutes-of-limitation-for-trustees
  • Morris Nichols, "Designated Representatives: Sending Trusted Individuals to the Front Lines" — https://www.morrisnichols.com/insights-designated-representatives-sending-trusted-individuals-to-the-front-lines

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About this template

Last updated
October 26, 2026
Jurisdiction
Delaware
Category
Estate Planning & Wills

Legal authority

  • 12 Del. C. § 3521 (Trustees’ accounts in general)
  • 12 Del. C. § 3522 (Trustees’ accounts for inter vivos trusts)
  • 12 Del. C. § 3523 (Trustees’ accounts in wills probated before April 5, 1909)
  • 12 Del. C. § 3524 (Trustees’ accounts for other testamentary trusts)
  • 12 Del. C. § 3525 (Filing of trustees’ accounts; contents; approval)
  • 12 Del. C. § 3526 (Release of obligation to file accounts)
  • 12 Del. C. § 3303 (Permissible Variation of Default Informational Duties)
  • 12 Del. C. § 3303(e) (Designated Representative Receipt of Report Starts § 3585 Clock)
  • 12 Del. C. § 3339 (Designated Representatives)
  • 12 Del. C. § 3547 (Virtual Representation)
  • 12 Del. C. § 3585 (Limitation of Action Against Trustee Following Report)
  • 10 Del. C. § 341 (Court of Chancery General Equity Jurisdiction Over Trusts)
  • 10 Del. C. § 8106 (Three-Year Residual Personal-Action Limitations Period)
  • 12 Del. C. § 3561 (Reasonable Compensation When Trust Instrument Does Not Determine)
  • 12 Del. C. § 3560 (Trustees Entitled to Compensation in Accordance with Instrument)

Estate planning documents decide what happens to your property, your children, and your medical care when you cannot make those decisions yourself. Wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and health care directives each serve different purposes and each have to meet state law requirements for signing, witnessing, and notarization. A document that looks fine on the page but was not executed correctly can be rejected in probate, which is exactly when it is too late to fix.

Not legal advice

This template is provided for informational purposes. We recommend having an attorney review any legal document before signing, especially for high-value or complex matters.

Checked against the law it cites

The statutes this template relies on are listed under Legal authority.

12 Del. C. §§ 3521-3526 (checked October 26, 2026): "Subchapter II. Accounting and Distribution of Trust Funds"

12 Del. C. § 3525 (checked October 26, 2026): "Filing of trustees’ accounts; contents; approval."

12 Del. C. § 3528 (checked October 26, 2026): "Trustee’s authority to invade principal or income in trust"

10 Del. C. § 5353 (checked October 25, 2026): "This chapter applies to an unsworn declaration by a declarant who at the time of making the declaration is physically located outside the boundaries of the United States whether or not the location is subject to the jurisdiction of the United States."

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