Report the receipt or entitlement
If you become entitled to an inheritance or learn that a payment is due, contact the trustee. Explain what it is, the relevant dates, the likely amount and whether you have received documents.
Do not wait until the money has been spent. An entitlement and the eventual bank transfer may occur on different dates, so both should be explained.
Not all payments are identical
An inheritance, compensation, a work bonus and sale proceeds can raise different questions. Do not assume that advice about one type applies to another.
Send the documents that explain the payment. Where a settlement has several elements, ask the trustee to distinguish them. A general website cannot decide the treatment without the facts and legal terms.
Avoid making promises with the money
Before paying a relative, buying something or transferring funds, obtain written confirmation of what you may retain and what must be paid to the arrangement.
If you have already received or spent money, explain this honestly and promptly. Concealing it makes it harder for the trustee and an independent adviser to assess the position.
After your last monthly payment
The end of regular contributions does not necessarily mean that all asset administration has ended. Your discharge and the trustee’s discharge are separate matters.
Ask whether any relevant asset interest remains with the trustee. Our completion guide explains why the final payment is not the only milestone.
A record to prepare
Write down the event that created the entitlement, the date you were notified, the amount or asset involved, payment dates and who is administering it. Keep letters or statements that support those details.
Then ask the trustee three questions: does it fall within the arrangement, what action do I need to take, and does it affect the payment or completion timetable?
Get advice if the position is unclear
If the explanation is disputed or the sum is significant, seek independent advice before acting. Do not treat a generic online answer as authority to retain funds that may belong to the trust estate.
Sources & further reading
Sources checked for this guide on 6 September 2026. Follow the original guidance for full detail.
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