Yes. The trustee of an irrevocable trust, which includes a revocable trust once the settlor has died, must give each qualified beneficiary a trust accounting at least once a year, when the trustee changes, and when the trust ends (§ 736.0813). Qualified beneficiaries are also entitled, on reasonable request, to a complete copy of the trust and relevant information about its assets and liabilities.
The accounting must be understandable and must show every receipt, disbursement, gain, and loss, including what the trustee paid itself, and list the assets with their values (§ 736.08135).
What an accounting must contain
- The trust, the trustee, and the period covered
- All cash and property transactions, and all significant transactions, including compensation paid to the trustee and its agents
- Gains and losses, receipts and disbursements
- Assets on hand at the end of the period, with acquisition or carrying value and estimated current value
- Known liabilities
- Allocations between income and principal when they affect a beneficiary
- In a final accounting, a plan of distribution for undistributed assets
Source: § 736.08135.
Why accountings matter: claim deadlines
An accounting can start a short deadline for beneficiaries. For matters adequately disclosed in a trust disclosure document, a beneficiary generally must bring a claim within six months after receiving it, or after receiving a limitation notice for it (§ 736.1008). Read every accounting promptly and ask questions early.
On the other hand, a beneficiary’s knowledge that no accounting was given does not start the limitations period for a claim based on the failure to account (§ 736.1008).
Waivers
Beneficiaries can waive accountings, and a waiver can limit a successor trustee’s responsibility for earlier periods (§ 736.08125). Understand what is being waived before signing.
What changes the answer
- Whether the trust is now irrevocable
- Whether you are a qualified beneficiary (generally a current beneficiary, or the next in line)
- Whether you have signed a waiver
- Whether the trustee is a family trust company, which may be permitted to account less often
An example
Two years after his mother’s death, a son has received distributions from her trust but never an accounting. He writes to the trustee, his sister, requesting the accountings required by § 736.0813 and a copy of the trust. She hires an accountant, who prepares accountings from the date of death showing all receipts, payments, and her trustee fees. He reviews them within a few weeks and raises two questions about expenses before the six-month period runs.
Common mistakes
- Signing a waiver or release without reading the accountings
- Ignoring an accounting until after the six-month period
- Treating a bank statement as an accounting
- Not asking for the trust instrument itself
What to gather
- The trust (request a copy if you do not have one)
- Every accounting, notice, and limitation notice you received, with the date received
- Distribution records
- Your written requests to the trustee
Next step
Request accountings and the trust instrument from the trustee in writing. When an accounting arrives, note the date and review it right away.
Related guidance
- What duties does a successor trustee have?
- What is a Florida notice of trust?
- What rights do probate beneficiaries have?
- Trust administration
Sources: Florida Statutes § 736.0813, § 736.08125, § 736.08135, and § 736.1008 (2026). Checked on October 23, 2026.