If you’re trying to add a Successor Trustee in the SmartGuide and don’t see the person you want in the dropdown menu, there are a few common reasons this may happen.
Possible Reasons You Can't Add Someone as a Successor Trustee
They Are Already the Initial Trustee
A person cannot be assigned as both the Initial Trustee and a Successor Trustee. If you’ve already selected someone as the initial trustee (typically yourself), they won’t appear in the list of successors.They Haven’t Been Added in “Family and Contacts”
The SmartGuide only allows you to select people who are already listed in your Family and Contacts section.
→ Go to the left-hand menu > Family and Contacts, and make sure the person is added with their full legal name, birthdate, and relationship.They Are Under Age 18
A Trustee must be at least 18 years old. If the person’s birthdate shows they are under 18, they won’t appear as an option.
What You Can Do
If the person doesn’t appear in the dropdown:
Double-check that they’ve been added in Family and Contacts
Make sure they are not already selected for another role that conflicts
Confirm their age is entered correctly and they meet the minimum requirement
Once all conditions are met, they should appear as a selectable option when assigning a Successor Trustee.
→ Related: Who Can I Name as a Trustee?