Court & Fiduciary Accountings

Stagg Fiduciary Services can help prepare court and fiduciary accountings. Fiduciaries have reporting requirements with various courts, government entities, and beneficiaries. We can help conservators, trustees, estate personal representatives, and Social Security representative payees with their filing responsibilities. We can also assist with asset inventories and reporting those inventories to the courts.

Payroll Services

Stagg Fiduciary Services specializes in payroll services for caregivers and other household employees. Leave your payroll needs to us. Whether it’s preparing your payroll checks or just your quarterly and annual payroll compliance reports, our team is experienced and qualified to handle all of your payroll needs.

• Preparation of payroll check

• Preparation of associated payroll tax liability payments

• Payroll and sales tax reports – including multi-state

• EFTPS requirements and setup

• W-2’s

• 1099’s

• Payroll tax audits

• Workman’s compensation audits

• SS-4 applications

• New Hire forms, W-4, W-9, 1-9

Forensic Accounting & Fraud Examinations

Stagg Fiduciary Services can provide forensic accounting and fraud examination services related to conservatorships, trusts, and estates. We can assist with accounting matters involving potential or actual litigation. We can also provide assistance resolving allegations of fraud.

Conservator Services

A Conservatorship is obtained through a legal process in which a conservator is appointed by a probate judge to manage the estate of a person who has been deemed incapacitated and/or is in need of protection. Although immediate family members are the first and most likely choice to serve as conservator, there are times when family disputes, exploitation issues, or other factors may dictate the need for an independent third party.

OUR RESPONSIBILITIES - When SFS is appointed as Conservator, one of our first tasks is to identify and harness the client’s funds and assets. We work with banks, credit unions and other financial institutions to locate and rename accounts under the Conservatorship title. This decreases the possibility of misuse or exploitation of those accounts. We work with multiple agencies to locate sources of income, such as the Social Security Administration, in addition to locating other possible retirement, annuity and/or pension payments. Identifying all assets is necessary because, as Conservator, SFS is responsible for filing an inventory of the client’s estate within 90 days of the court-appointment. Additionally, we file an annual accounting within 60 days of the original appointment, as required by statute. This accounting is prepared by the CPA firm, Karren, Hendrix, Stagg, Allen & Company, and is reviewed by legal counsel. The accounting must be approved by the court that appointed the Conservatorship. Once assets are located and harnessed, it is our responsibility to create a long-term plan to ensure that the client’s assets are used for their welfare and benefit. In determining how and where the assets are used, we consider our clients standard of living, personal desires, past behaviors and estate plan – (if applicable). If there is a court-appointed Guardian, we work closely with the guardian to make sure the client is safe. If a client is going to outlive their resources, we determine what needs to be accomplished prior to qualifying the client for Medicaid.

Trustee Services

A Trustee is a person or organization that is appointed to oversee the management and distribution of property and assets owned by a Trust.

OUR RESPONSIBILITIES - A trustee’s fiduciary responsibility is to follow the provisions of the Trust. As trustees, we are responsible for managing, investing, and distributing the assets or property of the Trust. If the Trust is specialized, as in a Special Needs Trust or Disability Trust, we comply with the requirements and follow the statute governing the Trust to protect the beneficiary. We prepare the (required) annual reports, file them with the court that appointed us, and provide copies of the reports to the beneficiaries of the Trust. SFS serves as the Trustee of Special Needs Trusts, Disability Trusts and/or Individual and Family Trusts. As Successor Trustee, when the existing Trustee has become unable to serve, we help settle Trust disputes as an impartial third party; this is often done in conjunction with a Conservator appointment.

In order to be appointed as a trustee, it is required that our appointment be made under court order.

Private Payee Services

Private Payee Services are tailored to meet the needs of the individual client. When a client is looking for assistance with paying bills and managing funds, we can be of assistance for the short-term or for an indefinite period of time.

• Specific Bill Pay

• Automatic Bill Pay

• Private CFO Services

• Payroll

• Long-Term Church Service

• High Profile Employees

• Assisted Bill Pay

Personal Representative Services

Formerly known as ‘executor’ or ‘administrator’, a Personal Representative (PR) is appointed to settle a decedent’s estate. Sometimes the Personal Representative has been named or nominated in a Will; however, in the absence of a Will, a Judge may appoint an individual or entity to act in this capacity. The Personal Representative has a duty to administer and distribute the estate in accordance with the probate law and according to the Will (if one exists).

OUR RESPONSIBILITIES - When appointed as Personal Representative of an estate, the responsibility of Stagg Fiduciary Services, LLC, includes duties such as: harnessing and protecting the assets and property of the estate, paying all appropriate taxes and creditors’ claims, preparing an inventory of the estate, and publishing a notice to creditors. Final duties consist of distributing the estate according to the Will, or according to the probate statute, and closing the estate. Please visit Utah Probate for further information about the Utah Probate Code as it relates to the Personal Representative.

Special Administrator Services

A Special Administrator is an individual or entity appointed by a court to manage the estate of a deceased person. If a Personal Representative is unable to serve, or prior to the Personal Representative being appointed, a Special Administrator is appointed to protect and administer the estate. You may visit Utah State Legislature to learn more about the appointment of Special Administrators (Utah Code 75-3-615).

Power of Attorney / Banking Power of Attorney

A Power of Attorney (POA) is a written authorization by one party (the “principal”) to have another party (the “agent”) act on their behalf in private or other business affairs; this is often for financial matters, in particular, and is often referred to as a “Financial” Power of Attorney. A “Durable” Power of Attorney continues through the persons incapacity – and is often a simple, inexpensive, and reliable way to have your bills paid, bank statements reconciled, and finances managed. When there are no family members/significant others able or willing to act as your Power of Attorney – or when it may be preferable to have a third party serve in this capacity, Stagg Fiduciary Services, LLC, may be able to help. If preferred, SFS can be named as your POA at any time, but assist later on as the need arises. Or, it may be that our services are needed right away. Each client’s services are designed to meet their specific and unique needs. 

A “Banking” Power of Attorney is a very specific type of POA, designed to permit access to manage bank accounts and/or investments in a particular bank. Typically, each bank has their own Banking POA forms which would need to be completed and signed by the principal – before any other person or entity would be granted access to manage accounts.