What are the trustee's legal duties?

I am sorry for your loss.  Most trustee duties are optional but encouraged. For example, the law does not require you put the beneficiaries on notice when you sell real estate, in a trust, but I always advise clients to do so. Having said that some things are mandatory. For example, trust notice shall be given pursuant to California probate code 16061.7.  Additionally, it may not be mandatory but certainly adviseable to file parent-child transfer forms on real estate, BEFORE selling, to avoid a supplemental property tax and always within 3 years of death even if keeping the property. I hope this helps. Good luck. -John