Q&A

Can a settlor be beneficiary?

Can a settlor be beneficiary?

A settlor may be a beneficiary of a trust but cannot be the sole beneficiary, otherwise there would be no purpose to having the trust in the first place.

When do you become a co-trustee of a family trust?

You are happy to help. You are later added as co-trustee when Aunt Joan falls ill. Sadly she passes away and a couple of months later Uncle Dan moves the funds into his own trust and starts spending them. You don’t concern yourself too much but something is gnawing at you.

Can a living trust have more than one trustee?

When a grantor creates a living trust, they name a trustee responsible for managing the trust’s assets on behalf of the beneficiaries. Sometimes, trusts can have more than one trustee, or co-trustees, who split the duties according to instructions.

Can a successor trustee remove a co trustee?

Trustee breaches are more common than you might think, however, so a successor with a good case may very well be able to have a co-trustee removed. If the co-trustee is also a beneficiary, they may be relieved of their trustee authority, but less likely they will be disinherited.

What happens when a grantor names multiple trustees?

When a grantor names multiple trustees, or co-trustees, they are responsible for co-managing the trust’s assets. It is important to know what and how much power each co-trustee has over the management of the trust’s assets.

You are happy to help. You are later added as co-trustee when Aunt Joan falls ill. Sadly she passes away and a couple of months later Uncle Dan moves the funds into his own trust and starts spending them. You don’t concern yourself too much but something is gnawing at you.

When a grantor creates a living trust, they name a trustee responsible for managing the trust’s assets on behalf of the beneficiaries. Sometimes, trusts can have more than one trustee, or co-trustees, who split the duties according to instructions.

When a grantor names multiple trustees, or co-trustees, they are responsible for co-managing the trust’s assets. It is important to know what and how much power each co-trustee has over the management of the trust’s assets.

Who are the named beneficiaries of a trust?

A trust is a legal document that governs how the grantor’s assets pass to the named beneficiaries upon the grantor’s death. When a grantor establishes a trust, a single trustee manages the trust’s assets on behalf of the named beneficiaries.