Trusts Flashcards
Three Types of Trusts
- Express trusts (true trust)
- Resulting trusts (equitable remedy)
- Constructive trusts (equitable remedy)
Express Trust - Defined
A legal device allowing an owner of property to make transfers of property and to have those assets managed on behalf of someone else.
Who is the person who creates the trust?
the settlor
What does the settlor do?
Gives LEGAL TITLE to a TRUSTEE to manage the assets on behalf of the BENEFICIARY
Two Types of Express Trusts
- Lifetime/inter vivos trusts
2. Testamentary trust
8 Requirements for a Valid Trust
- SETTLOR who makes a
- DELIVERY of legal title to
- PROPERTY to a
- TRUSTEE who holds legal title for the benefit of a
- BENEFICIARY with?
- INTENT to create a trust for
- a LAWFUL PURPOSE
- in a VALIDLY EXECUTED document
Is consideration required to create a trust.
No. It’s a gift.
Who can be a Settlor?
Anyone over 18 with the mental capacity to enter into contracts.
Delivery Requirements for Titled Assets
Titled assets must be FORMALLY transferred to the trustee for the delivery to be valid.e.g. cars, planes, houses, stock certificates
Property - Current Ownership
The Settlor must actually own the property - NOT merely have an expectation of ownership in the future (no remainderman!)
Property - Identification
Property in the trust must be specifically identified.
Who can be a trustee for a lifetime/intervivos trust?
Almost anyone can be a trustee.
Who can be a trustee for a testamentary trust?
Anyone EXCEPT:
- under 18
- Judicially declared incompetent
- Convicted felons
- Incapable because of drunkenness, dishonesty, lack of understanding, or improvidence
Can a non-resident alien serve as a trustee?
ONLY IF
- that person is related; AND
- A NY resident serves as co-fiduciary
What effect if the Settlor fails to name a trustee?
Doesn’t matter - the court will appoint a trustee.
Beneficiaries - Requirements
Must be DEFINITE and ASCERTAINABLE
What happens if the beneficiary is ambiguous?
The trustee holds in a RESULTING TRUST for the RESIDUARY BENEFICIARY of a will (or intestate heirs)
Beneficiaries - Are relatives such as “family” definite and ascertainable?
Yes - you look to the intestacy statutes.
Intent Requirements
- Settlor must intend to create an ENFORCEABLE obligation.
2. Trustee must be given DUTIES to perform
Intent Requirements - Precatory Language
It is non-binding language that does not fulfill the intent requirement
Intent - Lack of Trustee Duties
It becomes a PASSIVE trust, which is NO TRUST AT ALL.
Lawful Purpose (3 Limitations)
Trust cannot call for the
- commission of a crime
- destruction of property
- acts that are against public policy
Lawful Purpose - Examples of acts that are against public policy
A trust restricting marriage or promoting divorce
Lawful purpose - permitted type of marriage restriction
OK to make conditional upon marriage to a certain religion
Trust Execution Requirements
Must be IN WRITING signed by BOTH SETTLOR AND TRUSTEE
i. acknowledged by a notary public, OR
ii. signed by two witnesses
Are trusts revocable?
Trusts are PRESUMED irrevocable UNLESS the trust explicitly authorizes revocation.
Revocable Lifetime/Intervivos Trusts - Requirements
At least one beneficiary who is not the settlor; Settlor CANNOT be the sole beneficiary when also named as the SOLE trustee.
Revocable Lifetime/Intervivos Trusts - What roles can the settlor have?
- Can be A trustee
- Settlor can be an INCOME beneficiary
- Settlor’s estate can be one of the beneficiaries of principal so long as there is at least ONE other beneficiary.
- Settlor can retain the power to TERMINATE or AMEND the trust.
Reasons for having a revocable lifetime/intervivos trust
- Manages assets efficiently, particularly using a professional trustee.
- Plan for possible incapacity by avoiding an incompetency proceeding.
- Avoid probate upon SETTLOR’s death
Reasons to NOT have a revocable lifetime/intervivos trust
It does not avoid federal estate taxes if the settlor keeps
- an income interest, or
- a power to revoke
What is a pour-over gift?
Gifts made in a will to an existing revocable trust
Pour-over Gift to a Trust - Requirements
- The trust me be in existence, OR
2. executed concurrently with the will
Is the pour-over limited to trusts created by the Settlor?
No i t can be to ANY then existing trust, including those executed by other persons.
Does a trust have to be funded for the pour-over gift to be valid?
No. It can be empty upon the trust creation because it will get property on the death or the testator.
Life Insurance Proceeds as a Pour-Over Gift - 2 Ways to Accomplish this
- Insured can create an unfunded revocable insurance trust and name the trustee of the trust as the policy beneficiary
- Have the trust be a testamentary trust and have the life insurance policy contract name be “the trustee name in my will” as the life insurance policy beneficiary.
Totten Trust - What else is it called?
A bank account trust
Totten Trust - Defined
A bank account in the depositor’s name AS TRUSTEE FOR a named beneficiary.
Totten Trust - Account Name & Words Required
X as Trustee for Y”X ITF Y - “in trust for”
No particular words required
Totten Trust - What does it permit?
- Depositor makes DEPOSITS and WITHDRAWLS as he or she wishes during the depositor’s lifetime
- Beneficiary has no beneficial interest during the depositor’s lifetime, but gets whatever is in the account when the depositor dies.
Totten Trust - What does the beneficiary get?
Whatever is in the account when the depositor/settlor dies.
How to Revoke a Totten Trust? 4 Ways
- Withdraw all money in the account before death
- Express revocation during depositor’s lifetime in writing naming the bank, beneficiary, notarized, and delivered to the bank.
- Revocation in a will, but with express direction in the will
- Death of beneficiary
Can CREDITORS reach a Totten Trust?
Creditors of the DEPOSITOR can always reach the Totten Trust either BEFORE or AFTER the depositor’s death.