Trusts Flashcards
A trust is:
a fiduciary arrangement in which a settlor transfers property to a trustee and expresses intent to benefit identifiable beneficiaries.
Settlor:
person or persons who transfer property into the trust.
Trustee:
is given legal title to the property.
The trustee’s job is:
to hold and manage the property in accordance with the instructions in the trust document.
The beneficiary:
is given the equitable interest in the property.
The intent to create a trust must be manifest in terms of:
creating ENFORCEABLE duties that take effect when the trust commences.
Express trust:
created purposefully by the settlor in writing.
Implied trusts:
Created by the courts and are classified either as resulting trusts and constructive trusts.
What two types of implied trusts are created by courts?
Resulting trusts and constructive trusts.
Three trust categories:
- Private
- Charitable
- Honorary
A charitable trust must: (2)
- Have a purpose considered to benefit or better the public,
- The beneficiaries must be indefinite.
A charitable trust will be implied when there is a clear charitable purpose.
Honorary trust:
Established for a SPECIFIC non-charitable purpose.
Honorary trusts do not have:
human beneficiaries.
Courts will uphold an honorary trust as long as:
the named trustee is WILLING to perform her duties.
GA will void an honorary trust on the basis of:
The Rule Against Perpetuities
The Rule Against Perpetuities will NOT apply to honorary trusts in three situations:
- it is a cemetery trust or
- expressly limited to the perpetuity period,
- or if the sum so so small it will necessarily be expended w/i 90 years.
Honorary trusts for the care of animals alive during the settlor’s lifetime terminate:
Upon the death of the animal, or if there is more than one animal, upon the death of the last surviving animal.
Time classifications of trusts: (3)
- Inter vivos
2. Testamentary
An inter vivos trust is:
created during the settlor’s lifetime.
Inter vivos trusts may be created in two ways: (2)
- Declaration of trust: settlor declares a trust.
2. Deed of trust: settlor transfers property with intent to create a trust.
Testamentary trusts are:
created in a settlor’s valid will.
The capacity to create a testamentary trust is:
the same as the capacity to make a will.
The capacity to create an inter vivos trust is:
the capacity to hold and transfer property. The settlor must be able to completely transfer property during a lifetime. This is a greater capacity than is required for a testamentary trust.
Elements of a valid private trust: (5)
- Intent
- Trustee
- Trust property (res)
- Definite beneficiary(ies)
- Valid trust purpose
To distinguish a trust from a gift or a loan (showing the intent to create a trust) seek to find:
mandatory enforceable duties imposed on a trustee.
_______ restrictions may limit trust intent.
Public policy.
Prohibited trust provisions: (a few examples)
Encouraging divorce, creating unreasonable demands on the beneficiary, promoting crime, and unreasonable destruction of property.
In GA precatory expressions (hope, wish, or mere suggestion that property is used in a particular way) will create a trust IF: (2 elements)
- They are SUFFICIENTLY IMPERATIVE to show a settlor’s intent to impose enforceable duties on the trustee, AND
- ALL OTHER ELEMENTS of an express trust are present.
Trust property:
The specific, ascertainable assets to which the trust duties relate.
Trust property need not be tangible but it must be:
a true property interest.
A debtor cannot hold his own debt in trust but the debt can be held in trust by:
another person. (Debt is evidenced by an identifiable K or note.)
The subject matter of the trust (the property) is also known as:
the corpus or the principal property of the trust.
If you have no present property interest, if all you have is an expectancy in property, can that be used to create a valid trust?
No.
If a promise to create a trust is not supported by consideration then it is:
gratuitous.
Where a promise to create a trust is gratuitous a trust arises when all the elements of a valid trust have been met, but only if at that subsequent time the settlor:
manifests an intention THEN to create the trust.
(Basically, you’re not bound by a gratuitous promise to create a trust unless after you get the property you THEN manifest intent.)
When the promise to hold property (to be received in the future) in trust is supported by consideration then:
the trust arises AUTOMATICALLY when the settlor receives property, so no further manifestation of intent is needed.
No trust fails for want of:
a trustee.
Trust purposes are invalid if: (3 things)
- It is illegal.
- Its performance requires a criminal or tortious act, or
- It is otherwise contrary to public policy.
The only way that a trust can fail for want of a trustee is:
when the settlor has demanded that ONLY a particular person or entity may serve as trustee.
Private and honorary trusts must have _______ ________ to be valid.
ascertainable beneficiaries.
What happens to the money after the death of animals in honorary trusts?
Remaining assets result back to the estate of the settlor.
In GA, an express trust must be declared:
in writing and signed by the settlor.
An otherwise invalid oral trust FOR LAND may be enforced as a constructive trust if: (2)
- The transfer was procured by fraud, duress, or mistake, or
- The transferee was in a confidential relationship with the transferor at the time of transfer.
Revocable trusts: When a settlor creates a trust in order to revoke or modify it the settlor must:
retain within the trust instrument the power to REVOKE.
Unless the settlor has reserved the power to revoke or modify the trust in the trust instrument the trust is :
IRREVOCABLE
Revocable trusts are often used in estate planning as a means by which to avoid:
probate costs.
Totten trusts:
A bank account where the depositor declares himself trustee of the account for the person who is to receive the money in the account at the time of the depositor’s death.
Depositor retains full control of the money in the acct during his lifetime.
Totten trusts aren’t true trusts because:
they do not separate the legal and equitable title or meet the formal requirements for wills.
A Totten trust is revocable by: (3 ways)
- Withdrawal of the funds.
- Any lifetime act manifesting the intent to revoke.
- A specific, contradictory provision in a will.
A Totten trust does not protect the funds in the account from:
creditors claims. Also, the depositor must pay taxes on the income.
Totten trusts terminate if:
the beneficiary pre-deceases the depositor.
Spendthrift Trust precludes the beneficiary from:
voluntarily or involuntarily transferring his interest in the trust.
With a spendthrift trust the beneficiaries creditors are:
precluded from reaching it to satisfy their claims.
For a spendthrift provision to be valid and enforceable it must:
prohibit both voluntary and involuntary transfers.
A ______ provision is invalid if the settlor is the beneficiary.
spendthrift
What three types of claims are judgment creditors able to reach 25% of a beneficiary’s interest in the trust? TIT
- Tort claims
- Taxes
- Involuntary services rendered.
Does a spendthrift provision protect a beneficiary against child support and alimony claims?
Not completely. In GA a former spouse or child can collect up to 50% of the beneficiary’s interest in a trust for back alimony and child support.
If a beneficiary has a mental or physical disability that substantially impairs his ability to function, the spendthrift clause is ________ in isolating the trust assets from the creditors.
100% effective.
Discretionary trusts:
Where a trustee is given discretion whether to apply or withhold payments to the beneficiary.