Types of Trusts

True Tamplin, BSc, CEPF®

Written by True Tamplin, BSc, CEPF®

Reviewed by Subject Matter Experts

Updated on March 05, 2024

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What Is a Trust?

A trust is a fiduciary relationship in which a grantor gives a trustee the authority to hold assets for the benefit of one or more beneficiaries. By law, trustees must disperse these assets following the grantor's instructions.

Real estate, financial accounts, life insurance, annuity certificates, personal property, business interests, and other assets are frequently used to establish a trust.

Trusts can be organized in various ways, defining how and when assets are transferred to beneficiaries.

The grantor and trustee have a legal obligation to operate in the beneficiary's best interests.

The beneficiary then receives any income generated by those assets, including the benefits provided by the trust.

Components of Trusts

Trusts comprise three components: the grantor, the trustee, and the beneficiaries.

Grantor

The grantor is the individual or organization that sets up the trust. The grantor controls how their assets will be distributed and managed.

The grantor's responsibilities are as follows:

  • Adding Property and Assets to the Trust. The grantor can add property and assets to the trust at any time. The property may include cash or other liquid assets, real estate, and personal belongings like jewelry or furniture.

  • Assigning Beneficiaries to the Trust. The grantor can specify who will receive the trust's assets after they die. The beneficiaries may be individuals or organizations, such as charities or religious institutions.

  • Appointing a Trustee and Successor Trustee. The grantor can appoint someone to handle the trust's assets. The trustee oversees and distributes the assets following the grantor's instructions.

If the original trustee dies or cannot function, a successor trustee will assume their duties. In the case of a grantor trust, the grantor may serve as trustee.

Trustee

The trustee is the person or entity in charge of managing the trust. The grantor frequently appoints the trustee from among family members, friends, an attorney, an accountant, or a financial professional.

It is vital to select someone you can rely on to manage the trust funds responsibly.

Among the trustee's responsibilities are:

  • Acting as Fiduciary. The trustee has a fiduciary duty to act in the beneficiary's best interest, which means they cannot benefit from the trust.

  • Investing the Trust Assets. The trustee is responsible for investing the assets of the trust. The investment can include purchasing real estate, bonds, and stocks within specific parameters specified by state law.

  • Keeping Accurate Records of All Transactions Involving the Trust. These documents include an accounting of trust revenues and expenses. Changes in financial status or circumstances must also be reported by the trustee as soon as known.

  • Preparing Tax-Related Forms and Ensuring Taxes Are Paid Properly and on Time. The trustee may be required to file tax forms on the trust's behalf, depending on the trust agreement's status and directives.

  • Administering the Trust in Accordance With the Grantor’s Wishes. The trustee must keep detailed records of all transactions and allocate assets as needed

Beneficiary

The beneficiary is the individual or organization that benefits from the trust. They are entitled to income from the trust’s assets and other benefits such as health care coverage.

There are two types of beneficiaries:

  • Primary Beneficiaries. The person or organization who will receive the first distributions from the trust.

  • Contingent Beneficiaries. The people or organizations who stand to benefit after the primary beneficiary has received their share of the trust’s assets.

All proceeds would automatically go to any named contingent beneficiary if the primary beneficiary passed away before the one who created the Will or held the insurance policy.

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Types of Trusts

Trusts are categorized into numerous types. The most common of which are revocable and irrevocable trusts.

Revocable Trusts

A revocable trust permits you to make adjustments anytime for as long as the grantor is mentally competent.

Individuals who want to avoid probate and pass on their assets promptly and efficiently typically employ revocable trusts.

Irrevocable Trusts

An irrevocable trust is a more permanent arrangement that cannot be changed or revoked once it has been set up.

An irrevocable trust protects assets from creditors, lawsuits, or taxes. High-net-worth individuals who want to ensure that their assets are passed on to a chosen beneficiary after death prefer this option.

Special Types of Trusts

There are other types of trusts that offer unique benefits for different assets or beneficiaries. The grantor's objectives will determine the type of trust to choose. Some of the most popular types of trusts are as follows:

Living Trusts

Living trusts enable you to transfer assets into a trust throughout your lifetime and retain control until death. By then, the trustee will distribute the assets following your instructions.

Suppose you have substantial real estate holdings or other property that may require an estate settlement process. In that case, this can be a practical approach to avoid probate after death.

Testamentary Trusts

A testamentary trust is a form of trust established as part of a will. A grantor makes instructions in their will for a named executor outlining how their assets should be managed by a trustee and transferred to beneficiaries.

Asset Protection Trusts

Asset protection trusts are designed to protect a grantor’s assets from creditors and other parties entitled to claim against them.

A-B Trusts

A-B trusts are also known as credit shelter trusts. Married couples commonly use these trusts to reduce their estate taxes and provide for both spouses after one of them passes away.

Blind Trusts

Blind trusts are set up to conceal the grantor's assets and limit the grantor's involvement in their management. These trusts are frequently employed by politicians or public officials who wish to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest.

Bypass Trusts or Credit Shelter Trusts

Credit shelter trusts are another name for bypass trusts. Married couples widely use these trusts to cut estate taxes and pay for both spouses if one dies. The IRS (Internal Revenue Service) permits married couples to avoid paying inheritance taxes by leaving their estates to each other.

Charitable Trusts

Charitable trusts are established to provide financial assistance to a specific charitable organization or cause. These trusts are intended to allow donors to provide money while still having some say over how it is spent.

Generation-Skipping Trusts

Generation-skipping trusts are designed to provide for grandchildren or other remote descendants without subjecting the assets to taxes.

Insurance Trusts

Insurance trusts are established to keep life insurance policies and ensure that the earnings flow straight to the trust's beneficiaries rather than becoming part of the estate.

Marital Trusts

Marital trusts are intended to provide for a spouse following their partner's death. This trust transfers assets to the surviving spouse without subjecting them to federal estate taxes.

Qualified Terminable Interest Property (QTIP) Trusts

The QTIP trust is established in various ways, the most common of which is when a spouse already has children from a prior marriage. In this situation, the grantor may wish to leave assets to their present spouse or partner while also providing for former family members.

Special Needs Trusts

Special needs trusts are intended to safeguard the assets of people with disabilities. These trusts enable beneficiaries to obtain government benefits while retaining their inheritance or other assets.

Spendthrift Trusts

Spendthrift trusts are established to preserve the trust's assets from creditors and imprudent spending by trustees and beneficiaries.

Totten Trusts

A Totten trust is a bank account opened by the depositor as trustee for a named beneficiary. A Totten trust can be canceled by:

  • Withdrawing all funds from the bank account
  • Making an express revocation in writing during the depositor's lifetime
  • Death of the beneficiary

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Benefits of a Trust

Trusts can primarily ensure that assets are competently managed and dispersed following the grantor's objectives throughout generations.

The following benefits can help you decide whether to have them.

Creditor Protection

A trust can be an excellent strategy to keep assets out of the reach of creditors. The property in the trust will not be subject to attachment by creditors, which means it cannot be seized by judgment holders or other third parties as payment for debts owed.

Estate Taxes Reduction

You can avoid estate tax altogether if the estate is below the $13.61 million federal exemption and if you do not live in the states that impose an estate tax. State-level exemptions are at least half the size of the federal exemption, with some as low as $1 million.

When you place your assets in an irrevocable trust, they become the trust's property. The trust owns the assets and is not subject to estate taxes.

You will maintain control of your assets since you can specify how they are dispersed and utilized. However, revocable trusts do not provide the same level of security.

Flexibility

When it comes to estate planning, trusts provide much flexibility. They can be tailored to almost any situation and do not have to remain constant over time; you can modify a trust to achieve a specified goal.

Probate Process Prevention

While assets governed by your will must be validated and dispersed following your preferences; trust assets typically need not. A will enters the public record. However, a trust arrangement remains private.

When you create a trust during your lifetime, you only need to interact with your attorney and your trustee to see that the agreement is carried out.

While probate is not always bad, it can be costly and time-consuming. This process can help ensure that families are timely in receiving the assets they are entitled to after someone passes away.

Drawbacks of a Trust

The main disadvantages of trusts are their perceived irrevocability and the loss of authority over assets placed in trust.

Trusts can be made revocable; however, this has a negative impact on taxation, estate duty, asset protection, and stamp duty. When considering the trust's terms, revocability should be explored.

Aside from worries about control, there are also questions about the complexity and costs of establishing one.

Complicated and Time-Consuming

Setting up a trust is simple, but complex trusts will necessitate the assistance of an estate planning lawyer.

A complex trust is the polar opposite of a simple trust. To be designated as a complex trust, it must engage in at least one of the following activities within the calendar year:

  • The trust must keep some of its income rather than distribute it to beneficiaries.
  • The beneficiaries must receive part or all of the trust's principal.
  • Some funds must be distributed to charity organizations by the trust.

Costs To Set Up and Maintain

The cost of a trust can vary greatly depending on various criteria.

One crucial factor is where you live, as estate planning attorneys typically charge more in densely populated areas than in less densely populated areas. Lawyers with more experience or specialization will charge a higher fee.

A large estate with several assets can raise your trust charges. Leaving assets to a corporation or establishing a charitable trust can also necessitate more planning and legal effort, which can increase the cost of the trust.

Particular beneficiaries, such as those with disabilities or under the care of a legal guardian, may require more planning, and establishing a trust for them may be more costly.

The cost of establishing a trust extends beyond preparing a trust agreement. Transferring asset ownership to the trust may need the payment of filing fees.

It is essential to factor these costs into any estate planning decisions to ensure that the benefits of a trust outweigh its drawbacks.

Final Thoughts

A trust is a fiduciary relationship in which a grantor gives a trustee the authority to hold assets for the benefit of one or more beneficiaries.

The trustor creates the trust, the trustee manages the trust, and the beneficiaries receive the benefit of the trust.

There are different types of trusts that can be used depending on the goals of the estate plan.

The two common types of trusts are revocable and irrevocable. Some special types of trusts offer unique benefits for different kinds of assets or beneficiaries.

The significant benefits of using a trust are creditor protection, help to avoid probate, and possibly reduced estate taxes.

While there are many benefits to using a trust, it is essential to consider the cost and complexity associated with setting up and maintaining one before making any decisions.

You may seek the help of an estate planning lawyer for trust options.

Types of Trusts FAQs

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About the Author

True Tamplin, BSc, CEPF®

True Tamplin is a published author, public speaker, CEO of UpDigital, and founder of Finance Strategists.

True is a Certified Educator in Personal Finance (CEPF®), author of The Handy Financial Ratios Guide, a member of the Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing, contributes to his financial education site, Finance Strategists, and has spoken to various financial communities such as the CFA Institute, as well as university students like his Alma mater, Biola University, where he received a bachelor of science in business and data analytics.

To learn more about True, visit his personal website or view his author profiles on Amazon, Nasdaq and Forbes.

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