A trust is a legal arrangement that provides for the ownership, management, and distribution of property. Think of a trust as a box into which someone places property. The person placing the property into the trust is known as the grantor of the trust. The person that oversees the property in the box is the trustee. Finally, the person who receives the benefit of the property held in the box is known as the beneficiary.

What is an irrevocable trust?

An irrevocable trust is simply a trust with terms and provisions that cannot be changed by the grantor. This is distinguished from a revocable trust, which is commonly used in estate planning and allows the grantor to change the terms of the trust and/or take the property back at any time.

Why would I want to use an irrevocable trust?

Using an irrevocable trust allows you to minimize estate tax, protect assets from creditors, and provide for family members who are minors, financially irresponsible, or who have special needs.

How do I create an irrevocable trust?

To create a trust, the grantor enters into a written trust agreement. He or she names a trustee to hold the property according to the terms of this trust agreement. The trust agreement identifies the beneficiaries and tells the trustee when distributions of trust property (including the original assets placed in trust, as well as the income on such assets) should be made to the beneficiaries. A well drafted trust agreement should plan for certain contingencies, such as what to do if the initial beneficiaries are no longer living.