The creation of a trust can help you provide further privacy to your estate planning strategy and give you more flexibility and control. These can help your family also avoid the probate process which can be lengthy and confusing.

There are many different terms that come up in the process of creating a trust and one of the most common is trustor.

This person might also be referred to as the grantor. This term refers to the person who creates a trust. This can be a married couple, an organization, a corporation or a single person. Trustors will establish this tool as part of their overall estate plan but beneficiaries do not have to be related to the trustor although children and family members are the most common beneficiaries for trusts. Another term used to refer to the person in this role is settlor.

They will not only be the one who creates the trust but will also place the assets inside the trust, like stocks, money, or other investments. This is not where the power of a trust ends, however. Trusts can also be used to hold physical assets like personal property, jewelry, art, family heirlooms, homes and lands.

The term trustor is distinct from trustee since in some cases trustee might not be the same person who created the trust. The trustee, however, is responsible for managing and administering the trust per the terms created by the trustor.

Are you interested in creating a trust in Massachusetts? You can do so once you meet with an MA estate planning lawyer to discuss your individual goals.

 


Disclaimer: This blog post is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading this content does not create an attorney-client relationship. For legal advice specific to your situation, please consult with a qualified attorney.

Tiffany A. O'Connell, JD, LLM, CELA, AEP

About Tiffany A. O'Connell, JD, LLM, CELA, AEP

Tiffany A. O'Connell, JD, LLM, CELA, AEP is the CEO and Founding Partner of O'Connell Law, an estate planning and elder law firm serving clients across Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont. She is one of a select group of attorneys in Massachusetts certified by the National Elder Law Foundation as a Certified Elder Law Attorney (CELA). Tiffany focuses her practice on estate planning, trust and probate administration, Medicaid planning, long-term care planning, Alzheimer's planning, charitable planning, and retirement and wealth strategies. She has been helping families plan for their futures since opening her practice in 2010.

Credentials: JD, LLM, CELA (Certified Elder Law Attorney — National Elder Law Foundation), AEP (Accredited Estate Planner)

Licensed in: Massachusetts

Areas of Practice: Estate Planning, Elder Law, Medicaid Planning, Probate & Trust Administration, Alzheimer's Planning, Asset Protection

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