Trusts are categorized based on their purpose, structure, and legal framework. Here’s a list of various types of trusts we can assist our clients to setup:
1. Living Trusts (Inter Vivos Trusts)
- Revocable Living Trust: Allows the grantor to modify or revoke the trust during their lifetime.
- Irrevocable Living Trust: Once established, it cannot be altered without the beneficiary’s consent.
2. Testamentary Trusts
- Created through a will and activated after the grantor’s death.
- Designed to protect assets from creditors, lawsuits, claims and probate.
3. Revocable vs. Irrevocable Trusts
- Revocable Trusts: Can be changed or terminated during the grantor’s lifetime.
- Irrevocable Trusts: Typically permanent and provide asset protection and tax benefits.
4. Asset Protection Trusts
- Designed to protect assets from creditors, lawsuits, or claims.
- Examples: Domestic Asset Protection Trusts (DAPTs), Offshore Trusts.
5. Charitable Trusts
- Established to benefit a charitable organization or cause.
- Charitable Remainder Trust: Provides income to beneficiaries first, with remaining assets going to charity.
- Charitable Lead Trust: Provides income to a charity first, with remaining assets going to beneficiaries.
6. Special Needs Trusts
- Created to provide for a beneficiary with disabilities without affecting their eligibility for government assistance.
7. Spendthrift Trusts
- Restricts the beneficiary’s access to trust assets to protect them from creditors or poor financial management.
8. Grantor Trusts
- A trust where the grantor retains control and is taxed on the income generated by trust assets.
9. Family Trusts
- Established to hold and manage family assets, often for multiple generations.
10. Blind Trusts
- A trust where the beneficiaries or grantor have no knowledge of the holdings, often used to avoid conflicts of interest.
11. Land Trusts
- Holds real estate property for privacy and ease of management.
12. Insurance Trusts
- Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust (ILIT): Holds life insurance policies to avoid estate taxes.
13. QTIP Trusts (Qualified Terminable Interest Property)
- Provides income to a surviving spouse while preserving principal for other beneficiaries.
14. Dynasty Trusts
- Designed to pass wealth down through generations without incurring estate taxes.
15. Totten Trusts
- A bank account in trust for a beneficiary, often used for simplicity and convenience.
16. Foreign 98 Trusts
- This option is used to establish trust outside the U.S. Jurisdiction, but allows for business and assets to be held and protected inside the U.S.
- Additional tax, and subsidy benefits are enjoyed with filing a 1041.
- We offer offshore registrar and foreign situs address services in Belize, which includes a real address that you can send and receive mail to and from.
17. Pet Trusts
- Ensures care for a pet after the owner’s death.
18. Pooled Trusts
- Combines assets from multiple individuals, often used for special needs beneficiaries.
19. Educational Trusts
- Established to fund a beneficiary’s educational expenses.
20. Business Trusts
- Used for managing and operating businesses or investments.
Each trust type serves a specific purpose, so it’s crucial to choose the right one based on your individual goals and circumstances.
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