Terminating the Unwanted Trust

Legacy Planning, Once Removed

An estate plan often involves establishing an irrevocable trust for certain beneficiaries. But when circumstances change, clients wonder if the benefits no longer justify the costs of keeping the assets in a trust. Before moving to terminate a trust, however, parties should consider carefully whether the purposes of the trust would best be served through termination, if termination is permitted, what might be some available alternatives and how to move forward to make sure all parties are informed and protected. This episode explores potential options and pitfalls for terminating a trust, including adverse tax issues, and lays out some options as parties consider the future.