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Charitable Remainder Unitrust

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Charitable Remainder Unitrust

On this (date), I, , of , (hereinafter the Donor), desiring to establish a charitable remainder unitrust within the meaning of Rev. Proc. 2005-52 and §664(d)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code (hereinafter the Code), hereby enter into this Trust Agreement with of , as the initial Trustee (hereinafter the Trustee). This Trust shall be known as the . If said Initial Trustee is unwilling or unable to serve as Trustee at any time during the term of this Trust, then the Trustee shall be of . The initial Trustee may resign by giving written notice specifying the effective date of the resignation to the designated successor Trustee.

1. Funding of Trust. The Donor hereby transfers and irrevocably assigns, on the above date, to the Trustee the property described in Schedule A, and the Trustee accepts the property and agrees to hold, manage and distribute the property, and any property subsequently transferred, under the terms set forth in this Trust Instrument.

2. Payment of Unitrust Amount. shall be the initial Recipient pursuant to the terms of this trust. Each taxable year of the Trust during the unitrust period which is twenty (20) years, the Trustee shall pay to a Trust amount equal to a number no less than five percent of the net fair market value of the assets of the Trust valued as of the first day of each taxable year of the Trust (hereinafter the valuation date). If should die before the end of said twenty (20) year period, my wife shall become the Recipient. If both my wife and I should die before said twenty (20) year period, my son shall become the Recipient. The first day of the unitrust period shall be the date the property described in Scheduled A is first transferred to the Trust, and the last day of the unitrust period shall be twenty (20) years from the first day of the unitrust. These unitrust payments paid pursuant to this instrument shall end on twenty (20) years of the beginning of this Trust or the death of the final surviving Recipient, whichever comes first, The unitrust amount shall be paid to the Recipients in equal quarterly installments of $ at the end of each calendar quarter from income and, to the extent income is not sufficient, from principal. Any income of the Trust for a taxable year in excess of the unitrust amount shall be added to principal. If, for any year, the net fair market value of the trust assets is incorrectly determined then, within a reasonable period after the correct value is finally determined, the Trustee shall pay to the Recipient (in the case of an undervaluation) or receive from the Recipient (in the case of an overvaluation) an amount equal to the difference between the unitrust amount(s) properly payable and the unitrust amount(s) actually paid.

3. Proration of Unitrust Amount. For a short taxable year and for the taxable year during which the unitrust period ends, the Trustee shall prorate on a daily basis the unitrust amount described pursuant to Paragraph 2 above or, if an additional contribution is made to the Trust, the unitrust amount described in Paragraph 5.

4. Distribution to Charity.

A. At the termination of the unitrust period, the Trustee shall distribute all of the then principal and income of the Trust (other than any amount due the Recipient under the terms of this Trust) to the , which shall be a nonprofit organization formed under the laws of . The Scholarship Fund shall be a permanently endowed fund, the income of which will provide annual scholarship awards based on financial needs to one or more deserving undergraduate students at University. If the remaining assets of this Trust are less than the minimum required to establish an endowed fund at the time the gift is received, the University shall use these assets as a current use fund with the same preferences as stated above. The Scholarship Fund, which shall hereinafter be referred to as the Charitable Organization.

B. If the Charitable Organization is not, or shall not be, an organization described in §§170(b)(1)(A), 170(c), 2055(a) and 2522(a) of the Code at the time when any principal or income of the Trust is to be distributed to it, then the Trustee shall distribute the then principal and income to one or more organizations described in §§170(b)(1)(A), 170(c), 2055(a) and 2522(a) of the Code as the Trustee shall select, and in the proportions as the Trustee shall decide, in the Trustee’s sole discretion.

5. Additional Contributions. If any additional contributions are made to the Trust after the initial contribution, the unitrust amount for the year in which any additional contribution is made shall be percent of the sum of (a) the net fair market value of the trust assets as of the valuation date (excluding the assets so added and any post-contribution income from, and appreciation on, such assets during that year) and (b) for each additional contribution during the year, the fair market value of the assets so added as of the valuation date (including any post-contribution income from, and appreciation on, such assets through the valuation date) multiplied by a fraction the numerator of which is the number of days in the period that begins with the date of contribution and ends with the earlier of the last day of the taxable year or the last day of the unitrust period and the denominator of which is the number of days in the period that begins with the first day of such taxable year and ends with the earlier of the last day in such taxable year or the last day of the unitrust period. In a taxable year in which an additional contribution is made on or after the valuation date, the assets so added shall be valued as of the date of contribution, without regard to any post-contribution income or appreciation, rather than as of the valuation date.

6. Deferral of the Unitrust Payment Allocable to Testamentary Transfer. All property passing to the Trust by reason of the death of the last Recipient (hereinafter called the testamentary transfer) shall be considered to be a single contribution that is made on the date of the Recipient’s death. Notwithstanding the provisions of Paragraphs 2 and 5 above, the obligation to pay the unitrust amount with respect to the testamentary transfer shall commence with the date of death of the last Recipient. Nevertheless, payment of the unitrust amount with respect to the testamentary transfer may be deferred from the date of the Recipient’s death until the end of the taxable year in which the funding of the testamentary transfer is completed. Within a reasonable time after the end of the taxable year in which the testamentary transfer is completed, the Trustee must pay to the Recipient (in the case of an underpayment) or receive from the Recipient (in the case of an overpayment) the difference between any unitrust amounts allocable to the testamentary transfer that were actually paid, plus interest, and the unitrust amounts allocable to the testamentary transfer that were payable, plus interest. The interest shall be computed for any period at the rate of interest, compounded annually, that the federal income tax regulations under §664 of the Code prescribe for this computation.

7. Unmarketable Assets. Whenever the value of a Trust asset must be determined, the Trustee shall determine the value of any assets that are not cash, cash equivalents or other assets that can be readily sold or exchanged for cash or cash equivalents (hereinafter unmarketable assets), by either (a) obtaining a current qualified appraisal, as defined in §1.170A-13(c)(3) and §1.170A-13(c)(5) of the Income Tax Regulations, respectively, or (b) ensuring the valuation of these unmarketable assets is performed exclusively by an independent trustee, within the meaning of §1.664-1(a)(7)(iii) of the Income Tax Regulations.

8. Prohibited Transactions. The Trustee shall not engage in any act of self-dealing within the meaning of §4941(d) of the Code, as modified by §4947(a)(2)(A) of the Code, and shall not make any taxable expenditures within the meaning of §4945(d) of the Code, as modified by §4947(a)(2)(A) of the Code.

9. Taxable Year. The taxable year of the Trust shall be the calendar year.

10. Governing Law. The operation of the trust shall be governed by the laws of the State of . However, the Trustee is prohibited from exercising any power or discretion granted under said laws that would be inconsistent with the qualification of the Trust as a charitable remainder unitrust under §664(d)(2) of the Code and the corresponding regulations.

11. Compensation. Each person who serves as a Trustee shall be entitled to receive reasonable compensation for services rendered. In the case of a corporate trustee, reasonable compensation is based upon its published fee schedule in effect at the time its services are rendered, or as otherwise agreed, and its compensation may vary from time to time based on that schedule.

12. Management powers. I grant the Trustee the powers described below, to be exercised in a fiduciary capacity:

A. The Trustee may hold and retain as part of the Trust any assets received from any source, and invest and reinvest them (or leave them temporarily uninvested) in any type of property and every kind of investment in the same manner as a prudent investor would invest its own assets.

B. The Trustee may sell or exchange any real or personal property contained in the Trust, for cash or credit, at public or private sale, and with such warranties or indemnifications as the Trustee may deem advisable.

C. The Trustee may grant security interests and execute all instruments creating such interests on such terms as the Trustee may deem advisable.

D. The Trustee may compromise and adjust claims against or on behalf of the Trust on such terms as the Trustee may deem advisable.

E. The Trustee may determine whether receipts are to be allocated to income or principal and whether disbursements are to be charged against income or principal to the extent not clearly established by state law. All determinations made by the Trustee in good faith shall not require equitable adjustments.

F. The Trustee may make all tax elections and allocations the Trustee may consider appropriate; however, this authority is exercisable only in a fiduciary capacity and may not be used to enlarge or shift any beneficial interest except as an incidental consequence of the discharge of fiduciary duties. All tax elections and allocations made by the Trustee in good faith shall not require equitable adjustments.

G. The Trustee may employ such lawyers, accountants, and other advisers as the Trustee may deem useful and appropriate for the administration of the trust. The Trustee may employ a professional investment adviser and delegate to this adviser any discretionary investment authorities to manage the investments of the Trust (including any investment in mutual funds, investment trusts, or managed accounts), and may rely on the adviser's investment recommendations without liability to any Recipient.

H. The Trustee may divide and distribute the assets of the Trust in kind or in cash, or partly in each, without regard to the income tax basis of any asset and without the consent of any Recipient. The decision of the Trustee in dividing any portion of the Trust between or among two or more Recipient shall be binding on all persons.

13. Limited Power of Amendment. This Trust is irrevocable. However, the Trustee shall have the power, acting alone, to amend the Trust from time to time in any manner required for the sole purpose of ensuring that the Trust qualifies and continues to qualify as a charitable remainder unitrust within the meaning of §664(d)(2) of the Code.

14. Investment of Trust Assets. Nothing in this trust instrument shall be construed to restrict the Trustee from investing the Trust assets in a manner that could result in the annual realization of a reasonable amount of income or gain from the sale or disposition of trust assets.

15. Definition of Recipient. References to the Recipient in this trust instrument shall be deemed to include the Executor of the Estate of the Recipient with regard to all provisions in this trust instrument that describe amounts payable to and/or due from the Recipient. The prior sentence shall not apply to the determination of the last day of the unitrust period.

WITNESS our signature as of the day and date first above stated.

(Signature of Grantor)

(Signature of Initial Trustee)

Acknowledgments (form of acknowledgment may vary by state)

Attach Schedule A

Enter text✕

What the Charitable Remainder Unitrust Is and how it functions

A Charitable Remainder Unitrust (CRUT) is a tax-qualified split-interest trust that pays an income stream to one or more noncharitable beneficiaries for a term or for life, with the remaining trust assets passing to one or more qualified charities at the trust’s termination. Donors receive an income tax deduction at funding based on the present value of the charitable remainder, subject to IRS valuation rules. A CRUT can accept cash, publicly traded securities, and some illiquid assets; its administration requires careful drafting, trustee selection, annual accounting, and adherence to IRS regulations for charitable trusts.

Why a Charitable Remainder Unitrust may be appropriate

A CRUT lets donors convert appreciated assets into an income stream while reducing immediate capital gains exposure and securing a charitable remainder gift. It can provide estate planning flexibility, potential income tax deductions, and philanthropic objectives combined with lifetime or term payments to beneficiaries.

Why a Charitable Remainder Unitrust may be appropriate

Who commonly establishes or completes a Charitable Remainder Unitrust

Typical parties involved include donors, trustees (individual or institutional), income beneficiaries, remainder charities, and counsel or tax advisors.

  • Donor individuals or couples who wish to support charity while retaining income
  • Trustees or trust companies managing investments and distributions
  • Tax and estate professionals advising on valuation and compliance

Trustees and advisors must coordinate annual reporting, investment policy compliance, and timely distributions to income beneficiaries while preserving the charitable remainder value.

Stepwise process to complete and fund a Charitable Remainder Unitrust

Follow these sequential steps to create, fund, and operationalize a CRUT with proper compliance.

  • 01
    Engage advisors: Retain estate counsel and tax advisor to draft trust and model tax outcomes.
  • 02
    Draft trust document: Prepare CRUT agreement with payout rate, term, remainder beneficiaries, and trustee powers.
  • 03
    Execute and notarize: Sign trust document per state requirements and complete any notarization or witness steps.
  • 04
    Fund the trust: Transfer assets (cash, securities, property) into the trust and obtain formal valuations if required.

Key elements to include in a professional Charitable Remainder Unitrust

A consistent set of provisions helps ensure the CRUT qualifies for favorable tax treatment and operates as intended over its lifetime.

Payout formula

Specify whether the trust uses a fixed percentage unitrust payout or another permitted metric and how frequently payments are made.

Term definition

State whether payments continue for life, a fixed term not exceeding statutory limits, or a combination; include contingency rules.

Remainder beneficiaries

Name the charitable recipient(s) that will receive the remainder and include qualifying language to meet IRC charitable organization criteria.

Valuation method

Describe how initial value and subsequent valuations will be performed, including appraisal requirements for illiquid assets.

Trustee powers

Define investment authority, distribution discretion, and power to appoint advisors, including successor trustee provisions.

Termination rules

Set clear procedures for termination, final accounting, and distribution of the charitable remainder.

Essential data elements required on a CRUT

Donor ID: SSN or EIN
Trust date: Effective date
Payout rate: Percentage or formula
Beneficiary info: Names and shares
Asset list: Funded property description
Trustee details: Name, contact

How electronic completion and eSigning typically flow

Use this high-level sequence when preparing a CRUT for electronic execution and distribution.

  • Prepare document: Draft trust and convert to a fillable PDF or Word document.
  • Place fields: Add signature, date, and data fields appropriate to each signer.
  • Authenticate signer: Choose an authentication strength (email, SMS code, or advanced methods) consistent with the parties' risk tolerance.
  • Capture audit trail: Record timestamps, IP, and actions to support ESIGN/UETA compliance.

Typical digital workflow settings for online CRUT completion

Configure these settings in your eSignature or document platform before routing the trust for signatures.

Field Configuration
Signer order Sequential or parallel
Authentication Email, SMS code, KBA optional
Retention Enable secure archival and export
Notifications Email reminders and completion notices

Platform considerations for eSigning a CRUT

Choose a platform that supports secure authentication, tamper-evident signed PDFs, and robust audit trails for trust records.

  • Document formats: PDF, DOCX supported
  • Integrations: CRM and cloud storage integrations
  • Compliance: ESIGN, UETA, HIPAA as required

Ensure the platform can export signed documents, maintain retention and exportable audit logs, and support any notarization or witness workflows required by state law.

Common preparation pitfalls to avoid

  • Using imprecise payout language that causes IRS recharacterization
  • Failing to obtain a formal valuation for contributed illiquid assets
  • Mismatched donor or trustee names across accounts and tax filings
  • Omitting successor trustee or successor beneficiary provisions

Consequences and legal risks of improper CRUT setup

Tax disallowance: Loss of charitable deduction
Excise penalties: Potential excise taxes under intermediate sanction rules
Irs reclassification: Trust may be treated as noncharitable trust
Beneficiary disputes: Litigation risk over distributions
Reporting failures: Late filings and penalties
Valuation exposure: Increased audit risk

Key filing and reporting timelines related to a CRUT

Observe these timelines to maintain tax compliance and avoid penalties associated with income reporting and trust filings.

Initial funding:

Record funding date as Effective Date (MM/DD/YYYY); affects deduction year

Annual accounting:

Provide income beneficiaries annual statements consistent with trust terms

Form 1041:

Trust income tax return due April 15 for calendar-year trusts

Valuation updates:

Obtain new appraisals before major asset sales or transfers

IRS inquiries:

Respond promptly to information requests to avoid statutory penalties

Typical eSignature vendor pricing and capability snapshot for trust documents

Comparing common eSignature options can help select a platform that meets authentication, retention, and compliance needs for trust execution.

signNow DocuSign Adobe Sign PandaDoc HelloSign
Starting Price $8/user/mo $15/user/mo $14/user/mo $19/user/mo $15/user/mo
Free Trial 7-day trial Varies by plan Varies by plan Varies by plan Varies by plan
Bulk Send Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Audit Trail Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Envelope Cap No envelope cap 100 envelopes/user/year Varies by plan Varies by plan Varies by plan

Frequently asked questions about completing and signing a Charitable Remainder Unitrust

Answers to common questions about validity, signing, amendment, and recordkeeping for CRUTs.


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