Living Trust with Provisions for Disability
This Living Trust Agreement, hereinafter called the Agreement, dated
__________________ (date), between __________________ (Name of Grantor) of
_____________________________________________ (street address, city, county,
state, zip code) , hereinafter called the Grantor, and __________________ (Name of
Trustee), a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the state of
__________________ (name of state) , with its principal office located at
_____________________________________________ (street address, city, county,
state, zip code) , referred to herein as Trustee.
For and in consideration of the mutual covenants and promises set forth in this
Agreement, Grantor and Trustee agree as follows:
I. Purpose. The purpose of this Agreement is to establish a Trust to receive and
manage assets for the benefit of Grantor during Grantor's lifetime, and to further
manage and distribute the assets of Trust upon the death of Grantor.
II. Funding of Trust. This Trust shall be funded with assets transferred to this
Trust by Grantor at the time of creating this Trust, or at any later time. During the
lifetime of Grantor, any interest in community property transferred into or out of this
Trust shall retain its original character and such property shall not be commingled. This
Trust may also receive property from any person or entity that is acting under the
authority granted to that person or entity by Grantor.
III. Management of Trust Assets. Trustee shall manage and distribute Trust
assets for the benefit of Grantor and Grantor's successor(s) in interest in accordance
with the terms of this Agreement.
IV. Payments during Grantor’s Lifetime. During Grantor's lifetime, Trustee shall
pay all of the net income of this Trust, and also such sums from principal as Grantor
may request at any time in writing, to or for the benefit of Grantor, or as Grantor may
designate. Such payments shall be made at least every __________________
(number) days. Grantor may change the amount of the payments at any time by
providing written notice to Trustee. Any excess income shall be added to principal at
the discretion of the Trustee.
A. Payments during a Disability of Grantor. During any period that
Grantor has a disability, Trustee may pay to or for the benefit of Grantor such
amounts of income and principal as Trustee believes in Trustee's sole discretion
to be required for (i) Grantor's support, comfort and welfare, (ii) Grantor's
accustomed manner of living, or (iii) any purpose that Trustee believes to be in
the best interest of Grantor.
B. Disability Defined for the Purpose of this Trust. Disability shall mean a
legal disability or the inability to provide prompt and intelligent consideration to
financial matters by reason of illness or mental or physical disability. The
determination of whether Grantor has a disability shall be made by Grantor's
most recent attending physician. Trustee shall be entitled to rely on written
notice of that determination.
V. Death of Grantor. Upon the death of Grantor, and after the payment of Grantor's
just debts, funeral expenses, and expenses of last illness, the following distributions
shall be made:
A. Specific Distributions. The following specific distributions shall be made
from the assets of the Trust. However, such distributions (other than
distributions, if any, to Grantor's spouse) shall be made only if the Grantor's
spouse does not survive Grantor. __________________ (Amount or
Percentage of Assets) shall be distributed to __________________ (Name of
Beneficiary). If this Beneficiary does not survive Grantor and Grantor’s spouse,
this bequest shall be distributed with the residuary assets of this Trust.
B. Tangible Personal Property. Upon the death of Grantor and subject to
the preceding provisions of this Trust, all clothing, jewelry, automobiles,
household furniture and furnishings, recreational equipment, all personal effects
used by Grantor about Grantor's person or home, and other items of tangible
personal property shall be distributed to __________________ (Name) of
_____________________________________________ (street address, city,
county, state, zip code) . If this person does not survive Grantor, the tangible
personal property shall be distributed to __________________ (Name) of
_____________________________________________ (street address, city,
county, state, zip code) . If this person does not survive Grantor and Grantor’s
spouse, the tangible personal property shall be distributed with the residuary
assets of this Trust.
C. Residuary Assets. The residuary assets of this Trust shall be distributed
to __________________ (Name) of ________________________________
(street address, city, county, state, zip code) . If such beneficiary does not survive
Grantor and Grantor’s Spouse, the residuary assets shall be distributed to the
following beneficiaries in the percentages as shown:
1. _______ % to ________________________ (Name) of
________________________________ (street address, city, county, state, zip
code) .
2. _______ % to ________________________ (Name) of
________________________________ (street address, city, county, state, zip
code) .
3. _______ % to ________________________ (Name) of
________________________________ (street address, city, county, state, zip
code) .
If any of these people do not survive Grantor and Grantor’s spouse, this share
shall be distributed proportionately to the other distributee(s) listed under this
provision.
VI. Powers of Trustee. Trustee, in addition to other powers and authority granted
by law or necessary or appropriate for proper administration of Trust, shall have the
following rights, powers, and authority without order of court and without notice to
anyone:
A. Receive Assets. To receive, hold, maintain, administer, collect, invest
ant re-invest the trust assets, and collect and apply the income, profits, and
principal of the Trust in accordance with the terms of this instrument.
B. Receive Additional Assets. To receive additional assets from other
sources including assets received under the Will of Grantor or any other person.
C. Standard of Care. To acquire, invest, reinvest, exchange, retain, sell,
and mortgage estate and trust assets, exercising the judgment and care, under
the circumstances then prevailing, that persons of prudence, discretion and
intelligence exercise in the management of their own affairs, not in regard to
speculation but in regard to the permanent disposition their funds, considering
the probable income as well as the probable safety of their capital. Within the
limitations of that standard, Trustee is authorized to acquire and retain every kind
of property, real, personal or mixed, and every kind of investment, specifically
including, but not by way of limitation, bonds, debentures and other corporate
obligation, and stocks, preferred or common, that persons of prudence, discretion
and intelligence acquire or retain for their own account, even though not
otherwise a legal investment for trust funds under the laws and statutes of the
United States or the state under which this instrument is administered.
D. Retain Assets. To retain any asset, including uninvested cash or original
investments, regardless of whether it is of the kind authorized by this instrument
for investment and whether it leaves a disproportionately large part of the estate
or trust invested in one type of property, for as long as the Trustee deems
advisable.
E. Dispose of or Encumber Assets . To sell, option, mortgage, pledge,
lease or convey real or personal property, publicly or privately, upon such terms
and conditions as may appear to be proper, and to execute all instruments
necessary to effect such authority.
F. Settle Claims. To compromise, settle, or abandon claims in favor of or
against Trust.
G. Manage Property. To manage real estate and personal property, borrow
money, exercise options, buy insurance, and register securities as may appear to
be proper.
H. Allocate Between Principal and Income. To make allocations of
charges and credits as between principal and income as in the sole discretion of
the Trustee may appear to be proper.
I. Employ Professional Assistance. To employ and compensate counsel
and other persons deemed necessary for proper administration and to delegate
authority when such delegation is advantageous to the Trust.
J. Distribute Property. To make division or distribution in money or kind, or
partly in either including disproportionate in-kind distributions, at values to be
determined by Trustee, and Trustee's judgment shall be binding upon all
interested parties.
K. Enter Contracts. To bind the Trust by contracts or agreements without
assuming individual liability for such contracts.
L. Exercise Stock Ownership Rights. To vote, execute proxies to vote,
join in or oppose any plans for reorganization, and exercise any other rights
incident to the ownership of any stocks, bonds or other properties of Trust.
M. Duration of Powers. To continue to exercise the powers provided in this
Agreement after the termination of Trust until all the assets of Trust have been
distributed.
N. Hold Trust Assets as a Single Fund. To hold the assets of Trust,
shares, or portions of Trust created by this instrument as a single fund for joint
investment and management, without the need for physical segregation, dividing
the income proportionately among them. Segregation of the various trust shares
need only be made on the books of Trustee for accounting purposes.
O. Compensation. To receive reasonable compensation for Trustee's
services under this Agreement and be exonerated from and to pay all reasonable
expenses and charges of Trust.
P. Loans to Beneficiaries. To make loans to any trust beneficiary for the
purpose of providing the beneficiary with the funds necessary to take advantage
of exceptional business opportunities or to provide for the needs of the
beneficiaries and their families.
Q. Methods of Distribution. To make payments to or for the benefit of any
beneficiary (specifically including any beneficiary under any legal disability) in
any of the following ways: (a) directly to the beneficiary, (b) directly for the
maintenance, welfare and education of the beneficiary, (c) to the legal or natural
guardian of the beneficiary, or, (d) to anyone who at the time shall have custody
and care of the person of the beneficiary. Trustee shall not be obliged to see to
the application of the funds so paid, but the receipt of the person to whom the
funds were paid shall be full acquittance of Trustee.
VII. Additional Trustee Provisions. These additional provisions shall apply
regarding Trustee:
A. Grantor as Trustee. If at any time Grantor is Trustee, Grantor may
appoint a successor Trustee, to become effective immediately or upon any stated
contingency, by making such designation in writing. Such designee shall
become the successor Trustee upon acceptance of the terms and conditions of
this Agreement.
B. Successor Trustee. If at any time a Trustee cannot serve because of the
Trustee's disability (as previously defined), death, or other reason,
__________________ (Name) of ________________________________
(street address, city, county, state, zip code) , is designated as the successor
Trustee, without bond. If such designee(s) is/are unable to serve for any reason,
__________________ (Name) of ________________________________
(street address, city, county, state, zip code) , i s designated as the alternate
successor Trustee, without bond. Such designees shall become the successor
Trustee upon acceptance of the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
C. Resignation of Trustee. Any Trustee may resign by giving written notice
to the beneficiaries to whom income could then be distributed. Such resignation
shall take effect on such date specified in the notice, but not earlier than thirty
(30) days after the date of delivery of such written resignation unless an earlier
effective date shall be agreed to by the income beneficiaries.
D. Adult Beneficiary Rights. If Trustee resigns or for any reason ceases to
serve as Trustee, and if the successor Trustee(s) designated by the Grantor, if
any, fail or cease to serve as Trustee, then the adult beneficiaries to whom
income could then be distributed, together with the adult beneficiaries to whom
principal would be distributed if the Trust were then to terminate, may by majority
action in writing appoint a successor Trustee. If agreement of a majority of the
beneficiaries cannot be obtained within sixty (60) days, a successor Trustee shall
be appointed by the court having general jurisdiction of the Trust. Any successor
Trustee appointed shall have all the rights conferred upon the original Trustee
and shall be bound by the provisions of this Trust.
E. Accounting. Trustee shall provide an accounting to the Beneficiary (or
beneficiaries) on at least a quarterly basis. If a beneficiary has a disability,
Trustee shall provide the accounting to a guardian or conservator, if any.
F. Bond. No bond shall be required of any Trustee.
VIII. Right to Direct Investments. At any time that Trust has investments, and
provided that Grantor does not have a disability, Grantor may direct any Trustee to
purchase, sell, or retain any trust investment.
IX. Revocation or Amendment. During Grantor's lifetime, Grantor may revoke at
any time, and/or the Grantor may amend, this Agreement by delivering to Trustee an
appropriate written revocation or amendment, signed by Grantor. If Trustee consents,
the powers of revocation, but not the power of amendment, may be exercised by a duly
appointed and acting attorney-in-fact for Grantor for the purpose of withdrawing assets
from Trust.
X. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the
laws of the State __________________ (name of state).
XI. Perpetuities Savings Clause. Despite any other provision of this Agreement to
the contrary, trust created by this Agreement shall terminate no later than 21 years after
the death of the last surviving beneficiary of this Agreement who is living at the time of
the death of Grantor.
XII. Severability . If any portion of this Agreement shall be held to be invalid or
unenforceable for any reason, the remaining provisions shall continue to be valid and
enforceable. If a court finds that any provision of this Agreement is invalid or
unenforceable, but that by limiting such provision it would become valid and
enforceable, then such provision shall be deemed to be written, construed, and
enforced as so limited.
XIII. Miscellaneous.
A. Paragraph Titles and Gender. The titles given to the paragraphs of this
Trust are inserted for reference purposes only and are not to be considered as
forming a part of this Trust in interpreting its provisions. All words used in this
Trust in any gender shall extend to and include all genders, and any singular
words shall include the plural expression, and vice versa, specifically including
child and children, when the context or facts so require, and any pronouns shall
be taken to refer to the person or persons intended regardless of gender or
number.
B. Thirty Day Survival Requirement. For the purposes of determining the
appropriate distributions under this Trust, no person or organization shall be
deemed to have survived Grantor, unless such person or entity is also surviving
(or in existence) on the thirtieth day after the date of the Grantor's death.
C. Common Disaster. If Grantor and Grantor's spouse die under
circumstances such that there is no clear or convincing evidence as to the order
of their deaths, or if it is difficult or impractical to determine which person survived
the death of the other person, it shall, for the purpose of distribution of Grantor's
life insurance, property passing under any will or other contracts, if any, and
property passing under this Trust, be conclusively presumed that Grantor
predeceased the death of Grantor's spouse, and notwithstanding any other
provision of this Trust, Grantor's spouse (or Grantor's spouse's estate as the
case may be) shall receive the distribution to which Grantor's spouse would
otherwise be entitled to receive without regard to a survivorship requirement, if
any.
D. Liability of Fiduciary. No fiduciary who is a natural person shall, in the
absence of fraudulent conduct or bad faith, be liable individually to any
beneficiary of Grantor's trust estate, and Grantor's trust estate shall indemnify
such natural person from any and all claims or expenses in connection with or
arising out of that fiduciary's good faith actions or nonactions of the fiduciary,
except for such actions or nonactions which constitute fraudulent conduct or bad
faith. No successor trustee shall be obliged to inquire into or be in any way
accountable for the previous administration of the trust property.
E. Spouse. Grantor is married to (Name) and all references in this Trust to
Grantor's spouse are references to __________________ (Name) .
F. Children. The names of Grantor's children are:
_____________________________________________ (names).
All references in this Trust to Grantor's child or Grantor's children include the
above child or children, and any other children born to or adopted by the Grantor
after the signing of this Trust.
___________________________
(Signature of Grantor)
________________________
(Printed Name of Grantor)
________________________
(Name of Trustee)
By: ___________________________
(Signature of Officer)
________________________
(Title of Officer)
(Acknowledgement before Notary Public)