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What Is a Trust? Definition, Account Types and Benefits
A well-designed trust can help save time, paperwork and other headaches when settling an estate.
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Nerdy takeaways
Trusts aren’t just for 'rich' people. They can provide peace of mind by ensuring assets go to the right people.
Trusts can avoid the public, court-supervised probate process for distributing your assets after death.
You can create a trusts by working with an estate planning attorney or using estate planning software.
A trust, sometimes called a trust fund or trust account, is a legal arrangement to ensure a person’s assets go to specific beneficiaries. The trust creator puts assets in the trust account and authorizes a trustee to administer those assets for the trust creator or beneficiaries.
Grantor: The person who creates the trust and puts assets in it.
Beneficiary: A person who eventually receives some or all of the assets in the trust.
Trustee:The organization or person who administers the trust.
🤓Nerdy Tip
Trusts can be effective ways to manage and protect your assets, but setting them up can feel overwhelming and complex. Consider consulting with a qualified financial pro who can help manage the details and ensure everything is properly done.
Pros and cons of a trust
Advantages
Drawbacks
Control. You can specify the terms of the trust, which can help you protect assets after a divorce, for example, or control when kids receive their inheritance and how they spend it.
Cost. Hiring an estate planning attorney to set up a trust and transfer your assets often costs over $1,000. Doing it yourself with an online will maker is more affordable, but can require more effort.
Privacy. Trust assets don’t have to go through probate, which is part of the public record. A trust can help if you’re disinheriting someone or have complex assets.
Precision. Trusts require specific language to be legally valid. If the terms aren’t clear, someone could challenge the trustee later in court.
Time. Probate court can take several months. Trusts can avoid probate and get assets to your heirs faster.
Time. You’ll need to spend time in advance dealing with paperwork and discussing your assets with heirs. Taxes may also be more time-consuming because some trusts have to file their own tax returns.
Avoiding probate. Assets in a revocable trust can bypass probate, the time-consuming court process of settling an estate.Assets that pass through probate become part of the public record, so bypassing probate can be beneficial if you prefer to keep the details of the trust private.
With a revocable trust, the grantor can change the beneficiaries and assets as long as they’re alive and physically and mentally able to do so. However, revocable trusts typically do not provide tax benefits or protection from creditors.
2. Irrevocable trusts
Irrevocable trusts are permanent once signed and funded. They’re often used to minimize estate taxes because the assets in an irrevocable trust technically belong to the trust, not the grantor.
These trust accounts typically transfer assets after the grantor dies, and they hold lifetime gifts for the grantor’s heirs or beneficiaries.
Testamentary trust: Created by the terms of your will; unlike other trusts, these trust accounts are only funded upon your death.
Grantor retained annuity trust (GRAT): Allows the grantor to put certain assets into a temporary trust account and freeze its value, removing additional appreciation from the estate and giving it to heirs with minimal estate or gift tax liability.
Education trust: Beneficiaries can only use the money in the trust account for educational expenses.
Spendthrift trust: The trustee decides how the beneficiary is allowed to use the money.
Charitable trust: An irrevocable trust that donates assets in the trust account to one or more charities.
Qualified personal residence trust: An irrevocable trust in which you transfer a house to your heirs but get to live in it for a specified period first.
Qualified terminable interest property (QTIP) trust:When the first spouse dies, the assets in the trust account support the surviving spouse; when the surviving spouse dies, the remaining assets go solely to the first spouse’s chosen beneficiaries.
Generation-skipping trusts:A trust in which you transfer money to grandchildren or people at least 37.5 years younger than you.
You can consult an estate planning attorney to draft your trust documents or create a “do-it-yourself” trust using online estate planning software for a lower-cost option. Some companies also offer discounted estate planning services as part of their employee benefits packages.
Here are the five general steps to set up a trust:
Determine what kind of trust best fits your needs. It’s a good idea to consult with an estate planning attorney about your requirements.
Create a trust document. Your attorney will help you do this. Or, if you’re setting up the trust through an online service, most companies will provide some guidance to help you through the process.
Get it signed and notarized. Depending on your state laws, you may need multiple signatures from the grantor(s) and trustee(s), and you might also need witnesses during the process.
Open a trust account. Trust accounts can hold many different types of assets, including cash, stocks, bonds, mutual funds, real estate and other property.
Transfer assets into the trust account. If the trust is part of an estate plan, you can designate the trust as one of your beneficiaries. That way, your assets move to the trust account when you die.
Trusts can be complex and intricate, so if you’re unsure about the best choices for you and your family, consult with a legal or financial professional before creating one.
The term “trust fund” is commonly associated with trusts created by wealthy parents for their children, inspiring the term “trust fund baby” in popular culture. Though trust funds are an estate planning tool commonly used to preserve wealth for future generations, they’re not solely for large inheritances or people with large estates. Trusts can help everyday people avoid the probate process and ensure their assets are distributed as they wish after they die.
Trust funds can hold assets including bank accounts, real estate, tangible personal property, stocks and bonds, or digital assets. Assets such as bank accounts and real estate can be titled to the trust, but smaller items, including family heirlooms, may require an assignment of property form.
What is a trust account?
A trust account is another word for a trust. It can refer to either the legal trust arrangement or to the bank account itself that holds the funds. Generally, a trustee manages the funds in a trust account for its grantor and ensures that the funds end up with the designated beneficiary.
Taxes and trusts
Trust tax laws can be complicated, so it’s helpful to consult with a tax professional if you’re using a trust to take advantage of tax benefits. Here are a few things to keep in mind:
Estate taxes. If you have a large estate, your assets may be subject to federal estate tax when you die.The federal estate tax ranges from 18% to 40% and generally only applies to assets over $13.99 million in 2025 or $15 million in 2026. Some states have their own estate taxes, so there could be two estate tax bills to pay. Irrevocable trusts can lower your estate taxes by removing the assets from your estate
Inheritance taxes. There’s no federal inheritance tax, but some states have one — and Maryland has both estate and inheritance taxes. The people who inherit the money pay the tax, and rates can vary depending on the relationship with the deceased (spouse vs. child, for example).
Capital gains and income taxes. The assets in a trust account might generate income, which could trigger income taxes or capital gains taxes. Who pays that tax depends on who legally owns the assets, and charitable donations may be exempt.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account factors such as pricing, ease of use, breadth of offerings, customer service options and more.
Price (one-time)
Will: one-time fee of $199 per individual or $299 for couples. Trust: one-time fee of $499 per individual or $599 for couples.
Price (annual)
$19 annual membership fee.
Access to attorney support?
Yes
We like it because
Trust & Will stands out for its quick and easy-to-use process.
Pros
Simple and straightforward process for an online will.
Unlimited updates with an annual membership.
Add a year of attorney support for $300.
Cons
Not great for complex family or financial situations.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account factors such as pricing, ease of use, breadth of offerings, customer service options and more.
We like it because
Trust & Will stands out for its quick and easy-to-use process.
Price (one-time)
Will: one-time fee of $199 per individual or $299 for couples. Trust: one-time fee of $499 per individual or $599 for couples.
Price (annual)
$19 annual membership fee.
Access to attorney support?
Yes
Our take
Pros
Simple and straightforward process for an online will.
Unlimited updates with an annual membership.
Add a year of attorney support for $300.
Cons
Not great for complex family or financial situations.
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1.
Cornell Law School. Trust. Accessed Aug 7, 2025.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The
scoring formula takes into account factors such as pricing, ease
of use, breadth of offerings, customer service options and more.
