Your legacy differs from your estate in that it represents more than the things you own—it embodies your purpose. At the end of your life, your legacy will be the imprint you leave on this earth, the meaning your life leaves behind. What better vehicle to protect, preserve and continue to celebrate your legacy than the aptly named “purpose” trust?
A perpetual purpose trust is exactly what it sounds like—a trust that exists to carry out a purpose, as opposed to a trust that exists for the benefit of individual beneficiaries. Originating in offshore (non-U.S.) jurisdictions, several U.S. states now have laws permitting purpose trusts. The defining characteristic is to make sure your trust exists for a “valid” purpose. While there is little U.S. case law on the subject of purpose trusts, the ownership of a business has been affirmed as a valid purpose for which this type of trust can exist. Therefore, a purpose trust can be established to hold the shares of a family business or enterprise.
Three common goals of legacy planning are: (1) perpetual existence, (2) separating the principal of your legacy assets from the revenue those assets generate, and (2) separating the management and control of your legacy assets from who benefits economically. A purpose trust can swiftly accomplish all three.
First, many states – including Delaware, South Dakota, Nevada, Wyoming and Florida – now permit “perpetual” trusts (i.e., trusts that can last forever) or trusts that can exist for an extraordinarily long period of time, such as 1,000 years. Separating the principal of your legacy assets from the revenue those assets generate and separating the management and control of your legacy assets from those who benefit economically can be achieved in one fell swoop by setting up a multi-tiered trust structure. While your purpose trust can own your legacy assets through a corporate entity (let’s call it “Legacy Co.”), your legacy trust can provide that all of the income received from Legacy Co. be paid to one ore more traditional family dynasty trusts, of which your family can be beneficiaries. This will allow your family or other beneficiaries to benefit economically from your legacy assets without necessarily involving them in the management and control of those assets. Furthermore, by creating a separate vertical for the management and control of your legacy assets, you enable yourself to be intentional with the succession of that management and control and to integrate family members or outside advisors who are best qualified to oversee your legacy.
In a traditional dynasty trust structure, there is the problem of an ever-increasing pool of potential beneficiaries. Even if you build in the maximum protections for the Trustees and give the Trustees complete discretion with regard to how and when (if at all) to make distributions to beneficiaries, the Trustees of the traditional dynasty trust still have fiduciaries duties to those beneficiaries. As a result, the beneficiaries have legal standing to bring a lawsuit against the Trustees, which can put pressure on the Trustees or frustrate the system, potentially thwarting your legacy plan. With a “purpose” trust, there are no beneficiaries to whom the Trustees owe a fiduciary duty or who have legal standing to bring a claim against the Trustees for any reason.
Instead, when you create a purpose trust you appoint someone (often called a “enforcer”) with the responsibility of ensuring the purpose(s) of the trust are being fulfilled. The result is that your Trustees are free to focus on carrying out your legacy plan as you intended.
Some of the common reasons for establishing a Perpetual Purpose Trust in Florida are:
- Pet care (including offspring)
- Maintenance of grave sites (honorary trusts); also, support of religious gravesite ceremonies
- Maintenance of family property (for example, antiques, cars, jewelry and memorabilia)
- Maintenance of an art collection
- Maintenance of family homes (residence and vacation)
- Long-term maintenance of building, property or land
- Maintenance of business interests
- Intellectual Property and Royalties
- Digital asset protection
- To provide for a philanthropic purpose not qualifying for a charitable deduction
- Maintenance of private family trust companies
- Maintenance of Special Purpose Entities/ Trust Protector Companies
FORBES. Why You Should Consider Using A 'Purpose' Trust For Your Legacy Plan
https://www.forbes.com/sites/danielscott1/2018/05/14/why-you-should-consider-using-a-purpose-trust-for-your-legacy-plan/?sh=1acfb8a212ae
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this Website is for educational purposes only and is not intended, and must not be taken, as legal advice on any particular set of facts or circumstances.
