There are various benefits to creating a testamentary trust. This article discusses the benefits of adding a testamentary trust to your estate plan.

What Is a Testamentary Trust?

A testamentary trust allows a testator to manage wealth by giving a trustee instructions for distributing their property after the trustee’s death. A testamentary trust is a part of the testator’s last will and testament.

Wealth Management and Asset Protection

A testamentary trust helps with overall wealth management by protecting the testator’s assets after their death. This type of trust can be used to name minors as beneficiaries of the testator’s estate. A testator can use it to ensure that the beneficiaries only receive assets after they reach a specified age. This reduces the chance of waste or misuse of assets.

Tax Benefits of Testamentary Trusts

Testamentary trusts have tax benefits. For example, if assets are placed into this type of trust, the beneficiaries are not required to pay taxes on the income generated and distributed from the trust twice. This is known as double taxation. However, if the trust earns more than $600 in income per year, the beneficiaries may be required to file a tax return for that year.

There are also capital gains tax benefits to placing assets into a testamentary trust. A person who sells an asset for profit may be required to pay a capital gains tax on the income generated from the sale. However, if legal ownership of an asset is transferred from one person to another through a testamentary trust, the capital gain received by the beneficiary is disregarded.

Trust Terms Can Be Changed During the Testator’s Life

The terms of a testamentary trust do not become effective until after the testator’s death. If your needs change or you gain or lose assets, you can return to the trust and adjust it accordingly. The malleable nature of a testamentary trust is also helpful if you have more children or your marital status changes.

No Effect on Pension Plans

Creating a testamentary trust does not affect your pension plan. If you name your child as a beneficiary of a testamentary trust, their access to their full pension plan benefits will not be affected.

Read more related articles here:

What Is a Testamentary Trust?

The Benefits of Testamentary Trusts

Also read one of our previous Blogs here:

What Is a Testamentary Trust and Do You Need One?