Estate Planning Newsletter

Resulting Trusts

There may be instances where property under a trust is transferred to the wrong beneficiary. This transfer can be corrected through a remedy called a resulting trust or an implied trust. Do not confuse a resulting trust, which is created by the court to remedy some error, from an express trust, which is a trust expressly created by a person (the trustor or settlor) who designates a trustee to manage assets or property for the benefit of trust beneficiaries.

When a Resulting Trust Is Imposed

A resulting trust is typically imposed by a court, and may occur under any of the following situations:

• Failure of an express trust (due to unclear intentions or inherent illegality)
• A need to determine who is to receive property that remains after an express trust has been administered and property has been distributed
• A person acquires property that was not meant to be a gift to him/her

Distinguishing Characteristics

Resulting trusts are different from other trusts, in that they are:

• Involuntary – Imposed by law, rather than being voluntarily created.
• Not a Constructive Trust – Imposed because of a good faith error, instead of the fraudulent transfer or undue influence that characterizes constructive trusts.

© 2025 NextClient.com, Inc. All rights reserved.

• The Cy Pres Rule
  If you create an estate planning document leaving property to a charity, but after your death the transfer cannot occur, the court may apply the cy pres rule. The words “cy pres” are French for “as near.”... Read more.
• Income Tax Limitations on the Charitable Deduction
  Taxpayers who make contributions to qualified charitable organizations are entitled to a tax benefit in the form of a charitable deduction on their income taxes. However, the issue becomes more complex when a non-U.S. citizen makes a... Read more.
• The Effect of Inheritance on Child Support Payments
  The federal Child Support Enforcement Act of 1984 requires each state to develop its own set of systematic guidelines for calculating awards of child support. Generally, state child support guidelines are based on the parents’... Read more.
• Filing a Death Claim When an Insured Person Dies
  The beneficiary of a life insurance policy is the person entitled to receive the death benefit of the policy when the insured person dies. In order to collect on a death benefit claim, the beneficiary must usually comply with specific... Read more.

• Neil Young and Band Hit With Trademark Lawsuit Over “Chrome Hearts” Name
• Kanye West Ordered to Pay $76K in Legal Fees After Judge Rejects “Frivolous” Dismissal Attempt
• Federal Court Allows Particle Health’s Antitrust Case Against Epic to Proceed
• Perry Farrell Counters Jane’s Addiction Lawsuit, Alleges Dave Navarro Has “Unclean Hands”
• Court Blocks Justice Department Bid for Boston Children’s Hospital Transgender Records