Trust and Estate Terms

Terms for Trusts & Estates

Dealing with Trusts and Estates can be a complicated matter. It can go from complex to incomprehensible if you do not understand the terminology. To help you better understand, we have compiled a list of some of the most common terms used in trust and estate matters to assist you. If you need any additional clarification, we are here to assist you.  Please call us at 877-464-1066 for any needs you may have.

Common Terms For Trusts And Estates

Appointer  – The appointer is the person who can appoint a new trustee or remove an existing one.

Appointment – The act of appointing, giving an asset from the trust to a beneficiary; or the name of the document which gives effect to the appointment. The trustee’s right to do this, where it exists, is called a power of appointment. Sometimes, a power of appointment is given to someone other than the trustee, such as the settlor, the protector, or a beneficiary.

Beneficiary – A beneficiary is anyone who receives benefits from any assets held by the trust.

Bridge Loan – A bridge loan is short term financing that is typically paid back or refinanced. Often times the term on a bridge loan can range from 3 to 12 months.

Estate Planning – The process of arranging ones property and affairs to insure their disbursement in the most effective way possible.

Power of Attorney – A power of attorney is a legal instrument that empowers another person as agent to deal with one’s property and affairs.

Executor – The one nominated in a Will and or appointed by Probate Court to manage and distribute a decedent’s estate in accordance with the terms of the Will.

Fiduciary – A fiduciary is a person to whom property or power is entrusted for the benefit of another.

Proposition 13 – California Proposition 13 is a constitutional amendment enacted in 1978. The Proposition 13 Amendment limits the tax rate increase that can be charged annually on real estate in California. The proposition restricts the annual increases of assessed value of real property to an inflation factor, not to exceed 2% per year. California Proposition 13 also prohibits reassessment of a new real estate property tax base year value except for in cases of either change in ownership, or completion of new construction.

Proposition 58 – California Proposition 58 allows for the exclusion for reassessment of property taxes on transfers between parents and children. If the sale or transfer of real property is between a parent and their child, under limited circumstances, the property will not be reassessed if certain conditions are met and the proper application is filed in a appropriate amount of time. Proposition 58 allows the new property owner to avoid property tax increases when acquiring property from their parents. The new owner’s taxes are instead calculated on the established Proposition 13 factored base year value, instead of the current market value when the property is acquired from the parent.

Protector – A protector may be appointed in an express, inter vivos trust, as a person who has some control over the trustee usually including a power to dismiss the trustee and appoint another.

Settlor – This is the person or persons who creates the trust. They may also be known as a Grantor.

Trust – A trust is an arrangement in which ownership of assets is transferred to a Trustee, who thereafter has a fiduciary duty to distribute the trusts assets to the beneficiaries of the Trust.

Trust Deed – A trust deed is a legal document that defines the trust such as the trustee, beneficiaries, settlor and appointer, and the terms and conditions of the agreement.

Trust Distributions – A trust distribution is any income or asset that is given out to the beneficiaries of the trust.

Trustee – A person, corporation who administers a trust. A trustee is considered a fiduciary and owes the highest duty under the law to protect trust assets from unreasonable loss for the trust’s beneficiaries.

If you require a third party bridge loan to take advantage of the benefits of proposition 58, please call us at 877-464-1066 so that we may assist you.

Information and terms for trusts and estates found at: trustandestate.loans