How many trustees can a family trust have?

Asked by: Prof. Mayra Simonis  |  Last update: July 20, 2025
Score: 4.1/5 (13 votes)

As the Settlor, you have the freedom to select any individual as the Trustee, and you can even appoint multiple Co-Trustees. People often choose Co-Trustees for various reasons, such as: Avoiding potential conflicts among adult children by appointing multiple Co-Trustees.

What is the maximum number of trustees allowed?

(b)the number of the trustees shall not be increased beyond four.

How many trustees can be on a trust?

While there's no limit to how many trustees one trust can have, it might be beneficial to keep the number low. Here are a few reasons why: Potential disagreements among trustees. The more trustees you name, the greater the chance they'll have different ideas about how your trust should be managed.

Is it a good idea to have co-trustees in a trust?

One of the most significant advantages of naming co-trustees is the built-in system of checks and balances. With more than one trustee, you ensure that no single individual has unchecked control over your trust.

How many people can be in a family trust?

At the creation of a family trust, there must have three group of people: settlor, trustee and beneficiary. In recent times, the ATO released several publications to curb the misuse family trust.

Family Trusts Explained | What Is It & How Do They Work?

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Can two family members be trustees?

The problem with having two related people as trustees is that governance should be about accountability, diversity and a balance of interests, and people who live together tend to have similar views and, consequently, can sometimes shut out other people.

What is the downside of a family trust?

Rigidity: Family trusts are often inflexible, making it difficult to alter the terms once they are established. This rigidity can be problematic if family circumstances change, such as in cases of divorce, remarriage or changes in financial status.

What makes a bad trustee?

Common Breaches of Trustee Duties in California. Too often, trustees breach their duties. Some of the most common ways they do this include breaches of trust, funds misappropriation, poor management, fraudulent acts, failure to act, and engagement with a competitor.

Can there be multiple trustees?

If you are in the process of creating a family trust, you may want to choose more than one trustee for your trust. Many parents consider naming their adult children as the co-trustees.

Should siblings be co-trustees?

On the surface, it may seem like the best way to protect their legacy is to keep trust management within the family. However, this plan may backfire due to practicality or family dynamics. Appointing two or more siblings as co-trustees could create logistical problems.

Who is the best person to be a trustee?

Experience and Knowledge. Another key consideration is whether the individual or entity is qualified to act as trustee. If the trust has substantial assets, an individual with experience managing significant assets or with a background in finance or investments may be better suited to the role of trustee.

What happens if co-trustees disagree?

What happens if trustees disagree. In California, co-trustees in dispute can seek judicial assistance by filing a petition for instructions in Superior Court. This legal measure requests the judge to offer guidance on the conflict, helping to direct co-trustee actions according to the trust's terms and California law.

Can a trustee be a beneficiary?

It is not unusual for the successor trustee of a trust to also be a beneficiary of the same trust. This is because settlors often name trusted family members or friends to both manage their trust and inherit from it.

Who has more power in a trust?

Trustee: Trustees often have more ongoing authority, especially in the case of living trusts or long-term trusts. They may manage and distribute assets over many years, depending on the terms of the trust.

How much power does a trustee have over a beneficiary?

A trustee typically has the most control in running their trust. They are granted authority by their grantor to oversee and distribute assets according to terms set out in their trust document, while beneficiaries merely reap its benefits without overseeing its operations themselves.

Can you have multiple individual trustees?

Each member of the fund must be a trustee, and each trustee must be a member of the fund. A member cannot be an employee of another member – unless they are relatives. Some state and territory laws restrict the number of trustees a trust can have to less than 6.

Can you have more than 4 trustees?

A private trust of land cannot have more than four trustees.

Can a sibling be an independent trustee?

Yes, you CAN name your brother as trustee of the irrevocable trust you created for your kids. Next month marks 26 years of my being an estate planning lawyer. One of the statements I've heard repeatedly is that when you create an irrevocable gift trust, you *must* name an independent trustee.

Can you be both executor and trustee?

The probate court appoints the executor after filing the will. It is common for the executor and trustee to be the same person.

Can a trustee ignore a beneficiary?

While trustees may temporarily be able to delay trust distributions if a valid reason exists for them doing so, they are rarely entitled to hold trust assets indefinitely or refuse beneficiaries the gifts they were left through the trust.

Who Cannot act as a trustee?

Anyone 16 and over (18 for an Unincorporated Association or Charitable Trust) who is not 'disqualified' can be a Trustee. The reasons for disqualification were set down by the Charities Act 2011, and were designed to prevent people convicted of financial crimes, or who made serious financial errors, becoming trustees.

Who is the trustee of a family trust?

The trustee is responsible for the trust and its assets. The trustee has broad powers to conduct the trust, and manage its assets. In a family trust, the trustees are usually Mum and Dad (or a company of which Mum and Dad are the shareholders and directors).

Is it better to gift a house or put it in a trust?

Parents and other family members who want to pass on assets during their lifetimes may be tempted to gift the assets. Although setting up an irrevocable trust lacks the simplicity of giving a gift, it may be a better way to preserve assets for the future.

Can you get out of a family trust?

How to dissolve and close your Family Trust. You must formally wind up (vest) the trust to close down this unused structure. Build this Vesting a Discretionary Trust deed on our law firm's website.

Who owns the assets in a family trust?

You designate a trustee who will manage the assets for your benefit and the benefit of your chosen beneficiaries. The key distinction is that you retain full control and ownership over the trust and its assets while you are living.