What is the survivorship clause in a trust?

Asked by: Prof. Shany Sporer  |  Last update: January 26, 2026
Score: 4.6/5 (9 votes)

Survivorship Periods in Wills and Trusts A survivorship clause states that beneficiaries named in your document can't inherit unless they live for a specific amount of time after you die. This time is called a survivorship period, and commonly ranges from about five to 60 days.

What is the point of a survivorship clause?

This survivorship requirement helps prevent your assets from passing under a beneficiary's estate plan, rather than your own, if they only briefly outlive you. Although such cases are uncommon, adding this provision to your estate plan can be a prudent step.

What is an example of a survivorship clause?

Example 1A: Susan and Marcus are married and have wills leaving everything to each other subject to a 30-day survivorship clause. Both have an estate worth £700,000. On second death their estates pass to their children. They both die within a week of each other in June 2019, with Marcus dying first.

Does survivorship override a will?

Yes. Generally, the right of survivorship will take precedence over a Last Will and Testament if the jointly-owned property is distributed wrongfully in someone's estate plans. Therefore, you shouldn't list any property in your Will that you and another person(s) jointly own with the right of survivorship.

What are the survivorship rules?

Under the right of survivorship, each tenant possesses an undivided interest in the whole estate . When one tenant dies, the tenant's interest disappears and the others tenants' shares increase proportionally and obtain the rights to the entire estate.

Is A Survivorship Clause Worth It?

41 related questions found

What is survivorship in a trust?

A survivorship requirement means that beneficiaries can't inherit from you unless they live for a certain period of time longer than you do. In general, it's a good idea to include a survivorship clause in your will or trust. Survivorship Periods in Wills and Trusts.

What are the benefits of the survivorship clause?

There are two main reasons that survivorship clauses are used: To avoid the first estate passing through probate twice in quick succession, saving on administration costs; and. To impose some control over the eventual destination of assets.

Can a right to survivorship be challenged?

California courts recognize that survivorship rights in joint bank accounts may be challenged if clear and convincing evidence demonstrating the original account holder had contrary intentions than what was assumed in its creation.

Is survivorship the same as beneficiary?

Today, we're looking at the difference between beneficiaries and survivors – a key distinction you have to have on your retirement account and while you're working. And the general rule of thumb is that beneficiaries are for before you retire and survivors are for after you retire.

Can family override a Living Will?

In short, no, your family cannot override your Living Will. Your Living Will is a legal document that's meant to guide medical professionals (and your family!) about medical decisions.

How do you write a survivorship clause?

Upon the expiration or other termination of this Agreement or the Executive's employment, employment with the Company, the respective rights and obligations of the parties hereto shall survive to the extent necessary to carry out the intentions of the parties under this Agreement.

What is an example of a survivorship?

For example, if two people, Mark and Amanda, own a property together and Mark dies, then Amanda will become to sole owner of the property even if this is not detailed in the will because the two of them purchased the property together.

What is the 28 day survivorship rule?

Where there is a surviving spouse (or civil partner) but no issue then the spouse/civil partner will receive the whole of the estate. The 28-day survivorship rule, which requires a surviving spouse or civil partner to survive the deceased by at least 28 days in order to inherit, will apply in such cases, too.

What happens if there is no survivorship clause?

Without a survivorship clause, then any gifts of the estate on first death would need to pass to the survivor before it can be distributed to any further beneficiaries. This will mean the assets of the first testator will be calculated for IHT on first death and again on second death.

What is the benefit of survivorship?

With benefit of survivorship is a legal agreement between co-owners of a property, where the surviving owner(s) share full ownership of the property if the other dies. It bypasses the probate process that is generally undertaken to convey an estate's assets to survivors.

What is the standard survivorship clause?

Under a survivorship clause, the beneficiary only inherits if he survives for the stated period after the testator's death. Failure to survive the requisite period causes the gift to pass as provided in the will. A common survivorship period, often adopted, is 28 days but may be as long as desired.

Does the right of survivorship override a trust?

The reason is that almost all joint accounts have what's called the "right of survivorship," which means that when one owner dies, the survivor automatically owns all the money in the account. A provision in a will or living trust can't override that.

What is the rule of survivorship?

The right of survivorship is a legal principle that applies to certain joint assets, meaning that they will pass automatically to the surviving owner(s), and not via the terms of the deceased's will. It follows too therefore that the executors can deal with that asset without needing a grant of probate.

How long does survivorship last?

These benefits are payable for life unless the spouse begins collecting a retirement benefit that is greater than the survivor benefit. Beneficiaries entitled to two types of Social Security payments receive the higher of the two amounts.

What is the disadvantage of right of survivorship?

Disadvantages of community property with a right of survivorship: If a spouse dies having willed a property titled as community property with a right of survivorship to someone other than their spouse, their gift may be deemed invalid.

Is right of survivorship considered inheritance?

The right to survivorship refers to the legal principle that upon the death of a joint owner, the remaining owner(s) automatically inherit the deceased owner's share of property or assets without having to pass through probate. Here's how it works.

What does survivorship on a deed mean?

If a piece of property has a right of survivorship designation, then this means that the surviving owner, or owners, automatically absorb the deceased owner's share of the property. Having such a designation is helpful because property ownership can get confusing when multiple players are involved.

What are assets that pass by survivorship?

If all the joint owners of an asset intended that when one of them died their share would pass to the other joint owner(s), then this is a survivorship asset. This type of asset is always owned equally and the deceased's share of the asset passes to the other joint owner(s) by survivorship.

What is the legal definition of survivorship?

1. : the legal right of the survivor of persons having joint interests in property to take the interest of the person who has died. 2. : the state of being a survivor : survival.

How does a survivorship policy work?

Here's how it works:

In a "first-to-die" policy, the life insurance company pays a benefit after the first insured person dies. "Second-to-die" policies are more commonly called survivorship policies, and the benefit is only paid out after the second (surviving) person passes away.