Trust Fund for Grandchildren: How to Set One Up
Learn how to create a trust fund that protects and grows wealth for your grandchildren, with the right structure for their age and your goals.
Key Takeaways
- 1Trusts provide more control than outright gifts to minors
- 2Choose between revocable and irrevocable based on goals
- 3Specify ages when grandchildren can access funds (21, 25, 30, etc.)
- 4Name a trustee you trust to manage until distribution
- 5$18,000 annual gift exclusion avoids gift tax reporting
- 6Generation-skipping tax applies to larger trusts ($13.61M+ in 2026)
- 7Consider adding gold or precious metals for long-term protection
Why Set Up a Trust Instead of Giving Directly?
A trust gives you control over how and when grandchildren receive money - something direct gifts or simple custodial accounts cannot do. Without a trust, assets pass to children at 18 or 21 (depending on your state), often before they're financially mature.
- **Control age of access**: Specify 25, 30, or older for full distribution
- **Protect from poor decisions**: Young adults may not handle large sums wisely
- **Asset protection**: Trust assets can be protected from divorce, lawsuits
- **Tax efficiency**: Proper structure minimizes estate and gift taxes
- **Incentive provisions**: Require graduation, employment, or other milestones
Types of Trusts for Grandchildren
Several trust structures work for grandchildren. The right choice depends on your goals, the amount involved, and how much control you want.
| Trust Type | Best For | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Revocable Living Trust | Flexibility while you're alive | Can change terms, not asset-protected, simpler |
| Irrevocable Trust | Estate tax reduction, asset protection | Cannot change, removes assets from estate |
| 2503(c) Minor's Trust | Children under 21 | Qualifies for gift tax exclusion, distribution at 21 |
| Crummey Trust | Annual gift tax exclusion | Allows $18k/year per beneficiary tax-free |
| Dynasty Trust | Multi-generational wealth | Can last perpetually in some states |
How to Set Up a Trust: Step by Step
Creating a trust requires careful planning but isn't overly complicated with professional help.
- 1Define your goals: education funding, inheritance protection, incentives
- 2Choose trust type based on amount and objectives
- 3Hire an estate planning attorney (expect $1,000-5,000 for drafting)
- 4Select a trustee: bank, trust company, family member, or yourself
- 5Specify distribution terms: ages, conditions, amounts
- 6Fund the trust with initial assets
- 7File for trust tax ID number (EIN) if irrevocable
- 8Title assets properly in the trust's name
Don't DIY This
Trust documents involve complex legal and tax issues. Online templates often miss important protections. An attorney's fee is worth it to get it right.
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Funding the Trust
You can fund a grandchildren's trust with various assets. Consider tax implications and long-term growth potential.
- **Cash**: Simple, but may lose purchasing power to inflation
- **Stocks/Mutual Funds**: Growth potential, dividends reinvest
- **Real Estate**: Income-producing property can provide for generations
- **Life Insurance**: Death benefit funds trust without probate
- **Precious Metals**: Gold and silver provide inflation protection and diversification
- **529 Plan**: Can be owned by trust for education-specific goals
Tax Implications to Understand
Trusts involve gift tax, estate tax, and potentially generation-skipping transfer (GST) tax. Proper planning minimizes the tax bite.
- **Annual gift exclusion**: $18,000 per grandchild in 2026 without gift tax
- **Lifetime gift exemption**: $13.61 million (2026) before gift tax applies
- **Generation-skipping tax**: 40% on transfers to grandchildren over GST exemption
- **Trust income tax**: Trusts pay high rates on undistributed income
- **Kiddie tax**: Unearned income over $2,500 taxed at parent's rate for children under 19
GST Tax is Expensive
If you're considering leaving more than $13 million to grandchildren, work with an estate planning attorney to minimize generation-skipping tax.
Choosing the Right Trustee
The trustee manages trust assets and makes distribution decisions. This choice significantly impacts how well the trust achieves your goals.
| Trustee Option | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Professional Trust Company | Expertise, continuity, impartial | Fees (0.5-1.5% annually), impersonal |
| Family Member | No fees, knows family | Potential conflict, may lack expertise |
| Yourself (revocable) | Full control | Trust ends at your death |
| Co-Trustees | Checks and balances | Can create conflict |
Why Consider Gold in a Grandchildren's Trust
A trust for grandchildren may last decades. Including precious metals provides diversification and protection against currency debasement over that long time horizon.
- Gold has maintained purchasing power for thousands of years
- Protects against inflation eroding cash holdings
- No counterparty risk - physical asset, not paper promise
- Self-directed IRA can hold gold within trust structure
- Tangible asset that grandchildren can physically inherit
- Diversifies beyond stocks and bonds
Frequently Asked Questions
1How much money do you need to set up a trust?
There's no minimum, but trust costs (attorney fees, ongoing administration) mean they're typically worthwhile for $50,000+. For smaller amounts, a custodial account (UTMA/UGMA) may be more practical.
2Can I be the trustee of my grandchildren's trust?
For a revocable trust, yes. For irrevocable trusts, it's often better to name someone else to avoid the assets being included in your estate. You can retain certain powers while naming an independent trustee.
3What happens to the trust when my grandchildren turn 18?
That depends entirely on how you write the trust. You can specify any age for distribution - 25, 30, or even staged distributions (1/3 at 25, 1/3 at 30, rest at 35). This flexibility is a key advantage over custodial accounts.
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