Can a Beneficiary be a Trustee?
Can a Beneficiary be a Trustee?
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hondafanatic

Original Poster:

4,969 posts

232 months

Tuesday 9th December 2014
quotequote all
Hi all,

My mum wants to set up a discretionary gift trust to pay for her funeral when she's had enough of planet Earth.

She's picked up a form to complete and needs help filling it in. The notes section is a little thin on the ground but I think she's filled it in correctly with the exception of whose name to put on the policy.

The form does advise that she doesn't actually need to put a Trustee and could just write down a Beneficiary.

She wanted to put me as both, but I wanted to check if that's ok to do.

Basically, she wants to put a few thousand to one side so that her funeral can be afforded. Despite the fact that I'm more than capable of covering the costs, she would just be happier knowing it's covered. There's only me, no siblings and very little extended family that will eventually get something from her estate once it's all settled.

I've probably put way more detail than necessary but i just wanted to paint a picture that we're talking about a few thousand to pay for a funeral, she has a full will set up for everything else. Even in death the thought of her owing for anything unsettles her.

Many thanks
David

anonymous-user

85 months

Tuesday 9th December 2014
quotequote all
A beneficiary of a trust can also be a trustee thereof. He or she must act in the best interests of all beneficiaries.

There may be off the shelf products for funeral costs. Less hassle than a bespoke trust.

hondafanatic

Original Poster:

4,969 posts

232 months

Tuesday 9th December 2014
quotequote all
Breadvan72 said:
A beneficiary of a trust can also be a trustee thereof. He or she must act in the best interests of all beneficiaries.

There may be off the shelf products for funeral costs. Less hassle than a bespoke trust.
Many thanks...virtual beers etc. Or if you ever need buying advice for a Honda I'm your man. silly

anonymous-user

85 months

Tuesday 9th December 2014
quotequote all
Thanks, but the chances of me ever buying a Honda, or any modern car, are roughly equivalent to the chances of meeting Elvis and Lord Lucan riding Shergar on the Moon.

hondafanatic

Original Poster:

4,969 posts

232 months

Tuesday 9th December 2014
quotequote all
Breadvan72 said:
Thanks, but the chances of me ever buying a Honda, or any modern car, are roughly equivalent to the chances of meeting Elvis and Lord Lucan riding Shergar on the Moon.
I know...I've read your comments on cars. smile

Do genuinely appreciate the help though.

sparkythecat

8,108 posts

286 months

Tuesday 9th December 2014
quotequote all
My old man just bought himself an off the shelf funeral plan. When the day came some years later all we had to do was phone the funeral director, who dusted off the envelope and carried out Dad's instruction for his funeral.

grumpyscot

1,293 posts

223 months

Tuesday 9th December 2014
quotequote all
sparkythecat said:
My old man just bought himself an off the shelf funeral plan. When the day came some years later all we had to do was phone the funeral director, who dusted off the envelope and carried out Dad's instruction for his funeral.
Exactly what happened with both my Mum and Mum-in-Law. And the beauty of having a prepaid funeral is that you are protected against any cost increase!

All we did was phone the funeral company and that was it. Mum(s) had both picked their coffins, songs, etc. Made it so easy for us.

hondafanatic

Original Poster:

4,969 posts

232 months

Tuesday 9th December 2014
quotequote all
Thanks to you all for the alternatives...I'll speak to my mum and see what she has to say. Thanks again smile

Centurion07

10,395 posts

278 months

Tuesday 9th December 2014
quotequote all
Why does she need to do anything?

Her funeral costs are removed from any tax calculations on her estate, so as long as she doesn't spend all her money before she goes, there will be some left to pay for her funeral and it will make no difference whatsoever to anything else she has left.

The banks will give you the money to cover it as long as you show them the death certificate.