Beneficiary notice letter
A letter telling someone they are a beneficiary of your trust, with the basic information the Trusts Act 2019 expects trustees to consider giving. Fill it in, print it, sign it and keep a copy.
Why trustees send this letter
The Trusts Act 2019 starts from the position that every beneficiary should be given basic information about the trust. That means knowing they are a beneficiary, who the trustees are and how to contact them, any changes of trustee, and that they can ask for information about the trust.
Trustees can decide not to give this information in some situations, for example to a very young beneficiary or a remote one. The Act sets out the factors to weigh up. If you decide not to tell someone, record the decision and your reasons in the trustee minutes.
Tips
- Send one letter to each adult beneficiary, and keep a copy.
- Record how and when you sent each letter. If it is ever questioned, that record is your proof.
- Check your trust deed for who counts as a beneficiary. Some deeds name broad groups of people.
This is a general template. It may not suit your trust deed or your circumstances. If in doubt, ask your lawyer.
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