Q&A

Question: What is a trust deed?

A trust deed is a legal document that sets out the conditions, terms and rules for creating and managing your trust. It will usually set out such things as the objectives of the fund, who the beneficiaries are, how much they are to receive and the method of payment, whether as a lump sum or income stream. It must be signed and dated by all trustees.

As a trust deed is a complex legal document it must be prepared by someone qualified to do so, such as a contract or business lawyer. They will ensure that the execution of the trust complies with all relevant state or territory laws, as well as review and update the trust deed as necessary.