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Sample Language for Any Trust

Optional administrative provisions to be included in any Trust.

Section 01

Trustee Succession

  1. Resignation. The Trustee may resign by a separate acknowledged instrument delivered to the Grantor or, after the Grantor's death or incapacity, to each adult current beneficiary of the Trust, or if none, to the parent or legal guardian of each minor current beneficiary of the Trust.  Such resignation shall take effect upon the acceptance of a successor Trustee designated under, or otherwise appointed in accordance with, this Trust Agreement.
  2. Appointment of Successor Trustee.  If, upon the resignation of the Trustee, no successor Trustee designated by this Trust Agreement qualifies to act within [thirty (30) days] following the existing Trustee's notice of resignation, the Grantor or, after the Grantor's death or incapacity, a majority in number of the adult current beneficiaries of the Trust or, if none, a majority in number of the minor current beneficiaries (each such beneficiary acting through such beneficiary’s parent or legal guardian) of the Trust, may appoint a successor Trustee (other than the Grantor).
  3. Removal of Trustee. Any Trustee may be removed, with or without cause, by the Grantor or, after the Grantor's death or incapacity, by a majority in number of the adult current beneficiaries of the Trust or, if none, by a majority in number of the minor current beneficiaries (each such beneficiary acting through such beneficiary’s parent or legal guardian) of the Trust. If, upon the removal of the Trustee, no successor Trustee designated by this Trust Agreement qualifies to act within [thirty (30) days] following the existing Trustee's removal, the individuals with the power to remove such Trustee shall appoint a successor Trustee (other than the Grantor), provided, however, that such successor Trustee may not be related or subordinate to the person or persons making such appointment, within the meaning of § 672(c) of the Internal Revenue Code.
  4. Failure of Appointment of Successor Trustee.  If no successor Trustee has qualified to act within sixty (60) days after the resignation or removal of the Trustee, the resigned or removed Trustee may appoint a successor Trustee, or may bring an appropriate action in court for the appointment of a successor Trustee.  The costs and expenses of any such action, including, but not limited to, the compensation and expenses of attorneys and guardians, shall be paid from principal or income, or both, of the Trust, as the Trustee in its sole discretion shall determine.
  5. Appointment of Affiliate or Subsidiary of Corporate Trustee.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Corporate Trustee, for its administrative convenience, may appoint an affiliate or subsidiary of such Corporate Trustee or a successor entity to such affiliate or subsidiary as successor Corporate Trustee. The Corporate Trustee shall effect any such appointment with a written instrument delivered to the party or parties who would receive notice of the Trustee's resignation.
  6. Appointment Documentation. Any appointment of a successor Trustee pursuant to this Trust Agreement shall be made by a separate acknowledged instrument delivered to the Trustee so appointed, shall be effective at such time as may be specified in such instrument, and shall be revocable until the designated successor Trustee shall qualify by filing its consent to act with the trust records.
  7. No Bond Required. No bond or other security shall be required for any reason whatsoever of any Trustee named in or appointed pursuant to this Trust Agreement.
Section 02

Waive Prudent Investor Rule, Self Dealing

  1. The Trustee shall have the power to acquire and retain investments not regarded as traditional for trusts, including, without limitation, investments that would be forbidden or would be regarded as imprudent, improper or unlawful under 12 Del. C. § 3302, any applicable jurisdiction's "prudent person" or "prudent investor" rule, any rule or law concerning the duty of loyalty, any rule or law limiting, prescribing, or voiding or making voidable any interested party or self-dealing transaction, or any other rule or law which restricts a fiduciary's capacity to invest. 
  2. Notwithstanding any duty otherwise existing hereunder or at law or in equity, in making investments the Trustee may disregard any or all of the following factors:
    1. Whether a particular investment, or the Trust investments collectively, will produce a reasonable rate of return or result in the preservation of principal.
    2. Whether the acquisition or retention of a particular investment, or Trust investments collectively, is consistent with the Trustee's duty of impartiality.  No duty of impartiality shall exist to the extent such duty would limit or preclude any exercise of the Trustee’s investment powers.
    3. Whether the acquisition or retention of a particular investment or any aspect of the administration of such investment violates any duty of loyalty or rule against self-dealing.  No duty of loyalty shall exist to the extent such duty would limit or preclude self-dealing transactions.
    4. Whether the Trust is diversified.  No duty to diversify shall exist.
    5. Whether any or all of the Trust investments would traditionally be classified as too risky or speculative for trusts.  The entire Trust may be so invested.  The Trustee shall have sole and absolute discretion in determining what constitutes acceptable risk and what constitutes proper investment strategy.
  3. The purpose in granting the foregoing authority is to modify the "prudent person" rule, "prudent investor" rule, the application of 12 Del. C. § 3302 or statutory or common law duties of loyalty, impartiality, and diversification to the extent such duties otherwise would limit investment powers, or any similar rule or law which restricts a fiduciary’s ability to invest insofar as any such rule or law would prohibit an investment or investments because of one or more factors listed above, or any other factor relating to the nature of the investment itself.  Any such rule or law shall apply only to the extent that such law shall not be inconsistent with the broad investment provisions of this Trust Agreement.
Section 03

Amendment of Administrative Provisions

Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this Trust Agreement, the [Trust Protector or other fiduciary], acting in a fiduciary capacity, shall have the power without notice to or consent by any beneficiary or court, by separate writing filed with the Trust records, to amend the administrative provisions of this Trust Agreement, including provisions relating to the Trustee; provided, however, that any amendment to a provision relating to the Trustee shall require the written consent of the Trustee.  Any determination by the [Trust Protector or other fiduciary] regarding whether a provision is administrative in nature or whether or not to exercise the powers granted in this Trust Agreement shall be made by the [Trust Protector or other fiduciary], in its sole discretion, shall be conclusive and binding upon all persons interested in the Trust, and shall not be challenged or questioned by any person interested in the Trust in any judicial or administrative proceeding.  The [Trust Protector or other fiduciary] may exercise this power from time to time, and may renounce, release or surrender this power in whole or in part, provided that the [Trust Protector or other fiduciary] shall not amend the Trust Agreement in a manner that would alter any beneficial interest under the Trust.  Any such renunciation, release or surrender of the power granted hereunder shall be by written instrument signed by the [Trust Protector or other fiduciary] and delivered to the Trustee, and shall take effect as provided in such instrument.  No beneficiary shall have the right to compel the [Trust Protector or other fiduciary] to take or fail to take any action hereunder.

Section 04

Small Trust Termination

The Trustee [(subject to the direction of the Distribution Advisor, if any),] may terminate and distribute any trust created under this Trust Agreement if (i) in its sole discretion, continuation of such Trust shall no longer be economically feasible, or (ii) continuance of the trust would defeat or substantially impair the purpose of the Trust.  Following such termination, the Trustee shall distribute the principal to the current beneficiaries of the trust in the proportions in which they are entitled to receive distributions, or if their interests are indefinite, to those persons per stirpes if they have a common ancestor, or if they have no common ancestor, then in equal shares.  Any decision made or action taken or omitted by the Trustee pursuant to the power granted in this Section shall be conclusive and binding on all beneficiaries and parties interested in the trust.

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Notice and Disclaimer

Although the provisions in these materials are the product of much thought and effort, no sample provision is a substitute for informed legal judgment. The attorney must make an independent determination as to whether a particular provision herein is generally appropriate for a client and, further, how it must be modified to meet any special circumstances and objectives of the client. These provisions have been drafted based upon the application of Delaware law and no attempt has been made to confirm their general applicability or validity under the laws of other jurisdictions.

Northern Trust does not guarantee that the provisions in these materials effectively accomplish their purpose, and it assumes no responsibility for the provisions or for their use. By using any provision from these materials to draft a will or trust, the attorney acknowledges that the attorney (and not Northern Trust) is responsible for any document that the attorney prepares based on these materials.

Northern Trust will not necessarily update these materials at any time or from time to time.

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All Rights Reserved except that permission is granted to attorneys to use any part or all of the forms herein contained in the preparation of wills and trusts for clients.