Silicon Valley Business School

Contents of SVBS Course: Trusts

Trusts are property-holding arrangements used extensively in business, estate planning and intellectual property. Trusts can be formed to protect assets, minimize tax liabilities, and transfer ownership of all forms of assets. The basic laws of trust are presented in this module, including trust formation, trust failure, rights and powers of the trustee, the powers of the beneficiary and the rights of creditors.

Learning Objectives and Outcomes

Upon completion of this course you will be able to:

The basic laws regarding trusts in the U.S., including trust formation, trust failure, rights and powers of the trustee, the powers of the beneficiary and the rights of creditors.


Course Sections

The course is organized into the following sections:

Trusts: Introduction & Basic Rules
Trusts: Forming, Modifying & Terminating a Trust
Trusts: Divided Rights, Duties & Powers
Trusts: Types of Trusts
Trusts: Failure
Trusts: Situations where Trusts are Often Used
Trusts: Issues That Can Arise
Trusts: Unused Quiz Question(s)

Trusts: Introduction & Basic Rules
  • Video ~ History of Trusts

    		•
  • Video ~ Basic Rules

    		•
  • Video ~ Why Form a Trust

    		•
  • Video ~ What is a Trust? (For Estate Planning)

    		•
  • Video ~ Why Trusts are Used in Estate Planning

    		•
  • Trusts: An Overview

    • Trusts are estate-planning tools that can replace or supplement wills, as well as help manage property during life. A trust manages the distribution of a person's property by transferring its benefits and obligations to different people.
    Trusts: Forming, Modifying & Terminating a Trust
  • Video ~ How to Form a Trust

    		•
  • Video ~ Trust Modification & Termination

    		•
  • Video ~ Power of Appointment

    		•
    Trusts: Divided Rights, Duties & Powers
  • Video ~ Trustee

    		•
  • Video ~ Rights & Powers of Beneficiaries

    		•
  • Video ~ Rights of the Creditors of the Beneficiary

    		•
  • Video ~ Duties of the Trustee

    		•
  • Video ~ What is a Trustee?

    		•
  • Slideshow Handout ~ Trustee

    • PDF slides for the learning material titled: "Video ~ Trustee".
    Trusts: Types of Trusts
  • Video ~ Intervivos Trusts

    		•
  • Video ~ Revocable Trusts & Creditor Rights

    		•
  • Video ~ Charitable Trusts

    		•
  • Video ~ Honorary Trusts

    		•
  • Video ~ Trusts & Offshore Trusts

    		•
  • Video ~ Spendthrift Trusts

    		•
  • Reading ~ Types of Trusts

    		•
  • AB Trusts: The Tax-Saver

    • Normally, when one spouse dies passing on his/her assets in a last will and testament, the estate will be taxed heavily before the beneficiaries receive it. To avoid this steep estate tax, spouses can set up an AB trust, where each spouse leaves their property to an irrevocable trust. An AB trust is a trust created by married couples to maximize their federal estate tax exemptions.
  • Reading ~ Living Trusts

    		•
  • Reading ~ Tax Incentives for a Charitable Remainder Trust

    • When you feel that you are ready to make a substantial gift to a charity, you may want to consider a charitable trust, which is a special type of trust. In addition to providing a benefit to your favorite charity, it also allows you to donate generously while giving you and your heirs tax benefits. Charitable trusts are irrevocable.
  • Reading ~ Charitable Trusts Purposes

    		•
    Trusts: Failure
  • Video ~ How a Trust Can Fail

    		•
  • Slideshow Handout ~ How a Trusts Can Fail

    • PDF slides for the learning material titled: "Video ~ How a Trust Can Fail".
    Trusts: Situations where Trusts are Often Used
  • Video ~ How REITs Work

    • This video provides some insight into what REITs are and how they work.
  • Bankruptcy & Liquidation ~ Assignment for Benefit of Creditors

    • A trust is often used to facilitate the selling of corporate assets in case of bankruptcy. Once the assets are assigned to the trust, they can be sold by the trustee without requiring approval from the corporate officers, board of directors and shareholders.
  • Estate Planning ~ Living Trust

    • Living trusts are designed to avoid probate.
  • Reading ~ The Living Trust: A Better Option to Joint Ownership of Real Estate

    • This article discusses the risks involved in joint ownership and how a living trust may be a better option.
  • Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT)

    • Trusts are often used to hold real estate. A good deal of real estate is held today in Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs). A REIT can be organized as a trust, but it can also be organized as a corporation. REITs allow investors to buy and sell equity interests in the same way investors buy and sell shares in companies.
    Trusts: Issues That Can Arise
  • Video ~ Trustee Sells Trust Property to Himself

    • If a Trustee sells Trust property to himself, this is a breach of his duty of loyalty.
  • Slideshow Handout ~ Trustee Sells Property to Himself

    • PDF slides for the learning material titled: "Video ~ Trustee Sells Trust Property to Himself".
    Certificate Course
    This certificate tracks your progress and tests you in each section. Once you have passed all the quizzes, submitted an assignment and reviewed all the materials, you will be awarded a certificate of completion.