A trust is a legal entity with separate and distinct rights, similar to a person or corporation. In a trust, a party known as a trustor gives another party, the trustee, the right to hold title to and manage property or assets for the benefit of a third party, the beneficiary.

Trusts can be established to provide legal protection for the trustor’s assets to ensure they are distributed according to their wishes. Additionally, trusts can save time, reduce paperwork, and sometimes reduce inheritance or estate taxes.