Yes, a trust can be a member of an LLC, allowing it to invest in or hold ownership in the company while maintaining legal and financial separation.
Starts at $0 + state fees and only takes 5-10 minutes
If you’re looking to start a business that offers limited liability and probate protection, you might have come across the terms LLC and trust in your research. Each one could solve half of your problem, and now your question is, can a trust be a member of an LLC?
The short answer is yes, but first, you’ll need to understand the relationship between LLCs and trusts. This guide will provide information about trust-owned LLCs.
Yes, a trust can be a member of an LLC. (An owner of an LLC is referred to as a “member.”) Can a trust own a limited liability company (LLC)? In fact, a trust-owned LLC can be a valuable tool in estate planning.
Here’s how it works: an LLC is a business structure offering personal asset protection while avoiding double taxation. A trust is a legal arrangement in which a grantor transfers ownership of assets to a trustee to benefit one or more beneficiaries. Hence, entrepreneurs can enjoy the benefits of both legal entities by placing their LLC membership interests in a trust.
Whether you’re a single-member or multi-member LLC, your LLC membership interests are treated as personal property. This means your membership interest can be subject to probate upon your demise and could potentially be claimed by creditors. Therefore, it’s reasonable to have a plan to protect your LLC now and control what happens to the business in case of your demise or incapacitation.
There are two ways to set up the trust ownership of your membership interests in an LLC. They include LLC revocable trust and LLC irrevocable trust.
An LLC revocable trust is set up such that the grantor still has control over the LLC. The grantor may withdraw assets from the trust. With a revocable trust, the trust can be terminated or changed during the grantor’s lifetime.
In the event of the grantor’s death or incapacity, the terms of the trust determine what happens to the assets. Most times, the trust’s assets are distributed to the beneficiaries. In some cases, the trust continues to manage the assets and pays income to the beneficiaries.
As the name suggests, an LLC irrevocable trust can’t be easily revoked or changed once created. In this case, the grantor loses control or access to the LLC. Someone else is named the beneficiary, and the grantor forfeits any income from an LLC placed in a trust. Since the grantor has no control or access to the trust’s assets, the LLC membership interests are protected from creditors’ claims.
However, there’s a form of irrevocable trust known as a domestic asset protection trust that allows grantors to keep control over the asset (see domestic asset protection trust definition). This means grantors can enjoy the benefits of both irrevocable trust asset protection and revocable trust asset control. Domestic asset protection is restricted in some states, but you don’t need to be a resident to set up a trust in a particular state.
The law will permit you to transfer your membership interest to a trust, but the operating agreement might not. Hence, it’s imperative that you first confirm if the operating agreement accommodates this transition. If not, you need to seek the consent of other members or amend the operating agreement if you’re the sole owner. Let’s take a look at some of the benefits and drawbacks of having a revocable trust as a member of an LLC.
Probate is the legal process where the court presides over the distribution of an estate when the owner dies. Aside from ensuring that your business interests and assets are awarded to beneficiaries in your will, probate helps ensure your debts are settled.
The probate period can last weeks or months. Your business interest is left unattended during this period, which increases the risk of operational problems. Placing your assets in a trust makes the transition smoother and saves your beneficiaries from this strenuous process.
An estate settled through probate is a matter of public records. This means that with some research, non-beneficiaries like disinherited heirs, creditors, and scammers can learn details about your estate. Since trusts cut out the entire probate ordeal, matters concerning your estate are kept private.
Making plans for how your business interests will be managed upon your demise is great thinking, but sometimes that’s not enough. What happens when an unforeseen circumstance like an accident or a medical condition leaves you incapacitated? You can structure your LLC trust so that a trustee is authorized to take charge on your behalf upon your incapacitation.
Having a revocable trust as a member of an LLC offers liability and probate protection to your beneficiaries upon your demise (see member definition). However, as long as you’re alive, at full capacity, and still have control over the trust, the trust assets, including the LLC membership interests, could be subject to creditor claims.
Another drawback to using this strategy is that it could be expensive. To execute this plan, you need to set up an LLC, which involves several expenses. Aside from the initial cost of filing Articles of Organization (see Articles of Organization definition), you have to consider ongoing costs such as annual or biennial reports. Then you have to consider the cost of setting up and maintaining a revocable trust. To learn more about about annual reports, see our annual reports definition page.
In conclusion, establishing a trust-owned LLC can offer valuable protection for your assets and ensure a smooth transition of business interests. However, it’s essential to consider other factors when structuring your business, such as ownership and employment options. For instance, you may want to explore whether an S Corporation can own an LLC or if an LLC can own another LLC to further optimize your business setup. Additionally, if you’re considering different organizational models, you may ask, Can an LLC be a nonprofit? or Can an LLC member also be an employee? to fit your operational needs. Moreover, understanding how to adapt your current business, like converting a corporation into an LLC, or clarifying whether an LLC can have employees, will help you make the right choices for the long-term success of your venture.
If you need to form an LLC, we can help with that — starting at $0 plus state fees, our many services can help you get started today. We provide you with all the support you need to hit the ground running.
Disclaimer: The content on this page is for informational purposes only, and does not constitute legal, tax, or accounting advice. If you have specific questions about any of these topics, seek the counsel of a licensed professional.
Is a revocable trust a disregarded entity?
Yes, but only if it’s a grantor trust. A grantor trust is when the owner controls the income and assets of the trust. In that case, the grantor (not the trust) must pay taxes on the trust’s income.
Can a trust be a limited partner?
A trust can function as a general partner in an FLP but not as a limited partner.
Can a trust own an LLC?
Yes, a trust can own an LLC. A trust can own almost any asset, including membership interests, in an LLC the grantor owns.
What is the disadvantage of a revocable trust?
No asset protection from creditors and no exemption from income and estate taxes.
Start an LLC in Your State
When it comes to compliance, costs, and other factors, these are popular states for forming an LLC.
Ready to Start Your LLC?
Start Your LLC Today