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Estate Planning Newsletter

Giving to Charity

It is possible to set up a trust for charitable purposes. Charitable trusts are quite common, but certain requirements must be met.

Purpose of a Charitable Gift

Reasons for charitable gifts funded through a trust include the desire to:

  • Help relieve poverty
  • Help the elderly
  • Advance a religion
  • Benefit educational establishments
  • Aid with the construction or maintenance of public property (such as a park)
  • Prevent animal cruelty

How Are Beneficiaries Designated?

In general, beneficiaries of charitable gifts must have a broader scope:

  • Cannot be specifically named people
  • Can be a class of persons
  • May be institutions

In some cases, a charitable gift may be given to a non-charitable organization. However, there must be a charitable intent; otherwise the trust is invalid as a charitable trust.

Supervision & Regulation

In some states, the office of the Attorney General oversees charitable trust activity. The Attorney General’s duties in this regard include:

  • Maintaining a register of charitable corporations, trustees, and trusts
  • Investigating transactions relating to charitable trusts
  • Enforcing charitable trusts
  • Recovering property on behalf of a charitable trust

Cy Pres Doctrine

If your charitable wishes cannot be fulfilled for some reason, the appropriate court will attempt to carry out your wishes by giving the property to an organization with a related charitable purpose. For example, a charitable trust set up to eradicate polio may instead be given to aid a pediatric foundation.

  • Cy Pres Doctrine
    If you create an estate planning document leaving property to a charity, but after your death the transfer cannot occur, the court may apply the cy pres rule. The words “cy pres” are French for “as near.” If your... Read more.
  • The Personal Representative of an Estate
    When a person dies, a personal representative must be appointed to manage and distribute the decedent’s estate. Types of Personal Representatives A personal representative is any of the following:... Read more.
  • Estate Taxes and Valuation of Estate Property
    Assets owned by a person at the time of their death, whether real or personal property, is commonly referred to as the decedent’s “estate.” After the person dies, the property or proceeds from the sale of such property is usually... Read more.
  • Replacing an Estate Executor or Administrator
    State laws and procedures typically govern the administration of an estate. For this reason, the law varies among jurisdictions. However, in 1969, a “Uniform Probate Code” (Uniform Code) was introduced. Since that time, the... Read more.
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Our law firm represents estate planning clients from Riverside County, North County San Diego, Temecula, Murrieta, Lake Elsinore, Canyon Lake, Wildomar, De Luz, Fallbrook, Bonsall, Escondido, Valley Center, Rainbow, Hemet, Riverside, Menifee, Sun City, Canyon Heights, Canyon Lake, Quail Valley, Pechanga, and Pala. Our law firm focuses on California estate planning, wills, trusts, estates, probate administration, trust administration, asset protection, and entity formation. Practicing as an estate planning attorney, trust attorney, and probate attorney, Laila Kepler guides her clients through life's changes.