Revocable Trust
A revocable trust is a legal instrument that allows you to manage your assets during your lifetime. The assets are then distributed to your beneficiaries according to your wishes upon your death. You reserve the right to amend or revoke the trust and the designations during your lifetime. A gift from your trust can be for a specific asset or amount, a percentage, or the residual after all other distributions.
Benefits
- Maintain use and control of assets for lifetime
- Ability to appoint a trustee to manage assets if you become incapacitated
- Revocable decision
- Charitable estate tax deduction
- Reduce Probate process time and expense
- May provide anonymity
How it works
For general unrestricted support University-wide:
"I give, devise, and bequeath to The Ohio University Foundation, tax identification number 31-6402269, a tax-exempt organization located at P.O. Box 869,
Athens, OH 45701, (state percentage of estate or residual, or sum of money, or otherwise describe property) to support its general purposes."
For general support of a college or unit:
"I give, devise, and bequeath to The Ohio University Foundation, tax identification number 31-6402269, a tax-exempt organization located at P.O. Box 869,
Athens, OH 45701, (state percentage of estate or residual, or sum of money, or otherwise describe property) to support (the name of the college, school,
department, or unit)."
To create a new endowment or add to an existing endowment:
"I give, devise, and bequeath to The Ohio University Foundation, tax identification number 31-6402269, a tax-exempt organization located at P.O. Box 869,
Athens, OH 45701, (state percentage of estate or residual, or sum of money, or otherwise describe property) to endow (name of the specific endowment), to be
administered under the terms of the Gift Agreements on file with The Office of Development."
To create a new restricted (non-endowed) account or to add to an existing restricted account:
"I give, devise, and bequeath to The Ohio University Foundation, tax identification number 31-6402269, a tax-exempt organization located at P.O. Box 869,
Athens, OH 45701, (state percentage of estate or residual, or sum of money, or otherwise describe property) to support (name of the specific restricted
account), to be administered under the terms of the Gift Agreements on file with The Office of Development."
With the help of an attorney, you can include language in your revocable trust specifying a gift to be made to family, friends, or The Ohio University Foundation as part of your estate plan.
A gift from a revocable trust may be made in several ways
- Percentage bequest - make a gift of a percentage of your estate
- Specific bequest - make a gift of a specific dollar amount or a specific asset
- Residual bequest - make a gift from the balance or residue of your estate