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Settlor meaning

What does Settlor mean?
A settlor is the person or entity that creates a trust, either by transferring property to trustees or by declaring that property is held on trust. In practice, the settlor settles the trust deed (or settlement), sets the trust terms, appoints the initial trustees, and identifies the beneficiaries (or, where permitted, the purposes). The settlor may add further assets and may reserve limited powers (for example, to appoint or remove trustees or to amend), subject to validity and tax consequences. Usage is broadly consistent across England and Wales, Northern Ireland and Ireland. In Scots law the creator of a trust is traditionally called the truster, though “settlor” is also commonly used, particularly in tax and anti‑money laundering contexts. “Settlor” is a descriptive trust law term; specific statutory definitions apply for particular regimes (for example, UK inheritance tax and trust registration, and Irish tax and beneficial ownership rules). The identity and actions of the settlor are central to trust formation (certainty of intention and subject matter), the risk of a sham, the effectiveness of any reserved powers, applicable law and perpetuity, and the income tax, capital gains tax and inheritance/estate tax treatment of the trust, including whether it is “settlor‑interested.”
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View the related Checklists about Settlor

CHECKLISTS
Pre‑drafting checklist for private trusts: parties, assets, powers, administration and tax (England and Wales)

1. Settlor Gather the following details about the settlor (or each settlor, where there is more than one): full name and courtesy title status date of birth address domicile nationality usual residence a schedule of assets and liabilities (for this purpose, a separate schedule is useful) 2. Name of the trust Confirm with the settlor what the trust should be named 3. ...

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CHECKLISTS
UK trustees’ obligations for beneficial ownership record-keeping and HMRC TRS disclosure: checklist (MLR 2017/2020)

This Checklist This Checklist should be read alongside Practice Notes: Trusts—disclosure of beneficial ownership information through the Trust Registration Service (TRS), and Practice Notes: record-keeping and Trust Registration Service (TRS). See also Practice Notes: Trust Registration Service (TRS)—table of registration requirements and deadlines, and Trust Registration Service (TRS)—trusts excluded from registration. These Practice Notes provide guidance on trustees’ obligations arising from implementing, in relation to trust registration, the EU’s Fourth Anti-Money Laundering Directive, Directive (EU) 2015/849 (4MLD), via the Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds (Information on the Payer) Regulations 2017 (MLR 2017), SI 2017/692, and the EU’s Fifth Anti-Money Laundering Directive, Directive (EU) 2018/843 (5MLD), via the Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (MLR 2020), SI 2020/991. As part of this implementation, and for the purposes of this Checklist, references to MLR 2017, SI 2017/692 include the amendments incorporated when MLR 2020, SI 2020/991 took effect, unless stated otherwise. Beneficial owners of a trust include the settlor(s), trustee(s), beneficiaries, and any other...

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View the related Flowcharts about Settlor

FLOWCHARTS
DSAR evaluation flowchart under UK GDPR and DPA 2018 (as amended by the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025): third‑party data, rights of others, exemptions and refusal notices

ARCHIVED: This flowchart has been archived and is not maintained. These flowcharts were produced to help identify whether an asset counts as excluded property for UK inheritance tax (IHT) on or after 6 April 2017. From 6 April 2025, a new framework came into force, replacing domicile as the primary test for an individual’s IHT exposure with the concept of long‑term residence. The reforms also adjusted the criteria for when trust property falls within the scope of excluded property... From 6 April 2025, assets held in trust qualify as excluded property only where: they are non‑UK situs assets, and the settlor is not a long‑term resident of the UK at the point a potential IHT charge arises For more information, see Practice Note: New IHT regime from 6 April 2025—FAQs. The flowcharts consider whether an asset is excluded property by reference to the location (situs) of the property and, where relevant, the domicile of the beneficial owner or settlor...

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View the related News about Settlor

NEWS
UK tax briefing: Finance Bill 2025 to receive Royal Assent; Court of Appeal allows windfarm capital allowances; Russia/Belarus treaty revocations; SDLT higher rates ruling; HMRC updates and key dates

In this issue: Budgets and Finance Bills Companies and corporation tax International Funds Real estate tax Employment Taxes Individuals and income tax Energy and environment Anti-avoidance Daily and weekly news alerts New and updated content Dates for your diary Trackers Useful information Budgets and Finance Bills Spring Statement 2025 The Chancellor of the Exchequer is set to deliver her Spring Statement to Parliament on Wednesday 26 March 2025. Finance Bill 2025 to receive Royal Assent Royal Assent for the Finance Bill 2025 is expected on 20 March 2025, at which point it will be enacted as the Finance Act 2025. This comes after the Bill’s second and third readings in the House of Lords on 19 March 2025 and the usual bypassing of the committee stage. The House of Lords made no amendments to the Bill as received from the House of Commons. See: Finance Bill 2025...

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NEWS
UK Private Client weekly briefing: probate service hours, Court of Protection capacity rulings, HMRC/Finance Bill updates, Scottish charity register issue, trustee arbitration, pensions and international succession—22 February 2024

In this issue: Probate Court of Protection UK taxes for Private Client HMRC Manuals updates Tax avoidance, evasion and non-compliance Budget and Finance Bills Charity and philanthropy Contentious trusts and estates Pensions, insurance and tax‑efficient investments International Question of the week Additional Private Client updates this week Daily and weekly news alerts LexTalk®Private Client: a Lexis®PSL community New and updated content Dates for your diary Trackers Latest Q&As Useful information Probate HMCTS probate enquiry line—temporary reduced hours As highlighted in Private Client weekly highlights—8 February 2024—Probate, HMCTS’s probate enquiry phone service will operate on shortened hours of 9 am to 1 pm, Monday to Friday, for 12 weeks from 14 February 2024. The HMCTS Probate Service will, however, continue to be available via web‑chat from 9 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday. See: HMCTS: Applying for probate...

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NEWS
Private Client weekly: UK probate, trusts and tax - Finance Bill 2025 non-dom/IHT, Beddoe guidance, LLP income, OPG LPA progress, Assisted Dying Bill, care cost cap scrapped

In this edition: Probate Trusts Powers of attorney and advance decisions Elderly and vulnerable clients UK taxes for Private Client HMRC Manuals updates Tax avoidance, evasion and non-compliance Budgets and Finance Bills Family businesses and ownership structures Pensions, insurance and tax-efficient investments Private Client in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland International Question of the week Additional Private Client updates this week Daily and weekly news alerts LexTalk®Private Client: a Lexis+® community New and updated content Dates for your diary Trackers Latest Q&As Useful information Probate Protection for personal representatives in potentially insolvent estates (Wedgwood (as administrator of the estate of Aleem Hosein deceased) v Hosein) This ruling by Master Marsh (sitting in retirement) relates to running a potentially insolvent estate and the administrator’s defence of a third-party claim which, if upheld, would make the estate incontrovertibly insolvent...

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View the related Practice Notes about Settlor

PRACTICE NOTES
UK trusts: HMRC TRS beneficial ownership disclosure and record-keeping obligations under MLR 2017/2020, with update deadlines, third-party access, and guidance on identifying beneficiaries and settlors

Money Laundering Regulations 2017 and Money Laundering Regulations 2020 The Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds (Information on the Payer) Regulations 2017 (MLR 2017), SI 2017/692, sit within the UK’s anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing framework. They took effect on 26 June 2017 to implement the EU’s Fourth Anti-Money Laundering Directive, Directive (EU) 2015/849 (4MLD), and have subsequently been broadened significantly by the Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (MLR 2020), SI 2020/991. Those 2020 amendments give effect to aspects of the EU’s Fifth Anti-Money Laundering Directive, Directive (EU) 2018/843 (5MLD), concerning the registration of trusts. The Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing (Amendment) Regulations 2019, SI 2019/1511, also transposed elements of 5MLD into UK law; however, they addressed areas other than trust registration and therefore fall outside the ambit of this Practice Note. Unless indicated otherwise, references in this Practice Note to MLR 2017, SI 2017/692, should be read as including the changes introduced by MLR 2020, SI 2020/991. The chief focus of...

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PRACTICE NOTES
Türkiye private client guide 2025: taxation (income, gains, inheritance), succession and forced heirship, non-recognition of trusts, property, capacity and immigration

Taxation regime What factors determine tax liability in your jurisdiction (eg domicile, residence or citizenship)? Türkiye’s tax landscape is intricate, operating through numerous laws, regulations, communiqués and subsequent amendments. The key legislative instruments include: Tax Procedure Law No. 213 (10 January 1961) Corporate Tax Law No. 5520 (21 June 2006) Value Added Tax Law No. 3065 (2 November 1984) Stamp Tax Law No. 488 (11 July 1964) Income Tax Law No. 193 (6 January 1961) Broadly, the Turkish Tax System is considered under three headings: (i) income taxes, such as individual income tax and corporate income tax; (ii) taxes on expenditure, including Value Added Tax (VAT), the Banking and Insurance Transactions Tax and Stamp Tax; and (iii) taxes on wealth, for example Property Tax and Inheritance and Gift Tax. For natural persons, residency, ownership of property and citizenship are key in determining which taxes apply in Türkiye. An individual’s tax burden is mainly linked to their earnings,...

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PRACTICE NOTES
Post-death variations of Wills and intestacy: Q&A on formalities, parties, timing, trusts, minors, anti-avoidance, and IHT/CGT/SDLT under English and Welsh law

Variation of Will or intestacy after death—Q&As An instrument of variation can be used to alter how a deceased person’s estate is distributed under a Will or on intestacy. It is commonly executed by deed. To secure effectiveness—typically to obtain favourable inheritance tax (IHT) and capital gains tax (CGT) treatment under section 142 of the Inheritance Tax Act 1984 (IHTA 1984) and section 62(6) of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992 (TCGA 1992)—certain formalities must be met. These include that the deed is in writing, contains the requisite statement applying the statutory provisions, is not made for any extraneous consideration, and is signed by all relevant parties, including the deceased’s personal representatives (PRs) where additional tax would otherwise arise. For guidance on deeds of variation, see Practice Note: Variation of Will or intestacy after death. See also Practice Note: Post-death rearrangements. Compliance with these requirements will usually deliver the intended IHT and CGT position. The formalities for execution of variation should be followed accordingly. Precedent deed of variation...

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View the related Precedents about Settlor

PRECEDENTS
Flexible life interest trust deed (FLIT) with powers to appoint capital and vary the beneficial class (England and Wales)

Made on [ date ], this trust is established as follows. Parties [ settlor ] of [ address ] (the Settlor) [ original trustees ] of [ addresses ] (the Original Trustees) Background The Settlor intends to create this Trust for the benefit of [ name ] (the Principal Beneficiary) and has conveyed to the Original Trustees the assets listed in Schedule 1 to be administered on the trusts set out below...

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PRECEDENTS
Bare Trust Deed (England and Wales): beneficiary absolutely entitled; s31 Trustee Act 1925 excluded; s32 applies; STEP Standard Provisions (3rd ed) with specified exclusions; settlor’s power to appoint trustees

This TRUST is executed on [ insert date ] Parties [ insert settlor ] of [ insert address ] (the Settlor); and [ original trustee ] of [ insert address ] and [ original trustee ] of [ insert address ] (the Original Trustees) Background The Settlor intends to establish this Trust for the benefit of [ insert beneficiary’s name ] (the Beneficiary) The Settlor has conveyed to the Trustees [ insert details of property transferred ] to be held on the bare...

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PRECEDENTS
Client guide: lifetime discretionary trusts - what they are, when to use them, how to set them up, trustees, letters of wishes, administration and key tax implications

This note offers general guidance on setting up a lifetime discretionary trust. It does not explore the tax implications in any depth. Your specialist Private Client practitioner will be able to deliver tailored advice based on the circumstances of your case. What is a trust? A trust arises when assets are transferred to trustees (who might be individuals or a trust corporation) to hold and manage for the benefit of specified individuals, called the beneficiaries. The parties are: the settlor — the person who transfers the assets to the trustees the trustees — the persons (or a trust company) who receive the assets from the settlor and must look after the trust assets for the benefit of the beneficiaries the beneficiaries — the persons who enjoy the benefit of the trust There are different types of trusts. Three main types of trusts are: bare trusts — typically used to hold assets for minors until they reach...

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View the related Q&As about Settlor

Q&As
Two discretionary trusts years apart: NRB for IHT periodic/exit charges?

Practice Note: Relevant property trusts—the principal (ten-year) charge within the Trusts—inheritance tax subtopic For details on the inheritance tax (IHT) rules applicable to discretionary trusts under the relevant property regime, see Practice Note: Relevant property trusts—the principal (ten-year) charge within the Trusts—inheritance tax subtopic...

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Q&As
IHT on release of IIP to remainderman and gift of 50% share

It has been assumed that: A’s entitlement under the trust to a 50% interest in the property constitutes a qualifying interest in possession (QIIP) A’s trust interest is not within section 5(1B) of the Inheritance Tax Act 1984 (IHTA 1984) Releasing A’s interest in possession will bring the trust to an end B is not a settlor of the trust The cessation of the QIIP, together with A’s gift of the remaining 50% share, each amounts to a potentially exempt transfer (PET) by A. These transfers become chargeable to IHT if A were to die within seven years. See Practice Note: Qualifying interest in possession trusts—IHT treatment, especially the section ‘Ending of an interest in possession during beneficiary’s lifetime’. Taper relief, as well as A’s available nil rate band, may operate to lessen any IHT payable...

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Q&As
RNRB on death: £900k–£1m property in inter vivos discretionary trust

The residence nil rate band (RNRB) originated in the Finance Act 2015, and was subsequently revised by the Finance Act 2016. Its statutory provisions are now contained within the Inheritance Tax Act 1984. For context, refer to Practice Note: IHT—residence nil rate band...

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