Types of Trusts

There are several types of trusts available, each serving different purposes:

Living Trust: Established during your lifetime, allowing you to manage assets while providing for their smooth transfer in the future and helping to avoid probate.

Charitable Trust: Enables you to support charitable causes and leave a philanthropic legacy, often with associated tax benefits.

Educational Trust: Created to fund education costs for beneficiaries, ensuring funds are managed specifically for schooling or higher education.

Special Needs Trust: Designed to support a beneficiary with disabilities or special needs without affecting eligibility for state benefits, helping to enhance their quality of life.

We help you explore these options and select the trust structure that best reflects your priorities and long-term intentions.

Trusts and Asset Protection for Your Legacy

For individuals with substantial assets or family wealth, careful planning is essential to preserve and protect what has been built over a lifetime. We offer expert guidance in trusts, estate planning, and asset protection, helping you manage risk while maintaining control and clarity over your affairs.

Our team combines in-depth knowledge of Irish law with a broader perspective to develop effective, tailored solutions for managing and preserving your wealth. Where clients have international or overseas interests, we also assist with structuring or restructuring appropriate trust and asset protection arrangements. Our approach is thoughtful and strategic, designed to safeguard your assets, support long-term planning, and give you confidence in your financial and personal legacy — both in Ireland and beyond.

Understanding Trust Roles

When setting up a trust, it is important to understand the key roles involved:

Settlor (Grantor): The person who creates the trust by transferring assets into it and setting out the terms under which the trust will operate.

Trustee: The individual or company responsible for holding and managing the trust assets in accordance with the trust deed and in the best interests of the beneficiaries.

Beneficiaries: The people or organisations who benefit from the trust and receive assets or income in line with the settlor’s wishes.

Our solicitors clearly explain these roles and help ensure the trust structure is appropriate, secure, and managed by suitable trustees.

Revocable vs. Irrevocable Trusts

A key decision in trust planning is whether to establish a revocable or an irrevocable trust, each offering different advantages:

Revocable Trust: Allows you to retain control over the assets and make changes to the trust during your lifetime. This option offers flexibility as your circumstances or intentions evolve.

Irrevocable Trust: Once established, this type of trust generally cannot be changed. Assets transferred into the trust are usually removed from your estate, which can provide stronger asset protection and potential tax advantages, though control over those assets is reduced.

We advise you on the most suitable option based on your objectives, helping you achieve the right balance between flexibility and protection.

Plan Your Legacy with Confidence

Creating a trust or estate plan is a meaningful step in protecting your family, your assets, and the values you wish to pass on. A well-structured plan provides clarity, reduces uncertainty, and ensures your wishes are carried out exactly as intended, even in complex personal or financial circumstances.

At Green & Associates, we provide clear, personalised advice to guide you through every stage of trust creation and asset protection. We take the time to understand your priorities, family dynamics, and long-term objectives, ensuring your plan reflects what matters most to you. With thoughtful planning and experienced legal support, you can move forward with confidence, knowing your legacy is secure, structured, and protected for future generations.