What is a Deed of Appointment in probate?

During the probate and estate administration processes, you may come across unfamiliar jargon; this could include Trusts, Trustees, and Deeds of Appointment. This blog will provide an overview of what a Deed of Appointment is and how it relates to Trusts and probate.

What is probate?

Probate refers to the process of obtaining a Grant of Probate, which is a legal document that provides the Executor of an estate with the legal right to proceed with estate administration. Estate administration refers to dealing with all of the deceased's assets, liabilities, property, and possessions so that inheritance can be distributed to beneficiaries. Part of this process can include dealing with Trusts and Deeds of Appointment.

Probate and estate administration can be complex, time-consuming processes that involve a lot of legal work, and many people choose to instruct a professional on their behalf. If you’re looking for assistance with probate or estate administration, explore our estate solutions to learn how we can help. Our award-winning estate solutions range from just obtaining the Grant of Probate to our established full estate administration service where we can take care of everything involved.

What is a Trust in a Will?

A Trust is set up to leave a certain portion of assets behind, such as cash, property, and personal possessions. When there is a Trust in a Will, the assets within it will be handled by Trustees, rather than going directly to beneficiaries. The Trustees have the power to decide when and how the assets will be distributed. These terms may be set out in the Will (which is the Trust document), or it might be set up so that the Trustees have the authority to make decisions about the inheritance.

Read our blog to learn more about the role of a Trustee, who can be appointed, and the purpose of a Trust.

What is a Deed of Appointment?

A Deed of Appointment is a legal document by which an individual (or professional) is appointed a specific role or assets. In the context of probate and estate administration, this is most commonly used to appoint assets out of a Trust to beneficiaries or assign a new Trustee.

Deeds of Appointment to allocate assets in a Discretionary Trust

When Trustees are responsible for assets held in a Will Trust, they have the power to transfer the assets to the beneficiaries. In a Discretionary Trust, they also have the responsibility of deciding how the allocated inheritance is distributed. For example, they may choose to pay the total amount in full or in instalments, establish the conditions for how the money is spent, and (where there are multiple potential beneficiaries named) decide which beneficiary/beneficiaries will inherit. This is known as Power of Appointment.

Previously, Discretionary Trusts were often used by couples to ensure that when the first partner died, the surviving partner would benefit from the full extent of their Nil Rate Band (NRB) – this is the threshold amount that you can pass on to beneficiaries without being charged for Inheritance Tax. Currently, this is set at £325,000 until 2028. Prior to 2007, there was no ‘automatic right’ to claim what is known as the Transferable Nil Rate Band allowance. Many Wills written before the government changes in 2007 had Discretionary Trusts written in them; this was legally accepted to access the first death’s tax-free allowances.

Whilst many now deem it unnecessary to include a Nil Rate Band Discretionary Trust (NRDBT), they are still useful in certain circumstances and are still included in many Wills. Leaving any leftover NRB in a NRBDT allows additional funds to be transferred to beneficiaries without excessive Inheritance Tax. Trustees must consider all beneficiaries as well as any tax liability that this may incur; tax advice should be sought before distribution. To distribute these funds to the beneficiaries, Trustees will need a Deed of Appointment.

Deeds of Appointment to assign a new Trustee

In some circumstances, it may be necessary to replace a Trustee or appoint an additional Trustee. This can occur when only one Trustee is named in a Will, as there should always be at least two Trustees assigned. Additionally, if a Trustee is incapable of continuing in the role or feels that they are unsuitable, they may renounce their role. Trustees are responsible for appointing a new Trustee, and this can be done using a Deed of Appointment to confirm their role; the new Trustee(s) must be made aware of their appointment.

Do Trustees always need a Deed of Appointment?

A Deed of Appointment is not always necessary when appointing out of a Trust. However, it is advisable to have one, as it provides evidence of who assets have been transferred to and when they were transferred. If known, it is also useful to quote the value of the asset(s) being transferred, but this is not a mandatory requirement.

A Deed of Appointment is a requirement when assigning a new Trustee.

What is included in a Deed of Appointment?

The Trust documentation (Will) should outline the terms of the Trust. All Deeds of Appointment must include a main clause that details either the appointment of assets or the new Trustee(s).

• When detailing the appointment of assets out of a Discretionary Trust, the beneficiary must be named in the Deed. Additionally, the specific asset(s) that they are inheriting should be listed. If this includes a sum of cash, the specific amount should also be included.
• For a Deed that appoints new Trustee(s), all relevant people should be listed: the continuing Trustee(s), the new Trustee(s), and the renouncing Trustee(s).

There may be additional clauses and details required depending on the circumstances of the estate.

Who needs to sign a Deed of Appointment?

The Trustees will need to sign the Deed of Appointment when appointing assets out of a Trust. When a new Trustee is being appointed, the existing Trustees will need to sign it.

Dealing with Trusts and Deeds can be complicated and overwhelming, especially when dealing with a bereavement. When instructed to administer an estate, Kings Court Trust can take on all of the work involved; this includes dealing with any Trusts and necessary paperwork, such as a Deed of Appointment.

We are available to offer practical advice and solutions for all aspects of probate and estate administration – this includes dissecting the Trust with the Trustees and explaining the processes involved in plain English.

If you need help with probate, administering an estate, or understanding Trusts, contact us by filling in the form below or call our Client Services Team on 0300 303 9000.