The Protectors

A further, but often unutilised, role in a Trust Deed is that of a Protector. The Protector can act in a way similar to an Independent Trustee but effectively with the power to veto certain decisions on the Trust. A Protector’s role on a Trust is sometimes beneficial where a couple forms a trust but they both have children from previous relationships. The Protector can then function if one of the parties dies, so that the deceased’s children are still able to benefit from the Trust, rather than simply the surviving Settlor’s children.

The Protector roles is not a very common one, but it would be sensible to utilise in your Trust if you have circumstances where there could be competing interests between future beneficiaries because of the nature of your family group members.