LawMeaning

Trust Corpus

Also known as: Trust Principal, Trust Res

In one sentence

The actual money, property, or assets that make up a trust.

Plain English

The Trust Corpus is the pool of assets—cash, real estate, stocks, or anything else of value—that the person who created the trust (called the settlor) put into it. Think of it as the main body or principal of the trust, separate from any income the assets generate. The trustee manages the corpus according to the trust document's instructions and distributes it to beneficiaries as directed.

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Example

Maria creates a trust with $500,000 in stocks, a rental property worth $300,000, and $50,000 in cash. This $850,000 total is the trust corpus that the trustee must carefully manage and eventually distribute to Maria's children.

Used in a sentence

“The trustee was required to preserve the trust corpus and only distribute the annual income to the beneficiaries.”

Related terms

Trust Instrument
The legal document that creates a trust and outlines how assets will be managed and distributed.
Trust Income
Money earned by trust assets, such as interest, dividends, or rental payments.
Trust Situs
The location where a trust is administered and its legal proceedings take place.
Charitable Trust
A trust that provides income to beneficiaries while ultimately donating the remaining assets to charity.
Testamentary Capacity
The legal and mental ability required to make a valid will or trust.
Intended Beneficiary
A person who is not a party to a contract but has the right to enforce it because the parties meant to benefit them.
Probate
The court process of validating a will and distributing a deceased person's estate.
Intestate Succession
The legal process of distributing a deceased person's property when they leave no valid will.

This page is a plain-English reference and is not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change over time. For specific situations consult a licensed attorney.