Legal Definitions - co-trustee

A co-trustee is a person who serves as a trustee of a trust along with one or more other trustees. They have the same powers and responsibilities as the other trustees. Sometimes, a co-trustee may be a temporary replacement for the original trustee who is unable to perform their duties due to illness or other reasons.

John and Jane are siblings who have been named as co-trustees of their father's trust. They both have equal authority to manage the trust assets and make decisions regarding the distribution of funds to the beneficiaries. They must work together and consult with each other before making any major decisions.

Another example could be a trust that has three co-trustees, all of whom must agree on any decisions made regarding the trust. This ensures that no one trustee has too much power and that all decisions are made in the best interest of the beneficiaries.

These examples illustrate how a co-trustee works in a trust. They share the responsibility of managing the trust and must work together to make decisions. This helps to ensure that the trust is managed properly and that the beneficiaries are protected.