Legal Definitions - trust ownership

Trust ownership refers to the legal concept of holding property or assets in a trust, where the trustee manages the property for the benefit of the beneficiaries. This means that the trustee has legal ownership of the property, but is obligated to act in the best interests of the beneficiaries.

A trust receipt is a type of security device used in commercial transactions. It involves a receipt stating that the buyer has possession of the goods for the benefit of the financier. This allows the financier to have some control over the goods until the buyer has paid for them. For example, a car dealership may use a trust receipt to finance the purchase of a fleet of cars.

Another example of trust ownership is when a parent sets up a trust for their child's education. The parent may be the trustee, but the child is the beneficiary. The parent has legal ownership of the funds in the trust, but is obligated to use them for the child's education.