Who is referred to as the settlor in a trust?

In the context of a trust, the settlor is the person who creates and establishes the trust. This individual, often referred to as the grantor or trustor, is responsible for transferring assets into the trust and defining the terms under which the trust operates, including how the assets should be managed and distributed. The settlor plays a crucial role in outlining the purpose of the trust and specifying the beneficiaries who will benefit from it.

The function of the settlor is central to the trust's existence, as they define its structure and intentions. After the trust is created, the responsibility for managing the trust typically falls to a trustee, while the beneficiaries are those individuals or entities who are entitled to receive benefits from the trust. Thus, identifying the settlor is essential for understanding the origins and intentions behind any trust arrangement.