How do we set up a testamentary trust?
Once probate is finished, you'll need to get a taxpayer ID number from the IRS for that testamentary trust. You can do this online at the IRS websiteor over the phone by calling 800-829-4933.
You will need to supply basic information about the trust and the trustee who is in charge of managing the assets. Once you get the ID number, called an Employer Identification Number or EIN, the trustee can open bank accounts or brokerage accounts to hold the assets in that trust.
After that, the trust will be a U.S. taxpayer, and the trustee will be responsible for filing an annual 1041 trust tax return. The terms of the trust should identify the beneficiaries of the trust and direct how the money can be used for their needs. The trustee must keep very good records of all the money invested and distributed.
