Plain-English meaning
Testamentary Trust
A trust created by a will and generally established through probate after the testator's death.
Why the term matters
It can manage inherited property for minors or other beneficiaries under court and trust terms.
Do not confuse it with
It differs from a living trust created during life; a pour-over will may fund an existing living trust instead.
Where you may see it
The term may appear in a signed will or trust, a court petition or order, a deed, an account or policy form, a fiduciary report, or correspondence from a tax or benefit agency. Read the defined-terms section and the complete sentence before deciding what role or action it describes.
Records that give the term context
- the complete trust, amendments, schedules, and certifications
- deeds, assignments, account titles, and beneficiary confirmations showing funding
What to verify
- Which assets are legally connected to the trust?
- What event activates a successor trustee's authority?
Example without case advice
If a notice uses “testamentary trust,” first identify the person or property the word refers to, the document supplying the definition, and the deadline or decision attached to it. The same word can carry a different procedural effect in a trust, probate file, tax form, or account contract.
Sources to verify
Use the controlling court, agency, statute, provider record, or governing document before relying on a general explanation.