A person may create a class trust for specified relatives, including some not yet born if at least one class member is alive. The trust instrument can also set separate trusts for each beneficiary and can override the default rules for figuring each beneficiary’s share.
SUBPART L. CLASS TRUSTS A. GENERAL RULES §1891. Creation of class A. Notwithstanding the provisions of R.S. 9:1803, R.S. 9:1831 through 1835, and R.S. 9:1841 through 1847, but subject to the restrictions stated in this Subpart, a person may create an inter vivos or testamentary trust in favor of a class consisting of some or all of the children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, and great grandnieces and great grandnephews of the settlor or of the settlor's current, former, or predeceased spouse, or any combination thereof, although some members of the class are not yet in being at the time of the creation of the trust, provided at least one member of the class is then in being. Such a trust is called a class trust. If the trust instrument so provides, the interest of each beneficiary in the class shall be held in a separate trust after the class has closed. B. If the class includes members related to the settlor's current, former, or predeceased spouse who are not also related to the settlor, the interests of those members shall be determined as if they were related to the settlor in the same manner as they are related to the settlor's current, former, or predeceased spouse, unless the trust instrument provides otherwise. C. Unless the trust instrument provides otherwise, the interests of the class members shall be determined in the following manner: (1) Before application of R.S. 9:1894, if the class consists solely of descendants of the same degree, the interests of the members of the class shall be determined by roots. (2) In all other cases, the interests of the members of the class shall be determined by heads. Amended by Acts 1982, No. 479, §1; Acts 1989, No. 115, §1; Acts 1989, No. 339, §1, eff. June 28, 1989; Acts 1995, No. 274, §1; Acts 1995, No. 324, §1; Acts 1995, No. 1038, §1; Acts 1997, No. 682, §1; Acts 2001, No. 594, §3; Acts 2015, No. 219, §1. NOTE: See Acts 1989, No. 115, §2, and No. 339, §2.