Standard Legal drafts all of its legal forms to meet the most common situations. A single successor Trustee is the most common structure for a Revocable Living Trust.
But if a user is intent on naming multiple successor Trustees, the provided Trust Amendment form is one way to achieve that structure.
Using the included Trust Amendment form is an appropriate way to name multiple successor trustees. If the Grantor so chooses, naming multiple Trustees can be done by using the Amendment form, writing something to the effect of:
Article “X” of the Trust is amended as follows:
ARTICLE “X” – TRUSTEE
I shall serve as the initial Trustee of this trust. In the event that I become either unwilling or unable, through death or incapacity, to act as Trustee, then my Spouse (who is named above) shall serve as Successor Trustee with the same powers and duties of the initial Trustee as outlined in Article 9, below. In the event that my Spouse becomes either unwilling or unable, through death or incapacity, to act as Successor Trustee, then I appoint the person named below to serve as Successor Trustee with the same powers and duties as outlined in Article 9, below:
In the event that the Successor Trustee named above becomes either unwilling or unable, through death or incapacity, to act as Successor Trustee, then I appoint the person named below to serve as First Alternate Successor Trustee with the same powers and duties as outlined in Article 9, below:
In the event that the First Alternate Successor Trustee named above becomes either unwilling or unable, through death or incapacity, to act as Successor Trustee, then I appoint the person named below to serve as Second Alternate Successor Trustee with the same powers and duties as outlined in Article 9, below:
Any number of Alternate Successor Trustees could be named in this fashion.
Of course, the language posted above is illustrative only. Standard Legal cannot provide legal advice to any customer in the preparation of his or her Trust document. The Grantor of the Trust must determine the most appropriate language for use in his or her specific situation.