Decanting can be a great way to add flexibility to irrevocable trusts. Beyond correcting scrivener’s errors, resolving ambiguities, or clarifying trust language, decanting allows trustees to change some provisions of an irrevocable trust by pouring the assets into a new trust with modified terms.
Decanting can be used to make administrative changes like a change of trust situs, changes to the number and powers of trustees, or to consolidate trusts, to list a few. Decanting also can be used to make certain changes to how the trust assets are distributed, like enhanced spendthrift provisions, enhanced asset protection, or to qualify a special needs beneficiary for needs-based benefits, among other dispositive changes.