Decanting Irrevocable Trusts: What You Need to Know

ARTICLE | June 09, 2025

Irrevocable trusts are often created to protect assets and provide a stable framework for managing wealth across generations. However, the rigid nature of these instruments can pose challenges when circumstances change over time—such as shifts in tax laws, evolving family dynamics, or new beneficiary needs. Decanting has emerged as a practical method for addressing these issues, offering trustees a lawful way to “pour” the assets from an existing irrevocable trust into a new trust with updated provisions. This process preserves the trust’s overall mission yet allows for strategic improvements that can bring it in step with current realities. For anyone looking to modernize an existing irrevocable trust, understanding how decanting works and the reasons behind it can be valuable.

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