Trust Administration Services
Protect your family’s legacy with experienced trust management and administration services.
A Modern Approach to Trust Services
Your need for highly personalized trust services may escalate as your family approaches legacy planning.
Cresset Trust Company meets your family’s trust needs with the highest fiduciary standard. Partnering with you and your legal counsel, we honor the grantor’s intent, manage complex assets, and address beneficiary needs. As a South Dakota Chartered Public Trust Company, we offer favorable trust laws, privacy, asset protection, and customized, white-glove solutions that set us apart.
Our Trust Administration Services
Trustee Roles
Full Trustee
Full array of discretionary trust services, including the management of trust assets, trust administration, distribution decisions, coordination of tax filings, beneficiary communication, etc.
Co-Trustee
Along with others, such as a designated family member, we share the various responsibilities of full trustee.
Directed Trustee
One or more individuals are responsible for distribution or investment functions, and we provide administrative trustee services.
Delegated Trustee
A nominated investment professional, or other party, is delegated a specific investment or distribution function. Cresset Trust Company provides oversight, as well as the remainder of all trust services.
Full Trustee
Full array of discretionary trust services, including the management of trust assets, trust administration, distribution decisions, coordination of tax filings, beneficiary communication, etc.
Co-Trustee
Along with others, such as a designated family member, we share the various responsibilities of full trustee.
Directed Trustee
Trust administrative services, South Dakota situs, coordination of tax filings, and money movement. All investment and distribution decisions are managed by others.
Delegated Trustee
A nominated investment professional, or other party, is delegated a specific investment or distribution function. Cresset Trust Company provides oversight, as well as the remainder of all trust services.
Types of Trusts Administered
- Asset Protection Trusts (Self Settled or Third Party)
- Beneficiary Defective Trusts
- Charitable Trusts
- Dynasty Trusts
- Estate Settlement
- Grantor Retained Annuity Trusts
- Insurance Trusts
- Intentionally Defective Grantor Trusts
- Revocable Trusts
- Spousal Lifetime Access Trusts (SLAT)
- Special Purpose Trusts
- Special & Supplemental Needs Trusts
- Marital & Family Trusts
- QSBS Trusts
- & Others
Types of Trust Administered
- Asset Protection Trusts (Self Settled or Third Party)
- Beneficiary Defective Trusts
- Charitable Trusts
- Dynasty Trusts
- Estate Settlement
- Grantor Retained Annuity Trusts
- Insurance Trusts
- Intentionally Defective Grantor Trusts
- Revocable Trusts
- Spousal Lifetime Access Trusts (SLAT)
- Special Purpose Trusts
- Special & Supplemental Needs Trusts
- Marital & Family Trusts
- QSBS Trusts
- & Others
The Cresset Trust Services Team
Meet the trust services leadership team providing a boutique experience dedicated to your needs.
Cresset Trust Company Testimonials
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The above testimonials are from current anonymous partners of Cresset. They have not received compensation to participate in these endorsements. There are no material conflicts. The testimonials were given in September 2024.
Why Choose Cresset as a Corporate Trustee for Your Family's Trusts?
Your corporate trustee ensures that your trust is managed professionally, impartially, and with long-term stability, helping to preserve and protect your family’s wealth for future generations.
Specialized Knowledge & Experience
Corporate trustees bring a deep understanding of trust law, tax implications, and investment strategies, ensuring that the trust is managed according to the highest legal and financial standards.
Impartiality
Unlike individual trustees who may have personal biases or conflicts of interest, corporate trustees act impartially, making decisions solely based on the best interests of the beneficiaries.
Continuity & Stability
Corporate trustees provide consistent management across generations, avoiding disruptions that may occur if an individual trustee becomes incapacitated, retires, or passes away.
Professional Management
With dedicated teams, corporate trustees can handle the complex administrative tasks of a trust, including record-keeping, compliance, and reporting, ensuring that all legal and regulatory requirements are met.
Security & Accountability
Corporate trustees are regulated entities with fiduciary responsibilities that serve in the best interests of clients. This oversight provides an added layer of security and ensures that the trust is managed with the highest level of care and integrity.
Resources & Infrastructure
Corporate trustees often have access to a broad range of resources, including legal, tax, and investment professionals, allowing for a more comprehensive approach to trust management.
Specialized Knowledge & Experience
Impartiality
Continuity & Stability
Professional Management
Security & Accountability
Resources & Infrastructure
Trust Assets in Excess of
$5.2B*
*as of October 1, 2025
Founded in
2015
Full Array of
Holistic Family Office Solution
Centralize your private wealth needs and create cohesiveness across key foundational areas of wealth and well-being. Whether seeking an all-in-one solution or selected services, your family office will be tailored to help meet your goals now and across generations.
Wealth Strategy
& Estate Planning
Tax Strategy
& Planning
Private Investment
Opportunities
Liquidity
& Exit Planning
Goals-Based Planning
& Investing
Trust
Services
Banking
& Lending Solutions
Risk
Management
CFO
Services
Family Governance
& Education
Philanthropy
& Impact
Lifestyle
Services
Frequently Asked Questions
How does a trust work?
While there are many types of trusts, all trusts consist of three main parties: grantor, trustee, beneficiary. Learn more in our Trust Knowledge Base.
What if I have real estate or other non-marketable assets in the trust?
Cresset Trust Company (CTC) is well-versed in the oversight of special assets. Our clients commonly have complex financial lives and expect that their trusts will as well. Please contact us about any specific asset questions, and note that we regularly manage trusts that hold real estate, closely held businesses, operating companies, notes, intellectual property, etc.
What if we have a trust that is governed by another state law?
With a deep understanding of each family’s financial picture and long-term goals, family offices are uniquely positioned to deliver proactive, strategic tax We need to review the document for any trust we are considering, but it is common for a trust to be drafted using another state law. Often CTC can act as trustee or co-trustee and move the administrative functions to South Dakota but leave the substantive governance in the state the trust originated. It is also common for a trust to allow the governing situs to be changed by a trustee. Further, we can always consider whether decanting or modification could accomplish your goals. Each trust situation is unique, but often we can find a solution along with your team of advisors.
What if my trust requires a certain level of assets of capitalization?
It is common in older trust instruments that any corporate trustee must meet certain financial requirements. As with many situations, each trust is unique and we are always willing to review a document and let you know if we meet the requirements or have a solution to modify the requirements if that is your desire.
Do you need to be involved in the drafting of the trust? Do you have the required trust provisions?
We appreciate being part of the drafting process, it helps us develop a sense of the grantor’s intent, get to know your legal team, as well as the purpose and structure of the transaction. However, we do not require specific provisions to be included before we act as the trustee. We can be helpful in incorporating South Dakota law, or sharing experience with specific language around beneficiary distributions, notice or waiver of notice to future beneficiaries, diversification of assets, etc.
Do you draft trusts if I don’t have a lawyer to do it?
We do not. We work through your outside legal team to get the trust in place.
How do you charge to act as the trustee?
We charge flat fees that are paid annually in advance and are not tied to the size of the trust or assets managed. Feel free to reach out to request a review and customized fee quote.
Do you have experience working with beneficiaries with mental health or addiction issues?
We do have quite a bit of experience in this area. We work closely with the grantor and other family members to determine the grantor’s intent and beneficiary needs. No one situation is the same, and we work hard to customize our approach so that the family doesn’t have to be in the difficult position of a trustee.
What is your process for making distributions and how quickly can a distribution be made?
We are nimble and can typically make a distribution decision within days, rather than the weeks or months of a large institution. Every distribution request is unique, so there may be information requested before we can approve, but we strive to be thoughtful, creative, flexible, and responsive—while still acting in compliance with the trust and our fiduciary duties.
Do you prepare trust tax returns?
The preparation of trust tax returns is not included in the trustee fee, but we do coordinate all aspects of tax filings and payments. We can work through your existing tax preparer or arrange for a tax preparer on your behalf.