What is the purpose of the trust?

The purpose of a trust can help to narrow down who should serve as Trustee. If the trust is a spendthrift trust, the beneficiary should not be a Trustee, but asking a family member of the beneficiary to be a Trustee, especially a sibling, may cause additional problems. If the trust is primarily for asset protection, the beneficiary may serve as Trustee, but in some instances, for maximum protection, it is preferable for an Independent person or Corporate Trustee to serve as a Trustee or co-Trustee with the beneficiary.