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The Global Insight

Can family trust property be sold?

Author

John Hall

Updated on March 09, 2026

NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court has said prima facie no trust property can be held, sold, mortgaged or exchanged without prior permission of the court. The order ���would operate against all trusts irrespective of whether they are religious or not, including properties belonging to the church, temples, wakf…

What happens when a house in trust is sold?

The proceeds from the sale of the home are deposited back into the trust account and all checks from the buyers are written to the seller: the trustee of the trust. If the owner of the trust has passed away, the proceeds are then distributed to the beneficiaries pursuant to the terms of the trust.

Is it advantageous to buy property using a family trust?

The pros of buying property in a Trust Executor’s fees in respect of these assets will be eliminated and there will be no reason to transfer the property to any of the deceased’s heirs, which in turn saves unnecessary transfer duty and possible capital gains tax.

Who owns the assets in a family trust?

trustee
At the core of a family trust, there are three parties: a grantor, a trustee and the beneficiaries. The grantor is the person who makes the trust and transfers their assets into it. The trustee is the person who manages the assets in the trust on behalf of the beneficiaries.

Can public trust property be sold?

If it is a public trust, the trustees can deal with the property. Under this act, the trustees can sell of the property (if it is provided in the trust deed) but the permission of the Charity Commissioner is necessary without which the sale cannot be comleted and the sale deed would not be registered.

What happens to property in a trust after death?

The successor trustee is charged with settling a trust, which usually means bringing it to termination. Once the trustor dies, the successor trustee takes over, looks at all of the assets in the trust, and begins distributing them in accordance with the trust. No court action is required.

Should I put my primary residence in a trust?

One of the main reasons people put their house in a trust is because assets in a trust do not go through probate after you die, while everything you bequeath through your will does go through probate. Using a trust to pass on your house can also transfer ownership faster than probate would have.

What happens when you sell a family trust?

The proceeds from the sale will remain in the family trust account until they are distributed in accordance with the trust deed. Selling a family property with multiple trustees can be a trying time on many different levels and people don’t always act as you might hope or expect.

What happens when you put a house in a trust?

But your designated beneficiary will receive the property in a trust immediately. Plus, he or she can also sell the property if they so choose without going through the ordeal of selling a house during probate. All these sound like wins. Though that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t consider the few negatives as well.

Do you have to retitle assets in the name of the trust?

Assets Must Be Retitled In the Name of the Trust When you leave assets in a trust, you’ll need to retitle them in the name for putting property in a trust. If you skip this important step, your property may not go to the rightful inheritor after you pass and your beneficiaries will need to comply with the choice a probate court selects.

Can a real estate agent be used to sell a trust?

If you decide to use a real estate agent to sell the property, make sure all the trustees are in agreement about which agent you choose. If it’s logistically or practically difficult for all of you to be involved, it’s a good idea to nominate one or two trustees to be in control of the process.