Ƶ

Memorandum Of Wishes for the United States

Memorandum Of Wishes Template for United States

A Memorandum of Wishes is a non-binding document used in United States trust law that provides guidance to trustees about how the settlor (person establishing the trust) would like their trust to be managed and distributed. While not legally enforceable, it serves as an important supplementary document to the trust deed, offering detailed explanations of the settlor's intentions, values, and preferences regarding trust administration. The document helps trustees make informed decisions that align with the settlor's vision while maintaining their fiduciary discretion under U.S. federal and state trust laws.

Your data doesn't train Genie's AI

You keep IP ownership of your information

Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Download a Standard Template

4.6 / 5
4.8 / 5
Access for free
OR

Alternatively: Run an advanced review of an existing
Memorandum Of Wishes

Let Ƶ's market-leading legal AI identify missing terms, unusual language, compliance issues and more - in just seconds.

What is a Memorandum Of Wishes?

The Memorandum of Wishes is a crucial supplementary document in trust arrangements under United States law, designed to bridge the gap between legally binding trust provisions and the settlor's detailed intentions. This document is typically created alongside or shortly after establishing a trust and can be updated as circumstances change. While not legally binding, it provides trustees with valuable insight into the settlor's values, reasoning, and preferences regarding trust administration, beneficiary treatment, and asset distribution. The memorandum often contains sensitive family information, personal values, and detailed guidance that might be inappropriate or impractical to include in the formal trust deed. It's particularly useful in discretionary trusts where trustees have significant decision-making power and need guidance on exercising their discretion in alignment with the settlor's intentions.

What sections should be included in a Memorandum Of Wishes?

1. Date and Parties: Identifies the date of the memorandum, the settlor, and the trustees to whom it is addressed

2. Purpose of the Memorandum: Explains that this is a non-binding guidance document to help trustees understand the settlor's wishes

3. Trust Reference: Identifies the specific trust(s) to which this memorandum relates, including date of establishment and basic purpose

4. General Principles: Overall philosophy and values that should guide the trustees' decisions

5. Beneficiary Information: Details about the beneficiaries and their circumstances that trustees should be aware of

6. Distribution Guidelines: Specific wishes regarding how and when distributions should be made to beneficiaries

7. Investment Preferences: General investment philosophy and any specific preferences or restrictions

8. Communication with Beneficiaries: Guidance on how trustees should communicate with and involve beneficiaries in trust matters

What sections are optional to include in a Memorandum Of Wishes?

1. Education Funding: Specific guidance for educational support, used when education is a key trust purpose

2. Business Interests: Guidelines for managing business assets in the trust, included when the trust holds business interests

3. Special Needs Provisions: Specific guidance for beneficiaries with special needs or disabilities

4. Family Heirlooms: Instructions regarding special possessions or family items of sentimental value

5. Charitable Giving: Guidelines for charitable distributions, included when charitable giving is part of trust purposes

6. Conflict Resolution: Guidance on handling disagreements among beneficiaries or with trustees

7. Future Generations: Long-term vision for future generations, included in dynasty or long-term trusts

8. Personal Values Statement: Detailed expression of personal values and family philosophy, used when moral/ethical guidance is important

What schedules should be included in a Memorandum Of Wishes?

1. Schedule A - Beneficiary Details: Detailed information about each beneficiary, including contact information and special circumstances

2. Schedule B - Distribution Examples: Specific examples of situations and how the settlor would wish them to be handled

3. Schedule C - Family Tree: Visual representation of family relationships to aid trustees in understanding beneficiary relationships

4. Appendix 1 - Contact List: List of important contacts such as financial advisors, accountants, and family attorneys

5. Appendix 2 - Asset Overview: General overview of trust assets and any special considerations for specific assets

Authors

Alex Denne

Head of Growth (Open Source Law) @ Ƶ | 3 x UCL-Certified in Contract Law & Drafting | 4+ Years Managing 1M+ Legal Documents | Serial Founder & Legal AI Author

Jurisdiction

United States

Publisher

Ƶ

Document Type

Memorandum

Cost

Free to use
Relevant legal definitions






























Clauses




























Relevant Industries

Legal Services

Financial Services

Wealth Management

Estate Planning

Private Banking

Trust Services

Family Office Services

Professional Services

Insurance

Relevant Teams

Legal

Wealth Management

Trust Administration

Estate Planning

Private Banking

Client Services

Fiduciary Services

Risk Management

Compliance

Document Management

Relevant Roles

Trust Officer

Estate Planning Attorney

Wealth Manager

Private Client Advisor

Financial Planner

Trust Administrator

Probate Attorney

Family Office Manager

Trust Account Manager

Legal Counsel

Private Banking Manager

Estate Administrator

Trust Operations Manager

Industries







Teams

Employer, Employee, Start Date, Job Title, Department, Location, Probationary Period, Notice Period, Salary, Overtime, Vacation Pay, Statutory Holidays, Benefits, Bonus, Expenses, Working Hours, Rest Breaks,  Leaves of Absence, Confidentiality, Intellectual Property, Non-Solicitation, Non-Competition, Code of Conduct, Termination,  Severance Pay, Governing Law, Entire Agreemen

Find the exact document you need

Legal Office Memorandum

A formal internal legal analysis document used in U.S. legal practice to examine legal issues and provide objective advice based on federal and state law.

Download

Legal Interoffice Memorandum

A formal internal legal analysis document used in U.S. organizations to communicate legal opinions and advice, protected under attorney-client privilege.

Download

Precatory Memorandum

A U.S.-governed non-binding document used to formally express wishes or recommendations without creating legal obligations.

Download

Memorandum To All Employees

A formal internal communication document used in U.S. businesses to convey important information or policy changes to all employees, compliant with federal and state employment laws.

Download

Memorandum Receipt For Equipment Form

A U.S. legal document that records the temporary transfer of equipment between parties, serving as both a receipt and accountability record.

Download

Memorandum For Meeting Announcement

A formal U.S. business document used to announce and provide details about an upcoming meeting.

Download

Memorandum To File

A U.S.-compliant internal document that formally records business information, decisions, or events for future reference.

Download

Memorandum Of Tenants In Common Agreement

A U.S. legal document establishing rights and responsibilities between multiple property co-owners under state property laws.

Download

Memorandum Of Engagement

A U.S.-compliant document establishing terms and conditions between a service provider and client for professional services engagement.

Download

Limited Offering Memorandum

A confidential document used in U.S. private securities offerings under Regulation D, providing detailed information about the issuer and investment opportunity.

Download

Mou Joint Venture

A preliminary agreement under U.S. law outlining the key terms and structure for a proposed joint venture between parties.

Download

Mou For Land Purchase

A preliminary agreement document used in the US that outlines the basic terms and conditions for a proposed land purchase transaction.

Download

Memorandum Of Agreement Between Supplier And Buyer

A U.S.-governed legal agreement establishing terms and conditions between a supplier and buyer for the sale and purchase of goods or services.

Download

Professional Memorandum

A formal internal communication document used in U.S. organizations to convey detailed analysis, information, or recommendations.

Download

Memorandum Report

A formal internal document used in U.S. organizations to present findings and recommendations on specific topics, complying with federal and state regulations.

Download

Memorandum Of Lease

A U.S. legal document providing public notice of a lease's existence and key terms, recorded to protect tenant interests while maintaining confidentiality of the full lease agreement.

Download

Memorandum Of Agreement For Work Immersion Partnership

A U.S. legal agreement establishing partnership between educational institutions and organizations for student work immersion programs.

Download

Mou For Investment In Business

A preliminary agreement outlining terms for business investment under U.S. law, serving as a framework for negotiation and due diligence.

Download

Memorandum Of Wishes

A U.S.-governed non-binding document providing trustees with guidance on trust management and distribution according to the settlor's wishes.

Download

Corporate Memorandum

A formal internal communication document used in U.S. organizations to convey official information, policies, or procedures to specific corporate audiences.

Download

Audit Observation Memorandum

A U.S.-compliant document that formally communicates audit findings, concerns, and recommendations identified during an audit engagement.

Download

Personal Memorandum

A formal personal record document used in the U.S. to capture and communicate important information or decisions for future reference.

Download

Memorandum Of Understanding Between Nonprofit Organizations

A U.S.-compliant framework document outlining collaboration terms between nonprofit organizations, subject to federal and state nonprofit regulations.

Download

Company Memorandum

A formal internal communication document used in U.S. organizations to convey official information, policies, or procedures.

Download

Project Memorandum

A U.S.-compliant document that formally outlines project parameters, objectives, and requirements for stakeholder alignment and project execution.

Download

Memorandum Of Land Contract

A U.S. legal document providing public notice of a land contract agreement, typically filed with county records to protect parties' interests.

Download

Funds Flow Memorandum

A U.S.-compliant document that details the mechanics and timing of financial transfers in complex transactions.

Download

Business Memorandum

A formal internal communication document used in U.S. organizations to convey business information, decisions, or recommendations.

Download

Mou For Investment

A preliminary agreement document used in the US that outlines the basic terms and understanding between parties for a potential investment transaction.

Download

Announcement Memorandum

A U.S.-compliant formal document used to communicate material corporate information to stakeholders under SEC regulations.

Download

Memorandum Of Receipt

A U.S. legal document acknowledging receipt of items, detailing their condition and specifications.

Download

Memorandum Of Payment

A U.S. legal document that records and acknowledges payment terms and conditions between parties.

Download

Memorandum Of Understanding

A U.S.-governed document establishing preliminary understanding between parties before a formal agreement, typically non-binding but setting clear expectations.

Download

Memorandum Of Agreement Between Two Parties

A U.S.-governed formal agreement defining cooperative terms and mutual obligations between two parties.

Download

Loan Memorandum

A U.S.-governed document that summarizes key terms and analysis of a proposed loan transaction for internal decision-making purposes.

Download

Standard Mou

A U.S.-compliant framework document outlining mutual understanding and intended collaboration between parties, serving as a precursor to formal agreements.

Download

Office Memorandum

A formal internal document used in U.S. organizations to analyze issues and provide recommendations, following standard legal writing conventions.

Download

Confidential Memorandum

A U.S.-governed internal document for communicating sensitive business information with specific confidentiality requirements and distribution controls.

Download

Internal Memorandum

A formal internal communication document used within U.S. organizations to convey information, policies, or procedures between departments or individuals.

Download

Operating Memorandum

A U.S.-compliant internal document that establishes standard operating procedures and policies for an organization's daily operations.

Download
See more related templates

ұԾ’s Security Promise

Genie is the safest place to draft. Here’s how we prioritise your privacy and security.

Your documents are private:

We do not train on your data; ұԾ’s AI improves independently

All data stored on Genie is private to your organisation

Your documents are protected:

Your documents are protected by ultra-secure 256-bit encryption

We are ISO27001 certified, so your data is secure

Organizational security:

You retain IP ownership of your documents and their information

You have full control over your data and who gets to see it