Christopher S. Mulvaney,

Attorney and Counselor-at-Law

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THIS WEBSITE INCLUDES GENERAL INFORMATION & THE OPINIONS OF CHRISTOPHER S. MULVANEY. IT IS INTENDED TO STIMULATE A BASIS FOR QUESTIONS RELATED TO YOUR PARTICULAR FACTUAL CIRCUMSTANCES — BEFORE YOU ACT.  THIS WEBSITE DOES NOT CONSTITUTE LEGAL ADVICE. IF YOU WANT LEGAL ADVICE, PLEASE MAKE A ZOOM APPOINTMENT TO SPEAK WITH ME.

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Gonzaga University School of Law – Spokane, Washington – Class of 2002 – Cum Laude The Latin phrase “Deo patriae, scientiis, artibus” translates to “For God and country through sciences and arts”.  The initials A.M.D.G. on the seal of Gonzaga Law School stand for Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam, which is Latin for “For the Greater Glory of God” the Motto of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits): a Catholic religious order founded by St. Ignatius of Loyola.

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In Washington State, when a gift is structured as “free of trust at age 25 and subject to the trust under age 25,” it generally means the following:

• Under age 25: A designated trustee manages and administers the assets within the trust for the benefit of the beneficiary.
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• At age 25: The beneficiary receives the assets outright, meaning they take full control and ownership of the property held in the trust. 

This arrangement is often used in trusts to ensure that younger beneficiaries receive financial support while allowing the assets to be managed by a responsible party until they reach a more mature age to handle them independently. 

Why set up a gift this way?

• Control over distribution: The trustor (person creating the trust) can specify conditions for distributions and ensure the assets are used wisely for the beneficiary’s benefit (e.g., for education, health, and welfare).
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• Encourages financial maturity: This type of arrangement encourages younger beneficiaries to develop financial management skills before receiving a large inheritance.
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• Protection from creditors: Assets held in a custodial trust under the Uniform Custodial Trust Act, recently enacted in Washington state, are protected from the beneficiary’s creditors. 

Washington State’s Uniform Transfers to Minors Act (UTMA) and trusts:

• In Washington, UTMA allows for custodial accounts for minors.
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• Gifts made under UTMA can be managed by a custodian until the beneficiary reaches age 21, but it may be extended to age 25 for transfers made on or after July 1, 2007.
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In summary: When a gift is “free of trust at age 25 and subject to the trust under age 25” in Washington, it means a trustee manages the assets for the beneficiary’s benefit until they reach 25, at which point the beneficiary receives full ownership and control. This approach allows for responsible asset management and supports the beneficiary’s development before they inherit the property outright. 

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Washington State residents can meet with me in Zoom/DocuSign from anywhere in the world, and I can notarize their electronic signatures because I am a remote online notary.  Just email me an image of your photo ID.