# RCW 11.98.011: RCW 11.98.011: Trust creation—Requirements

> Washington · Statutes · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T11_C98_S011

## Section

- **Citation:** RCW 11.98.011
- **Heading:** RCW 11.98.011: Trust creation—Requirements
- **Jurisdiction:** Washington
- **Kind:** Statutes
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** Washington Code / Title 11 / Chapter 98 / Section 011

## Text

(1) A trust is created only if: (a) The trustor has capacity to create a trust; (b) The trustor indicates an intention to create the trust; (c) The trust has a definite beneficiary or is: (i) A charitable trust; (ii) A trust for the care of an animal, as provided in chapter 11.118 RCW; or (iii) A trust for a noncharitable purpose, as provided in RCW 11.98.015 ; (d) The trustee has duties to perform; and (e) The same person is not the sole trustee and sole beneficiary. (2) A beneficiary is definite if the beneficiary can be ascertained now or in the future, subject to any applicable rule against perpetuities. (3) A power in a trustee to select a beneficiary from an indefinite class is valid, except to the extent that the trustee may distribute trust property to himself or herself. If the power is not exercised within a reasonable time, the power fails and the property subject to the power passes to the persons who would have taken the property had the power not been conferred.

## Nearby sections

- [RCW 11.98.002 RCW 11.98.002: Definitions.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T11_C98_S002.md)
- [RCW 11.98.005 RCW 11.98.005: Trust situs and governing law.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T11_C98_S005.md)
- [RCW 11.98.008 RCW 11.98.008: Trust creation—Methods.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T11_C98_S008.md)
- [RCW 11.98.009 RCW 11.98.009: Application of chapter.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T11_C98_S009.md)
- [RCW 11.98.011 RCW 11.98.011: Trust creation—Requirements.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T11_C98_S011.md)
- [RCW 11.98.012 RCW 11.98.012: Trust creation—Other jurisdictions.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T11_C98_S012.md)
- [RCW 11.98.013 RCW 11.98.013: Trust creation—Allowable purposes.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T11_C98_S013.md)
- [RCW 11.98.014 RCW 11.98.014: Trust creation—Oral trusts.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T11_C98_S014.md)
- [RCW 11.98.015 RCW 11.98.015: Noncharitable trusts without ascertainable beneficiaries.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T11_C98_S015.md)
- [RCW 11.98.016 RCW 11.98.016: Exercise of powers by co-trustees.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T11_C98_S016.md)
- [RCW 11.98.017 RCW 11.98.017: Trusteeship—Accepting and declining—Powers without acceptance.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T11_C98_S017.md)
- [RCW 11.98.019 RCW 11.98.019: Relinquishment of powers by trustee.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T11_C98_S019.md)
- [RCW 11.98.029 RCW 11.98.029: Resignation of trustee.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T11_C98_S029.md)
- [RCW 11.98.039 RCW 11.98.039: Nonjudicial change of trustee—Judicial appointment or change of trustee—Liability and duties of successor fiduciary.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T11_C98_S039.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T11_C98_S011. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.