Trust Administration as a Developmental System
An article in the January 2025 edition of Trusts & Estates explored Delaware’s new beneficiary well-being trust statute (well-being statute) from multiple angles, including that of a trust drafter, trust administrator and a consultant supporting the growth and development of trust beneficiaries.1 That article introduced self-determination theory (SDT) as a psychological construct through which “well-being” may be achieved. Additionally, it provided empirically validated guidance to drafters, administrators and beneficiaries to consider in implementing the well-being statute. In addition to its value as a framework for defining well-being, SDT can guide the drafting and administration of trust documents to foster beneficiary engagement an…
