Trust & estate distribution
Establish what the records say the estate or trust holds, walk it down to the amount actually available to distribute, then divide that among the beneficiaries, equalizing for prior distributions, assets taken in kind, debts owed back, and debt forgiven, so each one lands on their proper share and the schedule foots.
1 · Recognized value
What, per bank statements, appraisals, and other records, the estate or trust holds. List each asset at its confirmed value. This is the figure you can stand behind: “the estate is worth exactly this.”
2 · Reductions to distributable
What comes off the top before anything is divided: a cash reserve held back for contingencies, debts and taxes, administration and professional fees, and any specific or pecuniary gifts paid ahead of the residue.
3 · Beneficiaries & shares
Each residuary beneficiary and their share of the distributable amount, entered as a percentage (shares should total 100%). Then record what each has already received or owes so the residual trues everyone up to the same proportion.
4 · How to treat prior distributions
Two ways to read money a beneficiary already received.
| Beneficiary | Share | Target share | Prior (advance) | In kind | Debt setoff | Forgiven | Other ± | Residual to distribute |
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What this tool does — and what it leaves to you
It handles the residuary waterfall and the equalization math: recognized value down to net distributable, proportional shares, hotchpot add-back, and charges for prior distributions, in-kind assets, debt setoffs, and forgiven debt, with a reconciliation that must foot. You supply and confirm every figure; it never asserts the law.
Deliberately left to you (enter the results as line items above, or handle outside the tool):
- Defining the shares themselves: per stirpes vs. per capita, lapse and anti-lapse, ademption, disclaimers, pretermitted heirs, and spousal elective / statutory shares.
- Estate and GST tax apportionment, and the gain triggered by funding a pecuniary gift with appreciated property.
- Marital / credit-shelter formula funding and “fairly representative” asset spreading.
- Income vs. principal allocation between life tenant and remainder, and statutory interest on late legacies.
- Whether a beneficiary’s debt to the estate or a forgiven note was already included in recognized value — confirm this, or the reconciliation can foot while still being wrong on the facts.
Prepared with JuraSum · jurasum.com
JuraSum is a calculation aid, not legal, financial, or accounting advice. You supply and confirm every value, share, and adjustment against the governing instrument and controlling authority. All figures stay in your browser on this device; nothing is uploaded.