Can the beneficiary of a spendthrift trust voluntarily transfer her interest?

• A. NO, a beneficiary cannot voluntarily transfer her interest.
• B. Only if the beneficiary's creditors consent.
• C. YES, a beneficiary may freely transfer her interest.
• D. Only with court approval.

Answer: (A)

Spendthrift provisions block the beneficiary from alienating her interest. The whole purpose is to prevent the beneficiary from freely transferring or pledging the trust benefits, so the beneficiary cannot voluntarily convey her interest to someone else. The trustee administers distributions according to the trust terms, and this anti-alienation rule helps shield the assets from the beneficiary’s creditors. That’s why the correct view is that she cannot voluntarily transfer her interest. The other options don’t fit because a spendthrift clause doesn’t rely on creditors’ consent, and it isn’t about needing court approval to transfer the interest; it’s about restricting the beneficiary’s ability to transfer.