What happens if you forget to name a valid trustee?

• A. The trust is invalid.
• B. The court appoints a trustee on application of an interested party.
• C. The trust property escheats.
• D. The settlor can appoint a trustee posthumously.

Answer: (B)

When a trust is created, it must have a valid trustee to manage the trust property. If no valid trustee is named, the trust doesn’t automatically fail; the court can step in to fill the vacancy. The court has authority to appoint a trustee on application by someone with an interest in the trust, such as a beneficiary, so the trust can be administered and its terms carried out. This preserves the trust and upholds the settlor’s intent by providing someone to act in the trustee role. The other possibilities don’t fit: a missing trustee doesn’t automatically invalidate the trust, and escheat happens only when there are no heirs or beneficiaries. A settlor cannot appoint a trustee after death to fix a live trust situation; court appointment is the standard remedy.