Bare Trust Deed (Minor Child)

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Setting aside investments, savings or assets in your child’s name? You will need a properly drafted Bare Trust Deed to do it correctly under Irish law — protecting the asset, the trustees, and the child’s future entitlement.

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A solicitor can draft your Bare Trust Deed; that service is not currently available on this site. A deed of this kind is drafted by an Irish-qualified solicitor you instruct, ready to sign and use.

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What this service covers

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• Bare Trust Deed drafted to Irish standards — vesting absolute beneficial ownership in your minor child while you (or your nominated trustees) hold legal title until they turn 18

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• Investment assets covered — shares, funds, ETFs, cash deposits, savings accounts, bonds, life policies and similar

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• Asset-holding scenarios covered — gifts from parents/grandparents, inheritance reorganisation, family wealth planning, prize money, child performer income, investment club holdings

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• Trustee powers and duties — clearly defined investment, distribution, accounting and reporting powers tailored to Irish trust law

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• Tax-efficient structure — drafted with Irish CAT and DIRT considerations in mind; Bare Trust beneficial ownership rules align with Revenue treatment

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• Plain-English explanation of what each clause does and why it is there — so you understand what you are signing

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• Execution guidance — clear instructions on signing, witnessing, and where to send copies (broker, bank, custodian)

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What you get

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• Bare Trust Deed (signed document + editable Word) — fully drafted, ready to sign, with all parties named correctly

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• Cover letter explaining the document and your next steps

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• Execution checklist — who signs, who witnesses, how to date it, how many originals you need

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• Plain-English clause guide — one-page summary of what each section means

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• Trustee responsibilities one-pager — what trustees must do annually (and what they should never do)

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• 12 months of email-based query support — small follow-up questions answered without re-engaging the clock

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• Original delivered by registered post if you need a wet-ink original (e.g. broker requirement)

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How it works

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1. Instruct a solicitor of your choice. No deposits, no surprise extras.

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2. Complete a short intake form — names of settlor (you), trustees, the minor beneficiary, asset description, and any special instructions.

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3. Solicitor drafts the deed — your Irish-qualified solicitor prepares the Bare Trust Deed tailored to your specific assets and family structure.

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4. You receive the deed — by secure email (signed document + editable Word) plus the optional registered-post original.

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5. Sign and use — follow the included execution checklist; the deed is ready to present to your broker, bank or custodian immediately.

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Why choose Online Legal Services Ireland

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• Work of this kind is carried out by a solicitor regulated by the Law Society of Ireland. We are not a solicitor’s practice and do not provide it — to instruct a solicitor, use the Law Society of Ireland’s Find a Solicitor directory.

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• Drafted to Irish trust law, not adapted from a UK or US template

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• Transparently priced, no surprises — not currently available covers everything

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• Fully remote, all 26 counties of the Republic of Ireland

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• refund policy if we cannot deliver what we describe

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• Built for Irish families — drafted with Irish CAT, DIRT, parental gift exemptions and trustee best-practice in mind

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Need more? Upgrade to the Premium Bundle (not currently available)

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If you want a solicitor walkthrough before signing, plus 14 days of post-draft revision support, see our Bare Trust Deed Premium Bundle (not currently available) — includes a 30-minute solicitor video call and small post-draft revisions.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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What is a Bare Trust under Irish law?

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A Bare Trust is the simplest form of trust under Irish law. The trustee holds legal title to the asset, but the beneficiary (in this case, your minor child) has absolute beneficial ownership and is entitled to call for the asset at age 18. The trustee has no discretion — they hold purely on behalf of the beneficiary.

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Why use a Bare Trust for a minor child?

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Because minors cannot legally hold many types of investment or financial asset directly in Ireland. A Bare Trust gives you (the trustee) legal authority to manage the asset until the child reaches 18, while preserving the child’s beneficial ownership for tax and estate purposes from day one.

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Who can be a trustee?

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Typically a parent, grandparent, or trusted adult. Two trustees are common (often both parents). The trustees must be over 18, of sound mind, and willing to accept the duties of trusteeship.

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What happens when my child turns 18?

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The trust ends automatically when the child reaches 18 (or 21 if specified in the deed). The beneficiary can call for the asset at that point. Until then, the trustees manage the asset for the child’s benefit.

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Are there tax implications?

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Bare Trusts are transparent for Irish tax purposes — the income and gains are typically attributed to the minor beneficiary. Capital Acquisitions Tax (CAT) parental gift exemption thresholds apply to gifts into the trust. We recommend professional tax advice for complex cases or larger asset values, but our deed is drafted with the standard Revenue treatment in mind.

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Can I change the trustees later?

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Yes. The deed includes provision for replacing trustees if circumstances change (death, incapacity, resignation). The replacement procedure is documented in the deed and your accompanying execution guide.

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If you would like to be told when solicitor services are available again on this site, you can join our no-fee waiting list. To instruct a solicitor now, use the Law Society of Ireland’s Find a Solicitor directory.