{"ok":true,"canonical_url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/trust-agreement","api_url":"https://dealroom.so/api/public/glossary/trust-agreement","data_freshness":{"sba_records_through":"2026-05-31","fdic_records_through":"2026-03-31","dealroom_last_updated":"2026-06-15","timezone":"America/Chicago"},"source_summary":["Public SBA 7(a) loan records","FDIC institution data","DealRoom lender and franchise enrichment"],"term":{"slug":"trust-agreement","term":"Trust agreement","group":"People and paperwork","definition":"A legal document that establishes a trust, outlining its terms, the assets it holds, the beneficiaries, and the powers and duties of the trustee. This document determines who controls and benefits from trust assets.","what_it_means":"If a trust is involved in the ownership structure of the business you're buying, your lender will require a copy of the trust agreement. They'll review it to identify the grantor, trustees, and beneficiaries to determine who needs to sign loan documents and personal guarantees.","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/trust-agreement","official_sources":[{"slug":"sop-50-10","title":"SOP 50 10 — Lender and Development Company Loan Programs","official_url":"https://www.sba.gov/document/sop-50-10-lender-development-company-loan-programs","official_label":"View on SBA.gov","authority_tier":2,"publisher":"U.S. Small Business Administration","source_guide_url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/sources/sop-50-10"}],"related":[{"slug":"revocable-grantor-trust","term":"Revocable grantor trust","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/revocable-grantor-trust"},{"slug":"grantor","term":"Grantor","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/grantor"},{"slug":"irrevocable-trust","term":"Irrevocable trust","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/irrevocable-trust"},{"slug":"beneficial-interest","term":"Beneficial interest","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/beneficial-interest"}],"related_questions":[{"question":"How does the SBA determine affiliation between businesses controlled by a common trust?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/how-does-the-sba-determine-affiliation-between-businesses-controlled-by-a-common-trust"},{"question":"When does common ownership through a trust or estate create affiliation for size purposes?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/when-does-common-ownership-through-a-trust-or-estate-create-affiliation-for-size-purposes"},{"question":"Can I use inherited money that is currently in a trust to fund my equity injection?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/can-i-use-inherited-money-that-is-currently-in-a-trust-to-fund-my-equity-injection"},{"question":"Can a trust or an estate be an eligible borrower for an SBA 7(a) loan?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/can-a-trust-or-an-estate-be-an-eligible-borrower-for-an-sba-7-a-loan"},{"question":"Can a trust or estate be an eligible personal guarantor for an SBA 7(a) loan?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/can-a-trust-or-estate-be-an-eligible-personal-guarantor-for-an-sba-7-a-loan"},{"question":"How does a lender determine affiliation for SBA size purposes when a business is controlled by a trust or estate?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/how-does-a-lender-determine-affiliation-for-sba-size-purposes-when-a-business-is-controlle"}]},"caveats":["Definitions represent DealRoom's plain-English interpretation for buyers; verify regulatory terms against the official SBA and eCFR sources listed.","Not legal, tax, or financial advice, and not an SBA eligibility determination."],"citation":{"label":"DealRoom.so Glossary — Trust agreement","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/trust-agreement","source_type":"DealRoom Data"}}