Florida Statute 736.0505
“Creditors’ claims against settlor.”
What it means
Section 736.0505 applies whether or not the trust has a spendthrift provision. Property of a revocable trust is subject to the claims of the settlor's creditors during the settlor's lifetime, to the extent it would not otherwise be exempt if owned directly by the settlor (subsection (1)(a)). For an irrevocable trust, a creditor or assignee of the settlor may reach the maximum amount that can be distributed to or for the settlor's benefit. With more than one settlor, the amount reachable by a particular settlor's creditor may not exceed that settlor's interest in the portion attributable to that settlor's contribution (subsection (1)(b)).
A discretionary power to pay taxing authorities, or reimburse the settlor, for tax on trust income or principal payable by the settlor does not, solely because it exists, expose an irrevocable trust to the settlor's creditors (subsection (1)(c)). A holder of a power of withdrawal is treated like the settlor of a revocable trust while the power may be exercised, and after lapse, release or waiver only to the extent the value exceeds the greater of the listed Internal Revenue Code amounts (subsection (2)). Under subsection (3), subject to § 726.105, assets of certain spousal trusts are deemed contributed by the settlor's spouse, not the settlor, after the spouse's death.
- Revocable trust property is subject to the settlor's creditors during the settlor's lifetime, to the extent it would not be exempt if owned directly. (§ 736.0505(1)(a))
- Irrevocable trust: a settlor's creditor or assignee may reach the maximum amount that can be distributed to or for the settlor's benefit. (§ 736.0505(1)(b))
- With more than one settlor, the reachable amount may not exceed that settlor's interest in the portion attributable to that settlor's contribution. (§ 736.0505(1)(b))
- A trustee's discretionary power to pay or reimburse the settlor's tax on trust income or principal does not, solely, expose the trust to the settlor's creditors. (§ 736.0505(1)(c))
- A power-of-withdrawal holder is treated as a revocable-trust settlor while the power may be exercised; after lapse, only to the extent the value exceeds the greater listed IRC amount. (§ 736.0505(2))
- After the settlor's spouse dies, assets of the listed spousal trusts are deemed contributed by the spouse, not the settlor, subject to § 726.105. (§ 736.0505(3))
Text of the statute (2026)
(a) The property of a revocable trust is subject to the claims of the settlor’s creditors during the settlor’s lifetime to the extent the property would not otherwise be exempt by law if owned directly by the settlor.
(b) With respect to an irrevocable trust, a creditor or assignee of the settlor may reach the maximum amount that can be distributed to or for the settlor’s benefit. If a trust has more than one settlor, the amount the creditor or assignee of a particular settlor may reach may not exceed the settlor’s interest in the portion of the trust attributable to that settlor’s contribution.
(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (b), the assets of an irrevocable trust may not be subject to the claims of an existing or subsequent creditor or assignee of the settlor, in whole or in part, solely because of the existence of a discretionary power granted to the trustee by the terms of the trust, or any other provision of law, to pay directly to the taxing authorities or to reimburse the settlor for any tax on trust income or principal which is payable by the settlor under the law imposing such tax.
(2) For purposes of this section: (a) During the period the power may be exercised, the holder of a power of withdrawal is treated in the same manner as the settlor of a revocable trust to the extent of the property subject to the power. (b) Upon the lapse, release, or waiver of the power, the holder is treated as the settlor of the trust only to the extent the value of the property affected by the lapse, release, or waiver exceeds the greater of the amount specified in: 1. Section 2041(b)(2) or s. 2514(e); or 2. Section 2503(b) and, if the donor was married at the time of the transfer to which the power of withdrawal applies, twice the amount specified in s. 2503(b), of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
(3) Subject to the provisions of s. 726.105, for purposes of this section, the assets in: (a)1. A trust described in s. 2523(e) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended; 2. A trust for which the election described in s. 2523(f) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, has been made; or 3. An irrevocable trust not otherwise described in subparagraph 1. or subparagraph 2. in which: a. The settlor’s spouse is a beneficiary as described in s. 736.0103(19)(a) for the lifetime of the settlor’s spouse; b. At no time during the lifetime of the settlor’s spouse is the settlor a beneficiary as described in s. 736.0103(19)(a); and c. Transfers to the trust by the settlor are completed gifts under s. 2511 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended; and (b) Another trust, to the extent that the assets in the other trust are attributable to a trust described in paragraph (a), shall, after the death of the settlor’s spouse, be deemed to have been contributed by the settlor’s spouse and not by the settlor.
Excerpts are the subsections the summary relies on. Read the full official text of § 736.0505.
History. s. 5, ch. 2006-217; s. 5, ch. 2010-122; s. 2, ch. 2022-101.
How it applies
A trust that a person creates and funds does not, by itself, shield those assets from that person's creditors. Under subsection (1), revocable-trust property is reachable during the settlor's life to the extent it would not be exempt if owned directly, and an irrevocable trust is reachable up to the maximum that can be distributed to or for the settlor. At the settlor's death, § 733.707(3) makes a trust the settlor could revoke liable for estate expenses and obligations to the extent the estate is insufficient to pay them. Section 736.0505 governs claims against the settlor; protection of a beneficiary's interest is addressed in §§ 736.0502 to 736.0504.
Where this shows up
Pages on this site where § 736.0505 does real work:
- Will vs. trust in Florida: what each does, how each is signed and what each avoids
- Funding a revocable trust in Florida: deeds, accounts, retirement plans, insurance and what to leave out
- Revocable Living Trust
- Barbara Hutton
- Jeffrey Epstein
- Jack Whittaker
- John F. Kennedy
- Rock Hudson
- Steve Jobs
- Sudden wealth collapse
Questions people ask
Sources
- Fla. Stat. § 736.0505 (2026) ("The property of a revocable trust is subject to the claims of the settlor's creditors during the settlor's lifetime" (subsection (1)(a)))
- Fla. Stat. § 733.707 (2026) (Subsection (3): a revocable trust is liable for estate expenses and obligations to the extent the estate is insufficient)
- Fla. Stat. § 726.105 (2026) (Cross-referenced in subsection (3))
Last checked: October 17, 2026
Published by the Probate.Help editorial team.How these pages are written and checked.