# NRI can be sole Indian trust trustee but risks need deed care 2026-08-18T18:27:17+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet Livemint reports that an NRI can be appointed the sole trustee of an Indian private family trust under the Indian Trusts Act, 1882, provided the trust deed expressly allows it. However, Section 60 of the Act gives beneficiaries the right to have the trust administered by "proper persons," which courts may interpret to exclude those permanently living abroad. The trust deed should also get beneficiaries to acknowledge this arrangement. Livemint notes practical risks: an NRI trustee absent for over six months can trigger replacement proceedings under Section 73. A sole NRI trustee creates continuity problems for banking, document execution, and regulatory compliance, especially if disputes arise with beneficiaries. The article recommends appointing at least two trustees, with one resident in India, to simplify administration and protect the trust's assets. ## Indian Opinion Analysis Livemint's article is a straightforward advisory column, not a news story, so no editorial stance differences exist. The piece neutrally explains legal provisions under the Indian Trusts Act, 1882, cautioning that an NRI sole trustee is possible but best avoided. It flags beneficiary consent, foreign-exchange rules, and the risk of disputes if the trustee stays abroad over six months. The practical recommendation, having at least one India-resident trustee, frames this as governance prudence, not legal prohibition. Readers should note that the trust deed's wording is decisive, vague clauses may invite litigation. Watch for succession disputes if family harmony breaks down. ## Coverage Coverage: 1 source, 1 neutral - livemint.com (neutral report) Straight legal advisory, no government or ideological framing This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above. Tags: Indian Trusts Act 1882, Rohit Jain Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/nri-can-be-sole-indian-trust-trustee-but-risks-need-deed-care/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/nri-can-be-sole-indian-trust-trustee-but-risks-need-deed-care/#story-in-brief How this brief was made: an AI model read the report linked above and wrote this summary and analysis, which were published automatically. Published briefs are sampled every hour by an automated quality check; the editor verifies its findings and approves corrections, and corrected briefs carry a dated correction line. We do no original reporting. Methodology: https://indianopinion.org/ai-use-policy/