A Reflection on Family Trusts as the Longest-Lived Family Members

WEEKLY EDITION • July 1, 2026

Family trusts are typically viewed as legal and financial structures, but what if they are also members of the family system? In this third installment of our 2026 series from Jay Hughes and Keith Whitaker, the authors explore trusts through a family-systems lens, suggesting that long-lived trusts can become enduring participants in family life. Drawing on themes of governance, ritual, legacy, and stewardship, they invite readers to reconsider the role trusts play in sustaining family continuity across generations.