Limitations on oral trusts; execution requirements for written trusts [For application of this section, see 81 Del. Laws, c. 320, § 8].
Del. Code tit. 12, § 3545
in effect(a) Except as otherwise required by this Code, the creation, modification or revocation of a trust whereby a person other than the trustor acquires or is divested of an interest in the trust the possession or enjoyment of which is contingent upon surviving the trustor shall be void unless such creation, modification or revocation be:
(1) In a writing executed by the trustor (or by some person subscribing the trustor’s name in the trustor’s presence and by the trustor’s express direction) and witnessed in writing in the trustor’s presence by at least 1 disinterested person or 2 credible persons; or
(2) In a writing executed by a trustee who is a disinterested person without regard to whether any other person, including the trustor, has executed the writing.
For purposes of this section, a disinterested person is one who has no beneficial interest in the trust that would be materially increased or decreased as a result of the creation, modification or revocation of the trust and a notary public or similar official may serve as a witness in cases where such official is a disinterested or credible person without regard to whether such notary public or similar official signs the writing as a witness or solely in a notarial capacity. Unless otherwise expressly prohibited by the terms of a writing described in this subsection, then—subject to the foregoing requirements regarding witnesses—such writing may be executed in counterparts.
(b) A trust created by a writing shall not be void merely because of the application of subsection (a) of this section if such writing was validly executed in compliance with the law, at the time of execution, of the place which serves as the initial place of administration of the trust, or, if the trust is not yet actively administered, the initial situs of the trust.
(c) If the creation, modification, or revocation of a trust that is not described in subsection (a) of this section is made by a writing, such writing shall be validly executed if it is executed as described in subsection (a) of this section. The provisions of this subsection shall not be construed to limit the creation, modification, or revocation of a trust by any other means otherwise permitted by law. The provisions of this section shall not apply to any trust created under the Delaware Statutory Trust Act, § 3801 et seq. of this title, as amended and in effect from time to time, or a trust formed for the purpose of consummating a commercial transaction.
(d) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (a) and (b) of this section, a trust instrument that by its express terms is revocable by the trustor during the trustor’s lifetime may refer to a written statement or list to dispose of items of tangible personal property not otherwise specifically disposed of by the trust instrument, other than money, evidences of indebtedness, documents of title, and securities, and property used in trade or business. To be enforceable under this section, as though part of the trust, the writing:
(1) Must either be in the handwriting of the trustor or be signed by the trustor and must identify the items and the legatees with reasonable certainty;
(2) Must not be inconsistent with the terms of the trust instrument; and
(3) Must not be inconsistent with any other writing permitted by this subsection unless the writing is dated in which case the writing with the latest date will control.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of a writing that includes both provisions for dispositions that are consistent with the terms of the trust or any other writing permitted by this section and provisions for dispositions that are inconsistent with the terms of the trust or any other writing permitted by this section, such writing shall be admissible under this section as evidence of the intended disposition of those items of tangible personal property that would be disposed of by the provisions of the writing that are not inconsistent with the terms of the trust or any other writing permitted by this section. The writing may be referred to as one in existence at the time of the trustor’s death; it may be prepared before or after the execution of the trust instrument; it may be altered by the trustor after its preparation; and it may be a writing which has no significance apart from its effect upon the dispositions made by the trust instrument. This subsection shall apply only with respect to dispositions intended to take effect upon the death of the trustor, although such a writing may direct that an item or items of tangible personal property shall be administered as part of a trust or trusts created under the trust pursuant to terms of the trust instrument that were executed pursuant to the provisions of subsections (a) and (b) of this section.
Source: DE Code (Official Site)URL: https://delcode.delaware.gov/title12/c035/sc03/index.htmlFetched: 10/4/2026