What is a spendthrift provision designed to protect against?

A spendthrift provision is specifically designed to protect a trust's assets from being accessed by creditors of the beneficiaries. It prevents the beneficiary from selling or otherwise transferring their interest in the trust, thereby shielding the trust property from garnishment or attachment by creditors. This means that even if a beneficiary has debts or financial obligations, their ability to directly access or control the assets in the trust is restricted, making it much harder for creditors to claim those assets.

This provision is beneficial in situations where a beneficiary may not be financially responsible or might have creditors who could seize their assets. By including a spendthrift provision, the trust creator ensures that the trust assets are preserved for their intended purpose and can be distributed according to the terms of the trust, rather than being depleted by the beneficiary's financial mismanagement or creditor claims.

While other options relate to concepts in the management and distribution of trust assets, they do not specifically pinpoint the core purpose of a spendthrift provision, which is fundamentally about protecting trust assets from creditors’ claims.