What is required for a trust to be deemed valid in Delaware?

For a trust to be considered valid in Delaware, it is essential that it has a clearly defined purpose and identifiable beneficiaries. The requirement for a defined purpose ensures that the trust operates for a specific reason, which can range from asset management to charitable intentions. Without a clear purpose, the trust may lack foundation and not meet the legal standards set forth by Delaware law.

Additionally, having identifiable beneficiaries is critical because trusts are fundamentally designed to benefit specific individuals or entities. The law requires that beneficiaries be definite to ensure that the trust can be executed properly. If beneficiaries cannot be determined, the trust may be declared void.

The other options, while they may address aspects of trust administration or formation, do not encapsulate the fundamental criteria for a trust's validity in Delaware. For instance, notarization and witness signatures, while beneficial for certain legal documents, are not universally required for every type of trust. Similarly, while an asset inventory could be useful for management purposes, it is not a prerequisite for the establishment of a trust. The creation of a trust does not require a judge’s presence, as this is more relevant to court-supervised trusts or specific legal situations rather than the basic validity of a trust itself.