land trust

Definition

A legal entity holding title to real property with beneficiaries maintaining actual control and benefits of ownership, often used for privacy and estate planning. It's property ownership's invisibility cloak, keeping your name off public records.

Example Usage

The celebrity purchased the mansion through a land trust to prevent fans from discovering their home address through deed records.

Origin

Trust law adapted to real estate, formalized in Illinois in 1890s and spreading to other states

Fun Fact

Land trusts are also used by conservation organizations to protect environmentally sensitive property from development in perpetuity.

Source: Trust and estate law documentation

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