Which statement about charitable trusts in New York is true?

• A. They require a definite beneficiary to be valid.
• B. They fail if there is no trustee.
• C. They may be valid for charitable purposes even without a definite beneficiary, and the Attorney General represents beneficiaries.
• D. They cannot be reformed by cy pres.

Answer: (C)

Charitable trusts can have beneficiaries who are the public at large rather than a specific person. In New York, such trusts can be valid for charitable purposes even without a definite beneficiary. The Attorney General acts as the representative of these beneficiaries—the public—and oversees the trust’s administration to ensure it serves its charitable purpose. When the exact charitable objective cannot be carried out, the doctrine of cy pres lets the court modify the trust to a substantially similar charitable purpose, so the original intent is honored as closely as possible. This combination—public-beneficiary status, AG representation, and cy pres flexibility—explains why this statement is true. The other options don’t fit because charitable trusts do not require a definite beneficiary, and while a trustee is needed to run a trust, the lack of a trustee is not what defines validity in this context; cy pres remains a recognized tool for adjustment.