What type of trust allows the trustor to convey the fee estate to the trustee while naming themselves the beneficiary?

The correct choice is a land trust, which is specifically designed to allow the trustor (the person creating the trust) to convey the fee estate to the trustee while maintaining themselves as the beneficiary. In a land trust, the trustor transfers ownership of the property to the trustee, who holds title to the property, but the trustor retains beneficial interest. This can provide a variety of benefits, including privacy regarding property ownership and ease of transferring interests in the trust without the need for a traditional real estate transaction.

In contrast, a living trust is typically associated with estate planning and may not specifically focus on real property, while a valid deed refers to the legal document that transfers property ownership but doesn't address the relationship between the trustor and trustee in the same way a land trust does. A charitable trust is established to benefit a charitable organization or purpose, differing significantly in intent and structure from a land trust. This context illustrates the unique function of a land trust in real estate transactions, particularly in Minnesota.