Asbestos trust funds are court-supervised funds that bankrupt asbestos manufacturers were ordered to set up to compensate mesothelioma and asbestos-cancer victims, an estimated $30 billion or more has been set aside. If you or a loved one was diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, or asbestosis, you may be able to claim against one or more of these trusts without going to trial, and separately from any lawsuit or VA benefits. This page explains what the trusts are, who qualifies, how payouts are decided, the major trusts, and how to file.
What asbestos trust funds are, and why they exist
As asbestos lawsuits mounted in the late 20th century, dozens of manufacturers filed for bankruptcy. Rather than let those companies escape responsibility, courts required them to place money in court-supervised trusts to pay people their products had harmed, both today and decades into the future. As the National Cancer Institute confirms, asbestos exposure causes most cases of mesothelioma, and because the disease can take 20 to 50 years to appear, the trusts were designed to outlast the companies that created the hazard.
- $30 billion+ estimated to be set aside across asbestos bankruptcy trusts.
- No trial required, most trust claims are paid administratively.
- Separate from lawsuits and VA benefits, you can pursue all three.
- Multiple trusts, many victims qualify for several at once.
Who can file an asbestos trust-fund claim
Anyone diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, or asbestosis from a covered company’s products, or the surviving family of someone who has died, may file. That includes industrial and construction workers, U.S. military veterans, and family members exposed indirectly through take-home (secondary) exposure. Surviving spouses and children can file on behalf of a deceased loved one, see surviving-spouse claims.
Major asbestos trust funds
Many of the largest asbestos manufacturers established trusts after bankruptcy. The trusts most often relevant to industrial, refinery, shipyard, and construction exposure include:
| Trust (responsible company) | Product type | Common exposure setting |
|---|---|---|
| Johns-Manville (Manville Trust) | Insulation & building products | One of the first and largest asbestos trusts |
| Owens Corning / Fibreboard | Insulation (e.g., Kaylo) | Building & industrial insulation |
| W. R. Grace | Insulation, fireproofing, vermiculite | Industrial & construction products |
| Babcock & Wilcox | Boilers & power-plant equipment | Power, refinery & Navy exposure |
| Armstrong World Industries | Floor tile & insulation | Construction materials |
| U.S. Gypsum (USG) | Joint compound & wallboard | Construction trades |
| Pittsburgh Corning | Unibestos pipe insulation | Industrial & shipyard insulation |
| North American Refractories (NARCO) | Refractory brick & cement | Steel, refinery & furnace work |
This is not a complete list, there are dozens of asbestos trusts. The right ones for a given case depend on the specific products and worksites behind the exposure.
How asbestos trust-fund payouts are decided
Each trust sets its own rules, but the mechanics are similar. A trust assigns a value to a qualifying claim, either a pre-set scheduled value for an expedited claim or, on the individual-review track, a value based on the specific facts. The trust then pays a payment percentage of that value. Each trust sets and periodically adjusts its payment percentage so that money remains for future victims, which is why payouts vary from trust to trust and over time. Because most people were exposed to several manufacturers’ products, recoveries are typically built from multiple trusts combined. To estimate a specific claim, use our case-value review or see real asbestos settlements.
How to file an asbestos trust-fund claim
| Step | What it involves |
|---|---|
| 1. Confirm the diagnosis | Medical records establishing mesothelioma, asbestos lung cancer, or asbestosis |
| 2. Reconstruct the exposure | Jobsites, products, military service, and time periods, often built with employment records and co-worker testimony |
| 3. Match to responsible trusts | Identify every manufacturer (and trust) tied to the exposure; many victims qualify for several |
| 4. File the claim package | Submit the diagnosis and exposure evidence to each trust under its scheduled or individual-review track |
| 5. Receive payment | The trust assigns a value and pays its current payment percentage, usually without a trial |
An attorney handles the investigation and filing so your family can focus on care. See our overview of mesothelioma compensation options.
Trust funds vs. lawsuits vs. VA benefits
A trust claim is only one source of compensation. These paths are separate, and pursuing one does not bar the others:
| Path | Source of compensation | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Asbestos trust-fund claim | Bankrupt manufacturers’ trusts | Administrative claim, usually no trial; can claim multiple trusts |
| Personal-injury / wrongful-death lawsuit | Still-solvent companies | Against companies that have not filed bankruptcy (Texas §71.004 deadlines) |
| VA benefits | U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs | Service-connected mesothelioma, separate from any trust or lawsuit |
Workplace asbestos limits are set by OSHA, but a civil trust claim or lawsuit is how injured workers and families actually recover.
Deadlines: act promptly
Each trust has its own filing rules, and state law sets deadlines for any related lawsuit. In Texas, a personal-injury claim is generally due within two years of diagnosis and a wrongful-death claim within two years of death (Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code §71.004). Exposure evidence also gets harder to assemble over time, so it is best to speak with a Texas asbestos attorney promptly.
Why families choose Danziger & De Llano
Danziger & De Llano, LLP has spent decades tracing asbestos exposure to the specific products and trusts responsible and pursuing every available source of compensation, trusts, lawsuits, and veterans’ benefits. Cases are handled on contingency: no fee unless we recover for you.
Danziger & De Llano, LLP · 440 Louisiana Street, Suite 1212, Houston, TX 77002 · 1-866-222-9990
Asbestos trust funds: FAQ
What is an asbestos trust fund?
An asbestos trust fund is a court-supervised fund a bankrupt asbestos manufacturer is required to set up to pay people harmed by its products. When dozens of asbestos companies filed for bankruptcy, courts ordered them to set aside money for current and future victims. An estimated $30 billion or more has been placed in these trusts. You can file a trust claim without going to trial, and it is separate from any lawsuit or VA benefits.
Who can file an asbestos trust-fund claim?
Anyone diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, or asbestosis from a covered company’s products, or the surviving family of someone who has died, may file. Workers, U.S. military veterans, and family members exposed indirectly (take-home exposure) can all qualify, depending on where and how the exposure happened.
How much do asbestos trust funds pay?
It depends on the diagnosis, the strength of the exposure evidence, and each trust’s own payment schedule. Trusts assign a value to a claim and then pay a percentage of that value (the ‘payment percentage’), which each trust sets and adjusts over time so money lasts for future victims. Many victims recover from several trusts at once. Past results reported by Danziger & De Llano range into the millions, but past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
How do I know which trusts to file against?
An attorney reconstructs your work and exposure history, the jobsites, products, and time periods, and matches them to the specific companies (and their trusts) responsible. Many people are eligible for multiple trusts because they were exposed to several manufacturers’ products over a career.
Can I file a trust claim and a lawsuit at the same time?
Yes. A trust-fund claim, a personal-injury or wrongful-death lawsuit, and (for veterans) VA benefits are separate paths, and pursuing one does not bar the others. Most families pursue more than one at the same time to recover the full compensation available.
Is there a deadline to file an asbestos trust claim?
Each trust sets its own filing rules, and state law sets deadlines for any related lawsuit, in Texas, generally two years from diagnosis or from the date of death (Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code §71.004). Exposure evidence also gets harder to prove over time, so it is best to speak with an asbestos attorney promptly.
Do I have to go to court to claim an asbestos trust fund?
Usually no. Most trust claims are reviewed and paid administratively, without a trial, once the diagnosis and exposure evidence are submitted. An attorney prepares and files the claim package for you.
Find out which trusts you can claim, free review
If asbestos exposure caused mesothelioma or asbestos cancer in your family, you may be eligible for one or more trust funds. Call 1-866-222-9990 for a free, confidential review, we identify the responsible trusts and file for you. No fee unless we recover.
Prepared by the legal team at Danziger & De Llano, LLP. For educational purposes only; not legal advice. Trust rules, payment percentages, and deadlines vary and change over time. This is attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Related: See the source-cited mesothelioma & asbestos statistics (incidence, survival, deaths, and who is at risk).
Trust details: for a trust-by-trust breakdown of the major asbestos trusts, including the Manville, Owens Corning Fibreboard, Pittsburgh Corning, and Combustion Engineering trusts, see the Mesothelioma Funds Administration asbestos trust directory.
Legally reviewed by Paul Danziger, Founding Partner, Danziger & De Llano, LLP, admitted to the State Bar of Texas in 1993 (Bar No. 00788880); J.D., Northwestern University School of Law. Last reviewed: June 2026.