Asbestos Trust Funds
Asbestos trust funds contain over $30 billion set aside to compensate people with mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. You may be able to receive substantial compensation without ever filing a lawsuit, giving a deposition or stepping foot in a courtroom.
At Early, Lucarelli, Sweeney & Meisenkothen (ELSM), we’ve helped thousands of families get the money they deserve through asbestos trust claims — quickly, privately and without the stress of going to court.
Asbestos Trusts at a Glance
- If you’ve been diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease, you may have a legal right to compensation from the companies responsible.
- Asbestos trust funds were created by companies liable for asbestos exposure. These funds make it possible for victims to receive money even if the original company no longer exists.
- Today, there are over 60 active trusts with more than $30 billion available for eligible claims.
- Filing a claim with an asbestos trust fund does not require you to go to court and could provide much-needed compensation in as little as 90 days.
- An experienced attorney can guide you through the claims process to maximize your compensation.
What Are Asbestos Trust Funds?
Asbestos trust funds, also called mesothelioma trust funds, are a type of account set up by companies that knowingly exposed people to asbestos and later filed for bankruptcy. As part of the bankruptcy process, these companies had to create trust funds to compensate the people who got sick from their products.
ELSM partner Jennifer Lucarelli discusses asbestos trust funds and how attorneys work with clients to access compensation from these funds.
You may be eligible to file a trust fund claim if you have mesothelioma. It’s different from filing a mesothelioma lawsuit, because you don’t need to go to court and you may get money faster. The lawyers at ELSM can help you with the entire process, so you can focus on taking care of yourself and your family.
Common Companies with Asbestos Trusts
Most companies that set up asbestos trust funds no longer exist in the way they used to, but the money is still there to help victims. Some of the most well-known asbestos trusts include:
- Armstrong World Industries
- Babcock & Wilcox
- Combustion Engineering
- Johns Manville
- National Gypsum
- Owens Corning
- Pittsburgh Corning
- United States Gypsum
- W.R. Grace
How Asbestos Trust Funds Work
When you file a claim, asbestos bankruptcy trusts follow a clear process to review and pay out compensation. You’ll need proof of your diagnosis and evidence that you were exposed to a specific company’s asbestos products. Once you apply, the trust reviews your claim and decides how much money to award. You can file claims with more than one trust if more than one company is responsible for your asbestos exposure.
If the company responsible for your exposure doesn’t have a trust fund, you might still be able to take legal action, like filing a lawsuit. An experienced law firm like ELSM can help you explore every option for mesothelioma compensation. We’ll gather your records, identify which companies are at fault and file all your claims for you.
Who Qualifies for Asbestos Trust Claims?
You may qualify for an asbestos trust fund claim if you or a family member have been diagnosed with mesothelioma. Let’s look more closely at who can file a claim.
Diagnosed with Mesothelioma
People with a mesothelioma diagnosis can file claims with any asbestos trust tied to the companies that exposed them. Most exposure happened at work, especially in shipyards, construction, factories or at other jobs at risk of asbestos exposure. Tradesmen, union workers and veterans were at high risk for asbestos exposure.
In many cases, workers unknowingly brought asbestos dust home on their clothes, and family members who suffered this secondary asbestos exposure may also qualify.
Family Members of Victims
If your loved one passed away from mesothelioma or another asbestos-related illness, you may be able to file a claim on their behalf. Families can file mesothelioma claims after death to help with medical bills, funeral costs and lost income.
Average Asbestos Trust Fund Payouts
Asbestos trust fund settlements can vary based on your diagnosis, how severe your illness is and how many companies are responsible for your exposure. Many people file claims with more than one trust, which can increase the total compensation. One ELSM client received money from nearly 30 different trust funds after a pleural mesothelioma diagnosis.
This client had been a laborer and construction worker at many northeast jobsites where he had been exposed to asbestos-containing products. After consulting with ELSM, he determined that he did not want to pursue a lawsuit and instead chose to file claims against various asbestos trusts. ELSM was able to successfully file and secure asbestos claim payouts totaling over $1.5 million in this case.
List of Asbestos Trust Funds
The following asbestos trust fund list can help includes just some of the companies known for asbestos exposure with active trusts set up to pay victims.
| Larger Active Asbestos Trusts | Approximate Mesothelioma Payout* | Asbestos Products |
|---|---|---|
| Armstrong World Industries | $46,800 | Insulation / Floor Tile Products |
| ASARCO | $32,200 | Fiber Supply - LAQ (CAPCO) |
| Babcock & Wilcox | $20,800 | Boilers / Refractories |
| Bondex | $38,400 | Joint Compound |
| Burns & Roe | $23,900 | Engineering and Construction Contractor for Power Plants |
| Combustion Engineering | $37,000 | Boilers / Refractories |
| Congoleum | $16,400 | Flooring |
| Fibreboard | $23,300 | Insulation |
| Flintkote | $45,400 | Flooring, Fiber Supply, and More |
| GAF Corporation | $12,800 | Flooring, Roofing, and More |
| Garlock | $24,200 | High-Heat Gasket, Packing Materials |
| Halliburton | $49,800 | Pumps |
| Harbison Walker | $102,800 | Refractory and Other Products |
| J.T. Thorpe | $62,500 | Insulation / Refractory / Boiler Contractor |
| Johns Manville | $25,100 | Raw Asbestos |
| Kaiser Aluminum | $28,800 | Refractory Products |
| Kentile Floors | $19,100 | Tiles, Flooring Products |
| NARCO | $82,200 | Refractory Cement, Boiler Products |
| National Gypsum Company | $22,200 | Drywall Related |
| Owens Corning | $48,700 | Insulation |
| Owens-Illinois | $51,100 | Insulation |
| Pittsburgh Corning | $66,800 | Insulation |
| Plant Insulation Company | $89,500 | Regional Asbestos Products Distributor |
| Quigley | $31,700 | Cement, Fiber |
| T.H.A.N | $61,100 | Fiber Supply to Many Drywall Companies |
| Thorpe Insulation Company | $195,300 | West Coast Exposures |
| Turner & Newall | $18,200 | Spray on Insulation, Cement Pipe |
| United Gilsonite Laboratories | $25,600 | Drywall Products, Joint Cement |
| United States Gypsum | $92,900 | Drywall Related |
| W.R. Grace | $75,200 | Commercial Construction Products |
| Western MacArthur | $217,300 | Various Insulation Supply, Contracting |
| Yarway Corporation | $25,100 | Steam Valves, Steam Traps |
| Smaller Active Asbestos Trusts | Approximate Mesothelioma Payout* | Asbestos Products |
|---|---|---|
| A.P. Green Industries | $7,300 | Refractory / Firebrick |
| ABB Lummus Global Inc. | $7,300 | Heaters - Refineries |
| A-Best Products | $5,500 | Safety Gear |
| ACandS, Inc. | $15,800 | Insulation / Contracting |
| API, Inc. | $128,100 | Insulation / Contracting - Minnesota / Midwest |
| Bondo | $4,613 | Body Filler, Muffler & Tailpipe Bandage |
| C.E. Thurston & Sons | $16,400 | Insulation |
| Celotex | $11,200 | Various Insulation |
| Durabla | $10,000 | Sealing Products |
| Duro Dyne Corporation | $28,900 | Flexible Duct Connectors |
| Eagle-Picher Industries | $12,400 | Insulation Products |
| Fairbanks Company | $15,100 | Valves |
| Federal-Mogul Corporation | $13,300 | Fiber, Insulation, Brakes |
| Ferodo | $4,500 | Brake Parts |
| Flexitallic | $4,400 | Spiral Wound Industrial Gasket |
| General Motors | $10,300 | Automotive Brake Parts |
| Georgia-Pacific Corporation | $102,100 | Joint Compound |
| H.K. Porter Company | $1,000 | Cloth |
| Hercules Chemical | $4,900 | Plumber's Putty |
| J.T. Thorpe Successor Trust | $46,500 | Insulation / Refractory / Boiler Contractor |
| Keene Corporation | $1,100 | Cement |
| Leslie Controls | $8,100 | Control Valves, Shutoff Valves, Control Instrumentation |
| Maremont | $7,700 | Automotive Brakes and Clutch Linings |
| Pacor Inc. | $9,400 | Insulation |
| Plibrico | $7,300 | Refractory |
| Porter Hayden Company | $13,700 | Insulation Supply, Installation |
| Raymark / Raytech Corporation | $1,300 | Brake Parts |
| SEPCO Corporation | $5,200 | Thermal Felt, Insulation Sheets |
| Shook & Fletcher | $10,600 | Boiler, Insulation Work - About 10 States |
| Synkoloid Company | $5,500 | Construction, Home Renovation Products |
| United States Mineral Products | $3,200 | Fireproofing |
Expected Future Asbestos Trusts
A company may file U.S. Chapter 11 bankruptcy for reorganization after numerous asbestos lawsuits are brought against the company. Once lawyers come to an agreement with the court, liabilities and assets are transferred to an asbestos trust fund formed to compensate future claimants.
| Expected Future Trusts | Asbestos Products |
|---|---|
| AVON | Talc-based Cosmetics and Personal Hygiene Products |
| CertainTeed Corporation | Cement, Insulation, Roofing |
| Georgia-Pacific Corporation | Joint Compound |
| Johnson & Johnson | Talcum Powder |
| Ingersoll-Rand Company | Furnaces, HVAC Equipment |
| Nash Engineering | Pumps |
| Trane U.S. Inc. | Pumps, Air Compressors |
Closed Asbestos Trusts
Once a trust has paid out all of its assets, they can no longer pay any claims and no new claims can be filed. The following asbestos trust funds are Closed Trusts:
| Closed Trusts | Asbestos Products |
|---|---|
| A & I Corporation | |
| Amatex | Cloth and Related |
| E. J. Bartells | Insulation Supply / Installation |
| OAKFABCO | Boilers |
| Rapid-American | Block Insulation, Pipe Covering |
| UNARCO | Fiber Supply |
*Actual values may vary based on various factors including, but not limited to, age, exposure, type, and firm settlement history.
Filing a Claim Through a Mesothelioma Trust
Filing a mesothelioma claim through a trust fund means submitting detailed information to prove your illness and exposure. An experienced attorney can guide you through the following steps to file a claim:
- Gathering medical records that show an official mesothelioma diagnosis.
- Identifying the asbestos products you were exposed to throughout your career.
- Matching the jobsites you worked at with approved asbestos trust fund lists using our proprietary database.
- Filing the claim and working directly with trust administrators to help get your payment quickly.
It’s important to file within the statute of limitations for asbestos claims, which is a legal deadline that usually starts at the time of your diagnosis. At ELSM, we can guide you through every step of the process.
A complete guide delivered next day to your doorstep. Treatment Information, top doctors & cancer centers, financial assistance and more.
Timeline for Asbestos Claim Payouts
You may start receiving asbestos trust fund payments in as little as 90 days, but the timeline can vary based on your case, the type of claim review and how quickly your paperwork is processed. Many people file claims because they need help covering medical bills and lost income or supporting their family — and asbestos trust payouts can offer real relief without a long legal fight.
There are two main types of claim reviews: expedited and individual. Expedited reviews follow a fixed payment schedule and usually move faster, while individual reviews take longer but may result in a higher payout if your case has strong supporting details. ELSM can help you determine which option fits your situation best and file claims to get the help you need.
Legal Help Accessing Asbestos Trusts
Asbestos trust funds can give you and your family financial support after a mesothelioma diagnosis. At ELSM, we’ve helped thousands of families file successful trust fund claims, and our decades of experience means we know how to avoid delays and maximize your compensation.
Contact us today for a free case evaluation and find out what compensation may be available.
2025 Asbestos Trust Fund Updates
We try our best to keep you informed about current happenings across the 60 or so asbestos trusts. Find some of the most recent trust related updates below.
- The Shook & Fletcher Asbestos Settlement Trust payment percentage was increased from 50% to 58% effective on May 30, 2025
- The Kaiser Aluminum payment percentage was reduced from 15.5% to 10.6% in May of 2025.
- The payment percentage applicable to claims against the WRG Asbestos PI Trust was reduced to 30.1% in April of 2025.
- The Armstrong World Industries Asbestos Trust reduced its payment percentage to 10.8% in March of 2025.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many asbestos trust funds are there?
There are more than 60 active asbestos trust funds available today. Each one was set up by a different company that filed for bankruptcy after exposing people to asbestos.
What is the purpose of an asbestos trust fund?
Asbestos trust funds were created to compensate people who got sick from asbestos after the companies responsible filed for bankruptcy. They make it possible for victims to receive money even if the original company no longer exists.
Can I file with more than one mesothelioma trust?
Yes, you can file with multiple mesothelioma trust funds if more than one company is responsible for your asbestos exposure. This can help increase your total compensation.
How much can I receive from an asbestos trust fund?
Asbestos trust fund settlement amounts vary based on your diagnosis, the trust’s payment schedule and how strong your claim is. Some people receive compensation from several asbestos trusts, which can add up to a large sum.
What if the company responsible for my exposure isn’t on the asbestos trust fund list?
If there’s no asbestos trust fund for the company responsible for your asbestos exposure, you may still have legal options. A mesothelioma law firm can help you explore filing a lawsuit or other types of claims.
How long does it take to receive asbestos trust payouts?
Some people start receiving asbestos claim payouts from trusts within a few months, especially through expedited review. The timeline depends on the trust, the type of review you choose and how quickly your claim is processed.
Request a Free Case Evaluation
Request a free case evaluation now if you or someone you love has been diagnosed with mesothelioma. The evaluation will cost you nothing. Our lawyers will travel to visit you at your convenience or conference call with you over the phone. We understand how difficult a time this is for you and will assist in any way that we can. You can also call us toll-free at 1-800-336-0086 at any time.
Attorney Early concentrates his work in asbestos bankruptcy matters. He oversees the bankruptcy department, makes bankruptcy court appearances, and addresses other bankruptcy-related issues. Attorney Early is a licensed attorney in New York, Connecticut, the Southern District of New York, and the Eastern District of New York.
Learn
More
Please Answer 3 Quick Questions to
