GO TO PASTERNAKFIDIS.COM
DC Metro Trust Code
  • About this website
  • FAQ
  • Trust code legislative history
  • About Pasternak & Fidis

Comparison of Uniform Trust Code, DC Trust Code, Maryland Trust Act, and Virginia Trust Code, with Annotations

  • Preamble
  • Article 1
  • Article 2
  • Article 3
  • Article 4
  • Article 5
  • Article 6
  • Article 7
  • Article 8
  • UPIA-UTC Article 9
  • Article 10
  • Article 11
Limit the display as desired by selecting the HIDE/SHOW buttons above each column. Access annotations by clicking
A

DC §19-1304.11 permits modification or termination of a non-charitable trust upon the consent of the settlor and all beneficiaries, without the need for court approval, even if the modification or termination is inconsistent with a material purpose of the trust. The section also permits modification or termination of a trust upon the consent of all of the beneficiaries, but only if the court concludes that modification or termination of the trust is not inconsistent with any material purpose of the trust.
MD §14.5-410 permits modification or termination of a non-charitable trust upon the consent of the trustee (not the settlor) and all beneficiaries if the court concludes that modification or termination of the trust is not inconsistent with any material purpose of the trust. Accordingly, under Maryland law, court approval is required for all modifications and terminations of non-charitable irrevocable trusts.

UTC §411(c) is a bracketed provision that provides: A spendthrift provision in the terms of the trust is not presumed to constitute a material purpose of the trust. This provision is included in DC §19-1304.11(c). The corresponding provision in MD §14.5-410(b) is somewhat different; it provides that the existence of a spendthrift provision or similar protective language in the terms of the trust does not prevent a termination of a non-charitable irrevocable trust. This provision is omitted from VA §64.2-729.
VA §64.2-729 requires the court to order the modification or termination of a trust upon the consent of the settlor and all beneficiaries even if the modification or termination of the trust is inconsistent with a material purpose of the trust. A trust may be modified or terminated upon consent of all beneficiaries if the court concludes that the modification or termination if not inconsistent with a material purpose of the trust. Accordingly, under Virginia law, court approval is required for all modifications and terminations of non-charitable irrevocable trusts.

UTC §411(c) is a bracketed provision that provides: A spendthrift provision in the terms of the trust is not presumed to constitute a material purpose of the trust. This provision is included in DC §19-1304.11(c). The corresponding provision in MD §14.5-410(b) is somewhat different; it provides that the existence of a spendthrift provision or similar protective language in the terms of the trust does not prevent a termination of a non-charitable irrevocable trust. This provision is omitted from VA §64.2-729.

Hide/Show UTC · Hide/Show DC · Hide/Show MD · Hide/Show VA

UTC

§ 411. Modification or termination of noncharitable irrevocable trust by consent.

[(a) [A noncharitable irrevocable trust may be modified or terminated upon consent of the settlor and all beneficiaries, even if the modification or termination is inconsistent with a material purpose of the trust.] [If, upon petition, the court finds that the settlor and all beneficiaries consent to the modification or termination of a noncharitable irrevocable trust, the court shall approve the modification or termination even if the modification or termination is inconsistent with a material purpose of the trust.] A settlor’s power to consent to a trust’s modification or termination may be exercised by an agent under a power of attorney only to the extent expressly authorized by the power of attorney or the terms of the trust; by the settlor’s [conservator] with the approval of the court supervising the [conservatorship] if an agent is not so authorized; or by the settlor’s [guardian] with the approval of the court supervising the [guardianship] if an agent is not so authorized and a conservator has not been appointed. [This subsection does not apply to irrevocable trusts created before or to revocable trusts that become irrevocable before [the effective date of this [Code] [amendment].]]
(b) A noncharitable irrevocable trust may be terminated upon consent of all of the beneficiaries if the court concludes that continuance of the trust is not necessary to achieve any material purpose of the trust. A noncharitable irrevocable trust may be modified upon consent of all of the beneficiaries if the court concludes that modification is not inconsistent with a material purpose of the trust.
[(c) A spendthrift provision in the terms of the trust is not presumed to constitute a material purpose of the trust.]
(d) Upon termination of a trust under subsection (a) or (b), the trustee shall distribute the trust property as agreed by the beneficiaries.
(e) If not all of the beneficiaries consent to a proposed modification or termination of the trust under subsection (a) or (b), the modification or termination may be approved by the court if the court is satisfied that:
(1) if all of the beneficiaries had consented, the trust could have been modified or terminated under this section; and
(2) the interests of a beneficiary who does not consent will be adequately protected.

DC

§19-1304.11. Modification or termination of noncharitable irrevocable trust by consent

A

(a) A noncharitable irrevocable trust may be modified or terminated upon consent of the settlor and all beneficiaries, even if the modification or termination is inconsistent with a material purpose of the trust. [MISSING ["IF, UPON PETITION, THE COURT FINDS . . . MATERIAL PURPOSE OF THE TRUST."]] A settlor's power to consent to a trust's modification or termination may be exercised by:
(1) An agent under a power of attorney only to the extent expressly authorized by the power of attorney or the terms of the trust;
(2) The settlor's conservator with the approval of the court supervising the conservatorship if an agent is not so authorized; or
(3) The settlor's guardian with the approval of the court supervising the guardianship if an agent is not so authorized and a conservator has not been appointed. [MISSING “[THIS SUBSECTION DOES NOT APPLY . . . THAT BECOME IRREVOCABLE BEFORE [THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS (CODE).]]]
(b) A noncharitable irrevocable trust may be terminated upon consent of all of the beneficiaries if the court concludes that continuance of the trust is not necessary to achieve any material purpose of the trust. A noncharitable irrevocable trust may be modified upon consent of all of the beneficiaries if the court concludes that modification is not inconsistent with a material purpose of the trust.
(c) A spendthrift provision in the terms of the trust is not presumed to constitute a material purpose of the trust.
(d) Upon termination of a trust under subsection (a) or (b) of this section, the trustee shall distribute the trust property as agreed by the beneficiaries: [DC CODE INCLUDES COLON HERE BUT (e) FOLLOWS IMMEDIATELY; ASSUME GRAMMATICAL ERROR] (e) If not all of the beneficiaries consent to a proposed modification or termination of the trust under subsection (a) or (b) of this section, the modification or termination may be approved by the court if the court is satisfied that:
(1) If all of the beneficiaries had consented, the trust could have been modified or terminated under this section; and
(2) The interests of a beneficiary who does not consent will be adequately protected.

MD

§ 14.5-410. Modification or termination of trust.

A

[MISSING UTC[(a)]]
(a) (1) a noncharitable irrevocable trust may be terminated on consent of the trustee and all beneficiaries if the court concludes that continuance of the trust is not necessary to achieve any material purpose of the trust.
(2) a noncharitable irrevocable trust may be modified on consent of the trustee and all beneficiaries if the court concludes that modification is not inconsistent with a material purpose of the trust.
(b) the existence of a spendthrift provision or similar protective language in the terms of the trust does not prevent a termination of a trust under subsection (a)(1) of this section. [CHANGED/EXPANDED UTC(c)]
(c) on termination of a trust under subsection (a)(1) of this section, the trustee shall distribute the trust property as agreed by the beneficiaries.
(d) if not all beneficiaries consent to a proposed modification or termination of the trust under subsection (a) of this section, the modification or termination may be approved by the court if the court is satisfied that:
(1) if all beneficiaries had consented, the trust could have been modified or terminated under this section; and
(2) the interests of a beneficiary that does not consent will be adequately protected.

VA

§64.2-729. Modification or termination of noncharitable irrevocable trust by consent

A

A. [MISSING "[A NONCHARITABLE IRREVOCABLE TRUST MAY BE MODIFIED . . . INCONSISTENT WITH A MATERIAL PURPOSE OF THE TRUST.]"]
If upon petition the court finds that the settlor and all beneficiaries consent to the modification or termination of a noncharitable irrevocable trust, the court shall enter an order approving the modification or termination even if the modification or termination is inconsistent with a material purpose of the trust. A settlor's power to consent to a trust's modification or termination may be exercised by an agent under a power of attorney only to the extent expressly authorized by the power of attorney or the terms of the trust; by the settlor's conservator with the approval of the court supervising the conservatorship if an agent is not so authorized; or by the settlor's guardian with the approval of the court supervising the guardianship if an agent is not so authorized and a conservator has not been appointed. [MISSING “[THIS SUBSECTION DOES NOT APPLY . . . THAT BECOME IRREVOCABLE BEFORE [THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS (CODE).]]]
B. A noncharitable irrevocable trust may be terminated upon consent of all of the beneficiaries if the court concludes that continuance of the trust is not necessary to achieve any material purpose of the trust. A noncharitable irrevocable trust may be modified upon consent of all of the beneficiaries if the court concludes that modification is not inconsistent with a material purpose of the trust.
[MISSING UTC[(c)]]
C. Upon termination of a trust under subsection A or B, the trustee shall distribute the trust property as agreed by the beneficiaries.
D. If not all of the beneficiaries consent to a proposed modification or
termination of the trust under subsection A or B, the modification or termination may be approved by the court if the court is satisfied that:
1. If all of the beneficiaries had consented, the trust could have been modified or terminated under this section; and
2. The interests of a beneficiary who does not consent will be adequately protected.

← Previous Article Next Article →

The materials available on this site are for informational purposes only and not for the purpose of providing legal advice. While we make every effort to present accurate and reliable information on this site, we cannot guarantee its accuracy or completeness.

Current Through: 7/25/2019

Copyright © 2022 Pasternak & Fidis, P.C. All rights reserved. DCMetroTrustCode.com

7101 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 1025

Bethesda, MD 20814

phone 301.656.8850 · fax 301.656.3053