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amended is not liable to the settlor or settlor's successors in interest
for distributions made and other actions taken on the assumption that
the trust had not been revoked or amended.
As added by P.L.238-2005, SEC.30.
IC 30-4-3-2
Power to restrain transfer of a beneficiary's interest
Sec. 2. (a) The settlor may provide in the terms of the trust that
the interest of a beneficiary may not be either voluntarily or
involuntarily transferred before payment or delivery of the interest
to the beneficiary by the trustee.
(b) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (c), if the settlor
is also a beneficiary of the trust, a provision restraining the voluntary
or involuntary transfer of his beneficial interest will not prevent his
creditors from satisfying claims from his interest in the trust estate.
(c) Subsection (a) applies to a trust that meets both of the
following requirements, regardless of whether or not the settlor is
also a beneficiary of the trust:
(1) The trust is a qualified trust under 26 U.S.C. 401(a).
(2) The limitations on each beneficiary's control over the
beneficiary's interest in the trust complies with 29 U.S.C.
1056(d).
(d) A trust containing terms authorized under subsection (a) may
be referred to wherever appropriate as a trust with protective
provisions.
(Formerly: Acts 1971, P.L.416, SEC.4.) As amended by
P.L.287-1987, SEC.2.
IC 30-4-3-3
Powers of trustees
Sec. 3. (a) Except as provided in the terms of the trust and subject
to subsection (c), a trustee has the power to perform without court
authorization, except as provided in sections 4(b) and 5(a) of this
chapter, every act necessary or appropriate for the purposes of the
trust including, by way of illustration and not of limitation, the
following powers:
(1) The power to:
(A) deal with the trust estate;
(B) buy, sell, or exchange and convey or transfer all property
(real, personal, or mixed) for cash or on credit and at public
or private sale with or without notice; and
(C) invest and reinvest the trust estate.
(2) The power to receive additions to the assets of the trust.
(3) The power to acquire an undivided interest in a trust asset
in which the trustee, in any trust capacity, holds an undivided
interest.
(4) The power to manage real property in every way, including:
(A) the adjusting of boundaries;
(B) erecting, altering, or demolishing buildings;
(C) dedicating of streets, alleys, or other public uses;
IC 30-4-3-5
Conflict of interest in exercise of powers
Sec. 5. (a) If the duty of the trustee in the exercise of any power
conflicts with the trustee's individual interest or the trustee's interest
as trustee of another trust, the power may be exercised only under
one (1) of the following circumstances:
(1) The trustee receives court authorization to exercise the
power with notice to interested persons as the court may direct.
(2) The trustee gives notice of the proposed action in
accordance with IC 30-2-14-16 and:
(A) the trustee receives the written authorization of all
interested persons to the proposed action within the period
specified in the notice of the proposed action; or
(B) a beneficiary objects to the proposed action within the
period specified in the notice of the proposed action, but the
trustee receives court authorization to exercise the power.
(3) The exercise of the power is specifically authorized by the
terms of the trust.
(b) For purposes of this section, the interest of an affiliate of the
trustee will be deemed to be the interest of the trustee.
(Formerly: Acts 1971, P.L.416, SEC.4.) As amended by P.L.61-2006,
SEC.7.
IC 30-4-3-6
Duties of trustee
Sec. 6. (a) The trustee has a duty to administer a trust according
to its terms.
(b) Unless the terms of the trust provide otherwise, the trustee also
has a duty to do the following:
(1) Administer the trust in a manner consistent with
IC 30-4-3.5.
(2) Take possession of and maintain control over the trust
property.
(3) Preserve the trust property.
(4) Make the trust property productive for both the income and
remainder beneficiary. As used in this subdivision, "productive"
includes the production of income or investment for potential
appreciation.
(5) Keep the trust property separate from the trustee's individual
property and separate from or clearly identifiable from property
subject to another trust.
(6) Maintain clear and accurate accounts with respect to the
trust estate.
(7) Upon reasonable request, give the beneficiary complete and
accurate information concerning any matter related to the
administration of the trust and permit the beneficiary or the
beneficiary's agent to inspect the trust property, the trustee's
accounts, and any other documents concerning the
administration of the trust.
(8) Take whatever action is reasonable to realize on claims
constituting part of the trust property.
(9) Defend actions involving the trust estate.
(10) Supervise any person to whom authority has been
delegated.
(11) Determine the trust beneficiaries by acting on information:
(A) the trustee, by reasonable inquiry, considers reliable; and
(B) with respect to heirship, relationship, survivorship, or
any other issue relative to determining a trust beneficiary.
(Formerly: Acts 1971, P.L.416, SEC.4.) As amended by
P.L.198-1996, SEC.1; P.L.137-1999, SEC.2; P.L.238-2005, SEC.32.
IC 30-4-3-6.5
Liability of trustee for lack of knowledge of event affecting
administration or distribution of trust
Sec. 6.5. If the happening of an event, including:
(1) marriage;
(2) divorce;
(3) performance of educational requirements; or
(4) death;
IC 30-4-3-7
Self-dealing; transactions between trusts
Sec. 7. (a) Unless the terms of the trust provide otherwise or the
transaction is authorized under IC 28-1-12-8 or IC 28-6.1-6-26, the
trustee has a duty:
(1) not to loan funds to the trustee or an affiliate;
(2) not to purchase or participate in the purchase of trust
property from the trust for the trustee's own or an affiliate's
account;
(3) not to sell or participate in the sale of the trustee's own or an
affiliate's property to the trust; or
(4) if a corporate trustee, not to purchase for or retain in the
trust its own or a parent or subsidiary corporation's stock,
bonds, or other capital securities. However, the trustee may
retain such securities already held in trusts created prior to
September 2, 1971.
(b) Unless the terms of the trust provide otherwise, a corporate
trustee may invest in, purchase for, or retain in the trust its own or an
affiliate's obligations, including savings accounts and certificates of
deposit, without the investment, purchase, or retention constituting
a conflict of interest under section 5 of this chapter.
(c) Unless the terms of the trust provide otherwise, a corporate
trustee does not violate subsection (a) by investing in, purchasing for,
or retaining in the trust its own or an affiliate's obligations, including
savings accounts and certificates of deposit, if the payment of each
obligation is fully insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance
Corporation, the National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund, or any
insurer approved by the department of financial institutions under
IC 28-7-1-31.5.
(d) If the terms of the trust permit the trustee to deal with a
beneficiary for the trustee's own account, the trustee has a duty to
deal fairly with and to disclose to the beneficiary all material facts
related to the transaction which the trustee knows or should know.
(e) Unless the terms of the trust provide otherwise, the trustee
may sell, exchange, or participate in the sale or exchange of trust
property from one (1) trust to the trustee as trustee of another trust,
provided the sale or exchange is fair and reasonable with respect to
the beneficiaries of both trusts and the trustee discloses to the
beneficiaries of both trusts all material facts related to the sale or
exchange which the trustee knows or should know.
(f) This section does not prohibit a trustee from enforcing or
fulfilling any enforceable contract or agreement:
(1) executed during the settlor's lifetime; and
(2) between the settlor and the trustee in the trustee's individual
capacity.
IC 30-4-3-9
Duty of trustee under control of third persons
Sec. 9. (Duty of Trustee under Control of Third Person)
(a) If the terms of the trust give a person a power to direct the
trustee in the administration of the trust and those terms expressly
direct the trustee to rely, or relieve the trustee from liability if he
does rely, on that person's directions, the trustee may do so and will
incur no liability for any loss to the trust estate.
(b) If the terms of the trust give a person a power to direct the
trustee in the administration of the trust, except as provided in
subsection (a) of this section:
(1) If the person holds the power as a fiduciary, the trustee has a
duty to refuse to comply with any direction which he knows or
should know would constitute a breach of a duty owed by that person
as a fiduciary.
(2) If the person holds the power solely for his own benefit, the
trustee may refuse to comply only if the attempted exercise of the
power violates the terms of the trust with respect to that power.
(Formerly: Acts 1971, P.L.416, SEC.4.)
IC 30-4-3-10
Liability to third persons
Sec. 10. (Liability to Third Persons)
(a) Unless the terms of the contract or other non-negotiable
obligation expressly provide otherwise, the trustee is not personally
liable on a contract or other non-negotiable obligation with a third
person made by him in the administration of the trust.
(b) When a third person is entitled to compensation for injury
suffered in the course of the administration of the trust:
(1) If the injury is the result of the trustee's personal act or
omission as trustee, the trustee will be personally liable and the
injured party will be entitled to satisfaction of his claim from the
trustee's individual property first and then, to the extent the claim is
yet unsatisfied, from the trust estate.
(2) If the injury is the result of the act or omission of an agent of
the trustee, and the agent was properly selected and supervised and
there was no improper delegation of authority to the agent, the
injured party will be entitled to satisfaction of his claim from the
trust estate first and then, to the extent that the claim is yet
unsatisfied, from the trustee's individual property.
(3) If the injury is the result of the act or omission of the settlor or
his agent, and not that of the trustee or his agent, the injured party
will be entitled to satisfaction of his claim from the trust estate and
not from the trustee's individual property.
(4) The question of ultimate liability as between the trust estate
and the trustee individually, if it is to be determined, shall be
determined in a proceeding for accounting, surcharge or
indemnification.
(Formerly: Acts 1971, P.L.416, SEC.4.)
IC 30-4-3-11
Potential liability of trustee to beneficiary; remedies; removal of
trustee
Sec. 11. (a) The trustee is accountable to the beneficiary for the
trust estate.
(b) If the trustee commits a breach of trust, the trustee is liable to
the beneficiary for:
(1) any loss or depreciation in the value of the trust property as
a result of the breach;
(2) any profit made by the trustee through the breach;
(3) any reasonable profit which would have accrued on the trust
property in the absence of a breach; and
(4) reasonable attorney's fees incurred by the beneficiary in
bringing an action on the breach.
(c) In the absence of a breach of trust, the trustee has no liability
to the beneficiary either for any loss or depreciation in value of the
trust property or for a failure to make a profit. However, if:
(1) a loss or depreciation in value of the trust property; or
(2) the trust's failure to make a profit;
is the result of a violation by the trustee of IC 28-1-12-8 or
IC 28-6.1-6-26, one (1) or more beneficiaries of the trust may
petition the court for any remedy described in subsection (b) or for
removal of the trustee under section 22(a)(4) of this chapter,
regardless of whether the transaction under IC 28-1-12-8 or
IC 28-6.1-6-26 constitutes or involves a breach of trust. The court
may award one (1) or more remedies described in subsection (b) or
remove the trustee, or both, if the court determines that the remedy
or the removal of the trustee is in the best interests of all
beneficiaries of the trust. The burden of proof is on the one (1) or
more petitioning beneficiaries to demonstrate that the remedy or the
removal of the trustee is in the best interests of all beneficiaries of
the trust.
(d) The trustee is liable to the beneficiary for acts of an agent
which, if committed by the trustee, would be a breach of the trust if
the trustee:
(1) directs or permits the act of the agent;
(2) delegates the authority to perform an act to the agent which
the trustee is under a duty not to delegate;
(3) fails to use reasonable care in the selection or retention of
the agent;
(4) fails to exercise proper supervision over the conduct of the
agent;
(5) approves, acquiesces in, or conceals the act of the agent; or
(6) fails to use reasonable effort to compel the agent to
reimburse the trust estate for any loss or to account to the trust
estate for any profit.
(Formerly: Acts 1971, P.L.416, SEC.4.) As amended by
P.L.202-2007, SEC.4; P.L.226-2007, SEC.23; P.L.3-2008, SEC.228.
IC 30-4-3-12
Liability for breach of trust by co-trustee
Sec. 12. (Liability for Breach of Trust by Co-Trustee)
A trustee becomes liable to the beneficiary for a breach of trust
committed by his co-trustee if he:
(a) participates in the breach of trust;
(b) improperly delegates the administration of the trust to the
co-trustee;
(c) approves, acquiesces in or conceals a breach of trust;
(d) enables the co-trustee to commit a breach of trust by his
failure to exercise care in the administration of the trust; or
(e) fails to use reasonable effort to compel the co-trustee, or, if the
co-trustee has died, his estate, to redress a breach of trust.
(Formerly: Acts 1971, P.L.416, SEC.4.)
IC 30-4-3-13
Liability of a successor trustee
Sec. 13. (Liability of a Successor Trustee)
A successor trustee becomes liable for a breach of trust of his
predecessor if he:
(a) fails to take whatever action is necessary to compel the
predecessor trustee to deliver the trust property; or
(b) fails to make a reasonable effort to compel a redress of a
breach of trust committed by the predecessor trustee.
(Formerly: Acts 1971, P.L.416, SEC.4.)
IC 30-4-3-14
Contribution and indemnity
Sec. 14. (Contribution and Indemnity)
(a) Except as stated in subsection (b) of this section, if two (2) or
more co-trustees are liable to the beneficiary, each co-trustee is
entitled to contribution from the other, provided, however, that:
(1) if one (1) co-trustee is substantially more at fault than another,
the co-trustee who is most at fault is not entitled to contribution, and
the other co-trustee is entitled to indemnity from him; or
(2) if one (1) of the co-trustees receives a profit from the
administration of the trust or a benefit from a breach of trust, the
other co-trustee is entitled to indemnity from him to the extent of the
profit or benefit received by that co-trustee.
(b) If a trustee commits a breach of trust in bad faith, he is not
entitled to either contribution or indemnity from his co-trustee.
(Formerly: Acts 1971, P.L.416, SEC.4.)
IC 30-4-3-15
Remedies of trustee against third persons
Sec. 15. (Remedies of the Trustee against Third Persons)
The trustee may maintain in his representative capacity a civil
action for any legal or equitable remedy against a third person that
he could maintain in his own right if he were the owner.
(Formerly: Acts 1971, P.L.416, SEC.4.)
IC 30-4-3-16
Remedies among co-trustees
Sec. 16. (Remedies among Co-Trustees)
Any trustee may maintain an action against a co-trustee to:
(a) compel him to perform his duties under the trust;
(b) enjoin him from committing a breach of trust; or
(c) compel him to redress a breach of trust committed by him.
(Formerly: Acts 1971, P.L.416, SEC.4.)
IC 30-4-3-17
Remedies of trustee against beneficiary
Sec. 17. (Remedies of Trustee against Beneficiary)
The trustee may maintain a civil action against a beneficiary for
any legal or equitable remedy, including, among others, a charge
against the beneficiary's interest in the trust estate, in any case in
which the beneficiary is liable under 30-4-3-20.
(Formerly: Acts 1971, P.L.416, SEC.4.)
IC 30-4-3-18
Other remedies of the trustee
Sec. 18. (Other Remedies of the Trustee)
(a) If there is reasonable doubt with respect to any matter relating
to the administration of the trust, the trustee is entitled to be
instructed by the court.
(b) The trustee is entitled to a review and settlement by the court
of the accounts of his administration.
(c) The trustee is entitled to a lien against the trust estate:
(1) for any advances made by him under 30-4-3-3(a) (10); and
(2) for the value of his services for which he is entitled to, but has
not received, compensation as provided either under the terms of the
trust or under 30-4-5-16.
(Formerly: Acts 1971, P.L.416, SEC.4.)
IC 30-4-3-20
Liability of beneficiary
Sec. 20. (Liability of Beneficiary)
(a) A beneficiary is liable for loss to the trust estate if he has:
(1) misappropriated or otherwise wrongfully dealt with the trust
property;
(2) expressly consented to, participated in or agreed with the
trustee to be liable for a breach of trust committed by the trustee;
(3) failed to repay an advance or loan of trust funds;
(4) failed to repay a distribution or disbursement from the trust
estate in excess of that to which he is entitled; or
(5) breached a contract to pay money or deliver property to the
trustee to be held by the trustee as part of the trust estate.
(b) Unless the terms of the trust provide otherwise a beneficiary
of a trust is liable to the extent of his interest in the trust estate for
the amount of any debt owed the trust estate by him.
(Formerly: Acts 1971, P.L.416, SEC.4.)
IC 30-4-3-22
Remedies of the beneficiary against the trustee
Sec. 22. (Remedies of the Beneficiary against the Trustee)
(a) A beneficiary of a trust may maintain an action:
(1) to compel the trustee to perform his duties;
(2) to enjoin the trustee from committing an act which may be a
breach of trust;
(3) to compel the trustee to redress a breach of trust; or
(4) to remove a trustee for cause and to appoint a successor
trustee.
(b) If the trustee acquires property and wrongfully holds it outside
the trust, a beneficiary is entitled at his option to either:
(1) require the property to be transferred to the trust or
(2) impose an equitable lien upon it to secure his claim for
damages for breach of trust.
(c) If the trustee commingles the trust funds or property with his
own funds or property or converts the trust fund or property into
another form which is wrongfully held outside the trust:
(1) if the fund or property can be traced and identified, the
beneficiary is entitled to restoration of the fund or property to the
trust; or
(2) if the fund or property cannot be traced and identified,
(A) In a case of commingling of funds or property, the beneficiary
is entitled to a lien against the trustee's individual property from the
date and in the amount of the fund or the value of the property at the
time of the commingling.
(B) In a case of conversion of property, the beneficiary is entitled
to a lien against the trustee's individual property from the date and
according to the value of the property at the time of the conversion.
(d) If the trustee is also a beneficiary, the other beneficiaries will
be entitled to a charge against the trustee's beneficial interest to
secure their claims against him for a breach of trust.
(e) If a beneficiary successfully maintains an action under
subsection (a) of this section or is entitled to a judgment under
subsections (b), (c), or (d) of this section, he is entitled to a judgment
for reasonable attorney's fees.
(Formerly: Acts 1971, P.L.416, SEC.4.)
IC 30-4-3-24
Repealed
(Repealed by P.L.238-2005, SEC.63.)
IC 30-4-3-24.4
Modification or termination of trust by court
Sec. 24.4. (a) The court may modify the administrative or
dispositive terms of a trust if, because of circumstances not
anticipated by the settlor, modification or termination will further the
purposes of the trust. To the extent practicable, the modification
must be made in accordance with the settlor's probable intention.
(b) The court may modify the administrative terms of a trust or
terminate the trust if:
(1) the purpose of the trust has been fulfilled; or
(2) continuation of the trust on the trust's existing terms would:
(A) be illegal, impossible, impracticable, or wasteful; or
(B) impair the trust's administration.
(c) If the trust terminates under this section, the court shall direct
the trustee to distribute the trust property in a manner consistent with
the purposes of the trust.
(d) The court may modify the terms of a trust to give the settlor
the power to revoke and modify the trust if the:
(1) settlor intended to reserve the power;
(2) settlor believed the power was reserved; and
(3) power was omitted from the terms of the trust by mistake.
As added by P.L.238-2005, SEC.35.
IC 30-4-3-24.5
Termination by trustee of trust with value less than $75,000
Sec. 24.5. (a) This section does not apply to an easement for
conservation or preservation.
IC 30-4-3-25
Rescission and reformation
Sec. 25. (Recission and Reformation)
Upon petition by an interested party, the court may rescind or
reform a trust according to the same general rules applying to
recission or reformation of non-trust transfers of property.
(Formerly: Acts 1971, P.L.416, SEC.4.)
IC 30-4-3-25.5
Distribution of terminated trust; payment of federal and state taxes
Sec. 25.5. (a) This section applies beginning October 1, 2009.
(b) Except as provided in subsection (d), when a trust created to
comply with 42 U.S.C. 1396p(d)(4)(A) is terminated, the trustee
shall not distribute trust property to any person entitled to payment
from the trust until the office of Medicaid policy and planning has
been fully reimbursed for assistance rendered to the person for whom
the trust was created.
(c) The primary purpose of a trust described in subsection (b) is
to ensure that the state is repaid Medicaid benefits provided in return
for excepting the trust from the general requirements of 42 U.S.C.
1396(d).
(d) A trustee may pay federal and state taxes from the trust before
reimbursing the office of Medicaid policy and planning.
As added by P.L.14-2009, SEC.3.
IC 30-4-3-26
Power to direct a deviation from the terms of the trust
Sec. 26. (Power to Direct a Deviation from the Terms of the
Trust)
IC 30-4-3-27
Cy pres doctrine
Sec. 27. (a) If property is given to a trust for a benevolent public
purpose and the property is to be applied to a particular charitable
purpose, and it is or becomes impossible, impracticable, wasteful, or
illegal to carry out the particular purpose, and if the settlor
manifested a more general intention to devote the property to
charitable purposes, the trust need not fail, but the court may direct
the application of the property to some charitable purpose which falls
within the general charitable intention of the settlor.
(b) The terms of a charitable trust that would result in the
distribution of the trust property to a noncharitable beneficiary
prevails over the power of the court under subsection (a) to apply the
cy pres doctrine to modify or terminate the trust only if, when the
provision takes effect:
(1) the trust property is to revert to the settlor and the settlor is
still alive; or
(2) less than twenty-one (21) years have elapsed since the trust
was created.
(c) A living heir of the settlor or a living beneficiary named in the
original trust agreement may present evidence to the court of:
(1) the heir's or beneficiary's opinion of the settlor's intent; and
(2) the heir's or beneficiary's wishes;
regarding the property given in trust.
(Formerly: Acts 1971, P.L.416, SEC.4.) As amended by P.L.41-2000,
SEC.3; P.L.238-2005, SEC.37.
other person entitled to the trust property.
(Formerly: Acts 1971, P.L.416, SEC.4.) As amended by
P.L.199-1996, SEC.1; P.L.165-2002, SEC.6; P.L.238-2005, SEC.38.
IC 30-4-3-29.5
Corporate trustee that acquires trust due to change in control
Sec. 29.5. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b) and unless the
trust instrument provides otherwise, a corporate trustee that acquires
a trust as a result of a change in control may not:
(1) decline to accept the trust property;
(2) resign as trustee; or
(3) otherwise refuse to administer the trust;
based upon the amount of property or funds held in the trust estate.
(b) A court may, at the court's discretion, allow a trustee described
in subsection (a) to resign if:
(1) the trustee petitions the court; and
(2) the court determines that the trustee's resignation will be in
the best interests of all the beneficiaries of the trust.
As added by P.L.199-1996, SEC.2.
IC 30-4-3-30
Effect of this article on the court's equity powers
Sec. 30. (Effect of This Article on the Court's Equity Powers)
Except as otherwise provided in this article, the article shall not
be construed to limit the general equity powers of the court over the
administration of trusts.
(Formerly: Acts 1971, P.L.416, SEC.4.)
IC 30-4-3-31
Judicial modification of trusts for benevolent public purpose and
certain transfers not in trust; federal compliance
Sec. 31. (a) This section is enacted for the purpose of confirming
the power of Indiana courts to modify trusts for a benevolent public
purpose, and transfers not in trust as described in Section
170(f)(3)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code, to effect compliance with
Sections 170, 664, 2055, 2106, and 2522 of the Internal Revenue
Code so that these trusts and transfers may obtain the income tax
exemption afforded by Section 664 of the Internal Revenue Code and
donors or other contributors of gifts or contributions to these trusts
and transfers may secure the income, estate, and gift tax charitable
deductions granted by Sections 170, 2055, 2106, and 2522 of the
Internal Revenue Code.
(b) Upon petition, any court of general or probate jurisdiction in
Indiana may, in its discretion, modify the instrument of an inter vivos
or testamentary trust for a benevolent public purpose, or transfer not
in trust as described in Section 170(f)(3)(A) of the Internal Revenue
Code, so that the trust or transfer complies with and conforms to the
provisions of Sections 170, 664, 2055, 2106, and 2522 of the Internal
Revenue Code and regulations thereunder from the date of the trust's
or transfer's creation, if consent to the modification is given by:
IC 30-4-3-32
Trustee's liability for breach of trust
Sec. 32. (a) Except as stated in subsections (b) and (c), the trustee,
by provisions of the trust, can be relieved of liability for breach of
trust.
(b) A provision in the trust instrument is not effective to relieve
the trustee of liability for breach of trust committed in bad faith,
intentionally, or with reckless indifference to the interest of the
beneficiary, or of liability for any profit that the trustee has derived
from a breach of trust.
(c) A provision that relieves the trustee of liability for breach of
trust is ineffective if it is inserted in the trust instrument as the result
of an abuse by the trustee of a fiduciary or confidential relationship
to the settlor.
As added by P.L.149-1984, SEC.1.
IC 30-4-3-33
Trustee vacancies; priority for filling vacancy
Sec. 33. (a) In addition to the terms of a trust regarding the
circumstances under which a trustee vacancy occurs, a trustee
vacancy occurs if:
(1) a person designated as trustee does not accept being trustee;
(2) a person designated as trustee cannot be identified or does
not exist;
(3) a trustee resigns;
(4) a trustee is disqualified or removed;
(5) a trustee dies; or
(6) the person designated as trustee lacks capacity.
(b) Except as provided in the terms of a trust, if a trust has at least
two (2) cotrustees and at least one (1) cotrustee remains in office, a
cotrustee vacancy is not required to be filled. A cotrustee vacancy
must be filled if the trust has no remaining cotrustee.
(c) Except as provided in the terms of a trust, a trustee vacancy of
a noncharitable trust that is required to be filled must be filled
according to the following priority:
(1) A person designated in the terms of the trust to act as
successor trustee.
(2) A person appointed by a majority of the qualified
beneficiaries.
(3) A person appointed by the court.
(d) Except as provided in the terms of a trust, a trustee vacancy of
a charitable trust that is required to be filled must be filled according
to the following priority:
IC 30-4-3-34
Petition to determine heirs and interests in trust estate
Sec. 34. (a) At any time during the administration of a trust, a
trustee or any interested person may petition the court to determine
the:
(1) heirs of:
(A) the settlor; or
(B) any person named in the trust; and
(2) respective interests of the persons described in subdivision
(1) in the trust estate or any part of the trust estate.
(b) If a petition is filed under this section, the court shall fix the
time for a hearing on the petition. Notice of the hearing shall be
given in the following manner:
(1) Personally or by mail to persons who are named in the trust
and:
(A) are known to claim;
(B) are believed to claim; or
(C) have;
an interest in the trust estate or any part of the trust estate as
heir or through an heir of the settlor.
(2) By publication to any unknown heirs.
(c) When a hearing is held on the petition, the issues set forth in
the petition under subsection (a) may be determined by:
(1) competent evidence; or
(2) affidavit, if there are no objections.
A record shall be made of the oral evidence. The record and
affidavits must be a part of the files in the trust proceeding.
(d) If there is satisfactory proof, the court shall make a decree that
determines the issues set forth in the petition under subsection (a).
The court's decree is conclusive of the facts determined by the court
with regard to any interested person who has been notified personally
or by mail in accordance with subsection (b)(1), subject to the
interested person's right of appeal.
(e) An act of the trustee is valid with regard to the rights and
liabilities of a purchaser, a lessee, or other person who deals with the
trustee for value and in good faith, if the trustee acts in:
IC 30-4-3-35
Matrimonial trusts; election; effect of the death of a spouse or the
dissolution of the marriage; revocation
Sec. 35. (a) This section is intended to ensure that if real property
is transferred to one (1) or more revocable trusts created by a
husband and wife for estate planning purposes, the husband and wife
will enjoy the real estate ownership protections that they would
otherwise enjoy if they owned that real property in an estate by the
entireties including an estate by the entireties created under
IC 32-17-3-1.
(b) As used in this section, "joint matrimonial trust" means a
single inter vivos trust established under this section by settlors who
are related as husband and wife.
(c) As used in this section, "matrimonial property" means real
property that:
(1) is subject to a written election to treat the property as
matrimonial property under this section; and
(2) is owned by a matrimonial trust.
(d) As used in this section, "matrimonial trust" means a trust
established under this section to own matrimonial property.
(e) As used in this section, "separate matrimonial trust" means a
separate trust that is also a matrimonial trust.
(f) As used in this section, "separate trust" means a trust
established by one (1) individual.
(g) A matrimonial trust may be established:
(1) jointly by a husband and wife; or
(2) in two (2) or more separate trusts.
(h) A husband and wife may elect to treat real property as
matrimonial property with a written statement of the election:
(1) in an instrument or instruments conveying the real property
to a matrimonial trust or trusts; or
(2) in a separate writing that must be recorded in the county
where the real property is situated and indexed in the records of
the county recorder's office to the instrument or instruments that
convey the real property to a matrimonial trust or trusts.
(i) A guardian of a husband or wife may make an election under
this section:
(1) without the approval of the court if the guardian has
unlimited powers under IC 29-3-8-4; and
(2) with the approval of the court in all other cases.
(j) An attorney in fact of a husband and wife may join in the
making of an election under this section under the powers conferred
upon the attorney in fact by IC 30-5-5-2 if the power of attorney is
recorded in the county where the real property is situated and
indexed in the records of the county recorder's office to the
instrument or instruments that convey the real property to a
matrimonial trust or trusts.
(k) The terms of a separate matrimonial trust or a joint
matrimonial trust may (but are not required to) restrict the sale or
transfer of the matrimonial property for:
(1) the lifetime of the settlor who dies first;
(2) the lifetime of the surviving settlor; or
(3) another defined time period.
(l) An interest in matrimonial property is not severable during the
marriage of the husband and wife unless:
(1) both the husband and wife join in the severance in writing;
or
(2) a third party owns and forecloses a mortgage or other lien
against the interests of both the husband and wife in the
matrimonial property.
(m) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, the legal
rights of a lienholder that exist at the time of an election to treat the
real property subject to the lien as matrimonial property may not be
subject to a severance described in subsection (l) without the
lienholder's written consent.
(n) To the extent that a matrimonial trust continues to be a
matrimonial trust after the death of a settlor (as provided by
subsections (o) and (q)):
(1) real property held or owned in a separate trust and for which
an earlier election was made under this section, continues to be
matrimonial property; and
(2) an unsecured creditor or judgment lien creditor who has a
claim only against the deceased settlor but not against the
surviving settlor cannot enforce that claim against the deceased
settlor's interest or the surviving settlor's interest in the
matrimonial property.
(o) Matrimonial property held in a separate matrimonial trust or
in a joint matrimonial trust continues to be matrimonial property
after the death of one (1) settlor:
(1) if the settlors reserved a life estate in the matrimonial
property for each settlor when they conveyed the matrimonial
property to the matrimonial trust or trusts; or
(2) if the deceased settlor's separate trust provides to the
surviving settlor:
(A) a life estate;
(B) an interest that qualifies for a deduction from the gross
estate of the decedent under Section 2056 of the Internal
Revenue Code regardless of whether an election is made to
qualify the interest for the deduction; or
(C) in some respect the current right to occupy or receive
rent, royalties, or other kinds of income with respect to the
matrimonial property.
(p) A separate matrimonial trust established by a deceased settlor
ceases to be a matrimonial trust upon the termination of payments to
the surviving settlor as a result of the surviving settlor's death or as
a result of the surviving settlor's valid disclaimer of all interests in
the matrimonial property held in the deceased settlor's trust.
(q) A separate matrimonial trust established by a settlor who
remains alive continues to be a matrimonial trust during that settlor's
remaining lifetime, so long as the settlor retains the right to use or
occupy matrimonial property held in the settlor's separate trust.
(r) A matrimonial trust ceases to be a matrimonial trust upon the
dissolution of the marriage of the settlors.
(s) A husband and wife may revoke a matrimonial trust by
together executing a writing expressing the revocation.
As added by P.L.6-2010, SEC.18. Amended by P.L.36-2011, SEC.9.
IC 30-4-3-36
Trust decanting; notice; rules of construction
Sec. 36. (a) Unless a trust expressly provides otherwise, a trustee
who has absolute power under the terms of a trust (referred to in this
section as the "first trust") to invade the principal of the trust to make
distributions to or for the benefit of one (1) or more persons may
instead exercise the power by appointing all or part of the principal
of the first trust in favor of a trustee of another trust (referred to in
this section as the "second trust") for the benefit of one (1) or more
persons under the same trust instrument or under a different trust
instrument as long as:
(1) the beneficiaries of the second trust are the same as the
beneficiaries of the first trust;
(2) the second trust does not reduce any income, annuity, or
unitrust interest in the assets of the first trust; and
(3) if any contributions to the first trust qualified for a marital
or charitable deduction for purposes of the federal income, gift,
or estate taxes, the second trust does not contain any provision
that, if included in the first trust, would have prevented the first
trust from qualifying for a deduction or reduced the amount of
a deduction.
(b) For purposes of this section, an absolute power to invade
principal includes a power to invade principal that is not limited to
specific or ascertainable purposes, such as health, education,
maintenance, and support regardless of whether the term "absolute"
is used.
(c) The exercise of a power to invade principal under subsection
(a) must be by an instrument that is:
(1) in writing;
(2) signed and acknowledged by the trustee; and
(3) filed with the records of the first trust.
(d) The exercise of a power to invade principal under subsection
(a) is considered the exercise of a power of appointment, other than
a power to appoint to the trustee, the trustee's creditors, the trustee's
estate, or the creditors of the trustee's estate. The exercise of the
power does not extend the time at which the permissible period of
the rule against perpetuities begins and the law that determines the
permissible period of the rule against perpetuities of the first trust.
(e) The trustee shall notify in writing all qualified beneficiaries of
the first trust at least sixty (60) days before the effective date of the
trustee's exercise of the power to invade principal under subsection
(a) of the manner in which the trustee intends to exercise the power.
A copy of the proposed instrument exercising the power satisfies the
trustee's notice obligation under this subsection. If all qualified
beneficiaries waive the notice period by signed written instrument
delivered to the trustee, the trustee's power to invade principal may
be exercised immediately. The trustee's notice under this subsection
does not limit the right of any beneficiary to object to the exercise of
the trustee's power to invade principal, except as otherwise provided
by this article.
(f) The exercise of the power to invade principal under subsection
(a) is not prohibited by a spendthrift clause or by a provision in the
trust instrument that prohibits amending or revoking the trust.
(g) This section is not intended to create or imply a duty to
exercise a power to invade principal. No inference of impropriety
may be made as a result of a trustee not exercising the power to
invade principal conferred under subsection (a).
(h) This section may not be construed to abridge the right of any
trustee who has a power of invasion to appoint property in further
trust that arises under the terms of the first trust, under any other
provision of this article or any other statute, or under common law.
As added by P.L.6-2010, SEC.19.
IC 30-4-3-37
Unclaimed trust shares; disposition procedures
Sec. 37. (a) If a beneficiary of a trust cannot be found after a
reasonable search, the trustee may file a petition setting out the facts
of the unsuccessful search. The court may order the trustee to sell the
shares of the trust to which the beneficiary is entitled and to pay the
proceeds to the clerk of the court. The clerk shall hold the proceeds
for the use and benefit of the person or persons thereafter determined
by law to be entitled to the proceeds.
(b) If a trustee pays any money to the clerk of the court under this
section, the trustee shall file a receipt with the court. Filing the
receipt is sufficient to discharge the trustee in the same manner and
to the same extent as though the trustee had paid or distributed the
appropriate share of the trust to the unlocated beneficiary.
(c) This section does not apply to stocks, dividends, capital
credits, patronage, refunds, utility deposits, membership fees,
account balances, or book equities for which the owner cannot be
found that are the result of distributable savings of a rural electric
membership corporation formed under IC 8-1-13, a rural telephone
cooperative corporation formed under IC 8-1-17, or an agricultural
cooperative association formed under IC 15-12-1.
As added by P.L.6-2010, SEC.20.