SB759: Bill Text

SB759,,103 (a) “Relative” means a spouse or individual related within the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd degree of kinship under s. 990.001 (16).

SB759,,104 (b) “Settlor” means a person that executes a trust instrument and includes a person for whom a fiduciary or agent is acting.

SB759,,105 (2) A trustee of a trust has an insurable interest in the life of an individual insured under a life insurance policy that is owned by the trustee of the trust acting in a fiduciary capacity or that designates the trust itself as the owner if, on the date the policy is issued, all of the following apply:

SB759,,106 (a) The insured is any of the following:

SB759,,107 1. A settlor of the trust.

SB759,,108 2. An individual in whom a settlor of the trust has, or would have had if living at the time the policy was issued, an insurable interest.

SB759,,109 (b) The life insurance proceeds are primarily for the benefit of one or more trust beneficiaries who have any of the following:

SB759,,110 1. An insurable interest in the life of the insured.

SB759,,111 2. A substantial interest engendered by love or affection in the continuation of the life of the insured and, if not included under subd. 1., the beneficiary is a relative or stepchild of the insured.

SB759,45 Section 45. 701.0201 (3) (km) of the statutes is created to read:

SB759,,113 701.0201 (3) (km) Releasing a trustee, directing party, trust protector, or other person acting in a fiduciary capacity from liability for an action relating to the trust.

SB759,46 Section 46. 701.0201 (4) of the statutes is created to read:

SB759,,115 701.0201 (4) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, and as applicable, the probate procedure described in ch. 879 applies to a proceeding brought by a trustee, trust protector, directing party, or beneficiary concerning the administration of a trust.

SB759,47 Section 47. 701.0203 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB759,,117 701.0203 (1) The circuit court assigned to exercise probate jurisdiction has exclusive jurisdiction of proceedings in this state brought by a trustee, trust protector, directing party, or beneficiary concerning the administration of a trust. Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, and as applicable, the probate procedure described in ch. 879 applies to a proceeding brought by a trustee, trust protector, directing party, or beneficiary concerning the administration of a trust.

SB759,48 Section 48. 701.0302 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB759,,119 701.0302 (title) Representation by holder of general power of appointment powerholder of certain powers of appointment.

SB759,49 Section 49. 701.0302 of the statutes is renumbered 701.0302 (2) and amended to read:

SB759,,121 701.0302 (2) To the extent there is no conflict of interest between a holder of a general power of appointment powerholder and a person the persons represented with respect to the particular question or dispute, the holder powerholder of a nongeneral power of appointment other than a broad limited power of appointment may represent and bind the person all persons or all members of a class of persons, including permissible appointees and takers in default, whose interests, as a permissible appointee, a taker in default, or otherwise, are subject to may be limited by the exercise or nonexercise of the power.

SB759,50 Section 50. 701.0302 (1) of the statutes is created to read:

SB759,,123 701.0302 (1) The powerholder of a general power of appointment exercisable in favor of the powerholder or the powerholder’s estate or the powerholder of a broad limited power of appointment may represent and bind all persons, including permissible appointees and takers in default, whose interests may be eliminated by the exercise or nonexercise of the power. For purposes of this subsection, a general power of appointment does not include powers of appointment exercisable only in favor of the creditors of the powerholder, the creditors of the powerholder’s estate, or both.

SB759,51 Section 51. 701.0303 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB759,,125 701.0303 (4) A trustee may represent and bind the beneficiaries of the trust, except as to matters relating to the administration or distribution of the trust.

SB759,52 Section 52. 701.0303 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB759,,127 701.0303 (5) A personal representative of a decedent’s estate may represent and bind a person interested in the estate, except as to matters relating to the administration or distribution of the estate.

SB759,53 Section 53. 701.0303 (6) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB759,,129 701.0303 (6) (intro.) A parent may represent and bind the parent’s minor or unborn child, such child’s minor and unborn issue, and the minor and unborn issue of a then deceased child. If a disagreement arises between parents seeking to represent the same minor child or unborn child individual, representation is determined as follows:

SB759,54 Section 54. 701.0303 (6) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB759,,131 701.0303 (6) (a) If only one parent is a beneficiary of the trust that is the subject of the representation, that parent may represent and bind the minor child or unborn child, such child’s minor and unborn issue, and the minor and unborn issue of a then deceased child.

SB759,55 Section 55. 701.0303 (6) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB759,,133 701.0303 (6) (b) If both parents are beneficiaries of the trust that is the subject of the representation, the parent who is related to the settlor, other than by reason of being married to the other parent, may represent and bind the minor child or unborn child, such child’s minor and unborn issue, and the minor and unborn issue of a then deceased child.

SB759,56 Section 56. 701.0303 (6) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB759,,135 701.0303 (6) (c) Subject to s. 701.0301 (4), if neither parent is a beneficiary of the trust that is the subject of the representation, the parent who is the settlor of the trust that is the subject of the representation may represent and bind the minor child or unborn child, such child’s minor and unborn issue, and the minor and unborn issue of a then deceased child.

SB759,57 Section 57. 701.0303 (6) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB759,,137 701.0303 (6) (d) If neither parent is a beneficiary or settlor of the trust that is the subject of the representation, the parent who is related to the settlor, other than by reason of being married to the other parent, may represent and bind the minor child or unborn child, such child’s minor and unborn issue, and the minor and unborn issue of a then deceased child.

SB759,58 Section 58. 701.0303 (6) (e) of the statutes is created to read:

SB759,,139 701.0303 (6) (e) If an individual that is the subject of the representation is eligible to be represented by more than one ancestor under this subsection, the individual’s nearest ancestor may represent and bind such individual.

SB759,59 Section 59. 701.0304 of the statutes is renumbered 701.0304 (1).

SB759,60 Section 60. 701.0304 (2) of the statutes is created to read:

SB759,,142 701.0304 (2) (a) In this subsection:

SB759,,143 1. “Contingent successor remainder beneficiary” means a beneficiary who would succeed to the interest of a presumptive remainder beneficiary if the presumptive remainder beneficiary and all of the current beneficiaries failed to take such interest.

SB759,,144 2. “More remote contingent successor remainder beneficiary” means any contingent successor remainder beneficiary whose interest arises only upon the failure of the interest of another contingent successor remainder beneficiary.

SB759,,145 (b) A presumptive remainder beneficiary or a person authorized to represent the presumptive remainder beneficiary under sub. (1) may represent and bind a contingent successor remainder beneficiary or a more remote contingent successor remainder beneficiary for the same purposes, in the same circumstances, and to the same extent as an ascertainable beneficiary may represent and bind a minor or person who is incapacitated, unborn, or not reasonably ascertainable.

SB759,,146 (c) If a presumptive remainder beneficiary does not represent a more remote contingent successor remainder beneficiary, a contingent successor remainder beneficiary may represent and bind a more remote contingent successor remainder beneficiary for the same purposes, in the same circumstances, and to the same extent as an ascertainable beneficiary may represent and bind a minor or person who is incapacitated, unborn, or not reasonably ascertainable.

SB759,,147 (d) A contingent successor remainder beneficiary or a more remote contingent successor remainder beneficiary may be represented under pars. (b) and (c) whether or not the contingent successor remainder beneficiary or more remote contingent successor remainder beneficiary lacks capacity.

SB759,,148 (e) Under pars. (b) and (c), the difference between a beneficiary’s interest as a presumptive remainder beneficiary or contingent successor remainder beneficiary does not constitute a conflict of interest as to any more remote contingent successor remainder beneficiary.

SB759,61 Section 61. 701.0305 (1) of the statutes is renumbered 701.0305.

SB759,62 Section 62. 701.0305 (2) of the statutes is renumbered 701.0307 (1).

SB759,63 Section 63. 701.0305 (3) of the statutes is renumbered 701.0307 (2).

SB759,64 Section 64. 701.0306 of the statutes is created to read:

SB759,,153 701.0306 Designated representative. (1) If specifically nominated in the trust instrument, one or more persons may be designated to represent and bind a beneficiary and receive any notice, information, accounting, or report. The trust instrument may also authorize any one or more persons to designate one or more persons to represent and bind a beneficiary and receive any notice, information, accounting, or report.

SB759,,154 (2) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, a person designated in sub. (1) may not represent and bind a beneficiary while that person is serving as trustee.

SB759,,155 (3) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, a person designated in sub. (1) may not represent and bind another beneficiary if the person designated also is a beneficiary, unless one of the following applies:

SB759,,156 (a) That person was named by the settlor.

SB759,,157 (b) That person is one of the following:

SB759,,158 1. The beneficiary’s spouse.

SB759,,159 2. A grandparent or descendant of a grandparent of the beneficiary.

SB759,,160 3. A grandparent or descendant of a grandparent of the beneficiary’s spouse.

SB759,65 Section 65. 701.0307 (title) of the statutes is created to read:

SB759,,162 701.0307 (title) Role of a representative or guardian ad litem.

SB759,66 Section 66. 701.0308 of the statutes is created to read:

SB759,,164 701.0308 Liability of representative. No representative or guardian ad litem is liable to the beneficiary whose interests are represented, or to anyone claiming through that beneficiary, for any actions or omissions to act made in good faith.

SB759,67 Section 67. 701.0401 (5m) of the statutes is created to read:

SB759,,166 701.0401 (5m) A declaration of an intent to create a trust with the intention that the trust will later be funded by assets of the person who created the trust or by another person with legal authority to fund the trust. The person making the declaration is considered to have created the trust, regardless of whether the person funds the trust with the person’s own assets.

SB759,68 Section 68. 701.0402 (1) (e) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB759,,168 701.0402 (1) (e) The same person is not the sole trustee and sole beneficiary, and there are no remainder beneficiaries other than the person’s estate.

SB759,69 Section 69. 701.0405 (1) of the statutes is repealed.

SB759,70 Section 70. 701.0408 of the statutes is amended to read:

SB759,,171 701.0408 Trust for care of animal. (1) A An animal trust may be created to provide for the care of an animal alive during the settlor’s lifetime. The animal trust terminates upon the death of the animal or, if the animal trust was created to provide for the care of more than one animal alive during the settlor’s lifetime, upon the death of the last surviving animal.

SB759,,172 (2) A An animal trust authorized by this section may be enforced by a person appointed in the terms of the trust or, if no person is so appointed, by a person appointed by the court an animal protector. A person having an interest in the welfare of the animal may request the court to appoint a person to enforce the trust or to remove a person appointed under this subsection an animal protector.

SB759,,173 (3) Property of a an animal trust authorized by this section may be applied only to its intended use, except to the extent the court determines that the value of the animal trust property exceeds the amount required for the intended use. Property not required for the intended use must be distributed to the settlor, if then living, otherwise to the settlor’s successors in interest.

SB759,71 Section 71. 701.0410 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB759,,175 701.0410 (2) A proceeding to approve or disapprove a proposed modification or termination under ss. 701.0411 to 701.0416, or a proposed trust combination or division under s. 701.0417, may be commenced by a trustee or beneficiary, and a proceeding to approve or disapprove a proposed modification or termination under s. 701.0411 may be commenced by the settlor. The settlor of a charitable trust may maintain a proceeding to modify the trust under s. 701.0413. A Except as provided in s. 701.0411 (1m), a trustee does not have standing to oppose a proposed modification or termination commenced under s. 701.0411 (1).

SB759,72 Section 72. 701.0410 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB759,,177 701.0410 (3) A trustee may not be compelled by a modification or termination under this section or under ss. 701.0411 to 701.0416 to make distributions to or for any beneficiary of a trust for an individual with a disability or to terminate the trust, during the lifetime of the individual with a disability. A court may modify the terms of a trust for that has an individual with a disability as a beneficiary with retroactive effect or reform the terms of such trust to achieve the settlor’s objective or, if because of circumstances not anticipated by the settlor, to otherwise further the purposes of the trust so that it does not result in trust property being countable as resources or income of the individual with a disability for purposes of public assistance.

SB759,73 Section 73. 701.0411 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB759,,179 701.0411 (1) A Except as provided in sub. (1m), a noncharitable irrevocable trust may be modified or terminated, with or without court approval, upon consent of the settlor and all beneficiaries, 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 a representative under s. 701.0303 only if the representative is specifically authorized to consent to a trust’s modification or termination under a power of attorney, the terms of the trust, or by a court under a guardianship or conservatorship.

SB759,74 Section 74. 701.0411 (1m) of the statutes is created to read:

SB759,,181 701.0411 (1m) A trust described in 42 USC 1396p (d) (4) may be terminated or modified under sub. (1) only with consent of the trustee, and is not considered revocable because it lacks ascertainable remainder beneficiaries.

SB759,75 Section 75. 701.0411 (2) (intro.) of the statutes is created to read:

SB759,,183 701.0411 (2) (intro.) With the approval of the court, any of the following may occur:

SB759,76 Section 76. 701.0411 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB759,,185 701.0411 (2) (a) 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.

SB759,77 Section 77. 701.0411 (2) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB759,,187 701.0411 (2) (b) 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.

SB759,78 Section 78. 701.0411 (7) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB759,,189 701.0411 (7) A party proposing to modify or terminate a trust under sub. (1) or, (2), or (6) shall give notice of the proposed modification or termination to the settlor, if living, the trustee, each trust protector, each directing party, and each beneficiary at least 30 days before the proposed effective date of the modification or termination.

SB759,79 Section 79. 701.0414 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB759,,191 701.0414 (4) The court may modify or terminate a trust or remove the trustee and appoint a different trustee if it determines that the value of the trust property is insufficient to justify the cost of administration even if the trust property has a total value in excess of the amount described in sub. (2).