Chapter 54

54.876(3)(a) (a) The life of the minor only if the minor or the minor’s estate is the sole beneficiary; or

54.876(3)(b) (b) The life of another person in whom the minor has an insurable interest only to the extent that the minor, the minor’s estate or the custodian in the capacity of custodian, is the irrevocable beneficiary.

54.876(4) (4) A custodian at all times shall keep custodial property separate and distinct from all other property in a manner sufficient to identify it clearly as custodial property of the minor. Custodial property consisting of an undivided interest is so identified if the minor’s interest is held as a tenant in common and is fixed. Custodial property subject to recordation is so identified if it is recorded, and custodial property subject to registration is so identified if it is either registered, or held in an account designated, in the name of the custodian, followed in substance by the words: “as a custodian for .... (name of minor) under the Wisconsin Uniform Transfers to Minors Act”.

54.876(5) (5) A custodian shall keep records of all transactions with respect to custodial property, including information necessary for the preparation of the minor’s tax returns, and shall make them available for inspection at reasonable intervals by a parent or legal representative of the minor or by the minor if the minor has attained the age of 14 years.

54.876 History History: 1987 a. 191; 2005 a. 387 s. 538; Stats. 2005 s. 54.876.

54.878 54.878 Powers of custodian.

54.878(1) (1) A custodian, acting in a custodial capacity, has all the rights, powers and authority over custodial property that unmarried adult owners have over their own property, but a custodian may exercise those rights, powers and authority in that capacity only.

54.878(2) (2) This section does not relieve a custodian from liability for breach of s. 54.876.

54.878 History History: 1987 a. 191; 2005 a. 387 s. 539; Stats. 2005 s. 54.878.

54.880 54.880 Use of custodial property.

54.880(1) (1) A custodian may deliver or pay to the minor or expend for the minor’s benefit so much of the custodial property as the custodian considers advisable for the use and benefit of the minor, without court order and without regard to:

54.880(1)(a) (a) The duty or ability of the custodian personally or of any other person to support the minor; or

54.880(1)(b) (b) Any other income or property of the minor which may be applicable or available for that purpose.

54.880(1m) (1m) At any time a custodian may transfer part or all of the custodial property to a qualified minor’s trust without a court order. Such a transfer terminates the custodianship to the extent of the transfer.

54.880(2) (2) On petition of an interested person or the minor if the minor has attained the age of 14 years, the court may order the custodian to deliver or pay to the minor or expend for the minor’s benefit so much of the custodial property as the court considers advisable for the use and benefit of the minor.

54.880(3) (3) A delivery, payment or expenditure under this section is in addition to, not in substitution for, and does not affect any obligation of a person to support the minor.

54.880 History History: 1987 a. 191; 2005 a. 216; 2005 a. 387 s. 540; Stats. 2005 s. 54.880.

54.882 54.882 Custodian’s expenses, compensation and bond.

54.882(1) (1) A custodian is entitled to reimbursement from custodial property for reasonable expenses incurred in the performance of the custodian’s duties.

54.882(2) (2) Except for a person who is a transferor under s. 54.860, a custodian has a noncumulative election during each calendar year to charge reasonable compensation for services performed during that year.

54.882(3) (3) Except as provided in s. 54.888 (6), a custodian need not give a bond.

54.882 History History: 1987 a. 191; 2005 a. 387 s. 541; Stats. 2005 s. 54.882.

54.884 54.884 Exemption of 3rd person from liability. A 3rd person, in good faith and without court order, may act on the instructions of or otherwise deal with any person purporting to make a transfer or purporting to act in the capacity of a custodian and, in the absence of knowledge, is not responsible for determining any of the following:

54.884(1) (1) The validity of the purported custodian’s designation.

54.884(2) (2) The propriety of, or the authority under ss. 54.854 to 54.898 for, any act of the purported custodian.

54.884(3) (3) The validity or propriety under ss. 54.854 to 54.898 of any instrument or instructions executed or given either by the person purporting to make a transfer or by the purported custodian.

54.884(4) (4) The propriety of the application of any property of the minor delivered to the purported custodian.

54.884 History History: 1987 a. 191; 2005 a. 387 s. 542; Stats. 2005 s. 54.884.

54.886 54.886 Liability to 3rd persons.

54.886(1) (1) A claim based on a contract entered into by a custodian acting in a custodial capacity, an obligation arising from the ownership or control of custodial property or a tort committed during the custodianship may be asserted against the custodial property by proceeding against the custodian in the custodial capacity, whether or not the custodian or the minor is personally liable therefor.

54.886(2) (2) A custodian is not personally liable:

54.886(2)(a) (a) On a contract properly entered into in the custodial capacity unless the custodian fails to reveal that capacity and to identify the custodianship in the contract; or

54.886(2)(b) (b) For an obligation arising from control of custodial property or for a tort committed during the custodianship unless the custodian is personally at fault.

54.886(3) (3) A minor is not personally liable for an obligation arising from ownership of custodial property or for a tort committed during the custodianship unless the minor is personally at fault.

54.886 History History: 1987 a. 191; 2005 a. 387 s. 543; Stats. 2005 s. 54.886.

54.888 54.888 Renunciation, resignation, death or removal of custodian; designation of successor custodian.

54.888(1) (1) A person nominated under s. 54.858 or designated under s. 54.870 as custodian may decline to serve by delivering a valid disclaimer under s. 854.13 to the person who made the nomination or to the transferor or the transferor’s legal representative. If the event giving rise to a transfer has not occurred and no substitute custodian able, willing and eligible to serve was nominated under s. 54.858, the person who made the nomination may nominate a substitute custodian under s. 54.858; otherwise the transferor or the transferor’s legal representative shall designate a substitute custodian at the time of the transfer, in either case from among the persons eligible to serve as custodian for that kind of property under s. 54.870 (1). The custodian so designated has the rights of a successor custodian.

54.888(2) (2) A custodian at any time may designate a trust company or an adult other than a transferor under s. 54.860 as successor custodian by executing and dating an instrument of designation before a subscribing witness other than the successor. If the instrument of designation does not contain or is not accompanied by the resignation of the custodian, the designation of the successor does not take effect until the custodian resigns, dies, becomes incapacitated or is removed.

54.888(3) (3) A custodian may resign at any time by delivering written notice to the minor if the minor has attained the age of 14 years and to the successor custodian and by delivering the custodial property to the successor custodian.

54.888(4) (4) If a custodian is ineligible, dies or becomes incapacitated without having effectively designated a successor and the minor has attained the age of 14 years, the minor may designate as successor custodian, in the manner prescribed in sub. (2), an adult member of the minor’s family, a conservator of the minor or a trust company. If the minor has not attained the age of 14 years or fails to act within 60 days after the ineligibility, death or incapacity, the conservator of the minor becomes successor custodian. If the minor has no conservator or the conservator declines to act, the transferor, the legal representative of the transferor or of the custodian, an adult member of the minor’s family or any other interested person may petition the court to designate a successor custodian.

54.888(5) (5) A custodian who declines to serve under sub. (1) or resigns under sub. (3), or the legal representative of a deceased or incapacitated custodian, as soon as practicable, shall put the custodial property and records in the possession and control of the successor custodian. The successor custodian, by action, may enforce the obligation to deliver custodial property and records and becomes responsible for each item as received.

54.888(6) (6) A transferor, the legal representative of a transferor, an adult member of the minor’s family, a guardian of the person of the minor, the conservator of the minor or the minor if the minor has attained the age of 14 years may petition the court to remove the custodian for cause and to designate a successor custodian other than a transferor under s. 54.860 or to require the custodian to give appropriate bond.

54.888 History History: 1987 a. 191; 1997 a. 188; 2005 a. 387 s. 544; Stats. 2005 s. 54.888.

54.890 54.890 Accounting by and determination of liability of custodian.

54.890(1) (1) A minor who has attained the age of 14 years, the minor’s guardian of the person or legal representative, an adult member of the minor’s family, a transferor or a transferor’s legal representative may petition the court:

54.890(1)(a) (a) For an accounting by the custodian or the custodian’s legal representative; or

54.890(1)(b) (b) For a determination of responsibility, as between the custodial property and the custodian personally, for claims against the custodial property unless the responsibility has been adjudicated in an action under s. 54.886 to which the minor or the minor’s legal representative was a party.

54.890(2) (2) A successor custodian may petition the court for an accounting by the predecessor custodian.

54.890(3) (3) The court, in a proceeding under ss. 54.854 to 54.898 or in any other proceeding, may require or permit the custodian or the custodian’s legal representative to account.

54.890(4) (4) If a custodian is removed under s. 54.888 (6), the court shall require an accounting and order delivery of the custodial property and records to the successor custodian and the execution of all instruments required for transfer of the custodial property.

54.890 History History: 1987 a. 191; 2005 a. 387 s. 545; Stats. 2005 s. 54.890.

54.892 54.892 Termination of custodianship. The custodian shall transfer in an appropriate manner the custodial property to the minor or to the minor’s estate upon the earlier of:

54.892(1) (1) The minor’s attainment of 21 years of age with respect to custodial property transferred under s. 54.860 or 54.862;

54.892(2) (2) The minor’s attainment of 18 years of age with respect to custodial property transferred under s. 54.864 or 54.866; or

54.892(3) (3) The minor’s death.

54.892 History History: 1987 a. 191; 2005 a. 387 s. 546; Stats. 2005 s. 54.892.

54.894 54.894 Applicability. Sections 54.854 to 54.898 apply to a transfer within the scope of s. 54.856 made after April 8, 1988, if:

54.894(1) (1) The transfer purports to have been made under ss. 880.61 to 880.71, 1985 stats.; or

54.894(2) (2) The instrument by which the transfer purports to have been made uses in substance the designation “as custodian under the Uniform Gifts to Minors Act” or “as custodian under the Uniform Transfers to Minors Act” of any other state, and the application of ss. 54.854 to 54.898 is necessary to validate the transfer.

54.894 History History: 1987 a. 191; 2005 a. 387 s. 547; Stats. 2005 s. 54.894.

54.896 54.896 Effect on existing custodianships.

54.896(1) (1) Any transfer of custodial property as defined in ss. 54.854 to 54.898 made before April 8, 1988, is validated notwithstanding that there was no specific authority in ss. 880.61 to 880.71, 1985 stats., for the coverage of custodial property of that kind or for a transfer from that source at the time the transfer was made.

54.896(2) (2) Sections 54.854 to 54.898 apply to all transfers made before April 8, 1988, in a manner and form prescribed in ss. 880.61 to 880.71, 1985 stats., except insofar as the application impairs constitutionally vested rights or extends the duration of custodianships in existence on April 8, 1988.

54.896(3) (3) Sections 54.854 to 54.892 with respect to the age of a minor for whom custodial property is held under ss. 54.854 to 54.898 do not apply to custodial property held in a custodianship that terminated because of the minor’s attainment of the age of 18 after March 23, 1972 and before April 8, 1988.

54.896(4) (4) To the extent that ss. 54.854 to 54.898, by virtue of sub. (2), do not apply to transfers made in a manner prescribed in ss. 880.61 to 880.71, 1985 stats., or to the powers, duties and immunities conferred by transfers in that manner upon custodians and persons dealing with custodians, the repeal of ss. 880.61 to 880.71, 1985 stats., does not affect those transfers, powers, duties and immunities.

54.896 History History: 1987 a. 191; 2005 a. 387 s. 548; Stats. 2005 s. 54.896.

54.898 54.898 Uniformity of application and construction. Sections 54.854 to 54.898 shall be applied and construed to effectuate their general purpose to make uniform the law with respect to the subject of ss. 54.854 to 54.898 among states enacting it.

54.898 History History: 1987 a. 191; 2005 a. 387 s. 549; Stats. 2005 s. 54.898.

54.92 54.92 Uniform securities ownership by minors act.

54.92(1) (1) Definitions. In this section, unless the context otherwise requires:

54.92(1)(a) (a) “Bank” is a bank, trust company, national banking association, industrial bank or any banking institution incorporated under the laws of this state.

54.92(1)(b) (b) “Broker” means a person lawfully engaged in the business of effecting transactions in securities for the account of others. The term includes a bank which effects such transactions. The term also includes a person lawfully engaged in buying and selling securities for his or her own account, through a broker or otherwise, as a part of a regular business.

54.92(1)(c) (c) “Issuer” means a person who places or authorizes the placing of his or her name on a security, other than as a transfer agent, to evidence that it represents a share, participation or other interest in his or her property or in an enterprise or to evidence his or her duty or undertaking to perform an obligation evidenced by the security, or who becomes responsible for or in place of any such person.

54.92(1)(d) (d) “Person” includes a corporation, government or governmental subdivision or agency, business trust, estate, trust, partnership or association, 2 or more persons having a joint or common interest, or any other legal or commercial entity.

54.92(1)(e) (e) “Security” includes any note, stock, treasury stock, bond, debenture, evidence of indebtedness, certificate of interest or participation in an oil, gas or mining title or lease or in payments out of production under such a title or lease, collateral trust certificate, transferable share, voting trust certificate or, in general, any interest or instrument commonly known as a security, or any certificate of interest or participation in, any temporary or interim certificate, receipt or certificate of deposit for, or any warrant or right to subscribe to or purchase, any of the foregoing. The term does not include a security of which the donor is the issuer. A security is in “registered form” when it specifies a person entitled to it or to the rights it evidences and its transfer may be registered upon books maintained for that purpose by or on behalf of the issuer.

54.92(1)(f) (f) “Third party” is a person other than a bank, broker, transfer agent or issuer who with respect to a security held by a minor effects a transaction otherwise than directly with the minor.

54.92(1)(g) (g) “Transfer agent” means a person who acts as authenticating trustee, transfer agent, registrar or other agent for an issuer in the registration of transfers of its securities or in the issue of new securities or in the cancellation of surrendered securities.

54.92(2) (2) Security transactions involving minors; liability. A bank, broker, issuer, 3rd party, or transfer agent incurs no liability by reason of his or her treating a minor as having capacity to transfer a security, to receive or to empower others to receive dividends, interest, principal, or other payments or distributions, to vote or give consent in person or by proxy, or to make elections or exercise rights relating to the security, unless prior to acting in the transaction the bank, broker, issuer, 3rd party, or transfer agent had received written notice in the office acting in the transaction that the specific security is held by a minor or unless an individual conducting the transaction for the bank, broker, issuer, 3rd party, or transfer agent had actual knowledge of the minority of the holder of the security. Except as otherwise provided in this section, such a bank, broker, issuer, 3rd party, or transfer agent may assume without inquiry that the holder of a security is not a minor.

54.92(3) (3) Acts of minors not subject to disaffirmance or avoidance. A minor, who has transferred a security, received or empowered others to receive dividends, interest, principal, or other payments or distributions, voted or given consent in person or by proxy, or made an election or exercised rights relating to the security, has no right thereafter, as against a bank, broker, issuer, 3rd party, or transfer agent to disaffirm or avoid the transaction, unless prior to acting in the transaction the bank, broker, issuer, 3rd party, or transfer agent against whom the transaction is sought to be disaffirmed or avoided had received notice in the office acting in the transaction that the specific security is held by a minor or unless an individual conducting the transaction for the bank, broker, issuer, 3rd party, or transfer agent had actual knowledge of the minority of the holder.

54.92(4) (4) Construction. This section shall be so construed as to effectuate its general purpose to make uniform the laws of those states which enact it.

54.92(5) (5) Interpretation. This section shall supersede any provision of law in conflict therewith.

54.92(6) (6) Title. This section may be cited as the “Uniform Securities Ownership by Minors Act”.

54.92 History History: 1971 c. 41 ss. 8, 12; Stats. 1971 s. 880.75; 1987 a. 191; 1991 a. 221; 1993 a. 486; 1999 a. 185; 2005 a. 253; 2005 a. 387 s. 551; Stats. 2005 s. 54.92.

54.93 54.93 Securities ownership by incompetents and spendthrifts.

54.93(1) (1) Definitions.

54.93(1)(a) (a) All definitions in s. 54.92 (1) (a) to (e) and (g) shall apply in this section, unless the context otherwise requires.

54.93(1)(b) (b) In this section, “3rd party” means a person other than a bank, broker, transfer agent or issuer who with respect to a security held by an incompetent or spendthrift effects a transaction otherwise than directly with the incompetent or spendthrift.

54.93(2) (2) Security transactions involving incompetent or spendthrift; liability. A bank, broker, issuer, 3rd party, or transfer agent incurs no liability by reason of his or her treating an incompetent or spendthrift as having capacity to transfer a security, to receive or to empower others to receive dividends, interest, principal, or other payments or distributions, to vote or give consent in person or by proxy, or to make elections or exercise rights relating to the security, unless prior to acting in the transaction the bank, broker, issuer, 3rd party, or transfer agent had received written notice in the office acting in the transaction that the specific security is held by a person who has been adjudicated an incompetent or a spendthrift or unless an individual conducting the transaction for the bank, broker, issuer, 3rd party, or transfer agent had actual knowledge that the holder of the security is a person who has been adjudicated an incompetent or a spendthrift, or actual knowledge of filing of lis pendens as provided in s. 54.47. Except as otherwise provided in this section, such a bank, broker, issuer, 3rd party, or transfer agent may assume without inquiry that the holder of a security is not an incompetent or spendthrift.

54.93(3) (3) Acts not subject to disaffirmance or avoidance. An incompetent or spendthrift, who has transferred a security, received or empowered others to receive dividends, interest, principal, or other payments or distributions, voted or given consent in person or by proxy, or made an election or exercised rights relating to the security, has no right thereafter, as against a bank, broker, issuer, 3rd party, or transfer agent to disaffirm or avoid the transaction, unless prior to acting in the transaction the bank, broker, issuer, 3rd party, or transfer agent against whom the transaction is sought to be disaffirmed or avoided had received notice in the office acting in the transaction that the specific security is held by a person who has been adjudicated an incompetent or a spendthrift or unless an individual conducting the transaction for the bank, broker, issuer, 3rd party, or transfer agent had actual knowledge that the holder is a person who has been adjudicated an incompetent or a spendthrift, or actual knowledge of filing of lis pendens as provided in s. 54.47.