Chapter 701

701.0816(13)(b) (b) Take action to prevent, abate, or otherwise remedy any actual or potential violation of any environmental law affecting property held directly or indirectly by the trustee, whether taken before or after the assertion of a claim or the initiation of governmental enforcement.

701.0816(13)(c) (c) Decline to accept property into trust or disclaim any power with respect to property that is or may be burdened with liability for violation of environmental law.

701.0816(13)(d) (d) Compromise claims against the trust that may be asserted for an alleged violation of environmental law.

701.0816(13)(e) (e) Pay the expense of any inspection, review, abatement, or remedial action to comply with environmental law.

701.0816(14) (14) Pay or contest any claim, settle a claim by or against the trust, and release, in whole or in part, a claim belonging to the trust.

701.0816(15) (15) Pay taxes; assessments; compensation of the trustee, a directing party, a trust protector, and employees and agents of the trust; and other expenses incurred in the administration of the trust.

701.0816(16) (16) Exercise elections with respect to federal, state, and local taxes.

701.0816(17) (17) Select a mode of payment under any employee benefit or retirement plan, annuity, or life insurance payable to the trustee, exercise rights thereunder, including exercise of the right to indemnification for expenses and against liabilities, and take appropriate action to collect the proceeds.

701.0816(18) (18) Make loans out of trust property, including loans to a beneficiary on terms and conditions the trustee considers to be fair and reasonable under the circumstances. The trustee has a lien on future distributions for repayment of loans under this subsection.

701.0816(19) (19) Pledge trust property to guarantee loans made by others to the beneficiary.

701.0816(20) (20) Appoint a trustee to act in another jurisdiction with respect to trust property located in the other jurisdiction, confer upon the appointed trustee all of the powers and duties of the appointing trustee, require that the appointed trustee furnish security, and remove any trustee so appointed.

701.0816(21) (21) Pay an amount distributable to a beneficiary who is under a legal disability or who the trustee reasonably believes is incapacitated, by paying it directly to the beneficiary, applying it for the beneficiary’s benefit, or by doing any of the following:

701.0816(21)(a) (a) Paying the amount to the beneficiary’s conservator or the beneficiary’s guardian of the estate.

701.0816(21)(b) (b) Paying the amount to the beneficiary’s custodian under the Uniform Transfers to Minors Act under ss. 54.854 to 54.898 or the Uniform Custodial Trust Act under ss. 54.950 to 54.988, and, for that purpose, creating a custodianship or custodial trust.

701.0816(21)(c) (c) If the trustee does not know of a conservator, guardian of the estate, custodian, or custodial trustee, paying the amount to an adult relative or other person having legal or physical care or custody of the beneficiary or to the guardian of the person of the beneficiary, to be expended on the beneficiary’s behalf.

701.0816(21)(d) (d) Managing the amount as a separate fund on the beneficiary’s behalf, subject to the beneficiary’s continuing right to withdraw the distribution.

701.0816(22) (22) On distribution of trust property or the division or termination of a trust, make distributions in divided or undivided interests, allocate particular assets in proportionate or disproportionate shares, value the trust property for those purposes, and adjust for resulting differences in valuation.

701.0816(23) (23) Resolve a dispute concerning the interpretation of the trust or its administration by mediation, arbitration, or other procedure for alternative dispute resolution.

701.0816(24) (24) Prosecute or defend an action, claim, or judicial proceeding in any jurisdiction to protect trust property or the trustee, a directing party, or a trust protector in the performance of the trustee’s, directing party’s or trust protector’s duties.

701.0816(25) (25) Sign and deliver contracts and other instruments that are useful to achieve or facilitate the exercise of the trustee’s, directing party’s or trust protector’s powers.

701.0816(26) (26) On termination of the trust, exercise the powers appropriate to wind up the administration of the trust and distribute the trust property to the persons entitled to it.

701.0816(27) (27) Create or fund a plan under section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code, or other college savings vehicle, for a beneficiary’s benefit.

701.0816(28) (28) Obtain digital property, as provided under s. 711.07.

701.0816(29) (29) Fund a trust or account that meets the requirements under 42 USC 1396p (d) (4) (A) or (C) for the benefit of an individual with a disability.

701.0816(30) (30) Fund an account that is part of an ABLE program under section 529A of the Internal Revenue Code for a beneficiary’s benefit.

701.0816 History History: 2013 a. 92; 2015 a. 300; 2023 a. 127.

701.0817 701.0817 Distribution upon termination.

701.0817(1) (1) Upon termination or partial termination of a trust, the trustee may send a proposal for distribution to the beneficiaries of the trust. The right of any beneficiary to whom the proposal is sent to object to the proposed distribution terminates if the beneficiary does not notify the trustee of an objection within 30 days after the proposal was sent but only if the proposal informed the beneficiary of the right to object and of the time allowed for objection.

701.0817(2) (2) Upon the occurrence of an event terminating or partially terminating a trust, the trustee shall proceed within a reasonable time to distribute the trust property to the persons entitled to it, subject to the right of the trustee to retain a reasonable reserve for the payment of debts, expenses, and taxes.

701.0817(3) (3) A release by a beneficiary of a trustee from liability for breach of trust is invalid to the extent any of the following applies:

701.0817(3)(a) (a) The release was induced by improper conduct of the trustee.

701.0817(3)(b) (b) The beneficiary, at the time of the release, did not know of the beneficiary’s rights or have a reasonable opportunity to know of the material facts relating to the breach.

701.0817 History History: 2013 a. 92; 2023 a. 127.

701.0818 701.0818 Trust protectors.

701.0818(1) (1) Appointment. A settlor in a trust instrument, a court in a trust instrument or court order, or interested persons in a nonjudicial settlement agreement may provide for the appointment of a trust protector, whether referred to as a trust protector, another title, or no title. A trust protector has only the powers granted to the trust protector in the trust instrument, court order, or nonjudicial settlement agreement.

701.0818(2) (2) Trust protector powers; legal capacity.

701.0818(2)(a) (a) A settlor in a trust instrument, a court in a trust instrument or court order, or interested persons in a nonjudicial settlement agreement may specify the legal capacity in which a particular power is exercisable by a trust protector and whether a power granted to the trust protector in a capacity other than a fiduciary capacity must be exercised in good faith.

701.0818(2)(b) (b) If the settlor, court, or interested persons do not specify the legal capacity in which a particular power is exercisable by the trust protector, all of the following apply:

701.0818(2)(b)1. 1. The power is exercisable in a fiduciary capacity if it is a power to do any of the following:

701.0818(2)(b)1.a. a. Interpret or enforce the terms of the trust at the request of the trustee.

701.0818(2)(b)1.b. b. Review and approve the trustee’s reports or accounting.

701.0818(2)(b)1.c. c. Resolve disputes between the trustee or a directing party and a beneficiary.

701.0818(2)(b)1.d. d. Consent to or veto distributions to a beneficiary.

701.0818(2)(b)1.e. e. Consent to or veto investment actions.

701.0818(2)(b)2. 2. If it is not a power described in subd. 1. a. to e., the power is exercisable in a nonfiduciary capacity, including a power to do any of the following:

701.0818(2)(b)2.a. a. Modify or amend the trust instrument to respond to opportunities related to, or changes in, restraints on alienation or other state laws restricting the terms of a trust, the distribution of trust property, or the administration of the trust.

701.0818(2)(b)2.b. b. Modify or amend the trust instrument to achieve a different tax status or to respond to changes in federal or state law.

701.0818(2)(b)2.c. c. Change the principal place of administration, the tax situs of the trust, or the governing law of the trust.

701.0818(2)(b)2.d. d. Eliminate or modify the interests of a beneficiary, add a new beneficiary or class of beneficiaries, or select a beneficiary from an indefinite class.

701.0818(2)(b)2.e. e. Modify the terms of a power of appointment granted under the trust.

701.0818(2)(b)2.f. f. Remove, replace, or appoint a trustee, trust protector, or directing party or a successor trustee, trust protector, or directing party.

701.0818(2)(b)2.g. g. Terminate the trust.

701.0818(2)(b)2.h. h. Exercise a decanting power under subch. XIII or direct an authorized fiduciary, as defined in s. 701.1302 (1), to exercise a decanting power under subch. XIII.

701.0818(2)(b)2.i. i. Advise the trustee on matters concerning a beneficiary, including whether to provide information to a beneficiary under s. 701.0813.

701.0818(2)(b)2.j. j. Correct errors or ambiguities in the terms of the trust that might otherwise require court construction or defeat the settlor’s intent.

701.0818(2)(b)3. 3. Notwithstanding subds. 1. and 2., a trust protector who is also the settlor may exercise any power granted to the trust protector in the trust protector’s personal interests.

701.0818(2)(b)4. 4. Notwithstanding subd. 2., a trust protector who is also a qualified beneficiary may exercise any power granted to the trust protector that is exercisable in a nonfiduciary capacity in the trust protector’s personal interests.

701.0818(2)(c) (c) Notwithstanding pars. (a) and (b) and any provision in the trust instrument to the contrary, a trust protector who is also serving as the trustee or a directing party shall exercise any power granted to the trust protector in a fiduciary capacity.

701.0818(3) (3) Trust protector duties.

701.0818(3)(a) (a) If a power is exercisable in a fiduciary capacity, the trust protector shall act in good faith and shall exercise the power in a manner that is consistent with the terms and purposes of the trust instrument, court order, or nonjudicial settlement agreement and the interests of the beneficiaries.

701.0818(3)(b) (b) If a power is exercisable in a nonfiduciary capacity, the trust protector shall act in good faith unless the trust instrument, court order, or nonjudicial settlement agreement provides otherwise.

701.0818(3)(c) (c) A trust protector does not have a duty to exercise its powers, to monitor the conduct of the trustee or a directing party, or to monitor changes in the law or circumstances of the beneficiaries.

701.0818(4) (4) Liability. A trust protector is liable for any loss that results from a breach of the trust protector’s duties, except as follows:

701.0818(4)(a) (a) If the trust protector is also the settlor, the trust protector is not liable for any loss that results from a breach of the trust protector’s duties.

701.0818(4)(b) (b) If the trust protector is also a qualified beneficiary, the trust protector is not liable for any loss that results from a breach of the trust protector’s duties for a power that is exercised in a nonfiduciary capacity.

701.0818(5) (5) Resignation and release of powers. A trust protector may resign or release a power granted to the trust protector by giving written notice to the trustee and to any successor trust protector.

701.0818(6) (6) Prohibited actions. A trust protector may not exercise a power granted to the trust protector to do any of the following:

701.0818(6)(a) (a) Except as provided in sub. (2) (b) 3. and 4., create or expand any beneficial interest, power of appointment, right of withdrawal, or right to receive trust property as a result of the exercise of a power of appointment if the creation or expansion would benefit the trust protector, the trust protector’s estate, the trust protector’s creditors, or creditors of the trust protector’s estate.

701.0818(6)(b) (b) Modify or amend a trust to do any of the following:

701.0818(6)(b)1. 1. Remove a requirement pursuant to 42 USC 1396p (d) (4) to pay back a governmental entity for benefits provided to the permissible beneficiary at the death of that beneficiary.

701.0818(6)(b)2. 2. Reduce or eliminate an income interest of an income beneficiary of any of the following trusts:

701.0818(6)(b)2.a. a. A trust for which a marital deduction has been taken for federal or state estate tax purposes under section 2056, 2056A, or 2523 of the Internal Revenue Code or any comparable provision of applicable state law, during the life of the settlor’s spouse.

701.0818(6)(b)2.b. b. A charitable remainder trust under section 664 of the Internal Revenue Code, during the life of the noncharitable beneficiary.

701.0818(6)(b)2.c. c. A trust in which the settlor has a qualified interest under section 2702 (b) of the Internal Revenue Code, during any period in which the settlor is a beneficiary.

701.0818(6)(b)2.d. d. A trust for which an election as a qualified Subchapter S Trust under section 1361(d) of the Internal Revenue Code is in place.

701.0818(6)(c) (c) Modify any beneficial interest in a trust that qualified for a marital deduction or charitable deduction from federal or state estate tax in a manner that would have caused the trust not to qualify for the deduction.

701.0818(7) (7) Settlor rights. A trust protector is not subject to the direction of the settlor and the settlor may not bring a cause of action against the trust protector. A trust protector may consider a settlor’s goals, objectives, and philosophies in establishing the trust and the trust’s structure when exercising the powers granted to the trust protector and may do so regardless of whether the settlor is deceased.

701.0818(8) (8) Duties of a trustee and a directing party.

701.0818(8)(a) (a) A trustee and a directing party shall act in accordance with a trust protector’s exercise of a power granted to the trust protector. A trustee and a directing party are not liable for acting in accordance with the trust protector’s exercise of a power granted to the trust protector unless the attempted exercise is manifestly contrary to the power granted to the trust protector or the trustee or the directing party knows that the attempted exercise would constitute a serious breach of a duty that the trust protector owes to the beneficiaries of the trust.

701.0818(8)(b) (b) A trustee and a directing party do not have a duty to monitor the conduct of the trust protector, provide advice to or consult with the trust protector, or communicate with, warn, or apprise any beneficiary concerning instances in which the trustee or the directing party would or might have exercised the trustee’s or the directing party’s discretion in a manner different from the manner in which the trust protector exercised its discretion.

701.0818(9) (9) Right to information.

701.0818(9)(a) (a) A trust protector may request information about the trust from the trustee and, if the requested information is related to a power granted to the trust protector, the trustee shall provide the requested information to the trust protector. If a trustee is bound by any confidentiality restrictions with respect to information requested by a trust protector, the trustee may require that the trust protector agree to be bound by the confidentiality restrictions before delivering such information to the trust protector. A trustee is not liable to any beneficiary for any loss or damages resulting from the trustee providing information to the trust protector that is related to the power granted to the trust protector.

701.0818(9)(b) (b) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, a trustee does not have to provide any information to the trust protector that the trust protector does not request.

701.0818(10) (10) Payment or reimbursement of attorney fees and costs. A trustee shall, in accordance with s. 701.1004, pay or reimburse a trust protector for attorney fees and costs to defend any claim made against the trust protector.

701.0818(11) (11) Application of other sections to trust protectors. Sections 701.0701, 701.0708, 701.0709, 701.1001 to 701.1003, and 701.1005 to 701.1010 apply to a trust protector as if the trust protector is the trustee.

701.0818(12) (12) Jurisdiction. A person who accepts an appointment as a trust protector of a trust submits to the jurisdiction of the courts of this state, as provided in s. 701.0202 (1).

701.0818 History History: 2013 a. 92; 2023 a. 127.

701.0819 701.0819 Marital deduction transfers.

701.0819(1) (1) For purposes of this section, “marital deduction transfer” means a lifetime or testamentary transfer of property that is intended to qualify for the marital deduction as indicated by the terms of the trust.