Chapter 701

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.

701.0819(2) (2) In interpreting, construing, or administering a trust instrument, absent a clear expression of intent by the settlor to the contrary, a trustee shall apply the following presumptions that may only be rebutted by clear and convincing evidence:

701.0819(2)(a) (a) The settlor intended to take advantage of tax deductions, exemptions, exclusions, and credits.

701.0819(2)(b) (b) The settlor intended that any transfer made to a spouse outright and free of trust qualify for the gift or estate tax marital deduction and is a marital deduction transfer.

701.0819(2)(c) (c) If the trust instrument refers to a trust as a marital trust, qualified terminable interest property trust, or spousal trust, or refers to qualified terminable interest property, section 2044, 2056, 2056A, or 2523 of the Internal Revenue Code, or a similar provision of applicable state law, the settlor intended that the trust and property passing to the trust qualify for the applicable gift or estate tax marital deduction and that the transfer qualifies for the marital deduction for federal and state gift or estate tax purposes.

701.0819(3) (3) If a trust receives a marital deduction transfer, the trust instrument shall be construed to comply with the marital deduction provisions of the Internal Revenue Code.

701.0819(4) (4) If a trust receives a marital deduction transfer, the trustee has all the powers, duties, and discretionary authority necessary to comply with the marital deduction provisions of the Internal Revenue Code. The trustee may not take any action or have any power that may impair the availability of the marital deduction, but this does not require the trustee to make the election under either section 2056 (b) (7), 2056A (a) (3), or 2523 (f) of the Internal Revenue Code.

701.0819 History History: 2013 a. 92.

subch. IX of ch. 701 SUBCHAPTER IX

INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT OF TRUSTS

701.0901 701.0901 Application of the Wisconsin Prudent Investor Act. Except as provided in this subchapter, the investment management of the property of a trust is governed by ch. 881.

701.0901 History History: 2013 a. 92.

701.0902 701.0902 Directed trust property.

701.0902(1) (1) A directing party who has power over directed trust property shall do all of the following:

701.0902(1)(a) (a) Direct the trustee on the retention, purchase, sale, exchange, tender, encumbrance, or any other investment transaction of the directed trust property and the investment and reinvestment of principal and income.

701.0902(1)(b) (b) Direct the trustee with respect to the management, control, and voting powers, including voting proxies, of the directed trust property.

701.0902(1)(c) (c) Select and determine reasonable compensation of one or more outside investment advisors, managers, consultants, or counselors, which may include the trustee, and delegate investment authority to them pursuant to the investment delegation provisions under s. 881.01 (10).

701.0902(1)(d) (d) Determine the frequency of and methodology for valuing directed trust property and provide the value of property for which there is no readily available daily market value.

701.0902(2) (2) A trustee who has no power over directed trust property does not have a duty to do any of the following with respect to the directed trust property:

701.0902(2)(a) (a) Prepare or review investment policy statements.

701.0902(2)(b) (b) Perform investment or suitability reviews, inquiries, or investigations.

701.0902(2)(c) (c) Determine or verify the value of directed trust property for which there is no readily available daily market value.

701.0902(2)(d) (d) Monitor the conduct or investment performance of the directing party.

701.0902 History History: 2013 a. 92.

701.0903 701.0903 Nonapplication of prudent investor rule to life insurance contracts owned by trusts.

701.0903(1) (1) Notwithstanding s. 881.01, if a principal purpose of a trust is to hold a life insurance contract or to purchase a life insurance contract from contributions made to the trust, the trustee does not have a duty to determine whether the life insurance contract is or remains a proper investment of the trust. For purposes of this subsection, determining whether a life insurance contact is or remains a proper investment includes all of the following:

701.0903(1)(a) (a) Investigating the financial strength or changes in the financial strength of the life insurance company maintaining the life insurance contract.

701.0903(1)(b) (b) Determining whether to exercise any policy option, right, or privilege available under the life insurance contract.

701.0903(1)(c) (c) Diversifying the life insurance contract relative to any other life insurance contracts or any other assets of the trust.

701.0903(1)(d) (d) Inquiring about or investigating the health or financial condition of an insured.

701.0903(1)(e) (e) Preventing the lapse of a life insurance contract if the trust does not receive contributions or hold other readily marketable assets to pay the life insurance contract premiums.

701.0903(2) (2) A trustee is not liable for a loss that arises because the trustee did not take an action specified in sub. (1).

701.0903(4) (4) This section does not apply to a trust that was executed before July 1, 2014, unless the trustee notifies the qualified beneficiaries that the trustee elects to be governed by this section and provides the qualified beneficiaries with a copy of this section.

701.0903(5) (5) Subject to sub. (4), this section applies to a life insurance contract acquired, retained, or owned by a trustee before, on, or after July 1, 2014.

701.0903 History History: 2013 a. 92.

subch. X of ch. 701 SUBCHAPTER X

LIABILITY OF TRUSTEES AND RIGHTS
OF PERSONS DEALING WITH TRUSTEE

701.1001 701.1001 Remedies for breach of trust.

701.1001(1) (1) A violation by a trustee of a duty the trustee owes to a beneficiary is a breach of trust.

701.1001(2) (2) To remedy a breach of trust that has occurred or may occur, a court may do any of the following:

701.1001(2)(a) (a) Compel the trustee to perform the trustee’s duties.

701.1001(2)(b) (b) Enjoin the trustee from committing a breach of trust.

701.1001(2)(c) (c) Compel the trustee to redress a breach of trust by paying money, restoring property, or other means.

701.1001(2)(d) (d) Order a trustee to account.

701.1001(2)(e) (e) Appoint an additional trustee, a directing party, or a trust protector having the duties and authority ordered by the court, including, in the case of an additional trustee, the authority to take possession of the trust property and administer the trust.

701.1001(2)(f) (f) Suspend the trustee.

701.1001(2)(g) (g) Remove the trustee as provided in s. 701.0706.

701.1001(2)(h) (h) Reduce the compensation of or deny compensation to the trustee.

701.1001(2)(i) (i) Subject to s. 701.1012, void an act of the trustee, impose a lien or a constructive trust on trust property, or trace trust property wrongfully disposed of and order recovery of the property or its proceeds.

701.1001(2)(j) (j) Order any other appropriate relief, whether provided elsewhere in this chapter, available at common law, or under equity principles.

701.1001 History History: 2013 a. 92.

701.1002 701.1002 Damages for breach of trust; liability of successor trustee.

701.1002(1) (1) A trustee who commits a breach of trust is liable to an affected beneficiary for the greater of the following:

701.1002(1)(a) (a) The amount required to restore the value of the trust property and trust distributions to what they would have been had the breach not occurred.

701.1002(1)(b) (b) The profit the trustee made by reason of the breach.

701.1002(2) (2) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, if more than one trustee is liable to a beneficiary for a breach of trust, a trustee is entitled to contribution from the other trustee or trustees. A trustee is not entitled to contribution if the trustee was substantially more at fault than another trustee or if the trustee committed the breach of trust in bad faith or with reckless indifference to the purposes of the trust or the interests of the beneficiary. A trustee who received a benefit from the breach of trust is not entitled to contribution from another trustee to the extent of the benefit received.

701.1002(3) (3) A successor trustee is not liable for the acts and omissions of a former trustee or for the acts or omissions of any directing party or trust protector that are taken before the appointment of the successor trustee.

701.1002 History History: 2013 a. 92.

701.1003 701.1003 Damages in absence of breach. Absent a breach of trust, a trustee is not liable to a beneficiary for a loss or depreciation in the value of trust property or for not having made a profit.

701.1003 History History: 2013 a. 92.

701.1004 701.1004 Attorney fees and costs.

701.1004(1) (1) In a judicial proceeding involving the administration of a trust, the court, as justice and equity may require, may award costs and expenses, including reasonable attorney fees, to any party, to be paid by another party or from the trust that is the subject of the controversy.

701.1004(2) (2) Subject to sub. (3), if a trustee, directing party, or trust protector defends or prosecutes any proceeding in good faith, whether successful or not, the trustee, directing party, or trust protector is entitled to receive from the trust the necessary expenses and disbursements, including reasonable attorney fees, incurred. This subsection does not preclude a court from ordering another party to reimburse the trust for these expenses and disbursements as provided in sub. (1).

701.1004(3) (3) 

701.1004(3)(a) (a) A trustee may pay costs or attorney fees incurred in any proceeding from the trust property without the approval of any person and without court authorization, unless the court orders otherwise as provided in par. (c).

701.1004(3)(b) (b) If a claim or defense based upon a breach of trust is made against a trustee, directing party, or trust protector in a proceeding, the trustee shall provide notice to each qualified beneficiary, directing party, and trust protector of the trustee’s intention to pay costs or attorney fees incurred in the proceeding from the trust prior to making payment. The notice shall inform each qualified beneficiary, directing party, and trust protector of the right to apply to the court for an order prohibiting the trustee from paying attorney fees or costs from trust property. If a trustee is served with a motion for an order prohibiting the trustee from paying from the trust attorney fees or costs in the proceeding and the trustee pays attorney fees or costs from the trust before an order is entered on the motion, the trustee, directing party, or trust protector and their respective attorneys who have been paid attorney fees or costs from trust property are subject to the remedies in pars. (c) and (d).

701.1004(3)(c) (c)

701.1004(3)(c)1. 1. If a claim or defense based upon breach of trust is made against a trustee, directing party, or trust protector in a proceeding, a party may move the court for an order to prohibit the trustee from paying costs or attorney fees from trust property.

701.1004(3)(c)2. 2. Except as provided in subd. 3., if the moving party demonstrates to the court that there is a reasonable basis for the court to find that a breach of trust occurred, the court shall enter an order prohibiting the payment of further attorney fees and costs from trust property and shall order attorney fees or costs previously paid from trust property in such proceeding to be refunded, unless the court finds good cause to allow attorney fees and costs to be paid from the trust. A trustee, directing party, or trust protector may offer evidence to rebut the evidence submitted to the court by the moving party.

701.1004(3)(c)3. 3. The court may defer ruling on a motion to prohibit a trustee from paying costs or attorney fees from trust property until discovery is taken by the parties.

701.1004(3)(c)4. 4. An order entered under this paragraph does not limit a trustee’s, directing party’s, or trust protector’s right to seek an order allowing the payment of some or all of the attorney fees or costs incurred in the proceeding from trust property, including any fees required to be refunded, after the claim or defense is finally determined by the court. If a claim or defense based upon a breach of trust is withdrawn, dismissed, or resolved without a determination by the court that the trustee committed a breach of trust, after the entry of an order prohibiting payment of attorney fees and costs pursuant to this paragraph, the trustee may pay costs or attorney fees incurred in the proceeding from the trust property without further court authorization.

701.1004(3)(d) (d) If the court orders a refund under par. (c), the court may enter sanctions as are appropriate if a refund is not made as directed by the court, including striking defenses or pleadings filed by the trustee, directing party, or trust protector. Nothing in this paragraph limits other remedies and sanctions the court may employ for the failure to refund the trust in a timely manner.

701.1004(3)(e) (e) Subject to s. 701.1005, nothing in this subsection limits the power of the court to review fees and costs or the right of any interested persons to challenge fees and costs after payment, after an accounting, or after conclusion of the litigation.

701.1004(3)(f) (f) Notice under par. (b) is not required if the action or defense is later withdrawn or dismissed by the party that is alleging a breach of trust or resolved without a determination by the court that the trustee has not committed a breach of trust.

701.1004(4) (4) A provision of a trust instrument drafted or caused to be drafted by a trustee, directing party, or trust protector that modifies the application of this section in a manner favorable to the trustee, directing party, or trust protector and potentially detrimental to a beneficiary is invalid with respect to the trustee, directing party, or trust protector unless the trustee, directing party, or trust protector proves that the provision was fair under the circumstances existing at the time the trust instrument was signed and that the existence and contents of the provision were adequately communicated to the settlor.

701.1004 History History: 2013 a. 92.

701.1005 701.1005 Limitation of action against trustee.

701.1005(1) (1) A beneficiary may not commence a proceeding against a trustee for breach of trust more than one year after the earlier of either the date on which the beneficiary or a representative of the beneficiary waived the right to a report under s. 701.0813 (4) or the date on which the beneficiary or a representative of the beneficiary was sent a report or other record that adequately disclosed the existence of a potential claim for breach of trust.

701.1005(2) (2) A report or other record adequately discloses the existence of a potential claim for breach of trust if it provides sufficient information so that the beneficiary or representative knows of the potential claim or should have inquired into its existence.