Chapter 701

701.0703(1) (1) Cotrustees may act only by majority decision.

701.0703(2) (2) If a vacancy occurs in a cotrusteeship, as provided under s. 701.0704, a majority of the remaining cotrustees may act for the trust.

701.0703(3) (3) A cotrustee shall participate in the performance of a trustee’s function unless the cotrustee is unavailable to perform the function because of absence, illness, disqualification under other law, or the cotrustee is otherwise temporarily incapacitated or the cotrustee has properly delegated the performance of the function to another trustee.

701.0703(4) (4) If a cotrustee is unavailable to perform duties because of absence, illness, disqualification under other law, or the cotrustee is otherwise temporarily incapacitated, and prompt action is necessary to achieve the purposes of the trust or to avoid injury to the trust property, the remaining cotrustee or a majority of the remaining cotrustees may act for the trust.

701.0703(5) (5) A trustee may delegate to a cotrustee a function unless the delegation is expressly prohibited by the terms of the trust. Unless a delegation is irrevocable, a trustee may revoke a delegation previously made.

701.0703(6) (6) Except as provided in sub. (7), a trustee who does not join in an action of another trustee is not liable for the action.

701.0703(7) (7) Each trustee shall exercise reasonable care to do all of the following:

701.0703(7)(a) (a) Prevent a cotrustee from committing a material breach of trust.

701.0703(7)(b) (b) Compel a cotrustee to redress a material breach of trust.

701.0703(8) (8) A dissenting trustee who joins in an action at the direction of the majority of the trustees and who notified all cotrustees of the dissent at or before the time of the action is not liable for the action unless the action is a material breach of trust.

701.0703 History History: 2013 a. 92.

701.0704 701.0704 Vacancy in trusteeship; appointment of successor.

701.0704(1) (1) A vacancy in a trusteeship exists if any of the following occurs:

701.0704(1)(a) (a) A person designated as trustee declines the trusteeship.

701.0704(1)(b) (b) A person designated as trustee cannot be identified or does not exist.

701.0704(1)(c) (c) A trustee resigns.

701.0704(1)(d) (d) A trustee is disqualified or removed.

701.0704(1)(e) (e) A trustee dies.

701.0704(1)(f) (f) A guardian or conservator is appointed for an individual serving as trustee.

701.0704(1)(g) (g) Any other event occurs resulting in no person acting as trustee.

701.0704(2) (2) If one or more cotrustees remain in office, a vacancy in a trusteeship does not need to be filled. A vacancy in a trusteeship shall be filled if the trust has no remaining trustee.

701.0704(3) (3) A vacancy in a trusteeship that is required to be filled shall be filled in the following order of priority:

701.0704(3)(a) (a) By a person designated in the terms of the trust to act as successor trustee.

701.0704(3)(b) (b) By a person appointed by unanimous agreement of the qualified beneficiaries, except that, if the trust is a trust for an individual with a disability, the person appointed under this paragraph may not be the individual with a disability, his or her spouse, or a relative of the individual with a disability who is legally responsible for his or her support.

701.0704(3)(c) (c) By a person appointed by the court.

701.0704(4) (4) Whether or not a vacancy in a trusteeship exists or is required to be filled, the court may appoint an additional trustee, directing party, or trust protector whenever the court considers the appointment necessary for the administration of the trust.

701.0704 History History: 2013 a. 92; 2023 a. 127.

701.0705 701.0705 Resignation of trustee.

701.0705(1) (1) A trustee may resign in any of the following manners:

701.0705(1)(a) (a) Upon at least 30 days’ notice to the qualified beneficiaries, the settlor, if living, each cotrustee, each trust protector, and each directing party.

701.0705(1)(b) (b) With the approval of the court.

701.0705(2) (2) In approving a resignation, the court may issue orders and impose conditions reasonably necessary for the protection of the trust property.

701.0705(3) (3) Any liability of a resigning trustee or of any sureties on the trustee’s bond for acts or omissions of the trustee is not discharged or affected by the trustee’s resignation.

701.0705 History History: 2013 a. 92.

701.0706 701.0706 Removal of trustee.

701.0706(1) (1) The settlor, a cotrustee, or a qualified beneficiary may request the court to remove a trustee, or a trustee may be removed by the court on its own initiative.

701.0706(2) (2) The court may remove a trustee if any of the following applies:

701.0706(2)(a) (a) The trustee has committed a material breach of trust.

701.0706(2)(b) (b) A lack of cooperation among cotrustees substantially impairs the administration of the trust.

701.0706(2)(c) (c) Removal of the trustee is appropriate because of unfitness, unwillingness, or persistent failure of the trustee to administer the trust effectively.

701.0706(2)(d) (d) There has been a substantial change of circumstances or removal is requested by all of the qualified beneficiaries, the removal is not inconsistent with a material purpose of the trust, and a suitable cotrustee or successor trustee is available.

701.0706(3) (3) Pending a final decision on a request to remove a trustee, or in lieu of or in addition to removing a trustee, the court may order such appropriate relief under s. 701.1001 (2) as may be necessary to protect the trust property or the interests of the beneficiaries.

701.0706 History History: 2013 a. 92; 2023 a. 127.

701.0707 701.0707 Delivery of property by former trustee.

701.0707(1) (1) Unless a cotrustee remains in office or the court otherwise orders, and until the trust property is delivered to a successor trustee or other person entitled to it, a trustee who has resigned or been removed has the duties of a trustee and the powers necessary to protect the trust property.

701.0707(2) (2) A trustee who has resigned or been removed shall proceed within a reasonable time to deliver the trust property within the trustee’s possession to the cotrustee, successor trustee, or other person entitled to it, subject to the right of the trustee to retain a reasonable reserve for the payment of debts, expenses, and taxes.

701.0707 History History: 2013 a. 92; 2023 a. 127.

701.0708 701.0708 Compensation of trustee.

701.0708(1) (1) If the terms of a trust do not specify the trustee’s compensation, a trustee is entitled to compensation that is reasonable under the circumstances.

701.0708(2) (2) If the terms of a trust specify the trustee’s compensation or refer to another ascertainable source for determining that compensation, the trustee is entitled to be compensated as specified, but the court may allow more or less compensation if any of the following applies:

701.0708(2)(a) (a) The duties of the trustee are substantially different from those contemplated when the trust was created.

701.0708(2)(b) (b) The compensation specified by the terms of the trust would be unreasonably low or high.

701.0708(3) (3) If the trustee has rendered other services in connection with the administration of the trust, the trustee may receive reasonable compensation for the other services rendered, in addition to reasonable compensation as trustee.

701.0708 History History: 2013 a. 92.

701.0709 701.0709 Reimbursement of expenses.

701.0709(1) (1) A trustee is entitled to be reimbursed out of the trust property, with interest as appropriate, for all of the following:

701.0709(1)(a) (a) Expenses that were properly incurred in the administration of the trust.

701.0709(1)(b) (b) To the extent necessary to prevent unjust enrichment of the trust, expenses that were not properly incurred in the administration of the trust.

701.0709(2) (2) An advance by the trustee of money for the protection of the trust gives rise to a lien against trust property to secure reimbursement with reasonable interest.

701.0709 History History: 2013 a. 92.

701.0710 701.0710 Title of trust property. A settlor or transferor may effectively transfer property to a trust by placing legal title of the property in the name of the trustee, which shall include any successor trustee regardless of whether a successor trustee is referenced in the transfer document. A transfer that places legal title in the name of the trust itself places legal title in the name of the trustee.

701.0710 History History: 2013 a. 92.

subch. VIII of ch. 701 SUBCHAPTER VIII

DUTIES AND POWERS OF TRUSTEES,
DIRECTING PARTIES, AND TRUST PROTECTORS

701.0801 701.0801 Duty to administer trust. Upon acceptance of a trusteeship, the trustee shall administer the trust in good faith, in accordance with its terms and purposes and the interests of the beneficiaries, and in accordance with this chapter.

701.0801 History History: 2013 a. 92.

701.0802 701.0802 Duty of loyalty.

701.0802(1) (1) A trustee shall administer the trust solely in the interests of the beneficiaries.

701.0802(2) (2) Subject to the rights of persons dealing with or assisting the trustee as provided in s. 701.1012, a sale, encumbrance, or other transaction that involves the investment or management of trust property and is entered into by the trustee for the trustee’s own personal account or that is otherwise affected by a conflict between the trustee’s fiduciary and personal interests is voidable by a beneficiary affected by the transaction unless any of the following applies:

701.0802(2)(a) (a) The transaction was authorized by the terms of the trust.

701.0802(2)(b) (b) The transaction was approved by the court.

701.0802(2)(c) (c) The beneficiary did not commence a judicial proceeding within the time allowed by s. 701.1005.

701.0802(2)(d) (d) The beneficiary consented to the trustee’s conduct, ratified the transaction, or released the trustee in compliance with s. 701.1009.

701.0802(2)(e) (e) The transaction involves a contract entered into or claim acquired by the trustee before the person became trustee.

701.0802(3) (3) A sale, encumbrance, or other transaction involving the investment or management of trust property is presumed to be affected by a conflict between personal and fiduciary interests if it is entered into by the trustee with any of the following:

701.0802(3)(a) (a) The trustee’s spouse.

701.0802(3)(b) (b) The trustee’s descendants, siblings, parents, or their spouses.

701.0802(3)(c) (c) An agent or attorney of the trustee.

701.0802(3)(d) (d) A corporation or other person or enterprise in which the trustee, or a person that owns a significant interest in the trustee, has an interest that might affect the trustee’s best judgment.

701.0802(4) (4) A transaction not concerning trust property in which the trustee engages in the trustee’s individual capacity involves a conflict between personal and fiduciary interests if the transaction concerns an opportunity properly belonging to the trust.

701.0802(5) (5) 

701.0802(5)(a) (a) An investment by a trustee in securities of an investment company or investment trust to which the trustee, or its affiliate, provides services in a capacity other than as trustee is not presumed to be affected by a conflict between personal and fiduciary interests if the investment otherwise complies with the prudent investor rule in s. 881.01. In addition to receiving compensation for acting as trustee, the trustee may be compensated by the investment company or investment trust for providing those services out of fees charged to the trust. If the trustee receives compensation from the investment company or investment trust for providing investment advisory or investment management services, the trustee shall at least annually notify the persons entitled to receive a copy of the trustee’s report under s. 701.0813 (3) of the rate and method by which that compensation was determined.

701.0802(5)(b) (b) A trust company acting in any fiduciary capacity with respect to a trust may purchase any service or product, including insurance or securities underwritten or otherwise distributed by the trust company or by an affiliate, through or directly from the trust company or an affiliate of a syndicate or selling group that includes the trust company of an affiliate, provided the purchase otherwise complies with the prudent investor rule in s. 881.01 and with s. 881.015. Compensation for the service or product must be reasonable and not prohibited by the instrument governing the fiduciary relationship. The compensation for the service or product may be in addition to the compensation that the trust company is otherwise entitled to receive.

701.0802(6) (6) In voting shares of stock or in exercising powers of control over similar interests in other forms of enterprise, the trustee shall act in the best interests of the beneficiaries. If the trust is the sole owner of a corporation or other form of enterprise, the trustee shall elect or appoint directors or other managers who will manage the corporation or enterprise in the best interests of the beneficiaries.

701.0802(7) (7) This section does not preclude the following transactions, if fair to the beneficiaries:

701.0802(7)(a) (a) An agreement between a trustee and a beneficiary relating to the appointment or compensation of the trustee.

701.0802(7)(b) (b) Payment of reasonable compensation to the trustee.

701.0802(7)(c) (c) A transaction between a trust and another trust, a decedent’s estate, a guardianship of the estate, a conservatorship, or a custodianship of which the trustee is a fiduciary or in which a beneficiary has an interest.

701.0802(7)(d) (d) A deposit of trust money in a regulated financial-service institution operated by the trustee.