Uniform Trust Code: Difference between revisions

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Colorado adopted the UTC in 2018 and Connecticut and Illinois adopted the UTC in 2019. Illinois's UTC goes into effect January 1, 2020.
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{{Short description|Model law}}
The '''Uniform Trust Code''' is a [[Model act|model law]] in the [[United States]], which although not binding, is influential in the states, and used by many as a model law. As of September 27, 2019, 34 States (the States that have enacted a version of the Uniform Trust Code are Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois (goes into effect on January 1, 2020), Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming). Illinois becomes the 34th on January 1, 2020.<ref>[https://www.greensfelder.com/trusts-and-estates-blog/new-illinois-trust-code-to-take-effect-Jan-1-2020]</ref>
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2025}}
The '''Uniform Trust Code''' is a [[Model act|model law]] in the [[United States]] created by the [[Uniform Law Commission]], which, although not binding, is influential in the states, and used by many as a model law. As of SeptemberOctober 272022, 2019,36 34states States (the Statesand thatjurisdictions have enacted a version of the Uniform Trust Code are (Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida,District Illinoisof (goesColumbia, intoFlorida, effect on January 1Hawaii, 2020)Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New JerseyHampshire, New HampshireJersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming). IllinoisAs becomesof theOctober 34th2022, onlegislation Januaryhas 1,been 2020proposed in New York to adopt the UTC.<ref name="Gary 2022">[{{cite web |last1=Gary |first1=Susan |title=Oregon Uniform Trust Code (UTC): Getting Started |url=https://wwws3-us-west-2.greensfelderamazonaws.com/trustsoregonstatebar/Seminars/2022/BTA22-and2.pdf |publisher=Oregon State Bar |access-estatesdate=April 6, 2024 |archive-blogurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20240406024753/https://news3-illinoisus-trustwest-code2.amazonaws.com/oregonstatebar/Seminars/2022/BTA22-to2.pdf |archive-take-effectdate=April 6, 2024 |date=November 18, 2022 |url-Jan-1-2020]status=live}}</ref>
 
==Background==
The increased use of [[Trust (law)|trust]]s in [[estate planning]] during the latter half of the 20th century highlighted inconsistencies in how trust law was governed across the United States. In 1993, recognizing the need for a more uniform approach, the Uniform Law Commission (ULC) appointed a study committee chaired by Justice [[Maurice A. Hartnett III]] of the [[Delaware Supreme Court]]. This committee's task was to assess the necessity and feasibility of developing a comprehensive and standardized model uniform trust code. Following the committee's recommendation in 1994, the ULC established a drafting committee, again led by Justice Hartnett. This committee aimed for broad representation and included legal experts from various organizations, such as the [[American Bar Association]] (ABA) and its Section of Real Property, Probate and Trust Law, the [[American College of Trust and Estate Counsel]] (ACTEC), the [[American Bankers Association]], and state bar associations from California and Colorado.<ref name="English 2002">{{cite journal |last1=English |first1=David |title=The Uniform Trust Code (2000): Significant Provisions and Policy Issues |journal=Missouri Law Review |date=2002 |volume=67 |issue=2 |pages=143–212 |url=https://scholarship.law.missouri.edu/mlr/vol67/iss2/2/ |access-date=July 3, 2024}}</ref>
The goal of the uniform law is to standardize the law of trusts to a greater extent, given their increased use as a substitute for the "last will and testament" as the primary estate planning mechanism.
 
The UTC's development did not occur in isolation. It drew upon existing legal resources, such as the Restatement of Trusts and the Restatement of Property. Additionally, the UTC incorporated provisions from smaller, more specific uniform acts related to trusts while also superseding some outdated ones (including Article VII of the [[Uniform Probate Code]], the [[Uniform Prudent Investor Act]] of 1994, the Uniform Trustee and Powers Act of 1964, and the Uniform Trusts Act of 1937).<ref name="English 2002"/>
{{Expand section|date=February 2012}}
 
The drafting committee undertook a deliberate process from 1994 to 2000. To ensure comprehensive input, they consulted with advisors and legal groups like the Joint Editorial Board for Uniform Trusts and Estates Acts and ACTEC's Committee on State Laws. The final text of the Uniform Trust Code (UTC) was approved by the ULC commissioners in August 2000. The American Bar Association's House of Delegates officially endorsed the UTC in February 2001. The following months saw the finalization of detailed interpretive comments in April 2001 and minor clean-up revisions in August 2001.<ref name="English 2002"/> In 2002, Kansas became the first state to enact a version of the code.<ref>{{cite web |title=Kansas is first to enact Uniform Trust Code |website=Kansas City Business Journal |date=May 20, 2002 |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/stories/2002/05/20/daily24.html |access-date=July 3, 2024}}</ref>
 
==Contents==
 
The Uniform Trust Code consists of eleven articles:<ref>{{Cite web |author1=Maurice A. Hartnett, III |author2=Frank W. Daykin |author3=E. Edwin Eck, II |author4=John H. Langbein |author5=Glee S. Smith |author6=Nathaniel Sterling |author7=Richard V. Wellman |author8=David M. English |author9=Fred H. Miller |author10=Rex Blackburn |author11=Joseph Kartiganer |author12=William H. Henning |author13=William J. Pierce |date=2010 |title=Uniform Trust Code |url=https://www.uniformlaws.org/HigherLogic/System/DownloadDocumentFile.ashx?DocumentFileKey=972361c6-b31b-86bc-fac2-368306ab939d&forceDialog=0 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221218023707/https://higherlogicdownload.s3-external-1.amazonaws.com/UNIFORMLAWS/972361c6-b31b-86bc-fac2-368306ab939d_file.pdf?AWSAccessKeyId=AKIAVRDO7IEREB57R7MT&Expires=1671334627&Signature=6hYcMjL5bbuiYtgBD11VsOYpKYU%3D |archive-date=December 18, 2022 |website=Uniform Law Commission |series=Trust Code (193ff839-7955-4846-8f3c-ce74ac23938d) |publisher=The National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws (NCCUSL) |publication-place=111 N. Wabash Ave., Suite 1010, Chicago, IL 60602 |publication-date=September 27, 2022}}</ref>
The Uniform Trust Code consists in eleven articles, of which eight substantive articles:<ref>[http://uniformlaws.org/ActSummary.aspx?title=Trust%20Code Trust Code Summary], Uniform Law Commission</ref>
# General Provisions and Definitions
* Article 2 –# Judicial Proceedings
* Article 3 –# Representation
* Article 4 –# Creation, Validity, Modification and Termination of a Trust
* Article 5 –# Creditor's Claim, Spendthrift and Discretionary Trusts
* Article 6 –# Revocable Trusts
* Article 7 – Office of Trustee
*# ArticleOffice 8of Trustee
# Duties and Powers of the Trustee
# Uniform Prudent Investor Act
* Article 10 –# Liability of Trustees and Rights of Persons Dealing with the Trustee
# Miscellaneous Provisions
 
{{Expand section|date=February 2012}}
 
==See also==
* [[US trusts law]]
* [[English trusts law]]
* [[Uniform Probate Code]]
* [[Uniform Power of Attorney Act]]
 
==Notes==
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==External links==
* [httphttps://www.uniformlaws.org/Act.aspxcommittees/community-home?titleCommunityKey=Trust%20Code193ff839-7955-4846-8f3c-ce74ac23938d Trust Code], Uniform Law Commission - detailed information including an enactment status map
* [https://www.uniformlaws.org/committees/community-home/librarydocuments?communitykey=193ff839-7955-4846-8f3c-ce74ac23938d&tab=librarydocuments|Uniform Law Commission]
* [http://www.uniformlaws.org/shared/docs/trust_code/utc_final_rev2010.pdf Text of the Uniform Trust Code 2005]
*[http://www.redressright.org/pdf/Uniform%20Trust%20Code%20utc.pdf The Uniform Trust Code (2005)] - overview of the act by law professor David English up through 2005
*https://www.mattersoftrustlaw.com/2016/03/uniform-trust-code-will-impact-blog/
 
[[Category:United States trusts law]]