A trust may be created by:
(1) Transfer of property to another person as trustee during the settlor's lifetime or by will or other disposition taking effect upon the settlor's death;
(2) Declaration by the owner of property that the owner holds identifiable property as trustee;
(3) Exercise of a power of appointment in favor of a trustee; or
(4) A court for the benefit of an individual in lieu of a transfer of property to a conservatorship or guardianship pursuant to Chapter 1 or subchapter VI of Chapter 20 of Title 21 of the District of Columbia Official Code.
(Mar. 10, 2004, D.C. Law 15-104, § 2(b), 51 DCR 208.)
HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
Legislative History of Laws
For Law 15-104, see notes following § 19-1301.01.
Uniform Law
This section is based upon § 401 of the Uniform Trust Code. See 7C, Uniform Laws Annotated, Master Edition, or ULA Database on Westlaw.
(a) A trust is created only if:
(1) The settlor has capacity to create a trust;
(2) The settlor indicates an intention to create the trust;
(3) The trust has a definite beneficiary or is:
(A) A charitable trust;
(B) A trust for the care of an animal, as provided in section 19-1304.08; or
(C) A trust for a noncharitable purpose, as provided in section 19-1304.09;
(4) The trustee has duties to perform; and
(5) The same person is not the sole trustee and sole beneficiary.
(b) A beneficiary is definite if the beneficiary can be ascertained now or in the future, subject to any applicable rule against perpetuities.
(c) A power in a trustee to select a beneficiary from an indefinite class is valid. If the power is not exercised within a reasonable time, the power fails and the property subject to the power passes to the persons who would have taken the property had the power not been conferred.
(Mar. 10, 2004, D.C. Law 15-104, § 2(b), 51 DCR 208.)
HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
Legislative History of Laws
For Law 15-104, see notes following § 19-1301.01.
Uniform Law
This section is based upon § 402 of the Uniform Trust Code. See 7C, Uniform Laws Annotated, Master Edition, or ULA Database on Westlaw.
A trust not created by will is validly created if its creation complies with the law of the jurisdiction in which the trust instrument was executed, or the law of the jurisdiction in which, at the time of creation:
(1) The settlor was domiciled, had a place of abode, or was a national;
(2) A trustee was domiciled or had a place of business; or
(3) Any trust property was located.
(Mar. 10, 2004, D.C. Law 15-104, § 2(b), 51 DCR 208.)
HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
Legislative History of Laws
For Law 15-104, see notes following § 19-1301.01.
Uniform Law
This section is based upon § 403 of the Uniform Trust Code. See 7C, Uniform Laws Annotated, Master Edition, or ULA Database on Westlaw.
A trust may be created only to the extent its purposes are lawful, not contrary to public policy, and possible to achieve. A trust and its terms must be for the benefit of its beneficiaries.
(Mar. 10, 2004, D.C. Law 15-104, § 2(b), 51 DCR 208.)
HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
Legislative History of Laws
For Law 15-104, see notes following § 19-1301.01.
Uniform Law
This section is based upon § 404 of the Uniform Trust Code. See 7C, Uniform Laws Annotated, Master Edition, or ULA Database on Westlaw.
(a) A charitable trust may be created for the relief of poverty, the advancement of education or religion, the promotion of health, governmental or municipal purposes, or other purposes the achievement of which is beneficial to the community.
(b) If the terms of a charitable trust do not indicate or otherwise provide for the selection of a particular charitable purpose or beneficiary, the court may select one or more charitable purposes or beneficiaries. The selection must be consistent with the settlor's intention to the extent it can be ascertained.
(c) The settlor of a charitable trust, among others, may maintain a proceeding to enforce the trust.
(Mar. 10, 2004, D.C. Law 15-104, § 2(b), 51 DCR 208.)
HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
Legislative History of Laws
For Law 15-104, see notes following § 19-1301.01.
Uniform Law
This section is based upon § 405 of the Uniform Trust Code. See 7C, Uniform Laws Annotated, Master Edition, or ULA Database on Westlaw.
A trust is void to the extent its creation was induced by fraud, duress, or undue influence.
(Mar. 10, 2004, D.C. Law 15-104, § 2(b), 51 DCR 208.)
HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
Legislative History of Laws
For Law 15-104, see notes following § 19-1301.01.
Uniform Law
This section is based upon § 406 of the Uniform Trust Code. See 7C, Uniform Laws Annotated, Master Edition, or ULA Database on Westlaw.
Except as required by a statute other than this chapter, a trust need not be evidenced by a trust instrument, but the creation of an oral trust and its terms may be established only by clear and convincing evidence.
(Mar. 10, 2004, D.C. Law 15-104, § 2(b), 51 DCR 208.)
HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
Legislative History of Laws
For Law 15-104, see notes following § 19-1301.01.
Uniform Law
This section is based upon § 407 of the Uniform Trust Code. See 7C, Uniform Laws Annotated, Master Edition, or ULA Database on Westlaw.
(a) A trust may be created to provide for the care of an animal alive during the settlor's lifetime. The trust terminates upon the death of the animal or, if the trust was created to provide for the care of more than one animal alive during the settlor's lifetime, upon the death of the last surviving animal.
(b) A trust authorized by this section may be enforced by a person appointed in the terms of the trust or, if no person is so appointed, by a person appointed by the court. A person having an interest in the welfare of the animal may request the court to appoint a person to enforce the trust or to remove a person appointed.
(c) Property of a trust authorized by this section may be applied only to its intended use, except to the extent the court determines that the value of the trust property exceeds the amount required for the intended use. Except as otherwise provided in the terms of the trust, property not required for the intended use must be distributed to the settlor, if then living, otherwise to the settlor's successors in interest.
(Mar. 10, 2004, D.C. Law 15-104, § 2(b), 51 DCR 208.)
HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
Legislative History of Laws
For Law 15-104, see notes following § 19-1301.01.
Uniform Law
This section is based upon § 408 of the Uniform Trust Code. See 7C, Uniform Laws Annotated, Master Edition, or ULA Database on Westlaw.
Except as otherwise provided in section 19-1304.08 or by D.C. Official Code § 43-113, the following rules apply:
(1) A trust may be created for a noncharitable purpose without a definite or definitely ascertainable beneficiary or for a noncharitable but otherwise valid purpose to be selected by the trustee. The trust may not be enforced for more than 21 years.
(2) A trust authorized by this section may be enforced by a person appointed in the terms of the trust or, if no person is so appointed, by a person appointed by the court.
(3) Property of a trust authorized by this section may be applied only to its intended use, except to the extent the court determines that the value of the trust property exceeds the amount required for the intended use. Except as otherwise provided in the terms of the trust, property not required for the intended use must be distributed to the settlor, if then living, otherwise to the settlor's successors in interest.
(Mar. 10, 2004, D.C. Law 15-104, § 2(b), 51 DCR 208.)
HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
Legislative History of Laws
For Law 15-104, see notes following § 19-1301.01.
Uniform Law
This section is based upon § 409 of the Uniform Trust Code. See 7C, Uniform Laws Annotated, Master Edition, or ULA Database on Westlaw.
(a) In addition to the methods of termination prescribed by section 19- 1304.11 through section 19-1304.14, a trust terminates to the extent the trust is revoked or expires pursuant to its terms, no purpose of the trust remains to be achieved, or the purposes of the trust have become unlawful, contrary to public policy, or impossible to achieve.
(b) A proceeding to approve or disapprove a proposed modification or termination under sections 19-1304.11 through 19-1304.16, or trust combination or division under section 19-1304.17, may be commenced by a trustee or beneficiary, and a proceeding to approve or disapprove a proposed modification or termination under section 19-1304.11 may be commenced by the settlor. The settlor of a charitable trust may maintain a proceeding to modify the trust under section 19-1304.13.
(Mar. 10, 2004, D.C. Law 15-104, § 2(b), 51 DCR 208.)
HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
Legislative History of Laws
For Law 15-104, see notes following § 19-1301.01.
Uniform Law
This section is based upon § 410 of the Uniform Trust Code. See 7C, Uniform Laws Annotated, Master Edition, or ULA Database on Westlaw.
(a) A noncharitable irrevocable trust may be modified or terminated upon consent of the settlor and all beneficiaries, even if the modification or termination is inconsistent with a material purpose of the trust. A settlor's power to consent to a trust's modification or termination may be exercised by:
(1) An agent under a power of attorney only to the extent expressly authorized by the power of attorney or the terms of the trust;
(2) The settlor's conservator with the approval of the court supervising the conservatorship if an agent is not so authorized; or
(3) The settlor's guardian with the approval of the court supervising the guardianship if an agent is not so authorized and a conservator has not been appointed.
(b) A noncharitable irrevocable trust may be terminated upon consent of all of the beneficiaries if the court concludes that continuance of the trust is not necessary to achieve any material purpose of the trust. A noncharitable irrevocable trust may be modified upon consent of all of the beneficiaries if the court concludes that modification is not inconsistent with a material purpose of the trust.
(c) A spendthrift provision in the terms of the trust is not presumed to constitute a material purpose of the trust.
(d) Upon termination of a trust under subsection (a) or (b) of this section, the trustee shall distribute the trust property as agreed by the beneficiaries:
(e) If not all of the beneficiaries consent to a proposed modification or termination of the trust under subsection (a) or (b) of this section, the modification or termination may be approved by the court if the court is satisfied that:
(1) If all of the beneficiaries had consented, the trust could have been modified or terminated under this section; and
(2) The interests of a beneficiary who does not consent will be adequately protected.
(Mar. 10, 2004, D.C. Law 15-104, § 2(b), 51 DCR 208.)
HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
Legislative History of Laws
For Law 15-104, see notes following § 19-1301.01.
Uniform Law
This section is based upon § 411 of the Uniform Trust Code. See 7C, Uniform Laws Annotated, Master Edition, or ULA Database on Westlaw.
(a) The court may modify the administrative or dispositive terms of a trust or terminate the trust if, because of circumstances not anticipated by the settlor, modification or termination will further the purposes of the trust. To the extent practicable, the modification must be made in accordance with the settlor's probable intention.
(b) The court may modify the administrative terms of a trust if continuation of the trust on its existing terms would be impracticable or wasteful or impair the trust's administration.
(c) Upon termination of a trust under this section, the trustee shall distribute the trust property in a manner consistent with the purposes of the trust.
(Mar. 10, 2004, D.C. Law 15-104, § 2(b), 51 DCR 208.)
HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
Legislative History of Laws
For Law 15-104, see notes following § 19-1301.01.
Uniform Law
This section is based upon § 412 of the Uniform Trust Code. See 7C, Uniform Laws Annotated, Master Edition, or ULA Database on Westlaw.
Except as otherwise provided in the terms of the trust, if a particular charitable purpose is or becomes unlawful, impracticable, impossible to achieve, or wasteful:
(1) The trust does not fail, in whole or in part;
(2) The trust property does not revert to the settlor or the settlor's successors in interest; and
(3) The court may apply cy pres to modify or terminate the trust by directing that the trust property be applied or distributed, in whole or in part, in a manner consistent with the settlor's charitable purposes.
(Mar. 10, 2004, D.C. Law 15-104, § 2(b), 51 DCR 208.)
HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
Legislative History of Laws
For Law 15-104, see notes following § 19-1301.01.
Uniform Law
This section is based upon § 413 of the Uniform Trust Code. See 7C, Uniform Laws Annotated, Master Edition, or ULA Database on Westlaw.
(a) After notice to the qualified beneficiaries, the trustee of a trust consisting of trust property having a total value less than $50,000 may terminate the trust if the trustee concludes that the value of the trust property is insufficient to justify the cost of administration.
(b) The court may modify or terminate a trust or remove the trustee and appoint a different trustee if it determines that the value of the trust property is insufficient to justify the cost of administration.
(c) Upon termination of a trust under this section, the trustee shall distribute the trust property in a manner consistent with the purposes of the trust.
(d) This section does not apply to an easement for conservation or preservation.
(Mar. 10, 2004, D.C. Law 15-104, § 2(b), 51 DCR 208.)
HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
Legislative History of Laws
For Law 15-104, see notes following § 19-1301.01.
Uniform Law
This section is based upon § 414 of the Uniform Trust Code. See 7C, Uniform Laws Annotated, Master Edition, or ULA Database on Westlaw.
The court may reform the terms of a trust, even if unambiguous, to conform the terms to the settlor's intention if it is proved by clear and convincing evidence that both the settlor's intent and the terms of the trust were affected by a mistake of fact or law, whether in expression or inducement.
(Mar. 10, 2004, D.C. Law 15-104, § 2(b), 51 DCR 208.)
HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
Legislative History of Laws
For Law 15-104, see notes following § 19-1301.01.
Uniform Law
This section is based upon § 415 of the Uniform Trust Code. See 7C, Uniform Laws Annotated, Master Edition, or ULA Database on Westlaw.
To achieve the settlor's tax objectives, the court may modify the terms of a trust in a manner that is not contrary to the settlor's probable intention. The court may provide that the modification has retroactive effect.
(Mar. 10, 2004, D.C. Law 15-104, § 2(b), 51 DCR 208.)
HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
Legislative History of Laws
For Law 15-104, see notes following § 19-1301.01.
Uniform Law
This section is based upon § 416 of the Uniform Trust Code. See 7C, Uniform Laws Annotated, Master Edition, or ULA Database on Westlaw.
After notice to the qualified beneficiaries, a trustee may combine 2 or more trusts into a single trust or divide a trust into 2 or more separate trusts, if the result does not impair rights of any beneficiary or adversely affect achievement of the purposes of the trust.
(Mar. 10, 2004, D.C. Law 15-104, § 2(b), 51 DCR 208.)
HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
Legislative History of Laws
For Law 15-104, see notes following § 19-1301.01.
Uniform Law
This section is based upon § 417 of the Uniform Trust Code. See 7C, Uniform Laws Annotated, Master Edition, or ULA Database on Westlaw.
Real or personal property that is transferred to a trust may be titled in the name of:
(1) The trust by reference to the instrument creating the trust;
(2) The current trustee as the trustee of such trust; or
(3) "The trustee" as the trustee of such trust.
(Mar. 10, 2004, D.C. Law 15-104, § 2(b), 51 DCR 208.)
HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
Legislative History of Laws
For Law 15-104, see notes following § 19-1301.01.
