The Vermont Statutes Online

Title 14: Decedents Estates and Fiduciary Relations

Chapter 115: Vermont Uniform Transfers to Minors Act

• §§ 3201-3209. Repealed. 2015, No. 7, § 2.

• § 3210. [Reserved for future use.]

• § 3211. Definitions

  As used in this chapter:

  (1) “Adult” means an individual who has attained 21 years of age.

  (2) “Broker” means a person lawfully engaged in the business of effecting transactions in securities or commodities for the person’s own account or for the account of others.

  (3) “Court” means the Probate Division of the Superior Court.

  (4) “Custodial property” means:

  (A) any interest in property transferred to a custodian under this chapter; and

  (B) the income from and proceeds of that interest in property.

  (5) “Custodian” means a person so designated under section 3219 of this title or a successor or substitute custodian designated under section 3228 of this title.

  (6) “Financial guardian” means a person who has been appointed by the Probate Division as financial guardian for a minor pursuant to section 2659 of this title, or a person legally authorized to perform substantially the same functions.

  (7) “Financial institution” means a bank, trust company, savings institution, or credit union, chartered and supervised under state or federal law.

  (8) “Legal representative” means an individual’s personal representative.

  (9) “Member of the minor’s family” means the minor’s parent, stepparent, spouse, grandparent, brother, sister, uncle, or aunt, whether of the whole or half blood or by adoption.

  (10) “Minor” means an individual who has not attained 21 years of age.

  (11) “Person” means an individual, corporation, organization, or other legal entity.

  (12) “Personal representative” means an executor, administrator, successor personal representative, or special administrator of a decedent’s estate or a person legally authorized to perform substantially the same functions.

  (13) “State” includes any state of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and any territory or possession subject to the legislative authority of the United States.

  (14) “Transfer” means a transaction that creates custodial property under section 3219 of this title.

  (15) “Transferor” means a person who makes a transfer under this chapter.

  (16) “Trust company”’ means a financial institution, corporation, or other legal entity authorized to exercise general trust powers. (Added 2015, No. 7, § 1.)

• § 3212. Scope and jurisdiction

  (a) This chapter applies to a transfer that refers to this chapter in the designation under subsection 3219(a) of this title by which the transfer is made if, at the time of the transfer, the transferor, the minor, or the custodian is a resident of this State or the custodial property is located in this State. The custodianship so created remains subject to this chapter despite a subsequent change in residence of a transferor, the minor, or the custodian, or the removal of custodial property from this State.

  (b) A person designated as custodian under this chapter is subject to personal jurisdiction in this State with respect to any matter relating to the custodianship.

  (c) A transfer that purports to be made and which is valid under the Uniform Transfers to Minors Act, the Uniform Gifts to Minors Act, or a substantially similar act of another state is governed by the law of the designated state, and may be executed and is enforceable in this State if, at the time of the transfer, the transferor, the minor, or the custodian is a resident of the designated state, or the custodial property is located in the designated state. (Added 2015, No. 7, § 1.)

• § 3213. Nomination of custodian

  (a) A person having the right to designate the recipient of property transferable upon the occurrence of a future event may revocably nominate a custodian to receive the property for a minor beneficiary upon the occurrence of the event by naming the custodian, followed in substance by the words: “as custodian for ____ (name of minor) under the Vermont Uniform Transfers to Minors Act.” The nomination may name one or more persons as substitute custodians to whom the property must be transferred, in the order named, if the first nominated custodian dies before the transfer or is unable, declines, or is ineligible to serve. The nomination may be made in a will, a trust, a deed, an instrument exercising a power of appointment, or in a writing designating a beneficiary of contractual rights that is registered with or delivered to the payor, issuer, or other obligor of the contractual rights.

  (b) A custodian nominated under this section must be a person to whom a transfer of property of that kind may be made under subsection 3219(a) of this title.

  (c) The nomination of a custodian under this section does not create custodial property until the nominating instrument becomes irrevocable or a transfer to the nominated custodian is completed under section 3219 of this title. Unless the nomination of a custodian has been revoked, upon the occurrence of the future event, the custodianship becomes effective, and the custodian shall enforce a transfer of the custodial property pursuant to section 3219 of this title. (Added 2015, No. 7, § 1.)

• § 3214. Transfer by gift or exercise of power of appointment

  A person may make a transfer by irrevocable gift to, or the irrevocable exercise of a power of appointment in favor of, a custodian for the benefit of a minor, pursuant to section 3219 of this title. (Added 2015, No. 7, § 1.)

• § 3215. Transfer authorized by will or trust

  (a) A personal representative or trustee may make an irrevocable transfer pursuant to section 3219 of this title to a custodian for the benefit of a minor as authorized in the governing will or trust.

  (b) If the testator or settlor has nominated a custodian under section 3213 of this title to receive the custodial property, the transfer must be made to that person.

  (c) If the testator or settlor has not nominated a custodian under section 3213 of this title, or all persons so nominated as custodian die before the transfer or are unable, decline, or are ineligible to serve, the personal representative or the trustee, as the case may be, shall designate the custodian from among those eligible to serve as custodian for property of that kind under subsection 3219(a) of this title. (Added 2015, No. 7, § 1.)

• § 3216. Other transfer by fiduciary

  (a) Subject to subsection (c) of this section, a personal representative or trustee may make an irrevocable transfer to another adult or trust company as custodian for the benefit of a minor, pursuant to section 3219 of this title, in the absence of a will or under a will or trust that does not contain an authorization to do so.

  (b) Subject to subsection (c) of this section, a financial guardian may make an irrevocable transfer to another adult or trust company as custodian for the benefit of the minor, pursuant to section 3219 of this title.

  (c) A transfer under subsection (a) or (b) of this section may be made only if:

  (1) the personal representative, trustee, or financial guardian considers the transfer to be in the best interest of the minor;

  (2) the transfer is not prohibited by or inconsistent with provisions of the applicable will, trust agreement, or other governing instrument; and

  (3) the transfer is authorized by the court if it exceeds $10,000.00 in value. (Added 2015, No. 7, § 1.)

• § 3217. Transfer by obligor

  (a) Subject to subsections (b) and (c) of this section, a person not subject to section 3215 or 3216 of this title who holds property of or owes a liquidated debt to a minor not having a financial guardian may make an irrevocable transfer to a custodian for the benefit of the minor, pursuant to section 3219 of this title.

  (b) If a person having the right to do so under section 3213 of this title has nominated a custodian under that section to receive the custodial property, the transfer shall be made to that person. (Added 2015, No. 7, § 1.)

• § 3218. Receipt for custodial property

  A written acknowledgment of delivery by a custodian constitutes a sufficient receipt and discharge for custodial property transferred to the custodian, pursuant to this chapter. (Added 2015, No. 7, § 1.)

• § 3219. Manner of creating custodial property and effecting transfer; designation of initial custodian; control

  (a) Custodial property is created and a transfer is made whenever:

  (1) An uncertificated security or a certificated security in registered form is either:

  (A) registered in the name of the transferor, an adult other than the transferor, or a trust company, followed in substance by the words: “as custodian for ____ (name of minor) under the Vermont Uniform Transfers to Minors Act”; or

  (B) delivered if in certificated form, or any document necessary for the transfer of an uncertificated security is delivered, together with any necessary endorsement to an adult other than the transferor or to a trust company as custodian, accompanied by an instrument in substantially the form set forth in subsection (b) of this section.

  (2) Money is paid or delivered to a broker or financial institution for credit to an account in the name of the transferor, an adult other than the transferor, or a trust company, followed in substance by the words: “as custodian for ____ (name of minor) under the Vermont Uniform Transfers to Minors Act.”

  (3) The ownership of a life or endowment insurance policy or annuity contract is either:

  (A) registered with the issuer in the name of the transferor, an adult other than the transferor, or a trust company, followed in substance by the words: “as custodian for ____ (name of minor) under the Vermont Uniform Transfers to Minors Act”; or

  (B) assigned in a writing delivered to an adult other than the transferor or to a trust company whose name in the assignment is followed in substance by the words: “as custodian for ____ (name of minor) under the Vermont Uniform Transfers to Minors Act.”

  (4) An irrevocable exercise of a power of appointment or an irrevocable present right to future payment under a contract is the subject of a written notification delivered to the payor, issuer, or other obligor that the right is transferred to the transferor, an adult other than the transferor, or a trust company, whose name in the notification is followed in substance by the words: “as custodian for ____ (name of minor) under the Vermont Uniform Transfers to Minors Act.”

  (5) An interest in real property is recorded in the name of the transferor, an adult other than the transferor, or a trust company, followed in substance by the words: “as custodian for ____ (name of minor) under the Vermont Uniform Transfers to Minors Act.”

  (6) A certificate of title issued by a department or agency of a state or of the United States that evidences title to tangible personal property is either:

  (A) issued in the name of the transferor, an adult other than the transferor, or a trust company, followed in substance by the words: “as custodian for ____ (name of minor) under the Vermont Uniform Transfers to Minors Act.”

  (B) delivered to an adult other than the transferor or to a trust company, endorsed to that person followed in substance by the words: “as custodian for ____ (name of minor) under the Vermont Uniform Transfers to Minors Act.”

  (7) An interest in any property not described in subdivisions (1) through (6) of this subsection is transferred to an adult other than the transferor or to a trust company by a written instrument in substantially the form set forth in subsection (b) of this section.

  (b) An instrument in the following form satisfies the requirements of subdivisions (a)(1)(B) and (a)(7) of this section:

  “TRANSFER UNDER THE VERMONT
  UNIFORM TRANSFERS TO MINORS ACT

  I, ______ (name of transferor or name and representative capacity if a fiduciary) hereby transfer to _____ (name of custodian), as custodian for ____ (name of minor) under the Vermont Uniform Transfers to Minors Act, the following: (insert a description of the custodial property sufficient to identify it).

  Dated: ______

  __________

  (Signature)

  ______ (name of custodian) acknowledges receipt of the property described above as custodian for the minor named above under the Vermont Uniform Transfers to Minors Act.

  Dated: ______

  __________

  (Signature of Custodian)”

  (c) A transferor shall place the custodian in control of the custodial property as soon as practicable. (Added 2015, No. 7, § 1.)

• § 3220. Single custodianship

  A transfer may be made only for one minor, and only one person may be the custodian. All custodial property held under this chapter by the same custodian for the benefit of the same minor constitutes a single custodianship. (Added 2015, No. 7, § 1.)

• § 3221. Validity and effect of transfer

  (a) The validity of a transfer made in a manner prescribed in this chapter is not affected by:

  (1) failure of the transferor to comply with subsection 3219(c) of this title concerning possession and control;

  (2) designation of an ineligible custodian, except designation of the transferor in the case of property for which the transferor is ineligible to serve as custodian under subsection 3219(a) of this title; or

  (3) death or incapacity of a person nominated under section 3213 of this title or designated under section 3219 of this title as custodian or the disclaimer of the office by that person.

  (b) A transfer made pursuant to section 3219 of this title is irrevocable, and the custodial property is indefeasibly vested in the minor, but the custodian has all the rights, powers, duties, and authority provided in this chapter, and the minor, the minor’s legal representative, and the minor’s financial guardian have no right, power, duty, or authority with respect to the custodial property except as provided in this chapter.

  (c) By making a transfer, the transferor incorporates in the disposition all the provisions of this chapter, and grants to the custodian, and to any third person dealing with a person designated as custodian, the respective powers, rights, and immunities provided in this chapter. (Added 2015, No. 7, § 1.)

• § 3222. Care of custodial property

  (a) A custodian shall:

  (1) take control of custodial property;

  (2) register or record title to custodial property if appropriate; and

  (3) collect, hold, manage, invest, and reinvest custodial property.

  (b) In dealing with custodial property, a custodian shall observe the standard of care that would be observed by a prudent person dealing with property of another and is not limited by any other statute restricting investments by fiduciaries. If a custodian has a special skill or expertise or is named custodian on the basis of representations of a special skill or expertise, the custodian shall use that skill or expertise. However, a custodian, in the custodian’s discretion and without liability to the minor or the minor’s estate, may retain any custodial property received from a transferor.

  (c) A custodian may invest in or pay premiums on life insurance or endowment policies on:

  (1) the life of the minor only if the minor or the minor’s estate is the sole beneficiary; or

  (2) the life of another person in whom the minor has an insurable interest only to the extent that the minor, the minor’s estate, or the custodian in the capacity of custodian is the irrevocable beneficiary.

  (d) A custodian at all times shall keep custodial property separate and distinct from all other property in a manner sufficient to identify it clearly as custodial property of the minor. Custodial property consisting of an undivided interest is so identified if the minor’s interest is held as a tenant in common and is fixed. Custodial property subject to recordation is so identified if it is recorded, and custodial property subject to registration is so identified if it is either registered or held in an account designated in the name of the custodian, followed in substance by the words: “as a custodian for ____ (name of minor) under the Vermont Uniform Transfers to Minors Act.”

  (e) A custodian shall keep records of all transactions with respect to custodial property, including information necessary for the preparation of the minor’s tax returns, and shall make them available for inspection at reasonable intervals by a parent, legal representative of the minor, financial guardian of the minor, or the minor if the minor has attained 14 years of age. (Added 2015, No. 7, § 1.)

• § 3223. Powers of custodian

  (a) A custodian, acting in a custodial capacity, has all the rights, powers, and authority over custodial property that unmarried adult owners have over their own property, but a custodian may exercise those rights, powers, and authority in that capacity only.

  (b) This section does not relieve a custodian from liability for breach of section 3222 of this title. (Added 2015, No. 7, § 1.)

• § 3224. Use of custodial property

  (a) A custodian may deliver or pay to the minor or expend for the minor’s benefit so much of the custodial property as the custodian considers advisable for the use and benefit of the minor, without court order and without regard to:

  (1) the duty or ability of the custodian personally or of any other person to support the minor; or

  (2) any other income or property of the minor that may be applicable or available for that purpose.

  (b) On petition of an interested person or the minor if the minor has attained 14 years of age, the court may order the custodian to deliver or pay to the minor or expend for the minor’s benefit so much of the custodial property as the court considers advisable for the use and benefit of the minor.

  (c) A delivery, payment, or expenditure under this section is in addition to, not in substitution for, and does not affect any obligation of a person to support the minor. (Added 2015, No. 7, § 1.)

• § 3225. Custodian’s expenses, compensation, and bond

  (a) A custodian is entitled to reimbursement from custodial property for reasonable expenses incurred in the performance of the custodian’s duties.

  (b) Except for one who is a transferor under section 3214 of this title, a custodian has a noncumulative election during each calendar year to charge reasonable compensation for services performed during that year.

  (c) Except as provided in subsection 3228(f) of this title, a custodian need not give a bond. (Added 2015, No. 7, § 1.)

• § 3226. Exemption of third person from liability

  A third person in good faith and without court order may act on the instructions of or otherwise deal with any person purporting to make a transfer or purporting to act in the capacity of a custodian and, in the absence of knowledge, is not responsible for determining:

  (1) the validity of the purported custodian’s designation;

  (2) the propriety of or the authority under this chapter for any act of the purported custodian;

  (3) the validity or propriety under this chapter of any instrument or instructions executed or given either by the person purporting to make a transfer or by the purported custodian; or

  (4) the propriety of the application of any property of the minor delivered to the purported custodian. (Added 2015, No. 7, § 1.)

• § 3227. Liability to third persons

  (a) A claim based on any of the following may be asserted against the custodial property by proceeding against the custodian in the custodial capacity, whether or not the custodian or the minor is personally liable therefor:

  (1) a contract entered into by a custodian acting in a custodial capacity;

  (2) an obligation arising from the ownership or control of custodial property; or

  (3) a tort committed during the custodianship.

  (b) A custodian is not personally liable:

  (1) on a contract properly entered into in the custodial capacity unless the custodian fails to reveal that capacity and to identify the custodianship in the contract; or

  (2) for an obligation arising from control of custodial property or for a tort committed during the custodianship unless the custodian is personally at fault.

  (c) A minor is not personally liable for an obligation arising from ownership of custodial property or for a tort committed during the custodianship, unless the minor is personally at fault. (Added 2015, No. 7, § 1.)

• § 3228. Renunciation, resignation, death, or removal of custodian; designation of successor custodian

  (a) A person nominated under section 3213 of this title or designated under section 3219 of this title as custodian may decline to serve by delivering a valid disclaimer to the person who made the nomination or to the transferor or the transferor’s legal representative. If the event giving rise to a transfer has not occurred and no substitute custodian able, willing, and eligible to serve was nominated under section 3213 of this title, the person who made the nomination may nominate a substitute custodian under section 3213 of this title; otherwise, the transferor or the transferor’s legal representative shall designate a substitute custodian at the time of the transfer, in either case from among the persons eligible to serve as custodian for that kind of property under subsection 3219(a) of this title. The custodian so designated has the rights of a successor custodian.

  (b) A custodian at any time may designate a trust company or an adult other than a transferor under section 3214 of this title as successor custodian by executing and dating an instrument of designation before a subscribing witness other than the successor. If the instrument of designation does not contain or is not accompanied by the resignation of the custodian, the designation of the successor does not take effect until the custodian resigns, dies, becomes incapacitated, or is removed.

  (c) A custodian may resign at any time by delivering written notice to the minor if the minor has attained 14 years of age and to the successor custodian, and by delivering the custodial property to the successor custodian.

  (d) If a custodian is ineligible, dies, or becomes incapacitated without having effectively designated a successor, and the minor has attained 14 years of age, the minor may designate as successor custodian, in the manner prescribed in subsection (b) of this section, an adult member of the minor’s family, a financial guardian of the minor, or a trust company. If the minor has not attained 14 years of age or fails to act within 60 days after the ineligibility, death, or incapacity, the financial guardian of the minor becomes successor custodian. If the minor has no financial guardian or the financial guardian declines to act, the transferor, the legal representative of the transferor or of the custodian, an adult member of the minor’s family, or any other interested person may petition the court to designate a successor custodian.

  (e) A custodian who declines to serve under subsection (a) of this section or resigns under subsection (c) of this section, or the legal representative of a deceased or incapacitated custodian, as soon as practicable, shall put the custodial property and records in the possession and control of the successor custodian. The successor custodian by action may enforce the obligation to deliver custodial property and records and becomes responsible for each item as received.

  (f) A transferor, the legal representative of a transferor, an adult member of the minor’s family, the minor’s financial guardian, a guardian of the minor appointed pursuant to section 2628 or 2664 of this title, or the minor if the minor has attained 14 years of age may petition the court to remove the custodian for cause and to designate a successor custodian other than a transferor under section 3214 of this title or to require the custodian to give appropriate bond. (Added 2015, No. 7, § 1.)

• § 3229. Accounting by and determination of liability of custodian

  (a) A minor who has attained 14 years of age, the minor’s financial guardian or legal representative, a guardian of the minor appointed pursuant to section 2628 or 2664 of this title, an adult member of the minor’s family, a transferor, or a transferor’s legal representative may petition the court:

  (1) for an accounting by the custodian or the custodian’s legal representative; or

  (2) for a determination of responsibility, as between the custodial property and the custodian personally, for claims against the custodial property unless the responsibility has been adjudicated in an action under section 3227 of this title to which the minor, the minor’s legal representative, or the minor’s financial guardian was a party.

  (b) A successor custodian may petition the court for an accounting by the predecessor custodian.

  (c) The court, in a proceeding under this chapter or in any other proceeding, may require or permit the custodian or the custodian’s legal representative to account.

  (d) If a custodian is removed under subsection 3228(f) of this title, the court shall require an accounting and order delivery of the custodial property and records to the successor custodian and the execution of all instruments required for transfer of the custodial property. (Added 2015, No. 7, § 1.)

• § 3230. Termination of custodianship

  The custodian shall transfer in an appropriate manner the custodial property to the minor or to the minor’s estate upon the earliest of:

  (1) the minor’s attainment of 21 years of age with respect to custodial property transferred under section 3214 or 3215 of this title;

  (2) the minor’s attainment of 18 years of age with respect to custodial property transferred under section 3216 or 3217 of this title; or

  (3) the minor’s death. (Added 2015, No. 7, § 1.)

• § 3231. Applicability

  This chapter applies to a transfer within the scope of section 3212 of this title made after its effective date if:

  (1) the transfer purports to have been made under the Vermont Uniform Gifts to Minors Act; or

  (2) the instrument by which the transfer purports to have been made uses in substance the designation “as custodian under the Uniform Gifts to Minors Act” or “as custodian under the Uniform Transfers to Minors Act” of any other state, and the application of this chapter is necessary to validate the transfer. (Added 2015, No. 7, § 1.)

• § 3232. Effect on existing custodianships

  (a) Any transfer of custodial property as now defined in this chapter made before July 1, 2015 is validated, notwithstanding that there was no specific authority in the Vermont Uniform Gifts to Minors Act for the coverage of custodial property of that kind or for a transfer from that source at the time the transfer was made.

  (b) This chapter applies to all transfers made before July 1, 2015 in a manner and form prescribed in the Vermont Uniform Gifts to Minors Act, except insofar as the application impairs constitutionally vested rights or extends the duration of custodianships in existence on July 15, 2015. (Added 2015, No. 7, § 1.)

• § 3233. Uniformity of application and construction

  This chapter shall be applied and construed to effectuate its general purpose to make uniform the law with respect to the subject of this chapter among states enacting it. (Added 2015, No. 7, § 1.)

• § 3234. Severability

  If any provisions of this chapter or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the invalidity does not affect other provisions or applications of this chapter which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and, to this end, provisions of this chapter are severable. (Added 2015, No. 7, § 1.)