The Vermont Statutes Online
The Statutes below include the actions of the 2024 session of the General Assembly.
NOTE: The Vermont Statutes Online is an unofficial copy of the Vermont Statutes Annotated that is provided as a convenience.
Title 14A : Trusts
Chapter 004 : Creation, Validity, Modification, and Termination of Trust
(Cite as: 14A V.S.A. § 402)-
§ 402. Requirements for creation
(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 408 of this title; or
(C) a trust for a noncharitable purpose, as provided in section 409 of this title;
(4) the trustee has duties to perform; and
(5) the same person is not the sole trustee and sole beneficiary of all beneficial interests.
(b) A settlor is deemed to have the capacity to create a trust if:
(1) the trust is created by an agent of the settlor under a power of attorney as described in subdivision 401(5) of this title; and
(2) the settlor had capacity to create a trust at the time the power of attorney was executed.
(c) A beneficiary is definite if the beneficiary can be ascertained now or in the future, subject to any applicable rule against perpetuities.
(d) 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. (Added 2009, No. 20, § 1; amended 2009, No. 92 (Adj. Sess.), § 6.)
