The Vermont Statutes Online

Title 14A : Trusts

Chapter 011 : Trusts Protectors and Trust Advisors

• § 1101. Trust advisors and trust protectors

  (a) A trust protector or trust advisor is any person, other than a trustee, who under the terms of the trust, an agreement of the qualified beneficiaries authorized by the terms of the trust, or a court order has a power or duty with respect to a trust, including, without limitation, one or more of the following powers:

  (1) the power to modify or amend the trust instrument to achieve favorable tax status or respond to changes in any applicable federal, State, or other tax law affecting the trust, including any rulings, regulations, or other guidance implementing or interpreting such laws;

  (2) the power to amend or modify the trust instrument to take advantage of changes in the rule against perpetuities, laws governing restraints on alienation, or other State laws restricting the terms of the trust, the distribution of trust property, or the administration of the trust;

  (3) the power to appoint a successor trust protector or trust advisor;

  (4) the power to review and approve a trustee’s trust reports or accountings;

  (5) the power to change the governing law or principal place of administration of the trust;

  (6) the power to remove and replace any trust advisor or trust protector for the reasons stated in the trust instrument;

  (7) the power to remove a trustee, cotrustee, or successor trustee for the reasons stated in the trust instrument, and to appoint a successor;

  (8) the power to consent to a trustee’s or cotrustee’s action or inaction in making distributions to beneficiaries;

  (9) the power to increase or decrease any interest of the beneficiaries in the trust, to grant a power of appointment to one or more trust beneficiaries, or to terminate or amend any power of appointment granted in the trust; however, a modification, amendment, or grant of a power of appointment may not grant a beneficial interest in a charitable trust with only charitable beneficiaries to any noncharitable interest or purpose and may not grant a beneficial interest in any trust to the trust protector or trust advisor or to the estate or for the benefit of the creditors of such trust protector or such trust advisor;

  (10) the power to perform a specific duty or function that would normally be required of a trustee or cotrustee;

  (11) the power to advise the trustee or cotrustee concerning any beneficiary;

  (12) the power to consent to a trustee’s or cotrustee’s action or inaction relating to investments of trust assets; and

  (13) the power to direct the acquisition, disposition, or retention of any trust investment.

  (b) The exercise of a power by a trust advisor or a trust protector shall be exercised in the sole and absolute discretion of the trust advisor or trust protector and shall be binding on all other persons. (Added 2009, No. 20, § 1.)