HOUSE AMENDED

 

PRIOR PRINTER'S NOS. 38, 190, 195, 1663, 2140

PRINTER'S NO.  2228

  

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

  

SENATE BILL

 

No.

53

Session of

2009

  

  

INTRODUCED BY GREENLEAF, TARTAGLIONE, RAFFERTY, FERLO, BROWNE, COSTA, O'PAKE AND KITCHEN, JANUARY 20, 2009

  

  

AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, SEPTEMBER 28, 2010   

  

  

  

AN ACT

  

1

Amending Titles 15 (Corporations and Unincorporated

2

Associations) and 20 (Decedents, Estates and Fiduciaries) of

3

the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in intestate

4

succession, further providing for forfeiture; in wills,

5

further providing for modification of wills; providing for

6

formula clauses for Federal tax purposes; in dispositions

<--

7

independent of letters, family exemption, probate of wills

8

and grant of letters, further providing for payments to

9

family and funeral directors; in grant of letters, further

10

providing for advertisement of grant of letters; in

11

administration and personal representatives, further

12

providing for duty of personal representative; in

13

apportionment of death taxes, further providing for

14

enforcement of contribution or exoneration of Federal estate

15

tax; in powers of attorney, further providing for

16

implementation of power of attorney; in estates, further

17

providing for applicability of rule against perpetuities and

18

for modification of conveyance by divorce and for effect of

19

divorce on designation of beneficiaries; in trusts, further

20

providing for notice of representation, for creditor's claim

21

against settlor, for actions contesting validity of revocable

22

trusts, for claims and distribution after settlor's death, 

23

for removal of trustee, for trustee's duty to inform and

24

report, for illustrative powers of trustee and for limitation

25

of action against trustee; in principal and income, further

26

providing for power to convert to unitrust and for retirement

27

benefits, individual retirement accounts, deferred

28

compensation, annuities and similar payments; and making

29

conforming amendments.

30

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

 


1

hereby enacts as follows:

2

Section 1.  Sections 5547(b) and 5548(b) of Title 15 of the

3

Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes are amended to read:

4

§ 5547.  Authority to take and hold trust property.

5

* * *

6

(b)  Nondiversion of certain property.--Property committed to

7

charitable purposes shall not, by any proceeding under Chapter

8

59 (relating to fundamental changes) or otherwise, be diverted

9

from the objects to which it was donated, granted or devised,

10

unless and until the board of directors or other body obtains

11

from the court an order under 20 Pa.C.S. [Ch. 61 (relating to

12

estates)] Ch. 77 Subch. D (relating to creation, validity,

13

modification and termination of trust) specifying the

14

disposition of the property.

15

§ 5548.  Investment of trust funds.

16

* * *

17

(b)  Use and management.--Except as otherwise permitted under

18

20 Pa.C.S. [Ch. 61 (relating to estates)] Ch. 77 Subch. D

19

(relating to creation, validity, modification and termination of

20

trust), the board of directors or other body shall apply all

21

assets thus received to the purposes specified in the trust

22

instrument. The directors or other body shall keep accurate

23

accounts of all trust funds, separate and apart from the

24

accounts of other assets of the corporation.

25

* * *

26

Section 2.  Sections 2106(a) and 2507(2) of Title 20 are

27

amended to read:

28

§ 2106.  Forfeiture.

29

(a)  Spouse's share.--

30

(1)  A spouse who, for one year or upwards previous to

- 2 -

 


1

the death of the other spouse, has willfully neglected or

2

refused to perform the duty to support the other spouse, or

3

who for one year or upwards has willfully and maliciously

4

deserted the other spouse, shall have no right or interest

5

under this chapter in the real or personal estate of the

6

other spouse.

7

(2)  A spouse shall have no right or interest under this

8

chapter in the real or personal estate of the other spouse

9

if:

10

(i)  the other spouse dies domiciled in this

11

Commonwealth during the course of divorce proceedings;

12

(ii)  no decree of divorce has been entered pursuant

13

to 23 Pa.C.S. § 3323 (relating to decree of court); and

14

(iii)  grounds have been established as provided in

15

23 Pa.C.S. § 3323(g).

16

* * *

17

§ 2507.  Modification by circumstances.

18

Wills shall be modified upon the occurrence of any of the

19

following circumstances, among others:

20

* * *

21

(2)  Divorce or pending divorce.--[If the testator is

22

divorced from the bonds of matrimony after making a will,

23

any] Any provision in [the] a testator's will in favor of or

24

relating to [his] the testator's spouse [so divorced] shall

25

[thereby] become ineffective for all purposes unless it

26

appears from the will that the provision was intended to

27

survive [the divorce.] a divorce, if the testator:

28

(i)  is divorced from such spouse after making the

29

will; or

30

(ii)  dies domiciled in this Commonwealth during the

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1

course of divorce proceedings, no decree of divorce has

2

been entered pursuant to 23 Pa.C.S. § 3323 (relating to

3

decree of court) and grounds have been established as

4

provided in 23 Pa.C.S. § 3323(g).

5

* * *

6

Section 3.  Title 20 is amended by adding a chapter to read:

7

CHAPTER 28

8

FORMULA CLAUSES FOR FEDERAL TAX PURPOSES

9

Sec.

10

2801.  Definitions.

11

2802.  Interpretation of formula clauses.

12

2803.  Judicial proceeding.

13

§ 2801.  Definitions.

14

The following words and phrases when used in this chapter

15

shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the

16

context clearly indicates otherwise:

17

"Formula clause."  A clause that has any of the following

18

characteristics:

19

(1)  Refers to the unified credit, estate tax exemption,

20

applicable exemption amount, applicable credit amount,

21

applicable exclusion amount, generation-skipping transfer tax

22

exemption, GST exemption, marital deduction, maximum marital

23

deduction, unlimited marital deduction or charitable

24

deduction, or other words relating to Federal tax exemptions,

25

exclusions, deductions or credits where the meaning of the

26

words is dependent on the current state of the Federal tax

27

laws.

28

(2)  Measures a share of an estate or trust based on the

29

amount that can pass free of Federal estate taxes or affects

30

the inclusion ratio for generation-skipping transfer tax

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1

purposes.

2

(3)  Is based on a similar provision of Federal estate

3

tax or generation-skipping transfer tax law.

4

"Other dispositive instrument."  Includes the following:

5

(1)  A beneficiary designation pertaining to insurance or

6

retirement assets.

7

(2)  An instrument that exercises a power of appointment

8

held by the decedent at death.

9

(3)  A similar instrument that:

10

(i)  expresses a decedent's intent regarding assets

11

over which the decedent had dispositive authority at

12

death; or

13

(ii)  otherwise disposes of assets as a result of the

14

decedent's death.

15

§ 2802.  Interpretation of formula clauses.

16

(a)  General rule.--Except as provided in subsection (b), and

17

subject to section 2803 (relating to judicial proceeding), a

18

will, trust or other dispositive instrument of a decedent who

19

dies after December 31, 2009, and before January 1, 2011, that

20

contains a formula clause shall be rebuttably presumed to be

21

interpreted pursuant to the Federal estate tax and generation-

22

skipping transfer tax laws applicable to estates of decedents

23

dying on December 31, 2009.

24

(b)  Exception.--

25

(1)  Subsection (a) shall not apply with respect to a

26

will, trust or other dispositive instrument that:

27

(i)  is executed or amended after December 31, 2009;

28

or

29

(ii)  manifests an intent that a contrary rule shall

30

apply if the decedent dies on a date on which there is no

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1

applicable Federal estate tax or generation-skipping

2

transfer tax in effect.

3

(2)  If the Federal estate tax or generation-skipping

4

transfer tax applies to an estate of a decedent dying or

5

generation-skipping transfer occurring before January 1,

6

2011, then with respect to each such Federal tax, the initial

7

reference to January 1, 2011, in this section shall refer

8

instead to the first date after December 31, 2009, on which

9

such tax applies to decedents' estates or generation-skipping

10

transfers.

11

§ 2803.  Judicial proceeding.

12

(a)  Standing.--The decedent's personal representative,

13

trustee or any affected beneficiary under the will, trust or

14

other dispositive instrument may bring a proceeding to interpret

15

a formula clause.

16

(b)  Commencement.--A proceeding under this section must be

17

commenced within 12 months following the death of the decedent.

18

(c)  Considerations.--In a proceeding under this section, the

19

court shall consider all of the following:

20

(1)  The provisions and purposes of the will, trust or

21

other dispositive instrument.

22

(2)  The facts surrounding the creation of the will,

23

trust or other dispositive instrument.

24

(3)  The decedent's known or probable intent, based on

25

all the facts and circumstances surrounding the creation of

26

the will, trust or other dispositive instrument. In

27

determining this intent, the court may consider evidence that

28

contradicts the plain meaning of the will, trust or other

29

dispositive instrument.

30

(4)  The identity and interests of beneficiaries of

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1

different shares resulting from the application of the

2

formula clause.

3

(d)  Modifications.--The court shall have the power to modify

4

a provision of a will, trust or other dispositive instrument in

5

a manner that is not contrary to the decedent's probable

6

intention in order to achieve the decedent's tax and other

7

objectives.

8

(e)  Effective date of interpretation or modification.--The

9

court may provide that an interpretation or modification

10

pursuant to this chapter shall be effective as of the decedent's

11

date of death.

12

Section 4.  Sections 3101(b), 3162, 3301(c), 3706, 5603(p)

<--

13

and (q), 6107.1, 6111.1, 6111.2, 7725 and 7745 of Title 20 are

14

amended to read:

15

§ 3101.  Payments to family and funeral directors.

<--

16

* * *

17

(b)  Deposit account.--Any bank, savings association, savings

18

and loan association, building and loan association, credit

19

union or other savings organization, at any time after the death

20

of a depositor, member or certificate holder, may pay the amount

21

on deposit or represented by the certificate, when the total

22

standing to the credit of the decedent in that institution does

23

not exceed [$3,500] $7,500, to the spouse, any child, the father

24

or mother or any sister or brother (preference being given in

25

the order named) of the deceased depositor, member or

26

certificate holder, provided that a receipted funeral bill or an

27

affidavit, executed by a licensed funeral director which sets

28

forth that satisfactory arrangements for payment of funeral

29

services have been made, is presented. Any bank, association,

30

union or other savings organization making such a payment shall

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1

be released to the same extent as if payment had been made to a

2

duly appointed personal representative of the decedent and it

3

shall not be required to see to the application thereof. Any

4

person to whom payment is made shall be answerable therefor to

5

anyone prejudiced by an improper distribution.

6

* * *

7

§ 3162.  Advertisement of grant of letters.

8

(a)  Notice generally.--The personal representative,

9

immediately after the grant of letters, shall cause notice

10

thereof to be given in one newspaper of general circulation

11

published at or near the place where the decedent resided or, in

12

the case of a nonresident decedent, at or near the place where

13

the letters were granted, and in the legal periodical, if any,

14

designated by rule of court for the publication of legal

15

notices, once a week for three successive weeks, together with

16

his name and address; and in every such notice, he shall request

17

all persons having claims against the estate of the decedent to

18

make known the same to him or his attorney, and all persons

19

indebted to the decedent to make payment to him without delay.

20

(b)  Proofs of advertisement to trustee.--A personal

21

representative who has advertised the grant of letters and

22

received the notice required by section 7780.3(c) (relating to

23

duty to inform and report) shall promptly send copies of the

24

proofs of that advertisement to the trustee.

25

§ 3301.  Duty of personal representative.

26

* * *

27

(c)  Time for filing.--The personal representative shall file

28

his inventory no later than the date he files his account or the

29

due date, including any extension, for the filing of the

30

inheritance tax return for the estate, whichever is earlier. Any

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1

party in interest in the estate may request the filing of an

2

inventory at an earlier date by writing delivered to the

3

personal representative or his attorney in which event an

4

inventory shall be filed within three months after the

5

appointment of the personal representative or within 30 days

6

after the request, whichever is later. The court[, upon cause

7

shown,] may direct the [filing of] personal representative to

8

file an inventory of estate assets at any time.

9

§ 3706.  Enforcement of contribution or exoneration of Federal

10

estate tax.

11

(a)  Duty to pay.--Parties liable for apportionment of the

12

Federal estate tax, whether residents or nonresidents of this

13

Commonwealth, shall pay the amounts apportioned against them

14

[respectively.] at the time the Federal estate tax is due,

15

without regard to any extension of time for paying such tax.

16

(b)  [Duty] Power of fiduciary.--The fiduciary charged with

17

the duty to pay the Federal estate tax may recover from parties

18

liable to apportionment the amounts of Federal estate tax

19

[apportionable] apportioned to them [respectively]. If the

20

fiduciary pays the tax apportioned against another party, the

21

fiduciary may recover from the other party the tax payment so

22

advanced, together with interest of 5% per annum from the date

23

of payment.

24

(c)  Suspending distribution.--Distribution or delivery of

25

property to any party, other than a fiduciary charged with a

26

duty to pay the Federal estate tax, shall not be required of any

27

fiduciary until [the Federal estate tax apportionable with

28

respect thereto is paid or, if the Federal estate tax has not

29

been determined and apportionment made, until adequate security

30

for payment is furnished to the fiduciary making the

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1

distribution or delivery.] that party pays the Federal estate

2

tax apportioned to that party.

3

(d)  Court decrees.--[The] Notwithstanding subsections (a)

4

and (b), the court, upon petition or at an accounting or in any

5

appropriate action or proceeding, shall make such decrees or

6

orders as it shall deem advisable apportioning the Federal

7

estate tax. The court may direct a fiduciary to collect the

8

apportioned amounts from the property or interests in his

9

possession of any parties against whom apportionment has been

10

made and may direct all other parties against whom the Federal

11

estate tax has been or may be apportioned or from whom any part

12

of the Federal estate tax may be recovered to make payment of

13

the apportioned amounts to the fiduciary. When a fiduciary holds

14

property of a party liable to apportionment insufficient to

15

satisfy the apportioned Federal estate tax, the court may direct

16

that the balance of the apportioned amount of Federal estate tax

17

shall be paid to the fiduciary by the party liable. Should an

18

overpayment of the Federal estate tax be made by any party or on

19

his behalf, the court may direct an appropriate reimbursement

20

for the overpayment. If the court apportions any part of the

21

Federal estate tax against any party interested in

22

nontestamentary property or among the respective interests

23

created by any nontestamentary instrument, the court, in its

24

discretion, may assess against those properties or interests an

25

equitable share of the expenses incurred in connection with the

26

determination and apportionment of the Federal estate tax. If

27

the fiduciary cannot recover the Federal estate tax apportioned

28

against a party benefited, the unrecovered amount shall be

29

charged in such manner as the court may determine.

30

§ 5603.  Implementation of power of attorney.

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1

* * *

2

(p)  Power to engage in insurance transactions.--A power to

3

"engage in insurance transactions" shall mean that the agent

4

may:

5

(1)  Purchase, continue, renew, convert or terminate any

6

type of insurance (including, but not limited to, life,

7

accident, health, disability or liability insurance) and pay

8

premiums and collect benefits and proceeds under insurance

9

policies.

10

(2)  Exercise nonforfeiture provisions under insurance

11

policies.

12

(3)  In general, exercise all powers with respect to

13

insurance that the principal could if present; however, the

14

agent cannot designate himself beneficiary of a life

15

insurance policy unless the agent is the spouse, child,

16

grandchild, parent, brother or sister of the principal. An

17

agent and a beneficiary of a life insurance policy shall be

18

liable as equity and justice may require to the extent that,

19

as determined by the court, a beneficiary designation made by

20

the agent is inconsistent with the known or probable intent

21

of the principal.

22

(q)  Power to engage in retirement plan transactions.--A

23

power to "engage in retirement plan transactions" shall mean

24

that the agent may contribute to, withdraw from and deposit

25

funds in any type of retirement plan (including, but not limited

26

to, any tax qualified or nonqualified pension, profit sharing,

27

stock bonus, employee savings and retirement plan, deferred

28

compensation plan or individual retirement account), select and

29

change payment options for the principal, make roll-over

30

contributions from any retirement plan to other retirement plans

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1

and, in general, exercise all powers with respect to retirement

2

plans that the principal could if present. However, the agent

3

cannot designate himself beneficiary of a retirement plan unless

4

the agent is the spouse, child, grandchild, parent, brother or

5

sister of the principal. An agent and a beneficiary of a

6

retirement plan shall be liable as equity and justice may

7

require to the extent that, as determined by the court, a

8

beneficiary designation made by the agent is inconsistent with

9

the known or probable intent of the principal.

10

* * *

11

§ 6107.1.  Applicability of rule against perpetuities.

12

(a)  Traditional rule.--Sections 6104 (relating to rule

13

against perpetuities), 6105 (relating to rule against

14

perpetuities; disposition when invalidity occurs), 6106

15

(relating to income accumulations; when valid) and 6107

16

(relating to income accumulations; disposition when invalidity

17

occurs):

18

(1)  shall apply to every interest created before January

19

1, 2007; but

20

(2)  shall not apply to any interest created after

21

December 31, 2006.

22

(b)  Modern rule.--All of the following apply to every

23

interest created after December 31, 2006:

24

(1)  [No] Except as provided in paragraph (3), no

25

interest shall be void as a perpetuity.

26

(2)  No direction or authorization to [accumulated] 

27

accumulate income shall be void as a perpetuity.

28

(3)  If a power of appointment is exercised to create a

29

new power of appointment, any interest created by the

30

exercise of the new power of appointment is invalid if it

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1

does not vest within 360 years of the creation of the

2

original power of appointment, unless the exercise of the new

3

power of appointment expressly states that this provision

4

shall not apply to the interests created by the exercise.

5

(4)  Void interests shall be disposed of in the manner

6

provided in section 6105.

7

§ 6111.1.  Modification by divorce or pending divorce.

8

[If the conveyor is divorced from the bonds of matrimony

9

after making a conveyance, any] Any provision in [the] a 

10

conveyance which was revocable by [him] a conveyor at the time

11

of [his] the conveyor's death and which was to take effect at or

12

after [his] the conveyor's death in favor of or relating to [his

13

spouse so divorced shall thereby] the conveyor's spouse shall 

14

become ineffective for all purposes unless it appears in the

15

governing instrument that the provision was intended to survive

16

[the divorce.] a divorce, if the conveyor:

17

(1)  is divorced from such spouse after making the

18

conveyance; or

19

(2)  dies domiciled in this Commonwealth during the

20

course of divorce proceedings, no decree of divorce has been

21

entered pursuant to 23 Pa.C.S. § 3323 (relating to decree of

22

court) and grounds have been established as provided in 23

23

Pa.C.S. § 3323(g).

24

§ 6111.2.  Effect of divorce or pending divorce on designation

25

of beneficiaries.

26

[If a person domiciled in this Commonwealth at the time of

27

his death is divorced from the bonds of matrimony after

28

designating his spouse as beneficiary of a life insurance

29

policy, annuity contract, pension or profit-sharing plan or

30

other contractual arrangement providing for payments to his

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1

spouse, any designation in favor of his former spouse which was

2

revocable by him after the divorce shall become ineffective for

3

all purposes and shall be construed as if such former spouse had

4

predeceased him unless it appears from the wording of the

5

designation, a court order or a written contract between the

6

person and such former spouse that the designation was intended

7

to survive the divorce.]

8

(a)  Applicability.--This section is applicable if an

9

individual:

10

(1)  is domiciled in this Commonwealth;

11

(2)  designates the individual's spouse as beneficiary of

12

the individual's life insurance policy, annuity contract,

13

pension or profit-sharing plan or other contractual

14

arrangement providing for payments to the spouse; and

15

(3)  either:

16

(i)  at the time of the individual's death is

17

divorced from the spouse; or

18

(ii)  dies during the course of divorce proceedings,

19

no decree of divorce has been entered pursuant to 23

20

Pa.C.S. § 3323 (relating to decree of court) and grounds

21

have been established as provided in 23 Pa.C.S. §

22

3323(g).

23

(b)  General rule.--Any designation described in subsection

24

(a)(2) in favor of the individual's spouse or former spouse that

25

was revocable by the individual at the individual's death shall

26

become ineffective for all purposes and shall be construed as if

27

the spouse or former spouse had predeceased the individual,

28

unless it appears the designation was intended to survive the

29

divorce based on:

30

(1)  the wording of the designation;

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1

(2)  a court order;

2

(3)  a written contract between the individual and the

3

spouse or former spouse; or

4

(4)  a designation of a former spouse as a beneficiary

5

after the divorce decree has been issued.

6

(c)  Liability.--

7

(1)  Unless restrained by court order, no insurance

8

company, pension or profit-sharing plan trustee or other

9

obligor shall be liable for making payments to a spouse or 

10

former spouse which would have been proper in the absence of

11

this section.

12

(2)  Any spouse or former spouse to whom payment is made

13

shall be answerable to anyone prejudiced by the payment.

14

§ 7725.  Notice of representation.

15

A person representing another must be given written notice by

16

the trustee that the person is representing the other person.

17

[The person to whom the notice is given may decline the

18

representation by a writing that is given to the trustee no

19

later than 60 days after receipt of the trustee's notice.] A

20

person to whom the notice is given is presumed to accept the

21

representation unless the person declines the representation in

22

a writing delivered to the trustee no later than 30 days after

23

receipt of the notice.

24

§ 7745.  Creditor's claim against settlor - UTC 505(a).

25

Whether or not a trust instrument contains a spendthrift

26

provision and notwithstanding section 7744 (relating to

27

discretionary trusts; effect of standard - UTC 504):

28

(1)  During the lifetime of the settlor, the property of

29

a revocable trust is subject to claims of the settlor's

30

creditors.

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1

(2)  A judgment creditor or assignee of the settlor of an

2

irrevocable trust may reach the maximum amount that can be

3

distributed to or for the settlor's benefit. If a trust has

4

more than one settlor, the creditor or assignee of a

5

particular settlor may reach the portion of the trust

6

attributable to that settlor's contribution. However, the

7

assets of an irrevocable trust are not subject to the claims

8

of a creditor of the settlor solely because of the existence

9

of the trustee's discretionary power to pay directly to the

10

taxing authorities or to reimburse the settlor for any income

11

tax payable by the settlor attributable to trust income or

12

principal.

13

(3)  After the death of the settlor and subject to the

14

settlor's right to direct the source from which liabilities

15

will be paid, the property of a revocable trust is subject to

16

claims of the settlor's creditors, costs of administration of

17

the settlor's estate, the expenses of the settlor's funeral

18

and disposal of remains and the family exemption to the

19

extent the settlor's probate estate is inadequate to satisfy

20

those claims, costs, expenses and exemption and no other

21

statute specifically exempts the property from those claims.

22

Section 5.  Section 7754 of Title 20 is amended by adding a

23

subsection to read:

24

§ 7754.  Actions contesting validity of revocable trust.

25

* * *

26

(d)  Competency of witnesses.--The competency of a witness in

27

an action contesting the validity of a revocable trust shall be

28

governed by the same rules that apply in actions contesting the

29

validity of a will.

30

Section 6.  Section 7755(c) of Title 20 is amended to read:

- 16 -

 


1

§ 7755.  Claims and distribution after settlor's death.

2

* * *

3

(c)  [No personal representative.--If no personal

4

representative is appointed within 90 days after the settlor's

5

death, the trustee shall advertise the trust's existence and the

6

name and address of the trustee in the manner set forth in

7

section 3162 (relating to advertisement of grant of letters).] 

8

Trustee's duty to advertise.--

9

(1)  A trustee of a revocable trust:

10

(i)  May advertise at any time after the settlor's

11

death.

12

(ii)  Shall advertise if the first advertisement of

13

the grant of letters by the settlor's personal

14

representative does not occur within 90 days after the

15

settlor's death.

16

(2)  Advertisements by the trustee under this subsection

17

shall be in the manner set forth in section 3162 (relating to

18

advertisement of grant of letters), shall be done in the

19

jurisdiction of the deceased settlor's domicile and shall

20

include:

21

(i)  The fact of the trust's existence.

22

(ii)  The trustee's name and address.

23

(3)  The personal representative of the settlor of a

24

revocable trust shall send to the trustee copies of the proof

25

of publication of the advertisement of the grant of letters.

26

* * *

27

Section 7.  Section 7766(b) of Title 20 is amended and the

28

section is amended by adding a subsection to read:

29

§ 7766.  Removal of trustee - UTC 706.

30

* * *

- 17 -

 


1

(b)  When court may remove trustee.--The court may remove a

2

trustee if it finds that removal of the trustee best serves the

3

interests of the beneficiaries of the trust and is not

4

inconsistent with a material purpose of the trust, a suitable

5

cotrustee or successor trustee is available and:

6

(1)  the trustee has committed a serious breach of trust;

7

(2)  lack of cooperation among cotrustees substantially

8

impairs the administration of the trust;

9

(3)  the trustee has not effectively administered the

10

trust because of the trustee's unfitness, unwillingness or

11

persistent failures; or

12

(4)  there has been a substantial change of

13

circumstances. A corporate reorganization of an institutional

14

trustee, including a plan of merger or consolidation, is not

15

itself a substantial change of circumstances.

16

* * *

17

(e)  Cross reference.--See section 1608 of the act of

18

November 30, 1965 (P.L.847, No.356), known as the Banking Code

19

of 1965.

20

Section 8.  Sections 7780.3(a), (f), (g), (i), (k) and (l),

21

7780.6(a), 7785, 8105(d) and (e) and 8149(c) of Title 20 are

22

amended to read:

23

§ 7780.3.  Duty to inform and report.

24

(a)  Duty to respond to requests.--A trustee shall promptly

25

respond to a [beneficiary's] reasonable request by the settlor

26

of a trust or by a beneficiary of an irrevocable trust for

27

information related to the trust's administration. A trustee

28

shall promptly respond to the Department of Public Welfare's

29

reasonable request for information related to the trust's

30

administration when a settlor or beneficiary is a resident in a

- 18 -

 


1

State-owned facility or an applicant for or recipient of cash or

2

medical assistance from the Commonwealth and the department

3

certifies in writing that it has obtained a currently valid

4

consent for the disclosure of such information from the settlor

5

or beneficiary of the trust. A trustee may rely upon the

6

department's certification without investigating its accuracy.

7

* * *

8

(f)  Notice to current beneficiaries.--No later than 30 days

9

after the date on which the trustee of an irrevocable trust

10

learns that a person who did not previously receive the notice

11

described in subsection (i) is a current beneficiary of the

12

trust, the trustee shall send the notice described in subsection

13

(i) to the current beneficiary if, at that time, the trustee

14

knows that the settlor is then deceased or has been adjudicated

15

incapacitated. With respect to a testamentary trust, the time

16

specified in this subsection commences to run when the trust is

17

first funded, whether or not the trust is completely funded on

18

that date.

19

(g)  Change in trusteeship.--[Apart from the other

20

requirements of this section, the trustee shall send the notice

21

described in subsection (i) to the current beneficiaries each

22

time there is a change in trusteeship.]

23

(1)  Each time there is a change in trusteeship of any

24

trust, the trustee shall notify the settlor in writing of the

25

change.

26

(2)  Each time there is a change in trusteeship of any

27

trust whose settlor is deceased or of an irrevocable trust

28

whose settlor has been adjudicated incapacitated, the trustee

29

shall notify the current beneficiaries in writing of the

30

change.

- 19 -

 


1

(3)  Notice under this subsection shall include the

2

trustee's name, address and telephone number.

3

* * *

4

(i)  Contents of notice.--[Any] Except as provided in

5

subsection (g), any notice under this section shall be written

6

and convey the following information:

7

(1)  The fact of the trust's existence.

8

(2)  The identity of the settlor.

9

(3)  The trustee's name, address and telephone number.

10

(4)  The recipient's right to receive upon request a copy

11

of the trust instrument.

12

(5)  [The recipient's] Each current beneficiary's right

13

to receive, at least annually, [a written report of the

14

trust's assets and their market values if feasible, the

15

trust's liabilities and the trust's receipts and

16

disbursements since the date of the last such report] upon

17

request, periodic written financial reports concerning the

18

trust.

19

* * *

20

(k)  Notice to settlor's appointee.--The settlor of a trust

21

may in the trust instrument appoint one or more persons or a

22

succession of persons to receive, on behalf of one or more named

23

current beneficiaries of the trust, the notices required by this

24

section. The trustee giving the notice required by this section

25

to that appointee satisfies the trustee's duty to give to the

26

named current beneficiary the notice required by this section

27

if:

28

(1)  the trustee notifies the appointee that the notice

29

is being given to the appointee as representing the named

30

current beneficiary; and

- 20 -

 


1

(2)  the appointee does not decline to receive the notice

2

in a writing [that is given] delivered to the trustee no

3

later than [60] 30 days after receipt of the trustee's

4

notice.

5

(l)  Applicability.--

6

(1)  If the death or adjudication of incapacity described

7

in subsection (b), (c), (d) or (e) occurs on or after

8

November 6, 2006, the time limit for notice set forth in that

9

subsection shall apply.

10

(2)  If the death or adjudication of incapacity described

11

in subsection (b), [(c),] (d) or (e) has occurred before

12

November 6, 2006, the time limit for notice set forth in that

13

subsection shall be November 6, 2008.

14

(3)  The notice under subsection (f) shall not be

15

required to be completed until two years after November 6,

16

2006.

17

§ 7780.6.  Illustrative powers of trustee.

18

(a)  Listing.--The powers which a trustee may exercise

19

pursuant to section 7780.5 (relating to powers of trustees - UTC

20

815) include the following powers:

21

(1)  To accept, hold, invest in and retain investments as

22

provided in Chapter 72 (relating to prudent investor rule).

23

(2)  To pay or contest a claim; settle a claim by or

24

against the trust by compromise, arbitration or otherwise;

25

and release, in whole or in part, any claim belonging to the

26

trust.

27

(3)  To resolve a dispute regarding the interpretation of

28

the trust or the administration of the trust by mediation,

29

arbitration or other alternative dispute resolution

30

procedures.

- 21 -

 


1

(4)  To prosecute or defend actions, claims or

2

proceedings for the protection of trust assets and of the

3

trustee in the performance of the trustee's duties.

4

(5)  To abandon or decline to administer any property

5

which is of little or no value, transfer title to abandoned

6

property and decline to accept title to and administer

7

property which has or may have environmental or other

8

liability attached to it.

9

(6)  To insure the assets of the trust against damage or

10

loss and, at the expense of the trust, protect the trustee,

11

the trustee's agents and the beneficiaries from liability to

12

third persons arising from the administration of the trust.

13

(7)  To advance money for the protection of the trust and

14

for all expenses, losses and liability sustained in the

15

administration of the trust or because of the holding or

16

ownership of any trust assets. The trustee has a lien on the

17

trust assets as against the beneficiary for an advance under

18

this paragraph, including interest on the advance.

19

(8)  To pay taxes, assessments, compensation of the

20

trustee and employees and agents of the trustee and other

21

expenses incurred in the administration of the trust.

22

(9)  To receive additions to the assets of the trust.

23

(10)  To sell or exchange any real or personal property

24

at public or private sale, without obligation to repudiate an

25

otherwise binding agreement in favor of better offers. If the

26

trustee has been required to give bond, no proceeds of the

27

sale of real estate, including proceeds arising by the reason

28

of involuntary conversion, shall be paid to the trustee

29

until:

30

(i)  the court has made an order excusing the trustee

- 22 -

 


1

from entering additional security; or

2

(ii)  the court has made an order requiring

3

additional security and the trustee has entered the

4

additional security.

5

(11)  To enter for any purpose into a lease as lessor or

6

lessee with or without option to purchase or renew for a term

7

within or extending beyond the term of the trust.

8

(12)  To grant options for sales or leases of a trust

9

asset and acquire options for the acquisition of assets,

10

including options exercisable after the trust terminates.

11

(13)  To join in any reorganization, consolidation,

12

merger, dissolution, liquidation, voting trust plan or other

13

concerted action of securityholders and to delegate

14

discretionary duties with respect thereto.

15

(14)  To vote a security, in person or by general or

16

limited proxy, with or without power of substitution.

17

(15)  To borrow funds and mortgage or pledge trust assets

18

as security for repayment of the funds borrowed, including

19

repayments after the trust terminates.

20

(16)  To make loans to and buy property from the personal

21

representatives of the settlor and the settlor's spouse.

22

Loans under this paragraph shall be adequately secured, and

23

the purchases under this paragraph shall be for fair market

24

value.

25

(17)  To partition, subdivide, repair, improve or develop

26

real estate; enter into agreements concerning the partition,

27

subdivision, repair, improvement, development, zoning or

28

management of real estate; impose or extinguish restrictions

29

on real estate; dedicate land and easements to public use;

30

adjust boundaries; and do anything else regarding real estate

- 23 -

 


1

which is commercially reasonable or customary under the

2

circumstances.

3

(18)  With respect to possible liability for violation of

4

environmental law:

5

(i)  to inspect or investigate property the trustee

6

holds or has been asked to hold or property owned or

7

operated by an organization in which the trustee holds or

8

has been asked to hold an interest, for the purpose of

9

determining the application of environmental law with

10

respect to the property;

11

(ii)  to take action to prevent, abate or otherwise

12

remedy any actual or potential violation of environmental

13

law affecting property held directly or indirectly by the

14

trustee, whether taken before or after the assertion of a

15

claim or the initiation of governmental enforcement;

16

(iii)  to decline to accept property into trust or

17

disclaim a power with respect to property that is or may

18

be burdened with liability for violation of environmental

19

law;

20

(iv)  to compromise claims against the trust which

21

may be asserted for an alleged violation of environmental

22

law; and

23

(v)  to pay the expense of inspection, review,

24

abatement or remedial action to comply with environmental

25

law.

26

(19)  To operate, repair, maintain, equip and improve any

27

farm or farm operation; to purchase and sell livestock,

28

crops, feed and other property that is normally perishable;

29

and to purchase, use and dispose of farm equipment and employ

30

one or more farm managers and others in connection with farm

- 24 -

 


1

equipment and pay them reasonable compensation.

2

(20)  To make ordinary or extraordinary repairs or

3

alterations in buildings or other structures; demolish

4

improvements; and raze existing or erect new party walls or

5

buildings.

6

(21)  To enter into a lease or arrangements for

7

exploration and removal of minerals or other natural

8

resources or enter into a pooling or utilization agreement.

9

(22)  To exercise all rights and incidents of ownership

10

of life insurance policies held by the trust, including

11

borrowing on policies, entering into and terminating split-

12

dollar plans, exercising conversion privileges and rights to

13

acquire additional insurance and selecting settlement

14

options.

15

(23)  To employ a custodian; hold property unregistered

16

or in the name of a nominee, including the nominee of any

17

institution employed as custodian, without disclosing the

18

fiduciary relationship and without retaining possession and

19

control of securities or other property so held or

20

registered; and pay reasonable compensation to the custodian.

21

(24)  To apply funds distributable to a beneficiary who

22

is, in the trustee's opinion, disabled by illness or other

23

cause and unable properly to manage the funds directly for

24

the beneficiary's benefit or to pay such funds for

25

expenditure on the beneficiary's behalf to:

26

(i)  the beneficiary;

27

(ii)  a guardian of the beneficiary's estate;

28

(iii)  an agent acting under a general power of

29

attorney for the beneficiary; or

30

(iv)  if there is no agent or guardian, a relative or

- 25 -

 


1

other person having legal or physical custody or care of

2

the beneficiary.

3

(25)  To pay funds distributable to a minor beneficiary

4

to the minor or to a guardian of the minor's estate or to

5

apply the funds directly for the minor's benefit.

6

(26)  To do any of the following:

7

(i)  Pay any funds distributable to a beneficiary who

8

is not 21 years of age or older to:

9

(A)  the beneficiary;

10

(B)  an existing custodian for the beneficiary

11

under Chapter 53 (relating to Pennsylvania Uniform

12

Transfers to Minors Act) or under any other state's

13

version of the Uniform Transfers to Minors Act;

14

(C)  an existing custodian for the beneficiary

15

under the former Pennsylvania Uniform Gifts to Minors

16

Act or under any other state's version of the Uniform

17

Gifts to Minors Act; or

18

(D)  a custodian for the beneficiary appointed by

19

the trustee under Chapter 53.

20

(ii)  Apply the funds for the beneficiary.

21

(27)  To pay calls, assessments and other sums chargeable

22

or accruing against or on account of securities.

23

(28)  To sell or exercise stock subscription or

24

conversion rights.

25

(29)  To continue or participate in the operation of any

26

business or other enterprise and to effect incorporation,

27

merger, consolidation, dissolution or other change in the

28

form of the organization of the business or enterprise.

29

(30)  To select a mode of payment under a qualified

30

employee benefit plan or a retirement plan payable to the

- 26 -

 


1

trustee and exercise rights under the plan.

2

(31)  To distribute in cash or in kind or partly in each

3

and allocate particular assets in proportionate or

4

disproportionate shares.

5

(32)  To appoint a trustee to act in another jurisdiction

6

with respect to trust property located in the other

7

jurisdiction, confer upon the appointed trustee all the

8

powers and duties of the appointing trustee, require that the

9

appointed trustee furnish security and remove the appointed

10

trustee.

11

(33)  To exercise elections with respect to Federal,

12

State and local taxes.

13

[(33)] (34)  To execute and deliver instruments which

14

will accomplish or facilitate the exercise of the trustee's

15

powers.

16

* * *

17

§ 7785.  Limitation of action against trustee.

18

(a)  Imposed by trustee's written reports.--

19

(1)  A beneficiary [may not challenge a transaction or

20

assert] is barred from challenging a transaction or asserting 

21

a claim against a trustee for breach of trust [on the basis

22

of a transaction] if:

23

(i)  the trustee provided the beneficiary [with a

24

written report of the trust's assets and their market

25

values if feasible, the trust's liabilities and the

26

trust's receipts and disbursements for the year in which

27

the transaction occurred and for each of the four

28

subsequent calendar years] at least annually with

29

periodic written financial reports concerning the trust;

30

(ii)  the transaction was disclosed [in the first of

- 27 -

 


1

the five reports] in a report to which subparagraph (i)

2

refers or such report provided sufficient information so

3

that the beneficiary knew or should have known of the

4

potential claim or should have inquired into its

5

existence;

6

(iii)  [the beneficiary did not notify the trustee in

7

writing within six months after receiving the fifth

8

annual report that the beneficiary objects to the

9

transaction and provide the basis in writing for that

10

objection] in the 30 months after a report to which

11

subparagraph (ii) refers was sent by the trustee to the

12

beneficiary, the beneficiary did not notify the trustee

13

in writing that the beneficiary challenges the

14

transaction or asserts a claim and provides in writing

15

the basis for that challenge or assertion; and

16

(iv)  all reports were accompanied by a conspicuous

17

written statement describing the effect of this

18

paragraph.

19

(2)  A claim not barred by paragraph (1) may nevertheless

20

be barred by subsection (b).

21

(b)  Five-year absolute bar.--If not previously barred by

22

subsection (a) or section 7798 (relating to failure to present

23

claim at audit):

24

(1)  Except as provided in paragraph (1.1), (2) or (3), a

25

claim by a beneficiary against a trustee, including a claim

26

preserved by the beneficiary notifying the trustee in the

27

manner described in subsection (a), shall be barred five

28

years after the first to occur of the following events:

29

(i)  the date after the removal, resignation or death

30

of the trustee on which the beneficiary was given the

- 28 -

 


1

notice required by section 7780.3(g) (relating to duty to

2

inform and report);

3

(ii)  the termination of the beneficiary's interest

4

in the trust; or

5

(iii)  the termination of the trust.

6

(1.1)  A beneficiary who has challenged a transaction or

7

asserted a claim as provided in subsection (a)(1)(iii) may

8

not challenge the transaction or assert the claim against the

9

trustee in a court or an arbitration proceeding commenced

10

more than five years after the date the trustee sent the

11

beneficiary the report described in subsection (a)(1)(i) and

12

(ii).

13

(2)  Except as set forth in paragraph (3), if the first

14

to occur of the events set forth in paragraph (1) occurred

15

before November 6, 2006, a claim described in paragraph (1)

16

shall be barred five years after November 6, 2006.

17

(3)  A claim described in paragraph (1) or (1.1) is not

18

barred if, prior to the respective date set forth in either

19

paragraph (1) or (2), the trustee has filed an account with

20

the court or the beneficiary has petitioned the court to

21

compel the trustee to file an account.

22

§ 8105.  Power to convert to unitrust.

23

* * *

24

(d)  Post conversion.--After a trust is converted to a

25

unitrust, all of the following apply:

26

(1)  The trustee shall follow an investment policy

27

seeking a total return for the investments held by the trust,

28

whether the return is to be derived:

29

(i)  from appreciation of capital;

30

(ii)  from earnings and distributions from capital;

- 29 -

 


1

or

2

(iii)  from both.

3

(2)  The trustee shall make regular distributions in

4

accordance with the governing instrument construed in

5

accordance with the provisions of this section.

6

(3)  The term "income" in the governing instrument shall

7

mean an annual distribution (the unitrust distribution) equal

8

to 4% (the payout percentage) of the net fair market value of

9

the trust's assets, whether such assets would be considered

10

income or principal under other provisions of this chapter,

11

averaged over the lesser of:

12

(i)  the [three] preceding years in the smoothing

13

period selected by the trustee; or

14

(ii)  the period during which the trust has been in

15

existence.

16

(e)  Discretion of trustee.--The trustee may, in the

17

trustee's discretion from time to time, determine all of the

18

following:

19

(1)  The effective date of a conversion to a unitrust.

20

(2)  The provisions for prorating a unitrust distribution

21

for a short year in which a beneficiary's right to payments

22

commences or ceases.

23

(3)  The frequency of unitrust distributions during the

24

year.

25

(4)  The effect of other payments from or contributions

26

to the trust on the trust's valuation.

27

(5)  Whether to value the trust's assets annually or more

28

frequently.

29

(5.1)  Whether to average the net assets of the trust

30

over a smoothing period of three, four or five years.

- 30 -

 


1

(6)  What valuation dates to use.

2

(7)  How frequently to value nonliquid assets and whether

3

to estimate their value.

4

(8)  Whether to omit from the calculations trust property

5

occupied or possessed by a beneficiary.

6

(9)  Any other matters necessary for the proper

7

functioning of the unitrust.

8

* * *

9

§ 8149.  Retirement benefits, individual retirement accounts,

10

deferred compensation, annuities and similar

11

payments.

12

* * *

13

(c)  Allocation when internal net income of fund is readily

14

ascertained.--

15

(1)  If no portion of a payment from a separate fund held

16

exclusively for the benefit of the trust is allocable to

17

income under subsections (a) and (b) but the internal net

18

income of the fund determined as if the fund were a separate

19

trust subject to Subchapters [B (relating to decedent's

20

estate or terminating income interest) through] A (relating

21

to preliminary provisions; power to adjust; power to convert

22

to unitrust), B (relating to decedent's estate or terminating

23

income interest), C (relating to apportionment at beginning

24

and end of income interest), D (relating to allocation of

25

receipts during administration of trust) and E (relating to

26

allocation of disbursements during administration of trust)

27

is readily ascertainable by the trustee, the internal net

28

income of the fund shall be considered to be the income

29

earned by the fund, and the portion of the payment equal to

30

the then undistributed net income of the fund realized since

- 31 -

 


1

the trust acquired its interest in the fund shall be deemed

2

to be a distribution of such income and shall be allocated to

3

the trust income account.

4

(2)  The balance of any such payment shall be allocated

5

to principal.

6

(3)  The power to adjust under section 8104 (relating to

7

trustee's power to adjust), the power to convert to a

8

unitrust under section 8105 (relating to power to convert to

9

unitrust) and the provisions governing express trusts under

10

section 8107 (relating to express trusts) shall apply to

11

retirement benefits covered by this subsection which are

12

payable to a trust. These powers may be exercised separately

13

and independently by the payee trustee or in the governing

14

instrument as between the retirement benefits and the trust

15

as if they were separate trusts subject to this chapter.

16

* * *

17

Section 9.  This act shall apply as follows:

18

(1)  The addition of 20 Pa.C.S. Ch. 28 shall apply to any

19

decedent dying after December 31, 2009.

20

(2)  The amendment of 20 Pa.C.S. § 6107.1 shall apply to any

21

interest created after December 31, 2006.

22

Section 10.  (a)  The following provisions shall be

23

retroactive to November 6, 2006:

24

(1)  The amendment of 20 Pa.C.S. § 7745.

25

(2)  The amendment of 20 Pa.C.S. § 7780.3(l)(2).

26

(3)  The amendment of 20 Pa.C.S. § 7780.6(a).

27

(b)  The amendment of 20 Pa.C.S. § 6107.1 shall be

28

retroactive to January 1, 2007.

29

Section 11.  This act shall take effect as follows:

30

(1)  The following provisions shall take effect

- 32 -

 


1

immediately:

2

(i)  This section.

3

(ii)  Sections 9 and 10 of this act.

4

(iii)  The addition of 20 Pa.C.S. Ch. 28.

5

(iv)  The amendment of 20 Pa.C.S. §§ 6107.1, 7745,

6

7780.3(l)(2) and 7780.6(a).

7

(2)  The remainder of this act shall take effect in 60

8

days.

- 33 -