Montana Code 72-38-211. Pleadings — when orders or notice binding one binds another — representation
72-38-211. Pleadings — when orders or notice binding one binds another — representation. In proceedings involving trusts, the following apply:
Terms Used In Montana Code 72-38-211
- Amendment: A proposal to alter the text of a pending bill or other measure by striking out some of it, by inserting new language, or both. Before an amendment becomes part of the measure, thelegislature must agree to it.
- Assets: (1) The property comprising the estate of a deceased person, or (2) the property in a trust account.
- Conservator: means a person appointed by the court to administer the estate of a minor or adult individual. See Montana Code 72-38-103
- Decedent: A deceased person.
- Fiduciary: A trustee, executor, or administrator.
- Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
- Guardian: means a person appointed by the court, by a parent, or by a spouse to make decisions regarding the support, care, education, health, and welfare of a minor or adult individual. See Montana Code 72-38-103
- Interested person: means :
(a)the trustee;
(b)the qualified beneficiaries who are entitled to notice; and
(c)the attorney general if the petition is related to a charitable trust subject to the jurisdiction of the attorney general. See Montana Code 72-38-103
- Person: means an individual, corporation, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, limited liability company, association, joint venture, government, governmental subdivision, agency, or instrumentality, public corporation, or any other legal or commercial entity. See Montana Code 72-38-103
- Pleadings: Written statements of the parties in a civil case of their positions. In the federal courts, the principal pleadings are the complaint and the answer.
- Property: means anything that may be the subject of ownership, whether real or personal, legal or equitable, or any interest therein. See Montana Code 72-38-103
- Several: means two or more. See Montana Code 1-1-201
- State: means a state of the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, or any territory or insular possession subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. See Montana Code 72-38-103
- Trustee: A person or institution holding and administering property in trust.
- Trustee: includes an original, additional, and successor trustee and a cotrustee. See Montana Code 72-38-103
(1)Interests to be affected must be described in pleadings that give reasonable information to owners by name or class, by reference to the instrument creating the interests, or in other appropriate manner.
(2)Persons are bound by orders binding others in the following cases:
(a)Orders binding the sole holder or all coholders of a power of revocation or a presently exercisable general power of appointment, including one in the form of a power of amendment, bind other persons to the extent their interests, as objects, takers in default, or otherwise, are subject to the power.
(b)(i) To the extent there is no conflict of interest between them or among persons represented, orders binding a:
(A)conservator bind the person whose estate the conservator controls;
(B)guardian bind the ward if a conservator of the ward’s estate has not been appointed;
(C)trustee bind beneficiaries of the trust in proceedings establishing or adding to a trust, to review the acts or accounts of a prior fiduciary, and in proceedings involving creditors or other third parties; and
(D)personal representative bind persons interested in the undistributed assets of a decedent‘s estate in actions or proceedings by or against the estate.
(ii)If there is no conflict of interest and a conservator or guardian has not been appointed, a parent may represent the parent’s minor child.
(c)An unborn or unascertained person who is not otherwise represented is bound by an order to the extent the person’s interest is adequately represented by another party having a substantially identical interest in the proceeding.
(3)Notice is required as follows:
(a)Notice as prescribed by 72-38-209 must be given to every interested person or to one who can bind an interested person as described in subsection (2)(a) or (2)(b). Notice may be given both to a person and to another who may bind the person.
(b)Notice is given to unborn or unascertained persons who are not represented under subsection (2)(a) or (2)(b) by giving notice to all known persons whose interests in the proceedings are substantially identical to those of the unborn or unascertained persons.
(4)At any point in a proceeding, a court may appoint a guardian ad litem to represent the interest of a minor, an incapacitated, unborn, or unascertained person, or a person whose identity or address is unknown if the court determines that representation of the interest otherwise would be inadequate. If not precluded by conflict of interests, a guardian ad litem may be appointed to represent several persons or interests. The court shall set out its reasons for appointing a guardian ad litem as a part of the record of the proceeding. The guardian ad litem is entitled to reasonable compensation and to costs and expenses, including attorney fees.
(5)The notice for a petition and hearing requesting the court to settle reports or pass upon the acts of the trustee or that otherwise may affect substantive property rights of a beneficiary or other interested party must state that fact in the notice and must further state that failure to appear and object bars any further claims against the trustee relating to the subject matter of the petition.