Sec. 11. (a) The trustee is accountable to the beneficiary for the trust estate.

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Terms Used In Indiana Code 30-4-3-11

  • Attorney: includes a counselor or other person authorized to appear and represent a party in an action or special proceeding. See Indiana Code 1-1-4-5
  • Beneficiary: A person who is entitled to receive the benefits or proceeds of a will, trust, insurance policy, retirement plan, annuity, or other contract. Source: OCC
  • Beneficiary: has the meaning set forth in IC 30-2-14-2. See Indiana Code 30-4-1-2
  • Breach of trust: means a violation by the trustee of any duty which is owed to the settlor or beneficiary. See Indiana Code 30-4-1-2
  • Court: means a court having jurisdiction over trust matters. See Indiana Code 30-4-1-2
  • Property: includes personal and real property. See Indiana Code 1-1-4-5
  • Trust estate: means the trust property and the income derived from its use. See Indiana Code 30-4-1-2
  • Trust property: means property either placed in trust or purchased or otherwise acquired by the trustee for the trust regardless of whether the trust property is titled in the name of the trustee or the name of the trust. See Indiana Code 30-4-1-2
  • Trustee: A person or institution holding and administering property in trust.
  • Trustee: has the meaning set forth in IC 30-2-14-13. See Indiana Code 30-4-1-2
     (b) If the trustee commits a breach of trust, the trustee is liable to the beneficiary for:

(1) any loss or depreciation in the value of the trust property as a result of the breach;

(2) any profit made by the trustee through the breach;

(3) any reasonable profit which would have accrued on the trust property in the absence of a breach; and

(4) reasonable attorney‘s fees incurred by the beneficiary in bringing an action on the breach.

     (c) In the absence of a breach of trust, the trustee has no liability to the beneficiary either for any loss or depreciation in value of the trust property or for a failure to make a profit. However, if:

(1) a loss or depreciation in value of the trust property; or

(2) the trust’s failure to make a profit;

is the result of a violation by the trustee of IC 28-1-12-8 or IC 28-6.1-6-26, one (1) or more beneficiaries of the trust may petition the court for any remedy described in subsection (b) or for removal of the trustee under section 22(a)(4) of this chapter, regardless of whether the transaction under IC 28-1-12-8 or IC 28-6.1-6-26 constitutes or involves a breach of trust. The court may award one (1) or more remedies described in subsection (b) or remove the trustee, or both, if the court determines that the remedy or the removal of the trustee is in the best interests of all beneficiaries of the trust. The burden of proof is on the one (1) or more petitioning beneficiaries to demonstrate that the remedy or the removal of the trustee is in the best interests of all beneficiaries of the trust.

     (d) The trustee is liable to the beneficiary for acts of an agent which, if committed by the trustee, would be a breach of the trust if the trustee:

(1) directs or permits the act of the agent;

(2) delegates the authority to perform an act to the agent which the trustee is under a duty not to delegate;

(3) fails to use reasonable care in the selection or retention of the agent;

(4) fails to exercise proper supervision over the conduct of the agent;

(5) approves, acquiesces in, or conceals the act of the agent; or

(6) fails to use reasonable effort to compel the agent to reimburse the trust estate for any loss or to account to the trust estate for any profit.

Formerly: Acts 1971, P.L.416, SEC.4. As amended by P.L.202-2007, SEC.4; P.L.226-2007, SEC.23; P.L.3-2008, SEC.228.

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