A. Except as otherwise provided in subsection B and § 64.2-779.28, this article applies to a trust that has its principal place of administration in the Commonwealth and that:

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Terms Used In Virginia Code 64.2-779.27

  • 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.
  • Court: means the court of the Commonwealth having jurisdiction in matters related to trusts. See Virginia Code 64.2-701
  • Fiduciary: A trustee, executor, or administrator.
  • Fiduciary: includes a guardian, committee, trustee, executor, conservator, or personal representative. See Virginia Code 64.2-100
  • Interests of the beneficiaries: means the beneficial interests provided in the terms of the trust. See Virginia Code 64.2-701
  • Person: means an individual; estate; business or nonprofit entity; government; governmental subdivision, agency, or instrumentality; public corporation; or other legal entity. See Virginia Code 64.2-701
  • Revocable trust: A trust agreement that can be canceled, rescinded, revoked, or repealed by the grantor (person who establishes the trust).
  • Second-trust instrument: means the trust instrument for a second trust. See Virginia Code 64.2-701
  • Settlement: Parties to a lawsuit resolve their difference without having a trial. Settlements often involve the payment of compensation by one party in satisfaction of the other party's claims.
  • Settlor: except as otherwise provided in § Virginia Code 64.2-701
  • Terms of a trust: means :

    1. See Virginia Code 64.2-701

  • Trust instrument: means a record executed by the settlor to create a trust or by any person to create a second trust that contains some or all of the terms of the trust, including any amendments. See Virginia Code 64.2-701
  • Trustee: A person or institution holding and administering property in trust.
  • Trustee: includes an original, additional, and successor trustee and a cotrustee. See Virginia Code 64.2-701

1. Is created on or after July 1, 2020;

2. Is amended by a settlor on or after July 1, 2020;

3. Is amended or modified on or after July 1, 2020, by a nonjudicial settlement agreement under § 64.2-709, by a second-trust instrument under the Uniform Trust Decanting Act (§ 64.2-779.1 et seq.), or by the court; or

4. In the case of any trust not described in subdivision A 1, A 2, or A 3, was made subject to subsection E of § 64.2-770, as it existed prior to the effective date of this article, by specific reference in the trust instrument.

B. In the case of a trust described in subdivision A 2 or A 3, this article applies only to a decision or action on or after the date of the first such amendment or modification.

C. Any trust, decision, or action to which this article does not apply shall be governed by the following rules:

1. If the terms of a trust confer upon a person other than the settlor of a revocable trust power to direct certain actions of the trustee, the trustee shall act in accordance with an exercise of the power unless the attempted exercise is manifestly contrary to the terms of the trust or the trustee knows the attempted exercise would constitute a serious breach of a fiduciary duty that the person holding the power owes to the beneficiaries of the trust.

2. The terms of a trust may confer upon a trustee or other person a power to direct the modification or termination of the trust.

3. A person, other than a beneficiary, who holds a power to direct is presumptively a fiduciary who, as such, is required to act in good faith with regard to the purposes of the trust and the interests of the beneficiaries. The holder of a power to direct is liable for any loss that results from breach of a fiduciary duty.

2020, c. 768.