(1) Unless the terms of a trust expressly provide that the trust is revocable, the trustor may not revoke or amend the trust.

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Terms Used In Washington Code 11.103.030

  • 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.
  • Electronic: means relating to technology having electrical, digital, magnetic, wireless, optical, electromagnetic, or similar capabilities. See Washington Code 11.02.005
  • Power of attorney: A written instrument which authorizes one person to act as another's agent or attorney. The power of attorney may be for a definite, specific act, or it may be general in nature. The terms of the written power of attorney may specify when it will expire. If not, the power of attorney usually expires when the person granting it dies. Source: OCC
  • Revocable trust: A trust agreement that can be canceled, rescinded, revoked, or repealed by the grantor (person who establishes the trust).
  • Trustee: A person or institution holding and administering property in trust.
  • Trustee: means an original, added, or successor trustee and includes the state, or any agency thereof, when it is acting as the trustee of a trust to which chapter 11. See Washington Code 11.02.005
  • Trustor: The person who makes or creates a trust. Also known as the grantor or settlor.
  • Trustor: means a person, including a testator, who creates, or contributes property to, a trust. See Washington Code 11.02.005
(2) If a revocable trust is created or funded by more than one trustor and unless the trust agreement provides otherwise:
(a) To the extent the trust consists of community property, the trust may be revoked by either spouse or either domestic partner acting alone but may be amended only by joint action of both spouses or both domestic partners;
(b) To the extent the trust consists of property other than community property, each trustor may revoke or amend the trust with regard to the portion of the trust property attributable to that trustor’s contribution;
(c) The character of community property or separate property is unaffected by its transfer to and from a revocable trust; and
(d) Upon the revocation or amendment of the trust by fewer than all of the trustors, the trustee must promptly notify the other trustors of the revocation or amendment.
(3) The trustor may revoke or amend a revocable trust:
(a) By substantial compliance with a method provided in the terms of the trust; or
(b)(i) If the terms of the trust do not provide a method or the method provided in the terms is not expressly made exclusive, by:
(A) A later will or codicil that expressly refers to the trust or specifically devises property that would otherwise have passed according to the terms of the trust; or
(B) A written instrument signed by the trustor evidencing intent to revoke or amend.
(ii) The requirements of chapter 11.11 RCW do not apply to revocation or amendment of a revocable trust under (b)(i) of this subsection.
(4) Upon revocation of a revocable trust, the trustee must deliver the trust property as the trustor directs.
(5) A trustor’s powers with respect to the revocation or amendment of a trust or distribution of the property of a trust may be exercised by the trustor’s agent under a power of attorney only to the extent specified in the power of attorney document, as provided in RCW 11.125.240 and to the extent consistent with or expressly authorized by the trust agreement.
(6) A conservator of the trustor may exercise a trustor’s powers with respect to revocation, amendment, or distribution of trust property only with the approval of the court supervising the guardianship pursuant to chapter 11.130 RCW.
(7) A trustee who does not know that a trust has been revoked or amended is not liable to the trustor or trustor’s successors in interest for distributions made and other actions taken on the assumption that the trust had not been amended or revoked.
(8) This section does not limit or affect operation of RCW 11.96A.220 through 11.96A.240.

NOTES:

Effective dates2020 c 312: See note following RCW 11.130.915.
Short titleApplicationUniformityFederal law applicationFederal electronic signatures in global and national commerce actApplicationDatesEffective date2016 c 209: See RCW 11.125.010 and 11.125.900 through 11.125.903.
Application2013 c 272: See note following RCW 11.98.002.
ApplicationEffective date2011 c 327: See notes following RCW 11.103.020.