THE PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE OF FIDUCIARY OBLIGATIONS UNDER WASHINGTON LAW

NEW WASHINGTON TRUST ACT &

REVISED SLAYER STATUTE

RANDALL|DANSKINA Professional Service Corporation

Presented by:Presented by:

Stephanie R. Taylor

Existing Statutes Impacted by SHB 1051

• RCW 11.02.005 Definitions and Use of Terms• RCW 11.28.237 Notice of Appointment as Personal Representative, Pendency of

Probate –Proof by Affidavit• RCW 11.68.090 Powers of Personal Representative Under Nonintervention Will – Scope –

Relief from Duties, Restrictions, Liabilities by Will• RCW 11.94.050 Attorney or Agent Granted Principal’s Powers – Powers to be Specifically

Provided For – Transfer of Resources by Principal’s Attorney or Agent• RCW 11.96A.030 Definitions (TEDRA)• RCW 11.96A.050 Venue in Proceedings Involving Probate or Trust Matters• RCW 11.96A.070 Statutes of Limitation• RCW 11.96A.110 Notice in Judicial Proceedings Under this Title Requiring Notice• RCW 11.96A.120 Application of Doctrine of Virtual Representation • RCW 11.97.010 Power of Trustor –Trust Provisions Control• RCW 11.98.009 Application of Chapter [Trusts]• RCW 11.98.039 Nonjudicial change of trustee – Judicial appointment or change of

trustee – Liability and duties of successor fiduciary• RCW 11.98.045 Criteria for transfer of trust assets or administration• RCW 11.98.051 Nonjudicial transfer of trust assets or administration – Notice – Consent

required• RCW 11.98.055 Judicial transfer of trust assets or administration• RCW 11.98.070 Power of trustee• RCW 11.98.090 Nonliability of third persons without knowledge of breach• RCW 11.100.090 [Investment of Trust Funds] Dealings with self or affiliate

New Sections Added to Existing Chapters

• RCW 11.96A Trust and Estate Dispute Resolution (TEDRA)• RCW 11.97 Effect of Trust Instrument• RCW 11.98 Trusts• Title 11 PROBATE AND TRUST LAWS

STATUTES AFFECTED BY PROPOSED AMENDMENTS

RCW11.36.021 Trustees – who may serve

RCW 11.96A.050

Venue in proceedings involving probate or trust matters

RCW 11.96A.070

Statutes of limitations

RCW 11.96A.120

Virtual Representation

RCW 11.96A.125

Mistake of fact or law in terms of will or trust – Judicial reform

RCW 11.97.010

Power of trustor – Trust provisions control

RCW 11.98.005

Trust situs and governing law

RCW 11.98.019

Relinquishment of powers by Trustee

RCW 11.98.039

Nonjudicial change of trustee – Judicial appointment or change of trustee – Liability and duties of successor fiduciary

RCW 11.98.041

Change of trustee- Discharge of outgoing trustee, when

RCW 11.98.045

Criteria for transfer of trust assets or administration

RCW 11.98.051

Nonjudicial transfer of trust assets or adminsitration – Notice – Right to Object

RCW 11.98.080

Consolidation of trusts

RCW 11.103.040

Trustor’s powers – Powers of withdrawal

RCW 11.103.050

Limitation on action contesting validity of revocable trust –Distribution of trust property

Proposed New RCWs Added to Existing Chapters

RCW 11.98.004

NEW SECTION – Definitions

RCW 11.98.015

NEW SECTION – Accepting or declining trusteeship

RCW 11.98.071

NEW SECTION – Duty to keep beneficiaries informed

NEW SECTION - Application

FIDUCIARY OBLIGATIONS

• Duty of Loyalty - RCW 11.98.078• Codifies duty of loyalty • Spells out circumstances in which trustee must provide

additional information to beneficiary • Sale, encumbrance or transaction involving the investment or

management of trust property entered into by the trustee for the trustee’s own personal account or

• Transaction which is otherwise affected by a conflict between the trustee’s fiduciary and personal interests

• Transaction is voidable by beneficiary (without further proof) unless:• Trust authorized transaction• Court approved (TEDRA Agreement)• SOL has expired• Beneficiary consented, ratified or released the Trustee• Transaction was executed prior to the fiduciary relationship

FIDUCIARY OBLIGATIONS (con’t)

• Transaction is “presumed” to be a conflict if it is entered into by the trustee with…a corporation or other enterprise in which the trustee, or a person that owns a significant interest in the trustee, has an interest that might affect the trustee’s best judgment• Presumption can be overcome if the trustee establishes that

the conflict did not adversely affect the interests of the beneficiaries

• Conflict does not exist in an investment by the trustee in securities of an investment company to which the trustee provides services in a capacity other than as trustee • Investment must comply with the prudent investor rules

NOTICE TO BENEFICIARIES

• Prior Law – Case Law • Allard v. Pacific Nat’l Bank, 99 Wn.2d 394 (1983)• “That the settlor has created a trust and thus required the

beneficiaries to enjoy their property interests indirectly does not imply the beneficiaries are to be kept in ignorance of the trust, the nature of the trust property and the details of its administration.”

• A Trustee has a duty to inform beneficiaries fully of all facts which would aid them in protecting their interests

• RCW 11.100.140 • A trustee must provide written notice of any "significant non-routine

transaction" to "each person who is eighteen years or older and to whom income is presently payable or for whom income is presently being accumulated for distribution as income…."

• However, this statute does not abrogate the Trustee’s obligation to keep the beneficiaries reasonably informed of all facts. Flohr v. Flohr, (unpublished) 2002 Wn. App. LEXIS 590.

NOTICE TO BENEFICIARIES (con’t)

• RCW 11.97.010(2) – Initial Notice• Within 60 days of the acceptance of an irrevocable trust

(or a revocable trust becomes irrevocable), the Trustee shall give notice of:• The existence of the trust• The identity of the trustor(s);• The Trustee’s name, address and telephone number; and• The right to request such information as is reasonably

necessary to enable the enforcement of the beneficiary’s rights

• Proposed Revision – RCW 11.97.010(2) is deleted; Replaced by New Section RCW 11.98.070

PROPOSED NOTICE TO BENEFICIARIES

• [Proposed] RCW 11.98.071 – Duty to keep beneficiaries informed• (1) A trustee shall keep all “qualified beneficiaries”

reasonably informed about the administration of the trust and the material facts necessary for them to protect their interests• “Qualified Beneficiaries” defined by RCW 11.98.004 (Proposed

New Section)

• (2) Sixty (60) day notice of existence of trust to Qualified Beneficiaries

NOTICE TO BENEFICIARIES (con’t)

• Notice of Administration of the Trust – Revised RCW 11.97.010(3) • What information do they receive?• All material facts necessary for them to protect their interests• Presumption that information is sufficient if it contains:

• Receipts and disbursements of principal and income• Beginning and ending values of assets and liabilities• Trustee’s compensation • Agents hired by the trustee, their relationship to the trustee, if

any, and their compensation • Disclosure of any pledge, mortgage, option or lease of trust

property, or other agreement affecting trust property binding for 5 years or more

• Disclosure of all transactions that are affect the duty of loyalty and could be a conflict of interest

• Statement that the beneficiary may petition the court to obtain a review of the statement and of the acts disclosed

• Statement that claims against the trustee for breach may not be made after 3 years from the date of the statement

NOTICE TO BENEFICIARIES (con’t)

• What other information are beneficiaries entitled to?• If requested, all information related to the administration of

the trustee unless “unreasonable” under the circumstances• Information must be turned over within 60 days of the receipt

of the request

NOTICE TO BENEFICIARIES (con’t)

• Who receives notice?• All persons “interested in the trust” and • All persons who would be entitled to notice under TEDRA if

they were a party to judicial proceedings • Virtual Representation (RCW 11.96A.120 (3)(d)

• Power of Appointment - Proposed revisions to RCW 11.96A.120 change the how a holder of a power of appointment may virtually represent the permissible appointees

• Minor Beneficiaries• If no guardian has been appointed, notice may be given to parents

• Charitable Organizations• Attorney General if interest is future interest only

• [Proposed] RCW 11.98.071 – Only qualified beneficiaries entitled to notice

PROPOSED NOTICE TO BENEFICIARIES (con’t)

• [Proposed] RCW 11.97.010(3) Deleted • Replaced with:• RCW 11.96A.070 – Statutes of limitation (existing with

proposed modifications) and • Proposed RCW 11.98.071 – Duty to keep beneficiaries

informed

• Under the proposed legislation, obligations may be waivable by Trustor• Statute of limitations does not start to run until such time as

a beneficiaries receives required information under RCW 11.96A.070

PROPOSED NOTICE TO BENEFICIARIES (con’t)

• [Proposed] RCW 11.98.071 – Waiver • Duty to keep beneficiaries reasonably informed is

waivable as follows:• (3) TT not required to provide “administration information” to

any beneficiary of a trust other than spouse if (a) spouse has capacity; (b) spouse is only “permissible distributee”; and (c) all other “qualified beneficiaries” are descendants of the trustor and the trustor’s spouse

• (4)No duty too keep beneficiaries reasonably informed or to inform them of the existence of a revocable trust

• (5) The trustor may waive or modify the notification requirement of (2) and (3) in the trust document or in a separate writing, made at any time, that is delivered to the trustee.

Result of Breach of Fiduciary Duties

• Damages for Breach of Trust (new section to RCW 11.98)• Prior law – discretion with the court• Current Law – A trustee who commits a breach of trust is

liable for the greater of:• The amount required to restore the value of the trust

property and trust distributions to what they would have been had the breach not occurred; or

• The profit the trustee made by reason of the breach

WAIVER OF FIDUCIARY OBLIGATIONS

• RCW 11.97.010• The Trustor of a trust may by the provisions of the trust

relieve the trustee from any or all of the duties, restrictions and liabilities which would otherwise be imposed by law

• Exceptions: • A trustee cannot not relieved of its duty of good faith and honest

judgment • A trustee cannot be relieved of its duty to account (See, Estate of

Hitchcock, 140 Wn.App. 526 (2007)).

• Exculpatory Clauses• A savings clause may save the trustee from liability for

• Mistake or error of judgment;• Losses not intentionally or voluntarily incurred; or• Negligence.

WAIVER OF FIDUCIARY OBLIGATIONS (con’t)

• Non-Waivable Duties and Obligations – • It is against public policy to remove the trustee from

all accountability• A provision in a trust instrument is not effective to

relieve the trustee of liability for a breach of trust committed in bad faith, or of liability for any profit for which the trustee has derived from a breach of trust.

• A saving or exemption provision will not save or limit the trustee from liability for – • Bad faith;• An excess of authority;• An abuse by the trustee of a fiduciary or confidential

relationship to the settlor;• Breaches committed intentionally or with reckless

disregard to the beneficiary’s interest.

WAIVER OF FIDUCIARY OBLIGATIONS (con’t)

• RCW 11.97.010• In no event may a trustee be relieved of the duty to act in

good faith and with honest judgment or the duty to provide information to beneficiaries

• Exculpation of Trustee RCW 11.98• An exculpatory “term” which was inserted as the result of an

abuse of a fiduciary relationship is unenforceable• An exculpatory “term” drafted or caused to be drafted by the

trustee is invalid as an abuse of a fiduciary relationship unless the trustee proves that the exculpatory “term” is fair under the circumstances and that its existence and contents were adequately communicated to the trustor

• Beneficiary may consent, ratify or release trustee

STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS

• Revocable Trusts• Prior Law – Uncertain• RCW 11.103.050• Challenge to validity of revocable trust must be made at the

earlier of • 2 years (24 months) after Trustor’s death or• 4 months after the Trustee provides notice of trusts’ existence

and notice of the time allowed for commencing a challenge

STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS (con’t)

• Irrevocable Trusts• Challenges to Administration• Prior Law – RCW 11.96A.070(1)(a)(i)

• An action against the trustee for breach of fiduciary duty must be brought within 3 years from the earlier of:• The time the alleged breach was discovered or • The time the alleged breach reasonably should have been

discovered• The trustee has the burden of establishing when the beneficiary

knew or should have known

STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS (con’t)

• Irrevocable Trusts (con’t)• RCW 11.97.010(3)• If the Trustee provides the written statement required herein,

the statue of limitations expires 3 years from the date the beneficiary receives the statement

• If the Trustee does not provide the written statement, the statute of limitations is 3 years from the first to occur of:• The removal, resignation, or death of the trustee;• The termination of the beneficiary’s interest in the trust; or• The termination of the trust

• Proposed Changes – Delete RCW 11.97.010(3); replace with existing RCW 11.96A.070

Miscellaneous New Provisions

• Certification of Trust (New Section to RCW 11.98)• Date Trust came into existence• Identity of the Trustor• Identity and address of current Trustee• Relevant powers of Trustee• Revocability or Irrevocability• Authority of the cotrustees to sign or otherwise

authenticate and whether all or less than all are required in order to exercise powers of the trustee

• Name of the trust or the titling of the trust assets

Miscellaneous New Provisions (Con’t)

• Venue - Revised RCW 11.96A.050• Venue for trusts shall be:• For testamentary trusts, in the superior court of the county

where the probate of the will is being administered, where any beneficiary resides or has a place of business, the county where any trustee resides or has a place of business, or the county where any real property that is an asset of the trust is located

• For all other trusts, in the superior court where any beneficiary resides, the county where any trustee resides or has a place of business, the county where any real property that is an asset of the trust is located

• Upon request for change, the court may change to the county with the “strongest connection”

Miscellaneous New Provisions (Con’t)

• Situs – New Section to RCW 11.98• If trust designates WA as situs or that WA law governs, then the

situs is WA if one of the following conditions are met:• Trustee has place of business in WA or is a resident of WA; or• More than an insignificant part of the trust administration occurs in

WA; or• Trustor resides in WA at the time situs is established or at the time

the trust became irrevocable; or• One or more beneficiary resides in WA; or• Real property owned by the trust is located in WA

• Trustee may register trust in WA• Must provide notice to beneficiaries who have 30 days to object to

such registration• Transfer of trust administration to a foreign trustee does not

change situs (Revised RCW 11.98.039(6))

TRUST MODIFICATIONS

• TEDRA – RCW 11.96A.030• Trust and estate attorneys have taken this section to

allow any modifications or terminations of trusts• However, RCW 11.96A.030(2)(h) and RCW 11.96A.125

creates a new category under “matter” to provide that a “matter” is• The reformation of a will or trust to correct a mistake under

Section 11 of the new Act• Section 11 of the Act provides that the terms of a will or trust,

even if unambiguous, may be reformed to conform the terms of the intention of the testator/trustor if it proved by clear, cogent and convincing evidence, or the parties to a TEDRA Agreement agree that there is clear, cogent and convincing evidence, that both the intent of the testator/trustor were affected by a mistake of fact or law, whether in expression or inducement

TRUST DISTRIBUTIONS

• New Section is added to RCW 11.98.145• Distribution upon Termination• Trustee may send a plan of distribution

• Must include notice that the beneficiary has a right to object to the plan, including any non pro rata distributions

• Must include the time period within which to object

• The beneficiaries right to object terminates if the beneficiary does not object within 30 days

APPLICATION

• Application• Act applies to all trusts created before, on or after

1/1/2012;• Act applies to all judicial proceedings concerning trusts

commenced on or after 1/1/2012;• Any rule of construction or presumption provided in this

act applies to trust instruments executed before 1/1/2012, unless there is a clear indication of a contrary intent in the terms of the trust;

• An action taken before 1/1/2012 is not affected by this act;• If a right is acquired, extinguished or barred upon the

expiration of a prescribed period that has commenced to run under any other statute before 1/1/2012, that statute continues to apply to the right even if it has been repealed or superceded

Revisions to Washington’s Slayer Statute

• Washington’s “Slayer Statute” (RCW 74.34 and RCW 11.84)• Impact of Revisions• A slayer or abuser is deemed to have predeceased the

decedent as to property which would have passed from the decedent to the slayer or abuser

• Abuser is defined as one who participates in the willful and unlawful financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult

Revisions to Washington’s Slayer Statute

• Financial Exploitation• Use of deception, intimidation or undue influence by a person in a position

of trust and confidence to obtain or use the property, income, resources, or trust funds for the benefit of a person other than the vulnerable adult

• Breach of a fiduciary duty (including the misuse of a trust) that results in the unauthorized appropriation, sale or transfer of property, income, resources or trust funds for the benefit of a person other than the vulnerable adult

• Obtaining or using the VA’s property, income, property or trust funds without lawful authority, by a person or entity who knows or clearly should know that the VA lacks the capacity to consent to the release or use of such property.

• Vulnerable Adult • An incapacitated person or a person who is otherwise

unable to care for his or herself

QUESTIONS???

RANDALL|DANKSINA Professional Service Corporation

601 W. Riverside Avenue, Suite 1500Spokane, WA 99201

(509) 747-2052 – Fax: (509) 624-2528www.randalldanskin.com