Current through Chapter 381 of the 2024 Legislative Session
Section 564-B:1-113 - Precatory Language(a) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply: (1) "Letter of wishes" means a record that: (A) Is not a trust instrument;(B) Is created by a settlor; and(C) Contains precatory language.(2) "Precatory language" means language that: (A) Is not binding on any trustee, trust advisor, or trust protector;(B) Expresses the settlor's wishes regarding the exercise of any discretionary power by a trustee, trust advisor, or trust protector; and(C) Is not inconsistent with the terms of the trust.(b) In exercising a discretionary power, a trustee, trust advisor, or trust protector may consider precatory language contained in the trust instrument or a letter of wishes.(c) Precatory language does not impose any duty on any trustee, trust advisor, or trust protector, and the fact that a trustee, trust advisor, or trust protector does not exercise a discretionary power in accordance with precatory language shall not create an inference that the trustee, trust advisor, or trust protector improperly exercised the power. (d) In determining whether a trustee, trust advisor, or trust protector exercised a discretionary power in a manner that is consistent with the settlor's intent, a court may consider precatory language contained in the trust instrument or a letter of wishes. A court may consider precatory language contained in a letter of wishes regardless of whether the trust instrument is ambiguous.(e) Except as provided under the terms of the trust or by court order, a trustee, trust advisor, or trust protector shall not have any duty to provide any beneficiary a copy of a letter of wishes.Added by 2019, 230:1, eff. 9/10/2019. 2019, 230:1, eff. Sept. 10, 2019.