30.04.2015 Views

Probate & Trust Law Section Conference Manual ... - Minnesota CLE

Probate & Trust Law Section Conference Manual ... - Minnesota CLE

Probate & Trust Law Section Conference Manual ... - Minnesota CLE

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

DECANTING: REFINING AN OLD VINTAGE TRUST<br />

by<br />

Susan T. Bart<br />

Sidley Austin LLP<br />

TABLE OF CONTENTS<br />

I. What is Decanting? ..............................................................................................................1<br />

A. Decanting .................................................................................................................1<br />

B. Theory of Decanting ................................................................................................1<br />

C. Evolution of Decanting ............................................................................................1<br />

D. Uniform <strong>Law</strong> Project ...............................................................................................1<br />

II. Uses of Decanting ................................................................................................................1<br />

A. Administrative Change ............................................................................................1<br />

B. Change Investment Limitations, Authorize Acquiring or Retaining an Asset or<br />

Permit Lack of Diversification.................................................................................1<br />

C. Define (and Limit) Beneficiary Rights to Information ............................................1<br />

D. Change Governing <strong>Law</strong> ...........................................................................................2<br />

E. <strong>Trust</strong>ee Change ........................................................................................................2<br />

F. Provide for Advisors, <strong>Trust</strong> Protectors or Directed <strong>Trust</strong>ees ...................................2<br />

G. Divide a <strong>Trust</strong> ..........................................................................................................2<br />

H. Consolidate <strong>Trust</strong>s ...................................................................................................2<br />

I. Correct Scrivener’s Error or Ambiguity ..................................................................2<br />

J. Add or Remove Spendthrift Provisions ...................................................................2<br />

K. Create a Supplemental Needs <strong>Trust</strong> .........................................................................2<br />

L. Limit a Beneficiary’s Rights, or Eliminate a Beneficiary ........................................2<br />

M. Add a Beneficiary (with a Power of Appointment) .................................................2<br />

N. Convert Non-Grantor <strong>Trust</strong> to Grantor <strong>Trust</strong>...........................................................2<br />

O. Convert Grantor <strong>Trust</strong> to Non-Grantor <strong>Trust</strong> ...........................................................2<br />

III. Is Decanting Permitted Under a Particular State Statute? ...................................................2<br />

A. Terminology: First and Second <strong>Trust</strong> .....................................................................2<br />

B. Applicability of State Statute ...................................................................................2<br />

C. What <strong>Trust</strong>s May Be Decanted? ..............................................................................2<br />

D. <strong>Trust</strong> Prohibitions ....................................................................................................3<br />

E. Who Needs to Participate? .......................................................................................3<br />

F. Grantor’s Intent and <strong>Trust</strong> Purposes ........................................................................3<br />

G. Discretionary Distribution Authority .......................................................................3<br />

H. Definition of Absolute Discretion ............................................................................4<br />

I. Need for Present Distribution ..................................................................................5<br />

J. Restrictions on <strong>Trust</strong>ees ...........................................................................................5<br />

K. Court Approval ........................................................................................................6<br />

i

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!