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

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viii.<br />

Any other power granted to the trust protector, including the power<br />

to consent to or veto a trustee decision other than a distribution<br />

decision or investment decision.<br />

e. A personal power has no standard of care, including an obligation to act in<br />

good faith. A person with a personal power is not liable for the<br />

consequences of the exercise or non-exercise of the trust protector power.<br />

i. Personal powers are those powers given to a qualified beneficiary or<br />

to a settlor.<br />

f. A trust protector does not have a duty to exercise its powers, to monitor<br />

the conduct of the trustee, or to monitor changes in the law or<br />

circumstances of the beneficiaries.<br />

g. A settlor may not direct a trust protector, nor bring a cause of action<br />

against a trust protector.<br />

h. A trustee or directing party is not liable for any loss that results from the<br />

exercise or non-exercise of a trust protector power, unless the trustee or<br />

directing party breaches a duty it owes. A trustee or directing party may<br />

refuse to follow a direction of a trust protector if the trustee or directing<br />

party knows the action is contrary to the terms of the trust or would<br />

constitute a serious breach of duty owed by the trust protector. A trustee<br />

or directing party does not have a duty to monitor or advise the trust<br />

protector, or to warn any beneficiary of instances where the trustee or<br />

directing party would have acted differently than the trust protector.<br />

i. A trust protector may request information about the trust from the trustee<br />

and the trustee must provide that information if it relates to the powers<br />

given to the trust protector. Absent a request, a trustee has no duty to<br />

provide any information to the trust protector.<br />

21. The new law will incorporate the prudent investor act provided in Chapter 881<br />

by reference. Chapter 881 will be amended to apply the prudent investor act<br />

to directing parties and trust protectors who exercise investment powers. The<br />

rule on diversification will also be clarified. An asset that was not acquired by<br />

or purchased by the trustee need not be diversified, but must be reviewed<br />

periodically to determine when it is advisable to dispose of the asset.<br />

22. The prudent investor rule does not apply to life insurance contracts owned by<br />

trusts. If a principal purpose of a trust is to hold a life insurance contract, then<br />

a trustee has no duty to determine whether the life insurance contract is or<br />

remains a proper investment.<br />

17

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