Liabilities of Trustees and Rights of Persons Dealing With Trustees Under Florida’s Trust Code

by | Apr 1, 2013

Liabilities of Trustees and Rights of Persons Dealing With Trustees Under Florida’s Trust Code


PART X

LIABILITY OF TRUSTEE AND

RIGHTS OF PERSONS DEALING WITH TRUSTEE

 

736.1001 Remedies for breach of trust.

736.1002 Damages for breach of trust.

736.1003 Damages in absence of breach.

736.1004 Attorney’s fees and costs.

736.1005 Attorney’s fees for services to the trust.

736.1006 Costs in trust proceedings.

736.1007 Trustee’s attorney’s fees.

736.1008 Limitations on proceedings against trustees.

736.1009 Reliance on trust instrument.

736.1010 Event affecting administration or distribution.

736.1011 Exculpation of trustee.

736.1012 Beneficiary’s consent, release, or ratification.

736.1013 Limitation on personal liability of trustee.

736.1014 Limitations on actions against certain trusts.

736.1015 Interest as general partner.

736.1016 Protection of person dealing with trustee.

736.1017 Certification of trust.

736.1018 Improper distribution or payment; liability of distributee.

 

736.1001 Remedies for breach of trust.—

(1) A violation by a trustee of a duty the trustee owes to a beneficiary is a breach of trust.

(2) To remedy a breach of trust that has occurred or may occur, the court may:

(a) Compel the trustee to perform the trustee’s duties;

(b) Enjoin the trustee from committing a breach of trust;

(c) Compel the trustee to redress a breach of trust by paying money or restoring property or by other means;

(d) Order a trustee to account;

(e) Appoint a special fiduciary to take possession of the trust property and administer the trust;

(f) Suspend the trustee;

(g) Remove the trustee as provided in s. 736.0706;

(h) Reduce or deny compensation to the trustee;

(i) Subject to s. 736.1016, void an act of the trustee, impose a lien or a constructive trust on trust property, or trace trust property wrongfully disposed of and recover the property or its proceeds; or

(j) Order any other appropriate relief.

(3) As an illustration of the remedies available to the court and without limiting the court’s discretion as provided in subsection (2), if a breach of trust results in the favoring of any beneficiary to the detriment of any other beneficiary or consists of an abuse of the trustee’s discretion:

(a) To the extent the breach of trust has resulted in no distribution to a beneficiary or a distribution that is too small, the court may require the trustee to pay from the trust to the beneficiary an amount the court determines will restore the beneficiary, in whole or in part, to his or her appropriate position.

(b) To the extent the breach of trust has resulted in a distribution to a beneficiary that is too large, the court may restore the beneficiaries, the trust, or both, in whole or in part, to their appropriate positions by requiring the trustee to withhold an amount from one or more future distributions to the beneficiary who received the distribution that was too large or by requiring that beneficiary to return some or all of the distribution to the trust.

 

736.1002 Damages for breach of trust.—

(1) A trustee who commits a breach of trust is liable for the greater of:

(a) The amount required to restore the value of the trust property and trust distributions to what they would have been if the breach had not occurred, including lost income, capital gain, or appreciation that would have resulted from proper administration; or

(b) The profit the trustee made by reason of the breach.

(2) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, if more than one person, including a trustee or trustees, is liable to the beneficiaries for a breach of trust, each liable person is entitled to pro rata contribution from the other person or persons. A person is not entitled to contribution if the person committed the breach of trust in bad faith. A person who received a benefit from the breach of trust is not entitled to contribution from another person to the extent of the benefit received.

(3) In determining the pro rata shares of liable persons in the entire liability for a breach of trust:

(a) Their relative degrees of fault shall be the basis for allocation of liability.

(b) If equity requires, the collective liability of some as a group shall constitute a single share.

(c) Principles of equity applicable to contribution generally shall apply.

(4) The right of contribution shall be enforced as follows:

(a) Contribution may be enforced by separate action, whether or not judgment has been entered in an action against two or more liable persons for the same breach of trust.

(b) When a judgment has been entered in an action against two or more liable persons for the same breach of trust, contribution may be enforced in that action by judgment in favor of one judgment defendant against any other judgment defendants by motion upon notice to all parties to the action.

(c) If there is a judgment for breach of trust against the liable person seeking contribution, any separate action by that person to enforce contribution must be commenced within 1 year after the judgment has become final by lapse of time for appeal or after appellate review.

(d) If there is no judgment for the breach of trust against the liable person seeking contribution, the person’s right of contribution is barred unless the person has:

1. Discharged by payment the common liability within the period of the statute of limitations applicable to the beneficiary’s right of action against the liable person and the person has commenced an action for contribution within 1 year after payment, or

2. Agreed, while action is pending against the liable person, to discharge the common liability and has within 1 year after the agreement paid the liability and commenced the person’s action for contribution.

(5) The beneficiary’s recovery of a judgment for breach of trust against one liable person does not of itself discharge other liable persons from liability for the breach of trust unless the judgment is satisfied. The satisfaction of the judgment does not impair any right of contribution.

(6) The judgment of the court in determining the liability of several defendants to the beneficiary for breach of trust is binding upon such defendants in determining the right of such defendants to contribution.

(7) Subsection (2) applies to all causes of action for breach of trust pending on July 1, 2007, under which causes of action the right of contribution among persons jointly and severally liable is involved and to all causes of action filed after July 1, 2007.

 

736.1003 Damages in absence of breach.—Absent a breach of trust, a trustee is not liable to a beneficiary for a loss or depreciation in the value of trust property or for not having made a profit.

 

736.1004 Attorney’s fees and costs.—

(1)(a) In all actions for breach of fiduciary duty or challenging the exercise of, or failure to exercise, a trustee’s powers; and

(b) In proceedings arising under ss. 736.0410-736.0417,

the court shall award taxable costs as in chancery actions, including attorney fees and guardian ad litem fees.

(2) When awarding taxable costs under this section, including attorney fees and guardian ad litem fees, the court, in its discretion, may direct payment from a party’s interest, if any, in the trust or enter a judgment that may be satisfied from other property of the party, or both.

 

736.1005 Attorney’s fees for services to the trust.—

(1) Any attorney who has rendered services to a trust may be awarded reasonable compensation from the trust. The attorney may apply to the court for an order awarding attorney’s fees and, after notice and service on the trustee and all beneficiaries entitled to an accounting under s. 736.0813, the court shall enter an order on the fee application.

(2) Whenever attorney’s fees are to be paid out of the trust, the court, in its discretion, may direct from what part of the trust the fees shall be paid.

(3) Except when a trustee’s interest may be adverse in a particular matter, the attorney shall give reasonable notice in writing to the trustee of the attorney’s retention by an interested person and the attorney’s entitlement to fees pursuant to this section. A court may reduce any fee award for services rendered by the attorney prior to the date of actual notice to the trustee, if the actual notice date is later than a date of reasonable notice. In exercising this discretion, the court may exclude compensation for services rendered after the reasonable notice date but prior to the date of actual notice.

 

736.1006 Costs in trust proceedings.—

(1) In all trust proceedings, costs may be awarded as in chancery actions.

(2) Whenever costs are to be paid out of the trust, the court, in its discretion, may direct from what part of the trust the costs shall be paid.

 

736.1007 Trustee’s attorney’s fees.—

(1) If the trustee of a revocable trust retains an attorney to render legal services in connection with the initial administration of the trust, the attorney is entitled to reasonable compensation for those legal services, payable from the assets of the trust without court order. The trustee and the attorney may agree to compensation that is determined in a manner or amount other than the manner or amount provided in this section. The agreement is not binding on a person who bears the impact of the compensation unless that person is a party to or otherwise consents to be bound by the agreement. The agreement may provide that the trustee is not individually liable for the attorney’s fees and costs.

(2) Unless otherwise agreed, compensation based on the value of the trust assets immediately following the settlor’s death and the income earned by the trust during initial administration at the rate of 75 percent of the schedule provided in s. 733.6171(3)(a)-(h) is presumed to be reasonable total compensation for ordinary services of all attorneys employed generally to advise a trustee concerning the trustee’s duties in initial trust administration.

(3) An attorney who is retained to render only limited and specifically defined legal services shall be compensated as provided in the retaining agreement. If the amount or method of determining compensation is not provided in the agreement, the attorney is entitled to a reasonable fee, taking into account the factors set forth in subsection (6).

(4) Ordinary services of the attorney in an initial trust administration include legal advice and representation concerning the trustee’s duties relating to:

(a) Review of the trust instrument and each amendment for legal sufficiency and interpretation.

(b) Implementation of substitution of the successor trustee.

(c) Persons who must or should be served with required notices and the method and timing of such service.

(d) The obligation of a successor to require a former trustee to provide an accounting.

(e) The trustee’s duty to protect, insure, and manage trust assets and the trustee’s liability relating to these duties.

(f) The trustee’s duty regarding investments imposed by the prudent investor rule.

(g) The trustee’s obligation to inform and account to beneficiaries and the method of satisfaction of such obligations, the liability of the trust and trustee to the settlor’s creditors, and the advisability or necessity for probate proceedings to bar creditors.

(h) Contributions due to the personal representative of the settlor’s estate for payment of expenses of administration and obligations of the settlor’s estate.

(i) Identifying tax returns required to be filed by the trustee, the trustee’s liability for payment of taxes, and the due date of returns.

(j) Filing a nontaxable affidavit, if not filed by a personal representative.

(k) Order of payment of expenses of administration of the trust and order and priority of abatement of trust distributions.

(l) Distribution of income or principal to beneficiaries or funding of further trusts provided in the governing instrument.

(m) Preparation of any legal documents required to effect distribution.

(n) Fiduciary duties, avoidance of self-dealing, conflicts of interest, duty of impartiality, and obligations to beneficiaries.

(o) If there is a conflict of interest between a trustee who is a beneficiary and other beneficiaries of the trust, advice to the trustee on limitations of certain authority of the trustee regarding discretionary distributions or exercise of certain powers and alternatives for appointment of an independent trustee and appropriate procedures.

(p) Procedures for the trustee’s discharge from liability for administration of the trust on termination or resignation.

(5) In addition to the attorney’s fees for ordinary services, the attorney for the trustee shall be allowed further reasonable compensation for any extraordinary service. What constitutes an extraordinary service may vary depending on many factors, including the size of the trust. Extraordinary services may include, but are not limited to:

(a) Involvement in a trust contest, trust construction, a proceeding for determination of beneficiaries, a contested claim, elective share proceedings, apportionment of estate taxes, or other adversary proceedings or litigation by or against the trust.

(b) Representation of the trustee in an audit or any proceeding for adjustment, determination, or collection of any taxes.

(c) Tax advice on postmortem tax planning, including, but not limited to, disclaimer, renunciation of fiduciary commission, alternate valuation date, allocation of administrative expenses between tax returns, the QTIP or reverse QTIP election, allocation of GST exemption, qualification for Internal Revenue Code ss. 303 and 6166 privileges, deduction of last illness expenses, distribution planning, asset basis considerations, throwback rules, handling income or deductions in respect of a decedent, valuation discounts, special use and other valuation, handling employee benefit or retirement proceeds, prompt assessment request, or request for release from personal liability for payment of tax.

(d) Review of an estate tax return and preparation or review of other tax returns required to be filed by the trustee.

(e) Preparation of decedent’s federal estate tax return. If this return is prepared by the attorney, a fee of one-half of 1 percent up to a value of $10 million and one-fourth of 1 percent on the value in excess of $10 million, of the gross estate as finally determined for federal estate tax purposes, is presumed to be reasonable compensation for the attorney for this service. These fees shall include services for routine audit of the return, not beyond the examining agent level, if required.

(f) Purchase, sale, lease, or encumbrance of real property by the trustee or involvement in zoning, land use, environmental, or other similar matters.

(g) Legal advice regarding carrying on of decedent’s business or conducting other commercial activity by the trustee.

(h) Legal advice regarding claims for damage to the environment or related procedures.

(i) Legal advice regarding homestead status of trust real property or proceedings involving the status.

(j) Involvement in fiduciary, employee, or attorney compensation disputes.

(k) Considerations of special valuation of trust assets, including discounts for blockage, minority interests, lack of marketability, and environmental liability.

(6) Upon petition of any interested person in a proceeding to review the compensation paid or to be paid to the attorney for the trustee, the court may increase or decrease the compensation for ordinary services of the attorney for the trustee or award compensation for extraordinary services if the facts and circumstances of the particular administration warrant. In determining reasonable compensation, the court shall consider all of the following factors giving such weight to each as the court may determine to be appropriate:

(a) The promptness, efficiency, and skill with which the initial administration was handled by the attorney.

(b) The responsibilities assumed by, and potential liabilities of, the attorney.

(c) The nature and value of the assets that are affected by the decedent’s death.

(d) The benefits or detriments resulting to the trust or the trust’s beneficiaries from the attorney’s services.

(e) The complexity or simplicity of the administration and the novelty of issues presented.

(f) The attorney’s participation in tax planning for the estate, the trust, and the trust’s beneficiaries and tax return preparation or review and approval.

(g) The nature of the trust assets, the expenses of administration, and the claims payable by the trust and the compensation paid to other professionals and fiduciaries.

(h) Any delay in payment of the compensation after the services were furnished.

(i) Any other relevant factors.

(7) If a separate written agreement regarding compensation exists between the attorney and the settlor, the attorney shall furnish a copy to the trustee prior to commencement of employment and, if employed, shall promptly file and serve a copy on all interested persons. A separate agreement or a provision in the trust suggesting or directing the trustee to retain a specific attorney does not obligate the trustee to employ the attorney or obligate the attorney to accept the representation but, if the attorney who is a party to the agreement or who drafted the trust is employed, the compensation paid shall not exceed the compensation provided in the agreement.

(8) As used in this section, the term “initial trust administration” means administration of a revocable trust during the period that begins with the death of the settlor and ends on the final distribution of trust assets outright or to continuing trusts created under the trust agreement but, if an estate tax return is required, not until after issuance of an estate tax closing letter or other evidence of termination of the estate tax proceeding. This initial period is not intended to include continued regular administration of the trust.

 

736.1008 Limitations on proceedings against trustees.—

(1) Except as provided in subsection (2), all claims by a beneficiary against a trustee for breach of trust are barred as provided in chapter 95 as to:

(a) All matters adequately disclosed in a trust disclosure document issued by the trustee, with the limitations period beginning on the date of receipt of adequate disclosure.

(b) All matters not adequately disclosed in a trust disclosure document if the trustee has issued a final trust accounting and has given written notice to the beneficiary of the availability of the trust records for examination and that any claims with respect to matters not adequately disclosed may be barred unless an action is commenced within the applicable limitations period provided in chapter 95. The limitations period begins on the date of receipt of the final trust accounting and notice.

(2) Unless sooner barred by adjudication, consent, or limitations, a beneficiary is barred from bringing an action against a trustee for breach of trust with respect to a matter that was adequately disclosed in a trust disclosure document unless a proceeding to assert the claim is commenced within 6 months after receipt from the trustee of the trust disclosure document or a limitation notice that applies to that disclosure document, whichever is received later.

(3) When a trustee has not issued a final trust accounting or has not given written notice to the beneficiary of the availability of the trust records for examination and that claims with respect to matters not adequately disclosed may be barred, a claim against the trustee for breach of trust based on a matter not adequately disclosed in a trust disclosure document is barred as provided in chapter 95 and accrues when the beneficiary has actual knowledge of:

(a) The facts upon which the claim is based if such actual knowledge is established by clear and convincing evidence; or

(b) The trustee’s repudiation of the trust or adverse possession of trust assets.

Paragraph (a) applies to claims based upon acts or omissions occurring on or after July 1, 2008.

(4) As used in this section, the term:

(a) “Trust disclosure document” means a trust accounting or any other written report of the trustee. A trust disclosure document adequately discloses a matter if the document provides sufficient information so that a beneficiary knows of a claim or reasonably should have inquired into the existence of a claim with respect to that matter.

(b) “Trust accounting” means an accounting that adequately discloses the information required by and that substantially complies with the standards set forth in s. 736.08135.

(c) “Limitation notice” means a written statement of the trustee that an action by a beneficiary against the trustee for breach of trust based on any matter adequately disclosed in a trust disclosure document may be barred unless the action is commenced within 6 months after receipt of the trust disclosure document or receipt of a limitation notice that applies to that trust disclosure document, whichever is later. A limitation notice may but is not required to be in the following form: “An action for breach of trust based on matters disclosed in a trust accounting or other written report of the trustee may be subject to a 6-month statute of limitations from the receipt of the trust accounting or other written report. If you have questions, please consult your attorney.”

(5) For purposes of this section, a limitation notice applies to a trust disclosure document when the limitation notice is:

(a) Contained as a part of the trust disclosure document or as a part of another trust disclosure document received within 1 year prior to the receipt of the latter trust disclosure document;

(b) Accompanied concurrently by the trust disclosure document or by another trust disclosure document that was received within 1 year prior to the receipt of the latter trust disclosure document;

(c) Delivered separately within 10 days after the delivery of the trust disclosure document or of another trust disclosure document that was received within 1 year prior to the receipt of the latter trust disclosure document. For purposes of this paragraph, a limitation notice is not delivered separately if the notice is accompanied by another written communication, other than a written communication that refers only to the limitation notice; or

(d) Received more than 10 days after the delivery of the trust disclosure document, but only if the limitation notice references that trust disclosure document and:

1. Offers to provide to the beneficiary on request another copy of that trust disclosure document if the document was received by the beneficiary within 1 year prior to receipt of the limitation notice; or

2. Is accompanied by another copy of that trust disclosure document if the trust disclosure document was received by the beneficiary 1 year or more prior to the receipt of the limitation notice.

(6)(a) Notwithstanding subsections (1), (2), and (3), all claims by a beneficiary against a trustee are barred:

1. Upon the later of:

a. Ten years after the date the trust terminates, the trustee resigns, or the fiduciary relationship between the trustee and the beneficiary otherwise ends if the beneficiary had actual knowledge of the existence of the trust and the beneficiary’s status as a beneficiary throughout the 10-year period; or

b. Twenty years after the date of the act or omission of the trustee that is complained of if the beneficiary had actual knowledge of the existence of the trust and the beneficiary’s status as a beneficiary throughout the 20-year period; or

2. Forty years after the date the trust terminates, the trustee resigns, or the fiduciary relationship between the trustee and the beneficiary otherwise ends.

(b) When a beneficiary shows by clear and convincing evidence that a trustee actively concealed facts supporting a cause of action, any existing applicable statute of repose shall be extended by 30 years.

(c) For purposes of sub-subparagraph (a)1.b., the failure of the trustee to take corrective action is not a separate act or omission and does not extend the period of repose established by this subsection.

(d) This subsection applies to claims based upon acts or omissions occurring on or after July 1, 2008.

(7) This section applies to trust accountings for accounting periods beginning on or after July 1, 2007, and to written reports, other than trust accountings, received by a beneficiary on or after July 1, 2007.

 

736.1009 Reliance on trust instrument.—A trustee who acts in reasonable reliance on the terms of the trust as expressed in the trust instrument is not liable to a beneficiary for a breach of trust to the extent the breach resulted from the reliance.

 

736.1010 Event affecting administration or distribution.—If the happening of an event, including marriage, divorce, performance of educational requirements, or death, affects the administration or distribution of a trust, a trustee who has exercised reasonable care to ascertain the happening of the event is not liable for a loss resulting from the trustee’s lack of knowledge.

 

736.1011 Exculpation of trustee.—

(1) A term of a trust relieving a trustee of liability for breach of trust is unenforceable to the extent that the term:

(a) Relieves the trustee of liability for breach of trust committed in bad faith or with reckless indifference to the purposes of the trust or the interests of the beneficiaries; or

(b) Was inserted into the trust instrument as the result of an abuse by the trustee of a fiduciary or confidential relationship with the settlor.

(2) An exculpatory term drafted or caused to be drafted by the trustee is invalid as an abuse of a fiduciary or confidential relationship unless:

(a) The trustee proves that the exculpatory term is fair under the circumstances.

(b) The term’s existence and contents were adequately communicated directly to the settlor or the independent attorney of the settlor. This paragraph applies only to trusts created on or after July 1, 2007.

 

736.1012 Beneficiary’s consent, release, or ratification.—A trustee is not liable to a beneficiary for breach of trust if the beneficiary consented to the conduct constituting the breach, released the trustee from liability for the breach, or ratified the transaction constituting the breach, unless:

(1) The consent, release, or ratification of the beneficiary was induced by improper conduct of the trustee; or

(2) At the time of the consent, release, or ratification, the beneficiary did not know of the beneficiary’s rights or of the material facts relating to the breach.

 

736.1013 Limitation on personal liability of trustee.—

(1) Except as otherwise provided in the contract, a trustee is not personally liable on a contract properly entered into in the trustee’s fiduciary capacity in the course of administering the trust if the trustee in the contract disclosed the fiduciary capacity.

(2) A trustee is personally liable for torts committed in the course of administering a trust or for obligations arising from ownership or control of trust property only if the trustee is personally at fault.

(3) A claim based on a contract entered into by a trustee in the trustee’s fiduciary capacity, on an obligation arising from ownership or control of trust property, or on a tort committed in the course of administering a trust may be asserted in a judicial proceeding against the trustee in the trustee’s fiduciary capacity, whether or not the trustee is personally liable for the claim.

(4) Issues of liability between the trust estate and the trustee individually may be determined in a proceeding for accounting, surcharge, or indemnification or in any other appropriate proceeding.

 

736.1014 Limitations on actions against certain trusts.—

(1) After the death of a settlor, no creditor of the settlor may bring, maintain, or continue any direct action against a trust described in s. 733.707(3), the trustee of the trust, or any beneficiary of the trust that is dependent on the individual liability of the settlor. Such claims and causes of action against the settlor shall be presented and enforced against the settlor’s estate as provided in part VII of chapter 733, and the personal representative of the settlor’s estate may obtain payment from the trustee of a trust described in s. 733.707(3) as provided in ss. 733.607(2), 733.707(3), and 736.05053.

(2) This section does not preclude a direct action against a trust described in s. 733.707(3), the trustee of the trust, or a beneficiary of the trust that is not dependent on the individual liability of the settlor.

(3) This section does not affect the lien of any duly recorded mortgage or security interest or the lien of any person in possession of personal property or the right to foreclose and enforce the mortgage or lien.

 

736.1015 Interest as general partner.—

(1) Unless personal liability is imposed in the contract, a trustee who holds an interest as a general partner in a general or limited partnership is not personally liable on a contract entered into by the partnership after the trust’s acquisition of the interest if the fiduciary capacity was disclosed in the contract or in a statement previously filed pursuant to a Uniform Partnership Act or Uniform Limited Partnership Act.

(2) A trustee who holds an interest as a general partner is not personally liable for torts committed by the partnership or for obligations arising from ownership or control of the interest unless the trustee is personally at fault.

(3) If the trustee of a revocable trust holds an interest as a general partner, the settlor is personally liable for contracts and other obligations of the partnership as if the settlor were a general partner.

 

736.1016 Protection of person dealing with trustee.—

(1) A person other than a beneficiary who in good faith assists a trustee or who in good faith and for value deals with a trustee, without knowledge that the trustee is exceeding or improperly exercising the trustee’s powers, is protected from liability as if the trustee properly exercised the power.

(2) A person other than a beneficiary who in good faith deals with a trustee is not required to inquire into the extent of the trustee’s powers or the propriety of their exercise.

(3) A person who in good faith delivers assets to a trustee need not ensure their proper application.

(4) A person other than a beneficiary who in good faith assists a former trustee or who in good faith and for value deals with a former trustee, without knowledge that the trusteeship has terminated, is protected from liability as if the former trustee were still a trustee.

(5) Comparable protective provisions of other laws relating to commercial transactions or transfer of securities by fiduciaries prevail over the protection provided by this section.

 

736.1017 Certification of trust.—

(1) Instead of furnishing a copy of the trust instrument to a person other than a beneficiary, the trustee may furnish to the person a certification of trust containing the following information:

(a) The trust exists and the date the trust instrument was executed.

(b) The identity of the settlor.

(c) The identity and address of the currently acting trustee.

(d) The powers of the trustee.

(e) The revocability or irrevocability of the trust and the identity of any person holding a power to revoke the trust.

(f) The authority of cotrustees to sign or otherwise authenticate and whether all or less than all are required in order to exercise powers of the trustee.

(g) The manner of taking title to trust property.

(2) A certification of trust may be signed or otherwise authenticated by any trustee.

(3) A certification of trust must state that the trust has not been revoked, modified, or amended in any manner that would cause the representations contained in the certification of trust to be incorrect.

(4) A certification of trust need not contain the dispositive terms of a trust.

(5) A recipient of a certification of trust may require the trustee to furnish copies of any excerpts from the original trust instrument and later amendments that designate the trustee and confer upon the trustee the power to act in the pending transaction.

(6) A person who acts in reliance on a certification of trust without knowledge that the representations contained in the certification are incorrect is not liable to any person for so acting and may assume without inquiry the existence of the facts contained in the certification. Knowledge of the terms of the trust may not be inferred solely from the fact that a copy of all or part of the trust instrument is held by the person relying on the certification.

(7) A person who in good faith enters into a transaction in reliance on a certification of trust may enforce the transaction against the trust property as if the representations contained in the certification were correct.

(8) This section does not limit the right of a person to obtain a copy of the trust instrument when required to be furnished by law or in a judicial proceeding concerning the trust.

 

736.1018 Improper distribution or payment; liability of distributee.—Any person who received a distribution or was paid improperly from a trust shall return the assets or funds received and the income from those assets or interest on the funds from the date of distribution or payment unless the distribution or payment cannot be questioned because of adjudication, estoppel, or limitations. If the person does not have the assets or funds, the value of the assets or funds at the date of disposition, income from the assets or funds, and gain received by the person from the assets or funds shall be returned.

Author:
Barry E. Haimo, Esq.
Haimo Law
Strategic Planning With Purpose
Email: barry@haimolaw.com
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