An Act establishing the Massachusetts Uniform Trust Decanting Act
Generates a plain-language summary of the bill text and history.
| Date | Branch | Action |
|---|---|---|
| 10/14/2025 | Joint | Hearing scheduled for 04/22/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-2 |
| 10/9/2025 | Senate | Bill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on Senate Ways and Means |
| 4/18/2025 | Joint | Hearing scheduled for 04/22/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-2 |
| 2/27/2025 | House | House concurred |
| 2/27/2025 | Senate | Referred to the committee on The Judiciary |
No additional cosponsors.
| Committee | Recommendation | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| J19 | Favorable | 1 entries |
Section 103 of article 1 of chapter 203E of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out the definition of “Qualified beneficiary” and inserting in place thereof the following definition:- “Qualified beneficiary”, a beneficiary who, on the date the beneficiary’s qualification is determined: (i) is a distributee or permissible distributee of trust income or principal; (ii) would be a distributee or permissible distributee of trust income or principal if the interests of the distributees described in clause (i) terminated on that date without causing the trust to terminate; or (iii) would be a distributee or permissible distributee of trust income or principal if the trust terminated on that date.
Said section 103 of said article 1 of said chapter 203E, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out the definition of “Terms of a trust” and inserting in place thereof the following definition:- “Terms of a trust”: (i) except as otherwise provided in clause (ii), the manifestation of the settlor’s intent regarding a trust’s provisions as expressed in the trust instrument or established by other evidence that would be admissible in a judicial proceeding; or (ii) the trust’s provisions as established, determined or amended by a trustee or other person in accordance with applicable law, a court order or a non-judicial settlement agreement under section 111.
Section 110 of said Article 1 of said chapter 203E, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out subsection (b) and inserting in place thereof the following subsection:- (b) A charitable organization expressly designated to receive distributions under the terms of a charitable trust shall have the rights of a qualified beneficiary under this chapter if, on the date the charitable organization’s qualification is being determined, the charitable organization: (i) is a distributee or permissible distributee of trust income or principal; (ii) would be a distributee or permissible distributee of trust income or principal upon the termination of the interests of other distributees or permissible distributees then receiving or eligible to receive distributions; or (iii) would be a distributee or permissible distributee of trust income or principal if the trust terminated on that date.
Said Chapter 203E of the General Laws is hereby further amended by inserting after Article 8 the following article:- ARTICLE 9. Massachusetts Uniform Trust Decanting Act
Short title This article shall be known and may be cited as the Massachusetts Uniform Trust Decanting Act.
Definitions As used in this article the following words shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly requires otherwise:- “Appointive property”, a property or property interest subject to a power of appointment. “Authorized fiduciary”: (i) a trustee or other fiduciary, other than a settlor, that has discretion to distribute or direct a trustee to distribute part or all of the principal of the first trust to 1 or more current beneficiaries; (ii) a special fiduciary appointed under section 909; or (iii) a special-needs fiduciary under section 913. “Beneficiary”, includes an identified charitable organization that will or may receive distributions under the terms of the trust. “Charitable interest”, an interest in a trust which: (i) is held by an identified charitable organization and makes the organization a qualified beneficiary; (ii) benefits only charitable organizations and, if the interest were held by an identified charitable organization, would make the organization a qualified beneficiary; or (iii) is held solely for charitable purposes described in subsection (a) of section 405 and, if the interest were held by an identified charitable organization, would make the organization a qualified beneficiary. “Current beneficiary”: (i) a beneficiary who, on the date the beneficiary’s qualification is determined, is a distributee or permissible distributee of trust income or principal; or (ii) a holder of a presently exercisable general power of appointment. “Decanting power”, the power of an authorized fiduciary under this article to distribute property of a first trust to 1 or more second trusts or to modify the terms of the first trust. “Expanded distributive discretion”, a discretionary power of distribution that is not limited to an ascertainable standard or a reasonably definite standard. “First trust”, a trust over which an authorized fiduciary may exercise the decanting power. “First-trust instrument”, the trust instrument for a first trust. “General power of appointment”, a power of appointment exercisable in favor of a powerholder, the powerholder’s estate, a creditor of the powerholder or a creditor of the powerholder’s estate. “Power of appointment”, a power, other than a power of attorney, that enables a powerholder acting in a nonfiduciary capacity to designate a recipient of an ownership interest in or another power of appointment over the appointive property. “Powerholder”, a person in whom a donor creates a power of appointment. “Presently exercisable power of appointment”, a power of appointment exercisable by the powerholder at the relevant time; provided, however, that a presently exercisable power of appointment: (i) shall include a power of appointment exercisable only after the occurrence of a specified event, the satisfaction of an ascertainable standard or the passage of a specified time only after: (A) the occurrence of the specified event; (B) the satisfaction of the ascertainable standard; or (C) the passage of the specified time; and (ii) shall not include a power exercisable only at the powerholder’s death. “Reasonably definite standard”, a clearly measurable standard under which a holder of a power of distribution is legally accountable within the meaning of subsection (b)(5)(A) of section 674 of the Internal Revenue Code and any applicable regulations. “Record”, information that is inscribed on a tangible medium or that is stored in an electronic or other medium and is retrievable in perceivable form. “Second trust”: (i) a first trust after modification under this article; or (ii) a trust to which a distribution of property from a first trust is or may be made under this article. “Second-trust instrument”, the trust instrument for a second trust. “Sign”, with present intent to authenticate or adopt a record: (i) to execute or adopt a tangible symbol; or (ii) to attach to or logically associate with the record an electronic symbol, sound or process.
Scope (a) Except as otherwise provided in subsections (b) and (c), this article shall apply to an express trust that is irrevocable or revocable by the settlor only with the consent of the trustee or a person holding an adverse interest. (b) This article shall not apply to a trust held solely for charitable purposes described in subsection (a) of section 405. (c) Subject to section 915, a trust instrument may restrict or prohibit exercise of the decanting power. (d) This article shall not limit the power of a trustee, powerholder or other person to distribute or appoint property in further trust or to modify a trust under the trust instrument, law of the commonwealth other than this article, common law, a court order or a non-judicial settlement agreement. (e) This article shall not affect the ability of a settlor to provide in a trust instrument for the distribution of the trust property or appointment in further trust of the trust property or for modification of the trust instrument.
Fiduciary duty (a) In exercising the decanting power, an authorized fiduciary shall act in accordance with its fiduciary duties, including the duty to act in accordance with the purposes of the first trust. (b) This article shall not be construed to create or imply a duty to exercise the decanting power or to inform beneficiaries about the applicability of this article. (c) Except as otherwise provided in a first-trust instrument, for purposes of this article and sections 801 and 802(a) of article 8, the terms of the first trust shall be deemed to include the decanting power.
Application; governing law This article shall apply to a trust created before, on or after the effective date of this article which has its principal place of administration in the commonwealth.
Reasonable reliance A trustee or other person that reasonably relies on the validity of a distribution of part or all of the property of a trust to another trust, or a modification of a trust, under this article, law of the commonwealth other than this article or the law of another jurisdiction is not liable to any person for any action or failure to act as a result of the reliance.
Notice; exercise of decanting power (a) In this section, a notice period begins on the day notice is given under subsection (c) and ends 59 days after the day notice is given. (b) Except as otherwise provided in this article, an authorized fiduciary may exercise the decanting power without the consent of any person and without court approval. (c) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (f), an authorized fiduciary shall give notice in a record of the intended exercise of the decanting power not later than 60 days before the exercise to: (i) each settlor of the first trust, if living or then in existence; (ii) each qualified beneficiary of the first trust; (iii) each holder of a presently exercisable power of appointment over any part or all of the first trust; (iv) each person that currently has the right to remove or replace the authorized fiduciary; (v) each other fiduciary of the first trust; (vi) each fiduciary of the second trust; and (vii) the attorney general, if subsection (b) of section 914 applies. (d) An authorized fiduciary shall not be required to give notice under subsection (c) to a person that is not known to the fiduciary or is known to the fiduciary but cannot be located by the fiduciary after reasonable diligence. (e) A notice under subsection (c) must: (i) specify the manner in which the authorized fiduciary intends to exercise the decanting power; (ii) specify the proposed effective date for exercise of the power; (iii) include a copy of the first-trust instrument; and (iv) include a copy of all second-trust instruments. (f) The decanting power may be exercised before expiration of the notice period under subsection (a) if all persons entitled to receive notice waive the period in a signed record. (g) The receipt of notice, waiver of the notice period or expiration of the notice period shall not affect the right of a person to file an application under section 909 asserting that: (i) an attempted exercise of the decanting power is ineffective because it did not comply with this article or was an abuse of discretion or breach of fiduciary duty; or (ii) section 922 applies to the exercise of the decanting power. (h) An exercise of the decanting power shall not be deemed ineffective because of the failure to give notice to 1 or more persons under subsection (c) if the authorized fiduciary acted with reasonable care to comply with subsection (c).
[Reserved]
Court involvement (a) On application of an authorized fiduciary, a person entitled to notice under subsection (c) of section 907, a beneficiary or, with respect to a charitable interest, the attorney general or other person that has standing to enforce the charitable interest, the court may: (i) provide instructions to the authorized fiduciary regarding whether a proposed exercise of the decanting power is permitted under this article and consistent with the fiduciary duties of the authorized fiduciary; (ii) appoint a special fiduciary and authorize the special fiduciary to determine whether the decanting power should be exercised under this article and to exercise the decanting power; (iii) approve an exercise of the decanting power; (iv) determine that a proposed or attempted exercise of the decanting power is ineffective because: (A) after applying section 922, the proposed or attempted exercise does not or did not comply with this article; or (B) the proposed or attempted exercise would be or was an abuse of the fiduciary’s discretion or a breach of fiduciary duty; (v) determine the extent to which section 922 applies to a prior exercise of the decanting power; (vi) provide instructions to the trustee regarding the application of section 922 to a prior exercise of the decanting power; or (vii) order other relief to carry out the purposes of this article. (b) On application of an authorized fiduciary, the court may approve: (i) an increase in the fiduciary’s compensation under section 916; (ii) a modification of fiduciary liability under section 917; or (iii) a modification under section 918 of a provision granting a person the right to remove or replace the fiduciary.
Formalities An exercise of the decanting power shall be made in a record signed by an authorized fiduciary. The signed record shall, directly or by reference to the notice required by section 917, identify the first trust and the second trust or trusts and state the property of the first trust being distributed to each second trust and the property, if any, that remains in the first trust.
Decanting power under expanded distributive discretion (a) For purposes of this section, the following terms shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly requires otherwise: “Noncontingent right”, a right that is not subject to the exercise of discretion or the occurrence of a specified event that is not certain to occur; provided, however, that the term “noncontingent right” shall not include a right held by a beneficiary if any person has discretion to distribute property subject to the right to any person other than the beneficiary or the beneficiary’s estate. “Presumptive remainder beneficiary”, a qualified beneficiary other than a current beneficiary. “Successor beneficiary”, a beneficiary who is not a qualified beneficiary on the date the beneficiary’s qualification is determined. “Vested interest”: (i) a right to a mandatory distribution that is a noncontingent right as of the date of the exercise of the decanting power; (ii) a current and noncontingent right, annually or more frequently, to a mandatory distribution of income, a specified dollar amount or a percentage of value of some or all of the trust property; (iii) a current and noncontingent right, annually or more frequently, to withdraw income, a specified dollar amount or a percentage of value of some or all of the trust property; (iv) a presently exercisable general power of appointment; or (v) a right to receive an ascertainable part of the trust property on the trust’s termination which is not subject to the exercise of discretion or to the occurrence of a specified event that is not certain to occur. (b) Subject to subsection (c) and section 914, an authorized fiduciary who has expanded distributive discretion over the principal of a first trust for the benefit of 1 or more current beneficiaries may exercise the decanting power over the principal of the first trust. (c) Subject to section 913, in an exercise of the decanting power under this section, a second trust shall not: (i) include as a current beneficiary a person who is not a current beneficiary of the first trust or include as a current beneficiary with respect to trust principal a person who is a current beneficiary of the first trust only with respect to trust income, except as otherwise provided in subsection (d); (ii) include as a presumptive remainder beneficiary or successor beneficiary a person who is not a current beneficiary, presumptive remainder beneficiary or successor beneficiary of the first trust, except as otherwise provided in subsection (d); or (iii) reduce or eliminate a vested interest. (d) Subject to clause (iii) of subsection (c) and section 914, in an exercise of the decanting power under this section, a second trust may be a trust created or administered under the law of any jurisdiction and may: (i) retain a power of appointment granted in the first trust; (ii) omit a power of appointment granted in the first trust, other than a presently exercisable general power of appointment; (iii) create or modify a power of appointment if the powerholder is a current beneficiary of the first trust and the authorized fiduciary has expanded distributive discretion to distribute principal to the beneficiary; or (iv) create or modify a power of appointment if the powerholder is a presumptive remainder beneficiary or successor beneficiary of the first trust; provided, however, that the exercise of the power may take effect only after the powerholder becomes, or would have become if then living, a current beneficiary. (e) A power of appointment described in subsection (d) may be general or nongeneral. The class of permissible appointees in favor of which the power may be exercised may be broader than or different from the beneficiaries of the first trust. (f) If an authorized fiduciary has expanded distributive discretion over part, but not all, of the principal of a first trust, the fiduciary may exercise the decanting power under this section over that part of the principal over which the authorized fiduciary has expanded distributive discretion.
Decanting power under limited distributive discretion (a) In this section, “limited distributive discretion” shall mean a discretionary power of distribution that is limited to an ascertainable standard or a reasonably definite standard. (b) An authorized fiduciary who has limited distributive discretion over the principal of the first trust for the benefit of 1 or more current beneficiaries may exercise the decanting power over the principal of the first trust. (c) Under this section and subject to section 914, a second trust may be created or administered under the law of any jurisdiction. Under this section, the second trusts, in the aggregate, shall grant each beneficiary of the first trust beneficial interests which are substantially similar to the beneficial interests of the beneficiary in the first trust. (d) A power to make a distribution under a second trust for the benefit of a beneficiary who is an individual shall be substantially similar to a power under the first trust to make a distribution directly to the beneficiary. A distribution is for the benefit of a beneficiary if: (i) the distribution is applied for the benefit of the beneficiary; (ii) the beneficiary is under a legal disability or the trustee reasonably believes the beneficiary is incapacitated, and the distribution is made as permitted under this chapter; or (iii) the distribution is made as permitted under the terms of the first-trust instrument and the second-trust instrument for the benefit of the beneficiary. (e) If an authorized fiduciary has limited distributive discretion over part, but not all, of the principal of a first trust, the fiduciary may exercise the decanting power under this section over that part of the principal over which the authorized fiduciary has limited distributive discretion.
Trust for beneficiary with disability For the purposes of this section, the following terms shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly requires otherwise: “Beneficiary with a disability”, a beneficiary of a first trust who the special-needs fiduciary believes may qualify for governmental benefits based on disability, whether or not the beneficiary currently receives those benefits or is an individual who has been adjudicated incompetent. “Governmental benefits”, financial aid or services from a state, federal or other public agency. “Special-needs fiduciary”, with respect to a trust that has a beneficiary with a disability: (i) a trustee or other fiduciary, other than a settlor, who has discretion to distribute part or all of the principal of a first trust to 1 or more current beneficiaries; (ii) if no trustee or fiduciary has discretion under clause (i), a trustee or other fiduciary, other than a settlor, who has discretion to distribute part or all of the income of the first trust to 1 or more current beneficiaries; or (iii) if no trustee or fiduciary has discretion under clause (i) or (ii), a trustee or other fiduciary, other than a settlor, who is required to distribute part or all of the income or principal of the first trust to one or more current beneficiaries. “Special-needs trust”, a trust which the trustee believes would not be considered a resource for purposes of determining whether a beneficiary with a disability is eligible for any governmental benefit. (b) A special-needs fiduciary may exercise the decanting power under section 911 over the principal of a first trust as if the fiduciary had authority to distribute principal to a beneficiary with a disability subject to expanded distributive discretion if: (i) a second trust is a special-needs trust that benefits the beneficiary with a disability; and (ii) the special-needs fiduciary determines that exercise of the decanting power will further the purposes of the first trust. (c) In an exercise of the decanting power under this section, the following rules shall apply: (1) Notwithstanding clause (ii) of subsection (c) of section 911, the interest in the second trust of a beneficiary with a disability may: (i) be a pooled trust as defined by Medicaid law for the benefit of the beneficiary with a disability under 42 U.S.C. section 1396p(d)(4)(C); or (ii) contain payback provisions complying with reimbursement requirements of Medicaid law under 42 U.S.C. section 1396p(d)(4)(A). (2) Clause (iii) of subsection (c) of section 911 shall not apply to the interests of the beneficiary with a disability. (3) Except as affected by any change to the interests of the beneficiary with a disability, the second trust, or if there are 2 or more second trusts, the second trusts in the aggregate shall grant each other beneficiary of the first trust beneficial interests in the second trusts which are substantially similar to the beneficiary’s beneficial interests in the first trust.
Protection of charitable interest (a) For the purposes of this section, the following terms shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly requires otherwise: “Determinable charitable interest”, a charitable interest that is a right to a mandatory distribution currently, periodically, on the occurrence of a specified event or after the passage of a specified time and which is unconditional or will be held solely for charitable purposes described in subsection (a) of section 405. (2) “Unconditional”, not subject to the occurrence of a specified event that is not certain to occur, other than a requirement in a trust instrument that a charitable organization be in existence or qualify under a particular provision of the Internal Revenue Code of the United States on the date of the distribution, if the charitable organization meets the requirement on the date of determination. (b) If a first trust contains a determinable charitable interest, the attorney general has the rights of a qualified beneficiary and may represent and bind the charitable interest. (c) This article shall not be construed to limit the powers or duties of the attorney general under law of the commonwealth other than this article.
Trust limitation on decanting (a) An authorized fiduciary may not exercise the decanting power to the extent the first-trust instrument expressly prohibits exercise of: (i) the decanting power; or (ii) a power granted by state law to the fiduciary to distribute part or all of the principal of the trust to another trust or to modify the trust. (b) Exercise of the decanting power is subject to any restriction in the first-trust instrument that expressly applies to exercise of: (i) the decanting power; or (ii) a power granted by state law to a fiduciary to distribute part or all of the principal of the trust to another trust or to modify the trust. (c) A general prohibition of the amendment or revocation of a first trust, a spendthrift clause or a clause restraining the voluntary or involuntary transfer of a beneficiary’s interest shall not preclude exercise of the decanting power. (d) Subject to subsections (a) and (b), an authorized fiduciary may exercise the decanting power under this article even if the first-trust instrument permits the authorized fiduciary or another person to modify the first-trust instrument or to distribute part or all of the principal of the first trust to another trust. (e) If a first-trust instrument contains an express prohibition described in subsection (a) or an express restriction described in subsection (b), the provision shall be included in the second-trust instrument.
Change in compensation (a) If a first-trust instrument specifies an authorized fiduciary’s compensation, the fiduciary may not exercise the decanting power to increase the fiduciary’s compensation above the specified compensation unless: (i) all qualified beneficiaries of the second trust consent to the increase in a signed record; or (ii) the increase is approved by the court. (b) If a first-trust instrument does not specify an authorized fiduciary’s compensation, the fiduciary may not exercise the decanting power to increase the fiduciary’s compensation above the compensation permitted by this chapter unless: (i) all qualified beneficiaries of the second trust consent to the increase in a signed record; or (ii) the increase is approved by the court. (c) A change in an authorized fiduciary’s compensation which is incidental to other changes made by the exercise of the decanting power shall not be an increase in the fiduciary’s compensation for purposes of subsections (a) and (b).
Relief from liability and indemnification (a) Except as otherwise provided in this section or approved by the court, a second-trust instrument shall not relieve an authorized fiduciary from liability for breach of trust to a greater extent than the first-trust instrument. (b) A second-trust instrument may provide for indemnification of an authorized fiduciary of the first trust or another person acting in a fiduciary capacity under the first trust for any liability or claim that would have been payable from the first trust if the decanting power had not been exercised. (c) Except as approved by the court, a second-trust instrument shall not reduce fiduciary liability in the aggregate. (d) Subject to subsection (c), a second-trust instrument may divide and reallocate fiduciary powers among fiduciaries, including 1 or more trustees, distribution advisors, investment advisors, trust protectors or other persons and relieve a fiduciary from liability for an act or failure to act of another fiduciary as permitted by law of the commonwealth other than this article.
Removal or replacement of authorized fiduciary An authorized fiduciary shall not exercise the decanting power to modify a provision in a first-trust instrument granting another person power to remove or replace the fiduciary unless: (i) the person holding the power consents to the modification in a signed record and the modification applies only to the person; (ii) the person holding the power and the qualified beneficiaries of the second trust consent to the modification in a signed record and the modification grants a substantially similar power to another person; or (iii) the court approves the modification and the modification grants a substantially similar power to another person.
Tax-related limitations (a) For the purposes of this section, the following terms shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly requires otherwise: “Grantor trust”, a trust to which a settlor of a first trust is considered the owner under sections 671 through 677, inclusive, or section 679 of the Internal Revenue Code. “Internal Revenue Code”, the Internal Revenue Code of the United States as amended and as then in effect; provided, however, that references to a specific provision of the Internal Revenue Code shall include a successor provision of the same general effect. “Nongrantor trust”, a trust that is not a grantor trust. “Qualified benefits property”, property subject to the minimum distribution requirements of section 401(a)(9) of the Internal Revenue Code and any applicable regulations, or to any similar requirements that refer thereto. (b) An exercise of the decanting power is subject to the following limitations: (1) If a first trust contains property that qualified, or would have qualified but for provisions of this article other than this section, for a marital deduction for purposes of the gift or estate tax under the Internal Revenue Code or a state gift, estate or inheritance tax, the second-trust instrument shall not include or omit any term that, if included in or omitted from the trust instrument for the trust to which the property was transferred, would have prevented the transfer from qualifying for the deduction or would have reduced the amount of the deduction under the same provisions of the Internal Revenue Code or state law under which the transfer qualified. (2) If the first trust contains property that qualified, or would have qualified but for provisions of this article other than this section, for a charitable deduction for purposes of the income, gift or estate tax under the Internal Revenue Code or a state income, gift, estate or inheritance tax, the second-trust instrument shall not include or omit any term that, if included in or omitted from the trust instrument for the trust to which the property was transferred, would have prevented the transfer from qualifying for the deduction or would have reduced the amount of the deduction under the same provisions of the Internal Revenue Code or state law under which the transfer qualified. (3) If the first trust contains property that qualified, or would have qualified but for provisions of this article other than this section, for the exclusion from the gift tax described in section 2503(b) of the Internal Revenue Code, the second-trust instrument shall not include or omit a term that, if included in or omitted from the trust instrument for the trust to which the property was transferred, would have prevented the transfer from qualifying under such section. If the first trust contains property that qualified, or would have qualified but for provisions of this article other than this section, for the exclusion from the gift tax described in section 2503(b) of the Internal Revenue Code by application of section 2503(c) of the Internal Revenue Code, the second-trust instrument shall not include or omit a term that, if included or omitted from the trust instrument for the trust to which the property was transferred, would have prevented the transfer from qualifying under section 2503(c) of the Internal Revenue Code. (4) If the property of the first trust includes shares of stock in an S corporation, as defined in section 1361 of the Internal Revenue Code and the first trust is, or but for provisions of this article other than this section would be, a permitted shareholder under any provision of section 1361 of the Internal Revenue Code, an authorized fiduciary may exercise the power with respect to part or all of the S corporation stock only if any second trust receiving the stock is a permitted shareholder under section 1361(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code. If the property of the first trust includes shares of stock in an S corporation and the first trust is, or but for provisions of this article other than this section would be, a qualified subchapter S trust within the meaning of section 1361(d) of the Internal Revenue Code, the second-trust instrument shall not include or omit a term that prevents the second trust from qualifying as a qualified subchapter S trust. (5) If the first trust contains property that qualified, or would have qualified but for provisions of this article other than this section, for a 0 inclusion ratio for purposes of the generation-skipping transfer tax under section 2642(c) of the Internal Revenue Code, the second-trust instrument shall not include or omit a term that, if included in or omitted from the first-trust instrument, would have prevented the transfer to the first trust from qualifying for a 0 inclusion ratio under such section. (6) If the first trust is directly or indirectly the beneficiary of qualified benefits property, the second-trust instrument shall not include or omit any term that, if included in or omitted from the first-trust instrument, would have increased the minimum distributions required with respect to the qualified benefits property under section 401(a)(9) of the Internal Revenue Code and any applicable regulations or any similar requirements that refer thereto. If an attempted exercise of the decanting power violates the preceding sentence, the trustee shall be deemed to have held the qualified benefits property and any reinvested distributions of the property as a separate share from the date of the exercise of the power and section 922 shall apply to the separate share. (7) If the first trust qualifies as a grantor trust because of the application of section 672(f)(2)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code, the second trust shall not include or omit a term that, if included in or omitted from the first-trust instrument, would have prevented the first trust from qualifying under such section. (8) In this paragraph, “tax benefit” shall mean a federal or state tax deduction, exemption, exclusion or other benefit not otherwise listed in this section, except for a benefit arising from being a grantor trust. Subject to paragraph (9), a second-trust instrument shall not include or omit a term that, if included in or omitted from the first-trust instrument, would have prevented qualification for a tax benefit if: (i) the first-trust instrument expressly indicates an intent to qualify for the benefit or the first-trust instrument clearly is designed to enable the first trust to qualify for the benefit; and (ii) the transfer of property held by the first trust or the first trust qualified or, but for provisions of this article other than this section, would have qualified for the tax benefit. (9) Subject to paragraph (4): (i) except as otherwise provided in paragraph (7), the second trust may be a nongrantor trust, even if the first trust is a grantor trust; and (ii) the second trust may be a grantor trust, even if the first trust is a nongrantor trust.
Duration of second trust (a) Subject to subsection (b), a second trust may have a duration that is the same as or different from the duration of the first trust. (b) To the extent that property of a second trust is attributable to property of the first trust, the property of the second trust is subject to any rules governing maximum perpetuity, accumulation or suspension of the power of alienation which apply to property of the first trust.
Need to distribute not required An authorized fiduciary may exercise the decanting power whether or not under the first trust’s discretionary distribution standard the fiduciary would have made or could have been compelled to make a discretionary distribution of principal at the time of the exercise.
Saving provision (a) If exercise of the decanting power would be effective under this article except that the second-trust instrument in part does not comply with this article, the exercise of the power shall be effective and the following rules shall apply with respect to the principal of the second trust attributable to the exercise of the power: (1) A provision in the second-trust instrument which is not permitted under this article shall be void to the extent necessary to comply with this article. (2) A provision required by this article to be in the second-trust instrument which is not contained in the instrument shall be deemed to be included in the instrument to the extent necessary to comply with this article. (b) If a trustee or other fiduciary of a second trust determines that subsection (a) applies to a prior exercise of the decanting power, the fiduciary shall take corrective action consistent with the fiduciary’s duties.
Trust for care of an animal (a) For purposes of this section, the following terms shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly requires otherwise: “Animal trust”, a trust or an interest in a trust described in section 408. “Protector”, the person who may enforce the intended use of the principal or income of an animal trust under subsection (f) of section 408. (b) The decanting power may be exercised over an animal trust that has a protector to the extent the trust could be decanted under this article if each animal that benefits from the trust were an individual if the protector consents in a signed record to the exercise of the power. (c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this article, if a first trust is an animal trust, in an exercise of the decanting power, the second trust shall provide that trust property may be applied only to its intended purpose for the period the first trust benefitted the animal.
Terms of second trust A reference in this chapter to a trust instrument or terms of the trust includes a second-trust instrument and the terms of the second trust.
Settlor (a) For purposes of law of the commonwealth other than this article and subject to subsection (b), a settlor of a first trust is deemed to be the settlor of the second trust with respect to the portion of the principal of the first trust subject to the exercise of the decanting power. (b) In determining settlor intent with respect to a second trust, the intent of a settlor of the first trust, a settlor of the second trust and the authorized fiduciary may be considered.
Later-discovered and later-acquired property (a) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (c), if exercise of the decanting power was intended to distribute all the principal of the first trust to 1 or more second trusts, later-discovered property belonging to the first trust and property paid to or acquired by the first trust after the exercise of the power shall be part of the trust estate of the second trust or trusts. (b) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (c), if exercise of the decanting power was intended to distribute less than all of the principal of the first trust to 1 or more second trusts, later-discovered property belonging to the first trust or property paid to or acquired by the first trust after exercise of the power shall remain part of the trust estate of the first trust. (c) An authorized fiduciary may provide in an exercise of the decanting power or by the terms of a second trust for disposition of later-discovered property belonging to the first trust or property paid to or acquired by the first trust after exercise of the power.
Obligations A debt, liability or other obligation enforceable against property of a first trust is enforceable to the same extent against the property when held by the second trust after exercise of the decanting power.
This act shall take effect on January 1, 2026.
SECTION 1. Section 103 of article 1 of chapter 203E of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out the definition of “Qualified beneficiary” and inserting in place thereof the following definition:- “Qualified beneficiary”, a beneficiary who, on the date the beneficiary’s qualification is determined: (i) is a distributee or permissible distributee of trust income or principal; (ii) would be a distributee or permissible distributee of trust income or principal if the interests of the distributees described in clause (i) terminated on that date without causing the trust to terminate; or (iii) would be a distributee or permissible distributee of trust income or principal if the trust terminated on that date. SECTION 2. Said section 103 of said article 1 of said chapter 203E, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out the definition of “Terms of a trust” and inserting in place thereof the following definition:- “Terms of a trust”: (i) except as otherwise provided in clause (ii), the manifestation of the settlor’s intent regarding a trust’s provisions as expressed in the trust instrument or established by other evidence that would be admissible in a judicial proceeding; or (ii) the trust’s provisions as established, determined or amended by a trustee or other person in accordance with applicable law, a court order or a non-judicial settlement agreement under section 111. SECTION 3. Section 110 of said Article 1 of said chapter 203E, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out subsection (b) and inserting in place thereof the following subsection:- (b) A charitable organization expressly designated to receive distributions under the terms of a charitable trust shall have the rights of a qualified beneficiary under this chapter if, on the date the charitable organization’s qualification is being determined, the charitable organization: (i) is a distributee or permissible distributee of trust income or principal; (ii) would be a distributee or permissible distributee of trust income or principal upon the termination of the interests of other distributees or permissible distributees then receiving or eligible to receive distributions; or (iii) would be a distributee or permissible distributee of trust income or principal if the trust terminated on that date. SECTION 4. Said Chapter 203E of the General Laws is hereby further amended by inserting after Article 8 the following article:- ARTICLE 9. Massachusetts Uniform Trust Decanting Act Section 901. Short title This article shall be known and may be cited as the Massachusetts Uniform Trust Decanting Act. Section 902. Definitions As used in this article the following words shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly requires otherwise:- “Appointive property”, a property or property interest subject to a power of appointment. “Authorized fiduciary”: (i) a trustee or other fiduciary, other than a settlor, that has discretion to distribute or direct a trustee to distribute part or all of the principal of the first trust to 1 or more current beneficiaries; (ii) a special fiduciary appointed under section 909; or (iii) a special-needs fiduciary under section 913. “Beneficiary”, includes an identified charitable organization that will or may receive distributions under the terms of the trust. “Charitable interest”, an interest in a trust which: (i) is held by an identified charitable organization and makes the organization a qualified beneficiary; (ii) benefits only charitable organizations and, if the interest were held by an identified charitable organization, would make the organization a qualified beneficiary; or (iii) is held solely for charitable purposes described in subsection (a) of section 405 and, if the interest were held by an identified charitable organization, would make the organization a qualified beneficiary. “Current beneficiary”: (i) a beneficiary who, on the date the beneficiary’s qualification is determined, is a distributee or permissible distributee of trust income or principal; or (ii) a holder of a presently exercisable general power of appointment. “Decanting power”, the power of an authorized fiduciary under this article to distribute property of a first trust to 1 or more second trusts or to modify the terms of the first trust. “Expanded distributive discretion”, a discretionary power of distribution that is not limited to an ascertainable standard or a reasonably definite standard. “First trust”, a trust over which an authorized fiduciary may exercise the decanting power. “First-trust instrument”, the trust instrument for a first trust. “General power of appointment”, a power of appointment exercisable in favor of a powerholder, the powerholder’s estate, a creditor of the powerholder or a creditor of the powerholder’s estate. “Power of appointment”, a power, other than a power of attorney, that enables a powerholder acting in a nonfiduciary capacity to designate a recipient of an ownership interest in or another power of appointment over the appointive property. “Powerholder”, a person in whom a donor creates a power of appointment. “Presently exercisable power of appointment”, a power of appointment exercisable by the powerholder at the relevant time; provided, however, that a presently exercisable power of appointment: (i) shall include a power of appointment exercisable only after the occurrence of a specified event, the satisfaction of an ascertainable standard or the passage of a specified time only after: (A) the occurrence of the specified event; (B) the satisfaction of the ascertainable standard; or (C) the passage of the specified time; and (ii) shall not include a power exercisable only at the powerholder’s death. “Reasonably definite standard”, a clearly measurable standard under which a holder of a power of distribution is legally accountable within the meaning of subsection (b)(5)(A) of section 674 of the Internal Revenue Code and any applicable regulations. “Record”, information that is inscribed on a tangible medium or that is stored in an electronic or other medium and is retrievable in perceivable form. “Second trust”: (i) a first trust after modification under this article; or (ii) a trust to which a distribution of property from a first trust is or may be made under this article. “Second-trust instrument”, the trust instrument for a second trust. “Sign”, with present intent to authenticate or adopt a record: (i) to execute or adopt a tangible symbol; or (ii) to attach to or logically associate with the record an electronic symbol, sound or process. Section 903. Scope (a) Except as otherwise provided in subsections (b) and (c), this article shall apply to an express trust that is irrevocable or revocable by the settlor only with the consent of the trustee or a person holding an adverse interest. (b) This article shall not apply to a trust held solely for charitable purposes described in subsection (a) of section 405. (c) Subject to section 915, a trust instrument may restrict or prohibit exercise of the decanting power. (d) This article shall not limit the power of a trustee, powerholder or other person to distribute or appoint property in further trust or to modify a trust under the trust instrument, law of the commonwealth other than this article, common law, a court order or a non-judicial settlement agreement. (e) This article shall not affect the ability of a settlor to provide in a trust instrument for the distribution of the trust property or appointment in further trust of the trust property or for modification of the trust instrument. Section 904. Fiduciary duty (a) In exercising the decanting power, an authorized fiduciary shall act in accordance with its fiduciary duties, including the duty to act in accordance with the purposes of the first trust. (b) This article shall not be construed to create or imply a duty to exercise the decanting power or to inform beneficiaries about the applicability of this article. (c) Except as otherwise provided in a first-trust instrument, for purposes of this article and sections 801 and 802(a) of article 8, the terms of the first trust shall be deemed to include the decanting power. Section 905. Application; governing law This article shall apply to a trust created before, on or after the effective date of this article which has its principal place of administration in the commonwealth. Section 906. Reasonable reliance A trustee or other person that reasonably relies on the validity of a distribution of part or all of the property of a trust to another trust, or a modification of a trust, under this article, law of the commonwealth other than this article or the law of another jurisdiction is not liable to any person for any action or failure to act as a result of the reliance. Section 907. Notice; exercise of decanting power (a) In this section, a notice period begins on the day notice is given under subsection (c) and ends 59 days after the day notice is given. (b) Except as otherwise provided in this article, an authorized fiduciary may exercise the decanting power without the consent of any person and without court approval. (c) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (f), an authorized fiduciary shall give notice in a record of the intended exercise of the decanting power not later than 60 days before the exercise to: (i) each settlor of the first trust, if living or then in existence; (ii) each qualified beneficiary of the first trust; (iii) each holder of a presently exercisable power of appointment over any part or all of the first trust; (iv) each person that currently has the right to remove or replace the authorized fiduciary; (v) each other fiduciary of the first trust; (vi) each fiduciary of the second trust; and (vii) the attorney general, if subsection (b) of section 914 applies. (d) An authorized fiduciary shall not be required to give notice under subsection (c) to a person that is not known to the fiduciary or is known to the fiduciary but cannot be located by the fiduciary after reasonable diligence. (e) A notice under subsection (c) must: (i) specify the manner in which the authorized fiduciary intends to exercise the decanting power; (ii) specify the proposed effective date for exercise of the power; (iii) include a copy of the first-trust instrument; and (iv) include a copy of all second-trust instruments. (f) The decanting power may be exercised before expiration of the notice period under subsection (a) if all persons entitled to receive notice waive the period in a signed record. (g) The receipt of notice, waiver of the notice period or expiration of the notice period shall not affect the right of a person to file an application under section 909 asserting that: (i) an attempted exercise of the decanting power is ineffective because it did not comply with this article or was an abuse of discretion or breach of fiduciary duty; or (ii) section 922 applies to the exercise of the decanting power. (h) An exercise of the decanting power shall not be deemed ineffective because of the failure to give notice to 1 or more persons under subsection (c) if the authorized fiduciary acted with reasonable care to comply with subsection (c). Section 908. [Reserved] Section 909. Court involvement (a) On application of an authorized fiduciary, a person entitled to notice under subsection (c) of section 907, a beneficiary or, with respect to a charitable interest, the attorney general or other person that has standing to enforce the charitable interest, the court may: (i) provide instructions to the authorized fiduciary regarding whether a proposed exercise of the decanting power is permitted under this article and consistent with the fiduciary duties of the authorized fiduciary; (ii) appoint a special fiduciary and authorize the special fiduciary to determine whether the decanting power should be exercised under this article and to exercise the decanting power; (iii) approve an exercise of the decanting power; (iv) determine that a proposed or attempted exercise of the decanting power is ineffective because: (A) after applying section 922, the proposed or attempted exercise does not or did not comply with this article; or (B) the proposed or attempted exercise would be or was an abuse of the fiduciary’s discretion or a breach of fiduciary duty; (v) determine the extent to which section 922 applies to a prior exercise of the decanting power; (vi) provide instructions to the trustee regarding the application of section 922 to a prior exercise of the decanting power; or (vii) order other relief to carry out the purposes of this article. (b) On application of an authorized fiduciary, the court may approve: (i) an increase in the fiduciary’s compensation under section 916; (ii) a modification of fiduciary liability under section 917; or (iii) a modification under section 918 of a provision granting a person the right to remove or replace the fiduciary. Section 910. Formalities An exercise of the decanting power shall be made in a record signed by an authorized fiduciary. The signed record shall, directly or by reference to the notice required by section 917, identify the first trust and the second trust or trusts and state the property of the first trust being distributed to each second trust and the property, if any, that remains in the first trust. Section 911. Decanting power under expanded distributive discretion (a) For purposes of this section, the following terms shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly requires otherwise: “Noncontingent right”, a right that is not subject to the exercise of discretion or the occurrence of a specified event that is not certain to occur; provided, however, that the term “noncontingent right” shall not include a right held by a beneficiary if any person has discretion to distribute property subject to the right to any person other than the beneficiary or the beneficiary’s estate. “Presumptive remainder beneficiary”, a qualified beneficiary other than a current beneficiary. “Successor beneficiary”, a beneficiary who is not a qualified beneficiary on the date the beneficiary’s qualification is determined. “Vested interest”: (i) a right to a mandatory distribution that is a noncontingent right as of the date of the exercise of the decanting power; (ii) a current and noncontingent right, annually or more frequently, to a mandatory distribution of income, a specified dollar amount or a percentage of value of some or all of the trust property; (iii) a current and noncontingent right, annually or more frequently, to withdraw income, a specified dollar amount or a percentage of value of some or all of the trust property; (iv) a presently exercisable general power of appointment; or (v) a right to receive an ascertainable part of the trust property on the trust’s termination which is not subject to the exercise of discretion or to the occurrence of a specified event that is not certain to occur. (b) Subject to subsection (c) and section 914, an authorized fiduciary who has expanded distributive discretion over the principal of a first trust for the benefit of 1 or more current beneficiaries may exercise the decanting power over the principal of the first trust. (c) Subject to section 913, in an exercise of the decanting power under this section, a second trust shall not: (i) include as a current beneficiary a person who is not a current beneficiary of the first trust or include as a current beneficiary with respect to trust principal a person who is a current beneficiary of the first trust only with respect to trust income, except as otherwise provided in subsection (d); (ii) include as a presumptive remainder beneficiary or successor beneficiary a person who is not a current beneficiary, presumptive remainder beneficiary or successor beneficiary of the first trust, except as otherwise provided in subsection (d); or (iii) reduce or eliminate a vested interest. (d) Subject to clause (iii) of subsection (c) and section 914, in an exercise of the decanting power under this section, a second trust may be a trust created or administered under the law of any jurisdiction and may: (i) retain a power of appointment granted in the first trust; (ii) omit a power of appointment granted in the first trust, other than a presently exercisable general power of appointment; (iii) create or modify a power of appointment if the powerholder is a current beneficiary of the first trust and the authorized fiduciary has expanded distributive discretion to distribute principal to the beneficiary; or (iv) create or modify a power of appointment if the powerholder is a presumptive remainder beneficiary or successor beneficiary of the first trust; provided, however, that the exercise of the power may take effect only after the powerholder becomes, or would have become if then living, a current beneficiary. (e) A power of appointment described in subsection (d) may be general or nongeneral. The class of permissible appointees in favor of which the power may be exercised may be broader than or different from the beneficiaries of the first trust. (f) If an authorized fiduciary has expanded distributive discretion over part, but not all, of the principal of a first trust, the fiduciary may exercise the decanting power under this section over that part of the principal over which the authorized fiduciary has expanded distributive discretion. Section 912. Decanting power under limited distributive discretion (a) In this section, “limited distributive discretion” shall mean a discretionary power of distribution that is limited to an ascertainable standard or a reasonably definite standard. (b) An authorized fiduciary who has limited distributive discretion over the principal of the first trust for the benefit of 1 or more current beneficiaries may exercise the decanting power over the principal of the first trust. (c) Under this section and subject to section 914, a second trust may be created or administered under the law of any jurisdiction. Under this section, the second trusts, in the aggregate, shall grant each beneficiary of the first trust beneficial interests which are substantially similar to the beneficial interests of the beneficiary in the first trust. (d) A power to make a distribution under a second trust for the benefit of a beneficiary who is an individual shall be substantially similar to a power under the first trust to make a distribution directly to the beneficiary. A distribution is for the benefit of a beneficiary if: (i) the distribution is applied for the benefit of the beneficiary; (ii) the beneficiary is under a legal disability or the trustee reasonably believes the beneficiary is incapacitated, and the distribution is made as permitted under this chapter; or (iii) the distribution is made as permitted under the terms of the first-trust instrument and the second-trust instrument for the benefit of the beneficiary. (e) If an authorized fiduciary has limited distributive discretion over part, but not all, of the principal of a first trust, the fiduciary may exercise the decanting power under this section over that part of the principal over which the authorized fiduciary has limited distributive discretion. Section 913. Trust for beneficiary with disability For the purposes of this section, the following terms shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly requires otherwise: “Beneficiary with a disability”, a beneficiary of a first trust who the special-needs fiduciary believes may qualify for governmental benefits based on disability, whether or not the beneficiary currently receives those benefits or is an individual who has been adjudicated incompetent. “Governmental benefits”, financial aid or services from a state, federal or other public agency. “Special-needs fiduciary”, with respect to a trust that has a beneficiary with a disability: (i) a trustee or other fiduciary, other than a settlor, who has discretion to distribute part or all of the principal of a first trust to 1 or more current beneficiaries; (ii) if no trustee or fiduciary has discretion under clause (i), a trustee or other fiduciary, other than a settlor, who has discretion to distribute part or all of the income of the first trust to 1 or more current beneficiaries; or (iii) if no trustee or fiduciary has discretion under clause (i) or (ii), a trustee or other fiduciary, other than a settlor, who is required to distribute part or all of the income or principal of the first trust to one or more current beneficiaries. “Special-needs trust”, a trust which the trustee believes would not be considered a resource for purposes of determining whether a beneficiary with a disability is eligible for any governmental benefit. (b) A special-needs fiduciary may exercise the decanting power under section 911 over the principal of a first trust as if the fiduciary had authority to distribute principal to a beneficiary with a disability subject to expanded distributive discretion if: (i) a second trust is a special-needs trust that benefits the beneficiary with a disability; and (ii) the special-needs fiduciary determines that exercise of the decanting power will further the purposes of the first trust. (c) In an exercise of the decanting power under this section, the following rules shall apply: (1) Notwithstanding clause (ii) of subsection (c) of section 911, the interest in the second trust of a beneficiary with a disability may: (i) be a pooled trust as defined by Medicaid law for the benefit of the beneficiary with a disability under 42 U.S.C. section 1396p(d)(4)(C); or (ii) contain payback provisions complying with reimbursement requirements of Medicaid law under 42 U.S.C. section 1396p(d)(4)(A). (2) Clause (iii) of subsection (c) of section 911 shall not apply to the interests of the beneficiary with a disability. (3) Except as affected by any change to the interests of the beneficiary with a disability, the second trust, or if there are 2 or more second trusts, the second trusts in the aggregate shall grant each other beneficiary of the first trust beneficial interests in the second trusts which are substantially similar to the beneficiary’s beneficial interests in the first trust. Section 914. Protection of charitable interest (a) For the purposes of this section, the following terms shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly requires otherwise: “Determinable charitable interest”, a charitable interest that is a right to a mandatory distribution currently, periodically, on the occurrence of a specified event or after the passage of a specified time and which is unconditional or will be held solely for charitable purposes described in subsection (a) of section 405. (2) “Unconditional”, not subject to the occurrence of a specified event that is not certain to occur, other than a requirement in a trust instrument that a charitable organization be in existence or qualify under a particular provision of the Internal Revenue Code of the United States on the date of the distribution, if the charitable organization meets the requirement on the date of determination. (b) If a first trust contains a determinable charitable interest, the attorney general has the rights of a qualified beneficiary and may represent and bind the charitable interest. (c) This article shall not be construed to limit the powers or duties of the attorney general under law of the commonwealth other than this article. Section 915. Trust limitation on decanting (a) An authorized fiduciary may not exercise the decanting power to the extent the first-trust instrument expressly prohibits exercise of: (i) the decanting power; or (ii) a power granted by state law to the fiduciary to distribute part or all of the principal of the trust to another trust or to modify the trust. (b) Exercise of the decanting power is subject to any restriction in the first-trust instrument that expressly applies to exercise of: (i) the decanting power; or (ii) a power granted by state law to a fiduciary to distribute part or all of the principal of the trust to another trust or to modify the trust. (c) A general prohibition of the amendment or revocation of a first trust, a spendthrift clause or a clause restraining the voluntary or involuntary transfer of a beneficiary’s interest shall not preclude exercise of the decanting power. (d) Subject to subsections (a) and (b), an authorized fiduciary may exercise the decanting power under this article even if the first-trust instrument permits the authorized fiduciary or another person to modify the first-trust instrument or to distribute part or all of the principal of the first trust to another trust. (e) If a first-trust instrument contains an express prohibition described in subsection (a) or an express restriction described in subsection (b), the provision shall be included in the second-trust instrument. Section 916. Change in compensation (a) If a first-trust instrument specifies an authorized fiduciary’s compensation, the fiduciary may not exercise the decanting power to increase the fiduciary’s compensation above the specified compensation unless: (i) all qualified beneficiaries of the second trust consent to the increase in a signed record; or (ii) the increase is approved by the court. (b) If a first-trust instrument does not specify an authorized fiduciary’s compensation, the fiduciary may not exercise the decanting power to increase the fiduciary’s compensation above the compensation permitted by this chapter unless: (i) all qualified beneficiaries of the second trust consent to the increase in a signed record; or (ii) the increase is approved by the court. (c) A change in an authorized fiduciary’s compensation which is incidental to other changes made by the exercise of the decanting power shall not be an increase in the fiduciary’s compensation for purposes of subsections (a) and (b). Section 917. Relief from liability and indemnification (a) Except as otherwise provided in this section or approved by the court, a second-trust instrument shall not relieve an authorized fiduciary from liability for breach of trust to a greater extent than the first-trust instrument. (b) A second-trust instrument may provide for indemnification of an authorized fiduciary of the first trust or another person acting in a fiduciary capacity under the first trust for any liability or claim that would have been payable from the first trust if the decanting power had not been exercised. (c) Except as approved by the court, a second-trust instrument shall not reduce fiduciary liability in the aggregate. (d) Subject to subsection (c), a second-trust instrument may divide and reallocate fiduciary powers among fiduciaries, including 1 or more trustees, distribution advisors, investment advisors, trust protectors or other persons and relieve a fiduciary from liability for an act or failure to act of another fiduciary as permitted by law of the commonwealth other than this article. Section 918. Removal or replacement of authorized fiduciary An authorized fiduciary shall not exercise the decanting power to modify a provision in a first-trust instrument granting another person power to remove or replace the fiduciary unless: (i) the person holding the power consents to the modification in a signed record and the modification applies only to the person; (ii) the person holding the power and the qualified beneficiaries of the second trust consent to the modification in a signed record and the modification grants a substantially similar power to another person; or (iii) the court approves the modification and the modification grants a substantially similar power to another person. Section 919. Tax-related limitations (a) For the purposes of this section, the following terms shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly requires otherwise: “Grantor trust”, a trust to which a settlor of a first trust is considered the owner under sections 671 through 677, inclusive, or section 679 of the Internal Revenue Code. “Internal Revenue Code”, the Internal Revenue Code of the United States as amended and as then in effect; provided, however, that references to a specific provision of the Internal Revenue Code shall include a successor provision of the same general effect. “Nongrantor trust”, a trust that is not a grantor trust. “Qualified benefits property”, property subject to the minimum distribution requirements of section 401(a)(9) of the Internal Revenue Code and any applicable regulations, or to any similar requirements that refer thereto. (b) An exercise of the decanting power is subject to the following limitations: (1) If a first trust contains property that qualified, or would have qualified but for provisions of this article other than this section, for a marital deduction for purposes of the gift or estate tax under the Internal Revenue Code or a state gift, estate or inheritance tax, the second-trust instrument shall not include or omit any term that, if included in or omitted from the trust instrument for the trust to which the property was transferred, would have prevented the transfer from qualifying for the deduction or would have reduced the amount of the deduction under the same provisions of the Internal Revenue Code or state law under which the transfer qualified. (2) If the first trust contains property that qualified, or would have qualified but for provisions of this article other than this section, for a charitable deduction for purposes of the income, gift or estate tax under the Internal Revenue Code or a state income, gift, estate or inheritance tax, the second-trust instrument shall not include or omit any term that, if included in or omitted from the trust instrument for the trust to which the property was transferred, would have prevented the transfer from qualifying for the deduction or would have reduced the amount of the deduction under the same provisions of the Internal Revenue Code or state law under which the transfer qualified. (3) If the first trust contains property that qualified, or would have qualified but for provisions of this article other than this section, for the exclusion from the gift tax described in section 2503(b) of the Internal Revenue Code, the second-trust instrument shall not include or omit a term that, if included in or omitted from the trust instrument for the trust to which the property was transferred, would have prevented the transfer from qualifying under such section. If the first trust contains property that qualified, or would have qualified but for provisions of this article other than this section, for the exclusion from the gift tax described in section 2503(b) of the Internal Revenue Code by application of section 2503(c) of the Internal Revenue Code, the second-trust instrument shall not include or omit a term that, if included or omitted from the trust instrument for the trust to which the property was transferred, would have prevented the transfer from qualifying under section 2503(c) of the Internal Revenue Code. (4) If the property of the first trust includes shares of stock in an S corporation, as defined in section 1361 of the Internal Revenue Code and the first trust is, or but for provisions of this article other than this section would be, a permitted shareholder under any provision of section 1361 of the Internal Revenue Code, an authorized fiduciary may exercise the power with respect to part or all of the S corporation stock only if any second trust receiving the stock is a permitted shareholder under section 1361(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code. If the property of the first trust includes shares of stock in an S corporation and the first trust is, or but for provisions of this article other than this section would be, a qualified subchapter S trust within the meaning of section 1361(d) of the Internal Revenue Code, the second-trust instrument shall not include or omit a term that prevents the second trust from qualifying as a qualified subchapter S trust. (5) If the first trust contains property that qualified, or would have qualified but for provisions of this article other than this section, for a 0 inclusion ratio for purposes of the generation-skipping transfer tax under section 2642(c) of the Internal Revenue Code, the second-trust instrument shall not include or omit a term that, if included in or omitted from the first-trust instrument, would have prevented the transfer to the first trust from qualifying for a 0 inclusion ratio under such section. (6) If the first trust is directly or indirectly the beneficiary of qualified benefits property, the second-trust instrument shall not include or omit any term that, if included in or omitted from the first-trust instrument, would have increased the minimum distributions required with respect to the qualified benefits property under section 401(a)(9) of the Internal Revenue Code and any applicable regulations or any similar requirements that refer thereto. If an attempted exercise of the decanting power violates the preceding sentence, the trustee shall be deemed to have held the qualified benefits property and any reinvested distributions of the property as a separate share from the date of the exercise of the power and section 922 shall apply to the separate share. (7) If the first trust qualifies as a grantor trust because of the application of section 672(f)(2)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code, the second trust shall not include or omit a term that, if included in or omitted from the first-trust instrument, would have prevented the first trust from qualifying under such section. (8) In this paragraph, “tax benefit” shall mean a federal or state tax deduction, exemption, exclusion or other benefit not otherwise listed in this section, except for a benefit arising from being a grantor trust. Subject to paragraph (9), a second-trust instrument shall not include or omit a term that, if included in or omitted from the first-trust instrument, would have prevented qualification for a tax benefit if: (i) the first-trust instrument expressly indicates an intent to qualify for the benefit or the first-trust instrument clearly is designed to enable the first trust to qualify for the benefit; and (ii) the transfer of property held by the first trust or the first trust qualified or, but for provisions of this article other than this section, would have qualified for the tax benefit. (9) Subject to paragraph (4): (i) except as otherwise provided in paragraph (7), the second trust may be a nongrantor trust, even if the first trust is a grantor trust; and (ii) the second trust may be a grantor trust, even if the first trust is a nongrantor trust. Section 920. Duration of second trust (a) Subject to subsection (b), a second trust may have a duration that is the same as or different from the duration of the first trust. (b) To the extent that property of a second trust is attributable to property of the first trust, the property of the second trust is subject to any rules governing maximum perpetuity, accumulation or suspension of the power of alienation which apply to property of the first trust. Section 921. Need to distribute not required An authorized fiduciary may exercise the decanting power whether or not under the first trust’s discretionary distribution standard the fiduciary would have made or could have been compelled to make a discretionary distribution of principal at the time of the exercise. Section 922. Saving provision (a) If exercise of the decanting power would be effective under this article except that the second-trust instrument in part does not comply with this article, the exercise of the power shall be effective and the following rules shall apply with respect to the principal of the second trust attributable to the exercise of the power: (1) A provision in the second-trust instrument which is not permitted under this article shall be void to the extent necessary to comply with this article. (2) A provision required by this article to be in the second-trust instrument which is not contained in the instrument shall be deemed to be included in the instrument to the extent necessary to comply with this article. (b) If a trustee or other fiduciary of a second trust determines that subsection (a) applies to a prior exercise of the decanting power, the fiduciary shall take corrective action consistent with the fiduciary’s duties. Section 923. Trust for care of an animal (a) For purposes of this section, the following terms shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly requires otherwise: “Animal trust”, a trust or an interest in a trust described in section 408. “Protector”, the person who may enforce the intended use of the principal or income of an animal trust under subsection (f) of section 408. (b) The decanting power may be exercised over an animal trust that has a protector to the extent the trust could be decanted under this article if each animal that benefits from the trust were an individual if the protector consents in a signed record to the exercise of the power. (c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this article, if a first trust is an animal trust, in an exercise of the decanting power, the second trust shall provide that trust property may be applied only to its intended purpose for the period the first trust benefitted the animal. Section 924. Terms of second trust A reference in this chapter to a trust instrument or terms of the trust includes a second-trust instrument and the terms of the second trust. Section 925. Settlor (a) For purposes of law of the commonwealth other than this article and subject to subsection (b), a settlor of a first trust is deemed to be the settlor of the second trust with respect to the portion of the principal of the first trust subject to the exercise of the decanting power. (b) In determining settlor intent with respect to a second trust, the intent of a settlor of the first trust, a settlor of the second trust and the authorized fiduciary may be considered. Section 926. Later-discovered and later-acquired property (a) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (c), if exercise of the decanting power was intended to distribute all the principal of the first trust to 1 or more second trusts, later-discovered property belonging to the first trust and property paid to or acquired by the first trust after the exercise of the power shall be part of the trust estate of the second trust or trusts. (b) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (c), if exercise of the decanting power was intended to distribute less than all of the principal of the first trust to 1 or more second trusts, later-discovered property belonging to the first trust or property paid to or acquired by the first trust after exercise of the power shall remain part of the trust estate of the first trust. (c) An authorized fiduciary may provide in an exercise of the decanting power or by the terms of a second trust for disposition of later-discovered property belonging to the first trust or property paid to or acquired by the first trust after exercise of the power. Section 927. Obligations A debt, liability or other obligation enforceable against property of a first trust is enforceable to the same extent against the property when held by the second trust after exercise of the decanting power. SECTION 5. This act shall take effect on January 1, 2026.