California Probate Code 16004.5 – (a) A trustee may not require a beneficiary to relieve the …
(a) A trustee may not require a beneficiary to relieve the trustee of liability as a condition for making a distribution or payment to, or for the benefit of, the beneficiary, if the distribution or payment is required by the trust instrument.
(b) This section may not be construed as affecting the trustee’s right to:
Terms Used In California Probate Code 16004.5
- Beneficiary: A person who is entitled to receive the benefits or proceeds of a will, trust, insurance policy, retirement plan, annuity, or other contract. Source: OCC
- Beneficiary: means a person to whom a donative transfer of property is made or that person's successor in interest, and:
California Probate Code 24
- Indemnification: In general, a collateral contract or assurance under which one person agrees to secure another person against either anticipated financial losses or potential adverse legal consequences. Source: FDIC
- Instrument: means a will, a document establishing or modifying a trust, a deed, or any other writing that designates a beneficiary or makes a donative transfer of property. See California Probate Code 45
- Person: means an individual, corporation, government or governmental subdivision or agency, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, limited liability company, association, or other entity. See California Probate Code 56
- Trust: includes the following:
California Probate Code 82
- Trustee: A person or institution holding and administering property in trust.
- Trustee: includes an original, additional, or successor trustee, whether or not appointed or confirmed by a court. See California Probate Code 84
(1) Maintain a reserve for reasonably anticipated expenses, including, but not limited to, taxes, debts, trustee and accounting fees, and costs and expenses of administration.
(2) Seek a voluntary release or discharge of a trustee’s liability from the beneficiary.
(3) Require indemnification against a claim by a person or entity, other than a beneficiary referred to in subdivision (a), which may reasonably arise as a result of the distribution.
(4) Withhold any portion of an otherwise required distribution that is reasonably in dispute.
(5) Seek court or beneficiary approval of an accounting of trust activities.
(Added by Stats. 2003, Ch. 585, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2004.)