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

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Terms Used In Hawaii Revised Statutes 554B-12

  • 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 an individual for whom property has been delivered to a custodial trustee for the individual's use and benefit under this chapter. See Hawaii Revised Statutes 554B-1
  • Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
  • Custodial trust property: means an interest in property transferred to a custodial trustee under this chapter and the income from and proceeds of that interest. See Hawaii Revised Statutes 554B-1
  • Custodial trustee: means a person designated as trustee of a custodial trust under this chapter and includes a substitute or successor custodial trustee. See Hawaii Revised Statutes 554B-1
  • Fiduciary: A trustee, executor, or administrator.
  • Obligation: An order placed, contract awarded, service received, or similar transaction during a given period that will require payments during the same or a future period.
  • Tort: A civil wrong or breach of a duty to another person, as outlined by law. A very common tort is negligent operation of a motor vehicle that results in property damage and personal injury in an automobile accident.
  • Trustee: A person or institution holding and administering property in trust.
(b) A custodial trustee is not personally liable:

(1) On a contract properly entered into in a fiduciary capacity unless the custodial trustee fails to reveal that capacity and to identify the custodial trust in the contract; or
(2) For an obligation arising from control of custodial trust property or for a tort committed in the course of the administration of the custodial trust unless the custodial trustee is personally at fault.
(c) A beneficiary is not personally liable for an obligation arising from ownership of custodial trust property or for a tort committed in the course of administration of the custodial trust unless the beneficiary is personally in possession of the custodial trust property giving rise to the liability or is personally at fault.
(d) Neither subsection (b) or (c) precludes any proceeding to establish liability of the custodial trustee or beneficiary to the extent that either is protected as the insured by liability insurance.