A. If property becomes distributable by a personal representative or trustee to an individual under the age specified in the will or, if the will does not specify an age, under the age of twenty-three years, or to an individual who the personal representative or trustee determines cannot effectively manage or apply the property by reason of mental illness, mental deficiency, physical illness or disability, chronic use of drugs, chronic intoxication or other cause:

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Terms Used In New Mexico Statutes 45-2A-10

  • Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
  • Testator: A male person who leaves a will at death.
  • Trustee: A person or institution holding and administering property in trust.

(1)     the personal representative or trustee, as to principal or income, may distribute part or all of the property to the distributee directly, by deposit or investment in the distributee’s name or for the distributee’s account, or to a guardian or conservator

for the distributee;

(2)     the personal representative may distribute to the trustee in trust under Paragraph (3); or

(3)     the trustee may retain all or any of the property in trust for the distributee and thereafter at any time the trustee may distribute or apply part or all of the principal or income to or for the benefit or account of the distributee.

B. Unless terminated earlier, a trust under Paragraph (3) of Subsection A of this section terminates upon the attainment of the required age, removal of the disability or death of the distributee. Upon termination, the trustee shall distribute the remaining trust property to the distributee or personal representative of the distributee’s estate.

C. This section does not apply to distributions to a surviving spouse of the testator.