§ 7-3.1 Disposition in trust for creator void as against creditors

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Terms Used In N.Y. Estates, Powers and Trusts Law 7-3.1

  • Assets: (1) The property comprising the estate of a deceased person, or (2) the property in a trust account.
  • Bankruptcy: Refers to statutes and judicial proceedings involving persons or businesses that cannot pay their debts and seek the assistance of the court in getting a fresh start. Under the protection of the bankruptcy court, debtors may discharge their debts, perhaps by paying a portion of each debt. Bankruptcy judges preside over these proceedings.
  • Common law: The legal system that originated in England and is now in use in the United States. It is based on judicial decisions rather than legislative action.
  • Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
  • Trustee: A person or institution holding and administering property in trust.

(a) A disposition in trust for the use of the creator is void as against the existing or subsequent creditors of the creator.

(b) (1) For purposes of paragraph (a) of this section, all trusts, custodial accounts, annuities, insurance contracts, monies, assets or interests established as part of, and all payments from, either an individual retirement account plan which is qualified under section 408 or section 408A of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or a Keogh (HR-10), retirement or other plan established by a corporation, which is qualified under section 401 of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, shall not be considered a disposition in trust for the use of the creator, even though the creator is (i) in the case of an individual retirement account plan, an individual who is the settlor of and depositor to such account plan, or (ii) a self-employed individual, or (iii) a partner of the entity sponsoring the Keogh (HR-10) plan, or (iv) a shareholder of the corporation sponsoring the retirement or other plan.

(2) All trusts, custodial accounts, annuities, insurance contracts, monies, assets, or interests described in subparagraph one of this paragraph shall be conclusively presumed to be spendthrift trusts under this section and the common law of the state of New York for all purposes, including, but not limited to, all cases arising under or related to a case arising under sections one hundred one to thirteen hundred thirty of title eleven of the United States Bankruptcy Code, as amended.

(3) This section shall not impair any rights an individual has under a qualified domestic relations order as that term is defined in section 414(p) of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

(4) Additions to an asset described in subparagraph one of this paragraph shall not be exempt from application to the satisfaction of a money judgment if (i) made after the date that is ninety days before the interposition of the claim on which such judgment was entered, or (ii) deemed to be voidable transactions under Article 10 of the debtor and creditor law.

(c) A provision in any trust, other than a testamentary trust or a trust which meets the requirements of subparagraph two of paragraph (b) of subdivision two of § 366 of the social services law and of the regulations implementing such clauses, which provides directly or indirectly for the suspension, termination or diversion of the principal, income or beneficial interest of either the creator or the creator's spouse in the event that the creator or creator's spouse should apply for medical assistance or require medical, hospital or nursing care or long term custodial, nursing or medical care shall be void as against the public policy of the state of New York, without regard to the irrevocability of the trust or the purpose for which the trust was created.

(d) A disposition in trust shall not be considered to be for the use of the creator under paragraph (a) of this section by reason of the trustee's authority to pay trust principal to the creator pursuant to section 7-1.11 of this article. Nor shall a disposition in trust be considered to be for the use of the creator under paragraph (a) of this section where the trustee is authorized under the trust instrument or any other provision of law to pay or reimburse the creator for any tax on trust income or trust principal that is payable by the creator under the law imposing such tax or to pay any such tax directly to the taxing authorities. No creditor of a trust creator shall be entitled to reach any trust property based on the discretionary powers described in this paragraph.