1.    The exercise of the power to appoint to an appointed trust under sections 59-16.1-04 and 59-16.1-05 must be evidenced by a written instrument that is signed, dated, and acknowledged by the authorized trustee. The exercise of the power is effective sixty days after the date of delivery of notice as specified in subsection 3, unless each individual entitled to notice agrees in writing to an earlier effective date or waives in writing the right to object to the exercise of the power.

Need help with a review of a will?
Have it reviewed by a lawyer, get answers to your questions and move forward with confidence.
Connect with a lawyer now

Terms Used In North Dakota Code 59-16.1-12

  • Assets: (1) The property comprising the estate of a deceased person, or (2) the property in a trust account.
  • Individual: means a human being. See North Dakota Code 1-01-49
  • Person: means an individual, organization, government, political subdivision, or government agency or instrumentality. See North Dakota Code 1-01-49
  • State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the territories. See North Dakota Code 1-01-49
  • Trustee: A person or institution holding and administering property in trust.
  • written: include "typewriting" and "typewritten" and "printing" and "printed" except in the case of signatures and when the words are used by way of contrast to typewriting and printing. See North Dakota Code 1-01-37

2.    An authorized trustee may exercise the power authorized by under section 59-16.1-04 and 59-16.1-05 without the consent of the settlor or the person interested in the invaded trust and without court approval, provided that the authorized trustee may seek court approval for the exercise with notice to all persons interested in the invaded trust.

3.    A copy of the instrument exercising the power, a copy of the appointed trust, and a copy of the invaded trust must be delivered to:

a.    A person having the right, pursuant to the terms of the invaded trust, to remove or replace the authorized trustee exercising the power under sections 59-16.1-04 and 59-16.1-05; and

b.    A person interested in the invaded trust.

4.    Notice of an exercise of the power must be given in the same manner as provided in section 59-09-09.

5.    The instrument exercising the power shall state whether the appointment is of all the assets comprising the principal of the invaded trust or only a part of the assets comprising the principal of the invaded trust and, if a part, the approximate percentage of the value of the principal of the invaded trust that is subject to the appointment.

6.    An individual entitled to notice may object to the authorized trustee’s exercise of the power under this section by serving a written notice of objection upon the authorized trustee prior to the effective date of the exercise of the power. The failure to object does not constitute consent.

7.    If the authorized trustee does not receive a written objection to the proposed exercise from an individual entitled to notice within the applicable period, the authorized trustee is not liable to a person who received or was deemed to have received the required notice in that person’s personal, representative, or represented capacities for the exercise of the power.

8.    If the authorized trustee receives a written objection within the applicable period, either the authorized trustee or an individual entitled to notice may petition the court to have the proposed exercise of a power performed as proposed, performed with modifications, or denied. In a proceeding, an individual objecting to the proposed exercise has the burden of proof as to whether the authorized trustee’s proposed exercise should not be performed.

a.    A person who has not objected is not estopped from opposing the proposed exercise in the proceeding.

b.    If the authorized trustee decides not to implement the proposed exercise, the trustee shall notify all persons entitled to notice of the decision not to exercise the power and the reason for the decision, and the authorized trustee’s decision not to implement the proposed exercise does not give rise to liability to an individual interested in the invaded trust.

c.    A person entitled to notice may petition the court to have the exercise of a power performed and has the burden of proof as to whether it should be performed.

9.    A copy of the instrument exercising the power and a copy of each of the invaded trust and the appointed trust must be filed with records of the appointed trust and the invaded trust.