Wisconsin Statutes 701.0602 – Revocation or amendment of revocable trust
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Terms Used In Wisconsin Statutes 701.0602
- Amendment: A proposal to alter the text of a pending bill or other measure by striking out some of it, by inserting new language, or both. Before an amendment becomes part of the measure, thelegislature must agree to it.
- Codicil: An addition, change, or supplement to a will executed with the same formalities required for the will itself.
- Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
- Following: when used by way of reference to any statute section, means the section next following that in which the reference is made. See Wisconsin Statutes 990.01
- 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.
- Power of attorney: A written instrument which authorizes one person to act as another's agent or attorney. The power of attorney may be for a definite, specific act, or it may be general in nature. The terms of the written power of attorney may specify when it will expire. If not, the power of attorney usually expires when the person granting it dies. Source: OCC
- Property: includes real and personal property. See Wisconsin Statutes 990.01
- Revocable trust: A trust agreement that can be canceled, rescinded, revoked, or repealed by the grantor (person who establishes the trust).
- Trustee: A person or institution holding and administering property in trust.
(1) Unless the terms of a trust expressly provide that the trust is irrevocable, the settlor may revoke or amend the trust. This subsection does not apply to a trust created under an instrument executed before July 1, 2014.
(2) If a revocable trust is created or funded by more than one settlor, all of the following apply:
(a) To the extent the trust consists of marital or community property, the trust may be revoked by either spouse acting alone but may be amended only by joint action of both spouses.
(b) To the extent the trust consists of property other than marital or community property, each settlor may revoke or amend the trust with regard to the portion of the trust property attributable to that settlor’s contribution.
(c) Upon the revocation or amendment of the trust by fewer than all of the settlors, the trustee shall promptly notify the other settlors of the revocation or amendment.
(3) A settlor may revoke or amend a revocable trust by any of the following means:
(a) By substantial compliance with a method provided in the terms of the trust.
(b) If the terms of the trust do not provide a method, by any of the following means:
1. A later will or codicil that expressly refers to the trust or specifically devises property that would otherwise have passed according to the terms of the trust.
2. Any other method manifesting clear and convincing evidence of the settlor’s intent.
(4) Upon revocation of a revocable trust, the trustee shall transfer the trust property as the settlor directs. However, with respect to marital or community property, the trustee shall transfer the property to both spouses as marital or community property.
(5) A settlor’s powers with respect to revocation, amendment, or distribution of trust property may be exercised by an agent under a power of attorney only to the extent expressly authorized by the terms of the power of attorney.
(6) A guardian of the estate or a conservator of the settlor may exercise a settlor’s powers with respect to revocation, amendment, or distribution of trust property only with the approval of the court supervising the guardianship or conservatorship.
(7) A trustee who does not know that a trust has been revoked or amended is not liable for distributions made and other actions taken on the assumption that the trust had not been amended or revoked, or for distributions made pursuant to sub. (5).