A. A trustee shall administer the trust solely in the interests of the beneficiaries.
B. Subject to the rights of persons dealing with or assisting the trustee as provided in § 64.2-803, a sale, encumbrance, or other transaction involving the investment or management of trust property entered into by the trustee for the trustee's own personal account or that is otherwise affected by a conflict between the trustee's fiduciary and personal interests is voidable by a beneficiary affected by the transaction unless:
1. The transaction was authorized by the terms of the trust;
2. The transaction was approved by the court;
3. The beneficiary did not commence a judicial proceeding within the time allowed by § 64.2-796;
4. The beneficiary consented to the trustee's conduct, ratified the transaction, or released the trustee in compliance with § 64.2-800; or
5. The transaction involves a contract entered into or claim acquired by the trustee before the person became or contemplated becoming trustee.
C. A sale, encumbrance, or other transaction involving the investment or management of trust property is presumed to be affected by a conflict between personal and fiduciary interests if it is entered into by the trustee with:
1. The trustee's spouse;
2. The trustee's descendants, siblings, parents, or their spouses;
3. An agent or attorney of the trustee; or
4. A corporation or other person or enterprise in which the trustee, or a person that owns a significant interest in the trustee, has an interest that might affect the trustee's best judgment.
D. A transaction between a trustee and a beneficiary that does not concern trust property but that occurs during the existence of the trust or while the trustee retains significant influence over the beneficiary and from which the trustee obtains an advantage beyond the normal commercial advantage from such transaction is voidable by the beneficiary unless the trustee establishes that the transaction was fair to the beneficiary.
E. A transaction not concerning trust property in which the trustee engages in the trustee's individual capacity involves a conflict between personal and fiduciary interests if the transaction concerns an opportunity properly belonging to the trust.
F. An investment by a trustee in securities of an investment company, investment trust, mutual fund, or other investment or financial product to which the trustee, or an affiliate of the trustee, sponsors, sells, or provides services in a capacity other than as trustee is not presumed to be affected by a conflict between personal and fiduciary interests if the investment otherwise complies with the Uniform Prudent Investor Act (§ 64.2-780 et seq.) and § 64.2-1506. The trustee may be compensated by the investment company, investment trust, mutual fund, or other investment or financial product, or by the affiliated entity sponsoring, selling, or providing such service, and such compensation may be in addition to the compensation the trustee is receiving as a trustee if the trustee notifies the persons entitled to receive a copy of the trustee's annual report under § 64.2-775 of the rate and method by which that compensation was determined and of any subsequent changes to such rate or method of compensation.
G. In voting shares of stock or in exercising powers of control over similar interests in other forms of enterprise, the trustee shall act in the best interests of the beneficiaries. If the trust is the sole owner of a corporation or other form of enterprise, the trustee shall elect or appoint directors or other managers who will manage the corporation or enterprise in the best interests of the beneficiaries.
H. This section does not preclude the following transactions, if fair to the beneficiaries:
1. An agreement between a trustee and a beneficiary relating to the appointment or compensation of the trustee;
2. Payment of reasonable compensation to the trustee;
3. A transaction between a trust and another trust, decedent's estate, or conservatorship of which the trustee is a fiduciary or in which a beneficiary has an interest;
4. A deposit of trust money in a regulated financial service institution operated by the trustee; or
5. An advance by the trustee of money for the protection of the trust.
I. The court may appoint a special fiduciary to make a decision with respect to any proposed transaction that might violate this section if entered into by the trustee.
2005, c. 935, § 55-548.02; 2012, c. 614.
Structure Code of Virginia
Title 64.2 - Wills, Trusts, and Fiduciaries
Chapter 7 - Uniform Trust Code
§ 64.2-703. Default and mandatory rules
§ 64.2-704. Common law of trusts; principles of equity
§ 64.2-706. Principal place of administration
§ 64.2-707. Methods and waiver of notice
§ 64.2-708. Others treated as qualified beneficiaries
§ 64.2-709. Nonjudicial settlement agreements
§ 64.2-710. Role of court in administration of trust
§ 64.2-711. Jurisdiction over trustee and beneficiary
§ 64.2-712. Proceedings to appoint or remove trustees
§ 64.2-713. Pleadings; parties; orders; notice
§ 64.2-714. Representation; basic effect
§ 64.2-715. Representation by holder of general testamentary power of appointment
§ 64.2-716. Representation by fiduciaries and parents or other ancestors
§ 64.2-717. Representation by person having substantially identical interest
§ 64.2-718. Appointment of representative
§ 64.2-719. Methods of creating trust
§ 64.2-720. Requirements for creation
§ 64.2-721. Trusts created in other jurisdictions
§ 64.2-723. Charitable purposes; enforcement
§ 64.2-724. Creation of trust induced by fraud, duress, or undue influence
§ 64.2-725. Evidence of oral trust
§ 64.2-726. Trust for care of animal
§ 64.2-727. Noncharitable trust without ascertainable beneficiary
§ 64.2-728. Modification or termination of trust; proceedings for approval or disapproval
§ 64.2-729. Modification or termination of noncharitable irrevocable trust by consent
§ 64.2-732. Modification or termination of uneconomic trust
§ 64.2-733. Reformation to correct mistakes
§ 64.2-734. Modification to achieve settlor's tax objectives
§ 64.2-735. Combination and division of trusts
§ 64.2-738. Prohibitions as to trust that is deemed a split-interest trust
§ 64.2-739. Application of §§ 64.2-737 and 64.2-738
§ 64.2-740. Interpretation of references to Internal Revenue Code in §§ 64.2-736 through 64.2-739
§ 64.2-741. Powers of courts not impaired by §§ 64.2-736 through 64.2-740
§ 64.2-742. Rights of beneficiary's creditor or assignee
§ 64.2-743. Spendthrift provision
§ 64.2-744. Exceptions to spendthrift provision
§ 64.2-745. Certain claims for reimbursement for public assistance
§ 64.2-745.1. Self-settled spendthrift trusts
§ 64.2-745.2. Definitions; vacancies; right to withdraw
§ 64.2-746. Discretionary trusts; effect of standard
§ 64.2-747. Creditor's claim against settlor
§ 64.2-748. Overdue distribution
§ 64.2-749. Personal obligations of trustee
§ 64.2-750. Capacity of settlor of revocable trust
§ 64.2-751. Revocation or amendment of revocable trust
§ 64.2-752. Settlor's powers; powers of withdrawal
§ 64.2-754. Accepting or declining trusteeship
§ 64.2-757. Vacancy in trusteeship; appointment of successor
§ 64.2-758. Resignation of trustee
§ 64.2-759. Removal of trustee
§ 64.2-760. Delivery of property by former trustee
§ 64.2-761. Compensation of trustee
§ 64.2-762. Reimbursement of expenses
§ 64.2-763. Duty to administer trust and invest
§ 64.2-766. Prudent administration
§ 64.2-767. Costs of administration
§ 64.2-769. Delegation by trustee
§ 64.2-771. Control and protection of trust property
§ 64.2-772. Recordkeeping and identification of trust property
§ 64.2-773. Enforcement and defense of claims
§ 64.2-774. Collecting trust property
§ 64.2-775. Duty to inform and report
§ 64.2-776. Discretionary powers; tax savings
§ 64.2-777. General powers of trustee
§ 64.2-778. Specific powers of trustee
§ 64.2-779. Distribution upon termination
§ 64.2-779.3. Application; governing law
§ 64.2-779.4. Reasonable reliance
§ 64.2-779.5. Notice; exercise of decanting power
§ 64.2-779.6. Court involvement
§ 64.2-779.8. Decanting power under expanded distributive discretion
§ 64.2-779.9. Decanting power under limited distributive discretion
§ 64.2-779.10. Trust for beneficiary with disability
§ 64.2-779.11. Protection of charitable interest
§ 64.2-779.12. Trust limitation on decanting
§ 64.2-779.13. Change in compensation
§ 64.2-779.14. Relief from liability and indemnification
§ 64.2-779.15. Removal or replacement of authorized fiduciary
§ 64.2-779.16. Tax-related provisions
§ 64.2-779.17. Duration of second trust
§ 64.2-779.18. Need to distribute not required
§ 64.2-779.19. Savings provision
§ 64.2-779.20. Trust for care of animal
§ 64.2-779.21. Terms of second trust
§ 64.2-779.23. Later-discovered property
§ 64.2-779.29. Powers of trust director
§ 64.2-779.30. Limitations on trust director
§ 64.2-779.31. Duty and liability of trust director
§ 64.2-779.32. Duty and liability of directed trustee
§ 64.2-779.33. Duty to provide information to trust director or trustee
§ 64.2-779.34. No duty to monitor, inform, or advise
§ 64.2-779.35. Limitation of action against trust director
§ 64.2-779.36. Defenses in action against trust director
§ 64.2-779.37. Jurisdiction over trust director
§ 64.2-779.38. Office of trust director
§ 64.2-780. Definition of terms
§ 64.2-781. Prudent investor rule
§ 64.2-782. Standard of care; portfolio strategy; risk and return objectives
§ 64.2-783. Diversification by trustee
§ 64.2-784. Duties at inception of trusteeship
§ 64.2-785. Loyalty and impartiality
§ 64.2-787. Reviewing compliance
§ 64.2-788. Delegation of investment and management functions
§ 64.2-789. Language invoking standard of article
§ 64.2-790. Application to existing trusts
§ 64.2-791. Uniformity of application and construction
§ 64.2-792. Remedies for breach of trust
§ 64.2-793. Damages for breach of trust
§ 64.2-794. Damages in absence of breach
§ 64.2-795. Attorney fees and costs
§ 64.2-796. Limitation of action against trustee
§ 64.2-797. Reliance on trust instrument
§ 64.2-798. Event affecting administration or distribution
§ 64.2-799. Exculpation of trustee
§ 64.2-800. Beneficiary's consent, release, or ratification
§ 64.2-801. Limitation on personal liability of trustee
§ 64.2-802. Interest as general partner
§ 64.2-803. Protection of person dealing with trustee
§ 64.2-804. Certification of trust
§ 64.2-805. Uniformity of application and construction