55-18-1. Definitions.
Terms used in this chapter mean:
(1)"Bind" or "bound," to consent, receive notice or service of process, approve, agree, object, resist, waive, or demand for or as a person with the same binding and conclusive effect as if the person represented had;
(2)"Conflict of interest," a situation in which a representative's interest in the trust causes a significant likelihood that a reasonable person would disregard a representative's duty to a represented beneficiary. A conflict of interest, however, excludes (i) any adversity, conflict or opposed interests substantially unrelated to the representative's interest in the trust; (ii) any past situation which is not likely to re-occur; and (iii) any conflict of interest which falls short of a material conflict of interest;
(3)"Co-representative," more than one simultaneously acting representative of the same class pursuant to §55-18-9, as when co-guardians are acting:
(4)"Conservator," a person appointed pursuant to chapter 29A-5 or equivalent provisions of another jurisdiction's laws including a temporary conservator, a guardian ad litem, and a limited conservator;
(5)"Fiduciary," a person defined by subdivision 21-22-1(3), except as used in §55-18-17;
(6)"Guardian," a person appointed pursuant to chapter 29A-5 or equivalent provisions of another jurisdiction's laws including a temporary guardian and a limited guardian;
(7)"Incapacitated" or "incapacity," lacking the capacity to meaningfully understand the matter in question because of a mental or physical impairment;
(8)"Interest," a beneficial interest as defined by subdivision 55-1-24(1) but including the holder of a power of appointment, and any power to remove or replace a fiduciary or a representative;
(9)"Interested beneficiary," a person who, on the date the person's qualification is determined:
(a)Is a current distributee or permissible distributee of trust income or principal;
(b)Would be a distributee or permissible distributee of trust income or principal if the interests of the current distributees terminated on that date;
(c)Would be a distributee or permissible distributee of trust income or principal if the trust terminated on that date;
(d)Holds a power of appointment; or
(e)Would hold a power of appointment if the interests of the current distributees terminated on that date or the interests of the persons currently holding a power of appointment under this subdivision terminated on that date;
(10)"Knows" or "knowingly," actual knowledge of the fact in question;
(11)"Minor," any person who has not attained the age of eighteen. The term includes a minor with an incapacity;
(12)"Nonjudicial settlement," an agreement, release, or other action whether or not approved by a court, which may include, without limitation:
(a)The interpretation or construction of the terms of a trust;
(b)The approval of any fiduciary's report or accounting;
(c)Direction to any fiduciary to refrain from performing a particular act or the grant to a fiduciary of any necessary or desirable power;
(d)The resignation or appointment of any fiduciary;
(e)The determination of a fiduciary or a representative's compensation;
(f)The transfer of a trust's principal place of administration or situs;
(g)The liability of any fiduciary's action or omission relating to a trust;
(h)Partial or final settlement agreements regarding a trust or its administration; or
(i)The modification, amendment, reformation, or termination of a trust;
(13)"Notice" or "notifies," notice provided personally, by mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the person's last known post office address, or electronically in accordance with §15-6-5(d);
(14)"Notifier," a person who is undertaking notice or proposing consent with regard to a matter concerning a trust;
(15)"Power of appointment," a power defined by §55-1-12;
(16)"Proceeding," any judicial or nonjudicial trust proceeding, accounting, termination, modification, reformation, decanting, settlement, nonjudicial settlement, and any proceeding conducted pursuant to chapter 21-22 or title 29A which concerns a trust;
(17)"Protected person," a person other than a minor for whom a guardian or conservator is appointed;
(18)"Reasonably available," with respect to a person, that the person can be identified and located with the exercise of reasonable diligence;
(19)"Representative," a person who may bind another person pursuant to §55-18-9;
(20)"Trust," an express inter vivos or testamentary trust;
(21)"Uninterested beneficiary," a beneficiary other than an interested beneficiary.
Source: SL 2017, ch 208, §2; SL 2018, ch 275, §31; SL 2019, ch 209, §9; SL 2021, ch 207, § 3.
Structure South Dakota Codified Laws
Title 55 - Fiduciaries and Trusts
Chapter 18 - Virtual Representation
Section 55-18-1 - Definitions.
Section 55-18-2 - Application of chapter to proceedings involving persons interested in trust.
Section 55-18-3 - Effect of provisions of chapter.
Section 55-18-4 - Conditions under which representative may not bind person represented.
Section 55-18-5 - Notice, service of process, and consent not required of certain persons.
Section 55-18-6 - Notice or consent respecting co-representatives.
Section 55-18-7 - Demand for notice.
Section 55-18-8 - Notice to Department of Social Services.
Section 55-18-9 - Persons who may bind others.
Section 55-18-10 - Disclosure of information regarding representatives.
Section 55-18-11 - Refusal to act as representative.
Section 55-18-12 - Petition for advance approval of action.
Section 55-18-13 - Representative with conflict of interest.
Section 55-18-14 - Disclosure of conflict of interest by representative.
Section 55-18-15 - Disclosure of conflict of interest by notifier.
Section 55-18-17 - Discretion of representative--Fiduciary status.
Section 55-18-18 - Compensation of representative.
Section 55-18-19 - Appointment of court representative.
Section 55-18-21 - Limitations on trustee's authority to bind beneficiary.
Section 55-18-22 - Unauthorized practice of law not permitted.
Section 55-18-23 - Provisions of governing instrument.
Section 55-18-24 - Construction with chapter 29A-1.