SECTION 64.2-1003. Total return unitrust

A. As used in this section:

"Disinterested person" means a person who is not a "related or subordinate party," as that term is defined in § 672(c) of the Internal Revenue Code (hereinafter referred to in this section as the "I.R.C.," and all such references shall include the specific section referred to and any successor provisions thereof) with respect to the person then acting as trustee of the trust, and excludes the grantor of the trust and any interested trustee.

"Grantor" means an individual who created an inter vivos or a testamentary trust.

"Grantor-created unitrust" means a trust created either by an inter vivos or a testamentary instrument that provides that the trust shall be administered in the manner of a total return unitrust as provided in this section.

"Income trust" means a trust, created by either an inter vivos or a testamentary instrument, that directs or permits the trustee to distribute the net income of the trust to one or more persons, either in fixed proportions or in amounts or proportions determined by the trustee, and regardless of whether the trust directs or permits the trustee to distribute the principal of the trust to one or more such persons.

"Interested distributee" means a person to whom distributions of income or principal can currently be made who has the power to remove the existing trustee and designate as successor a person who may be a "related or subordinate party" as defined in I.R.C. § 672(c), with respect to such distributee.

"Interested trustee" means (i) an individual trustee to whom the net income or principal of the trust can currently be distributed or would be distributed if the trust were then to terminate and be distributed; (ii) any trustee who may be removed and replaced by an interested distributee; or (iii) an individual trustee whose legal obligation to support a beneficiary may be satisfied by distributions of income and principal of the trust.

"Total return unitrust" means (i) an income trust that has been converted under and meets the provisions of this section; or (ii) a grantor-created unitrust.

"Trustee" means all persons acting as trustee of the trust, except where expressly noted otherwise, whether acting in their discretion or at the direction of one or more persons acting in a fiduciary capacity.

"Unitrust amount" means an amount computed as a percentage of the fair market value of the trust.

B. A trustee, other than an interested trustee, or where two persons are acting as trustees the trustee that is not an interested trustee, or where more than two persons are acting as trustee a majority of the trustees who are not an interested trustee, may, in his sole discretion and without judicial approval, (i) convert an income trust to a total return unitrust; (ii) convert a total return unitrust to an income trust; or (iii) change the percentage used to calculate the unitrust amount or the method used to determine the fair market value of the trust if:

1. The trustee adopts a written policy for the trust providing: (i) in the case of a trust being administered as an income trust, that future distributions from the trust will be unitrust amounts rather than net income; (ii) in the case of a trust being administered as a total return unitrust, that future distributions from the trust will be net income rather than unitrust amounts; or (iii) that the percentage used to calculate the unitrust amount or the method used to determine the fair market value of the trust will be changed as stated in the policy;

2. The trustee sends notice in a manner authorized under § 64.2-707 of his intention to take such action, along with copies of such written policy and this section, to (i) the grantor of the trust, if living; (ii) without regard to the exercise of any power of appointment, the qualified beneficiaries of the trust then determined under §§ 64.2-707 and 64.2-707 , other than the Attorney General; and (iii) all persons acting as advisor or protector of the trust. The representation provisions of §§ 64.2-707 , 64.2-707 , 64.2-707 , and 64.2-707 shall apply to notice under this subdivision;

3. At least one member of each class of qualified beneficiaries receiving notice under clause (ii) of subdivision 2 is (i) legally competent, (ii) in the case of a charitable organization, then existing, or (iii) represented in the manner set forth in subdivision 2; and

4. No person receiving such notice objects, by written instrument delivered to the trustee, to the proposed action of the trustee within 30 days of receipt of such notice.

C. If there is no trustee of the trust other than an interested trustee, the interested trustee or, where two or more persons are acting as trustee and are interested trustees, a majority of such interested trustees may, in his sole discretion and without judicial approval, (i) convert an income trust to a total return unitrust; (ii) convert a total return unitrust to an income trust; or (iii) change the percentage used to calculate the unitrust amount or the method used to determine the fair market value of the trust if:

1. The trustee adopts a written policy for the trust providing: (i) in the case of a trust being administered as an income trust, that future distributions from the trust will be unitrust amounts rather than net income; (ii) in the case of a trust being administered as a total return unitrust, that future distributions from the trust will be net income rather than unitrust amounts; or (iii) that the percentage used to calculate the unitrust amount or the method used to determine the fair market value of the trust will be changed as stated in the policy;

2. The trustee appoints a disinterested person who, in his sole discretion but acting in a fiduciary capacity: (i) in the case of conversion to a total return unitrust, determines for the trustee (a) the percentage to be used to calculate the unitrust amount, (b) the method to be used in determining the fair market value of the trust, and (c) which assets, if any, are to be excluded in determining the unitrust amount; and (ii) determines for the trustee that conversion is in the best interests of the trust;

3. The trustee sends notice in a manner authorized under § 64.2-707 of his intention to take such action, along with copies of such written policy and this section, to (i) the grantor of the trust, if living; (ii) without regard to the exercise of any power of appointment, the qualified beneficiaries of the trust then determined under §§ 64.2-707 and 64.2-707 , other than the Attorney General; and (iii) all persons acting as advisor or protector of the trust. The representation provisions of §§ 64.2-707 , 64.2-707 , 64.2-707 , and 64.2-707 shall apply to notice under this subdivision;

4. At least one member of each class of qualified beneficiaries receiving notice under clause (ii) of subdivision 3 is (i) legally competent, (ii) in the case of a charitable organization, then existing, or (iii) represented in the manner set forth in subdivision 3; and

5. No person receiving such notice objects, by written instrument delivered to the trustee, to the proposed action of the trustee or the determinations of the disinterested person within 30 days of receipt of such notice.

D. If any trustee desires to convert an income trust to a total return unitrust, convert a total return unitrust to an income trust, or change the percentage used to calculate the unitrust amount or the method used to determine the fair market value of the trust but does not have the ability to or elects not to do it under the provisions of subsection B or C, the trustee may petition the circuit court in which the trustee qualified, or if there is no such qualification, the circuit court for the jurisdiction in which the trustee or beneficiary resides, or if the trustee is a corporate trustee and there is no resident beneficiary, the circuit court where the trust account is administered, for such order as the trustee deems appropriate. In the event, however, there is only one trustee of such trust and such trustee is an interested trustee or in the event there are two or more trustees of such trust and a majority of them are interested trustees, the court, in its own discretion or on the petition of such trustee or trustees or any person interested in the trust, may appoint a disinterested person who, acting in a fiduciary capacity, shall present such information to the court as shall be necessary to enable the court to make its determinations hereunder. Any qualified beneficiary of the trust then determined under §§ 64.2-707 and 64.2-707 , other than the Attorney General, may also petition such circuit court to convert an income trust to a total return unitrust, convert a total return unitrust to an income trust, or change the percentage used to calculate the unitrust amount or the method used to determine the fair market value of the trust assets.

E. The fair market value of the trust shall be determined at least annually, using such valuation date or dates or averages of valuation dates as are deemed appropriate. Any asset for which a fair market value cannot be readily ascertained shall be valued using such valuation methods as are deemed reasonable and appropriate. Any such asset may be excluded from valuation, provided all income received with respect to such asset is distributed to the extent distributable in accordance with the terms of the governing instrument.

F. The percentage to be used in determining the unitrust amount shall be a reasonable current return from the trust, in any event no less than three percent nor more than five percent, either as provided by the grantor in the governing instrument in the case of a grantor-created unitrust, or otherwise taking into account the intentions of the grantor of the trust as expressed in the governing instrument, the needs of the beneficiaries, general economic conditions, projected current earnings and appreciation for the trust, and projected inflation and its impact on the trust.

G. Following the conversion of an income trust to a total return unitrust, or upon the creation of a grantor-created unitrust, the trustee:

1. Shall treat the unitrust amount as if it were net income of the trust for purposes of determining the amount available, from time to time, for distribution from the trust, and the distribution of the unitrust amount shall be considered in full satisfaction of the distribution of all of the net income of the trust;

2. May allocate to trust income for each taxable year of the trust, or portion thereof:

a. Net short-term capital gain described in I.R.C. § 1222(5), for such year or portion thereof, but only to the extent that the amount so allocated together with all other amounts allocated to trust income for such year or portion thereof does not exceed the unitrust amount for such year or portion thereof; and

b. Net long-term capital gain described in I.R.C. § 1222(7), for such year or portion thereof, but only to the extent that the amount so allocated together with all other amounts, including amounts described in subdivision 2 a, allocated to trust income for such year, or portion thereof, does not exceed the unitrust amount for such year, or portion thereof; and

3. Shall treat the unitrust amount as if it were income of the trust for purposes of determining the amount of trustee compensation where the governing instrument directs that such compensation be based wholly or partially on income.

H. In administering a total return unitrust, the trustee may, in his sole discretion but subject to the provisions of the governing instrument, determine (i) if the trust is converted to a total return unitrust, the effective date of the conversion; (ii) the timing of distributions, including provisions for prorating a distribution for a short year in which a beneficiary's right to payments commences or ceases; (iii) whether distributions are to be made in cash or in kind or partly in cash and partly in kind; (iv) if the trust is converted to an income trust, the effective date of such conversion; and (v) such other administrative matters as may be necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes of this section.

I. Conversion to a total return unitrust under the provisions of this section shall not affect any other provision of the governing instrument, if any, regarding distributions of principal.

J. Subject to the provisions of the governing instrument, this section shall be construed as pertaining to the administration of a trust and shall be available to any trust that is administered under Virginia law, regardless of the date the trust was created, unless:

1. The governing instrument reflects an intention that the current beneficiary or beneficiaries are to receive an amount other than a reasonable current return from the trust;

2. The trust is a pooled income fund described in I.R.C. § 642(c)(5), or a charitable-remainder trust described in I.R.C. § 664(d); or

3. The governing instrument expressly prohibits use of this section by specific reference to this section or expressly reflects the grantor's intent that net income not be calculated as a unitrust amount. A provision in the governing instrument that "The provisions of § 64.2-707 , Code of Virginia, as amended, or any corresponding provision of future law, shall not be used in the administration of this trust," or "My trustee shall not determine the distributions to the income beneficiary as a unitrust amount," or similar words reflecting such intent shall be sufficient to preclude the use of this section.

K. Any trustee or disinterested person who in good faith takes or fails to take any action under this section shall not be liable to any person affected by such action or inaction, regardless of whether such person received written notice as provided in this section and regardless of whether such person was under a legal disability at the time of the delivery of such notice. Such person's exclusive remedy shall be to obtain an order of the court directing the trustee to convert an income trust to a total return unitrust, to convert from a total return unitrust to an income trust, or to change the percentage used to calculate the unitrust amount.

2004, c. 64.2-707 , § 55-277.4:1; 2009, c. 64.2-707 ; 2012, c. 64.2-707 .