Montana Code Annotated 2023

TITLE 72. ESTATES, TRUSTS, AND FIDUCIARY RELATIONSHIPS

CHAPTER 38. MONTANA UNIFORM TRUST CODE

Part 1. General Provisions, Definitions, Constructive and Resulting Trusts, and Notice of Proposed Action by Trustee

Default And Mandatory Rules

72-38-105. Default and mandatory rules. (1) Except as otherwise provided in the terms of the trust, this chapter governs the duties and powers of a trustee, relations among trustees, and the rights and interests of a beneficiary.

(2) The terms of a trust prevail over any provision of this chapter except:

(a) the requirements for creating a trust;

(b) subject to 72-40-113, 72-40-115, and 72-40-116, the duty of a trustee to act in good faith and in accordance with the terms and purposes of the trust and the interests of the beneficiaries;

(c) the requirement that a trust and its terms be for the benefit of its beneficiaries and that the trust have a purpose that is lawful, not contrary to public policy, and possible to achieve;

(d) the power of the court to modify or terminate a trust under 72-38-410 through 72-38-416;

(e) the effect of a spendthrift provision;

(f) the power of the court under 72-38-702 to require, dispense with, or modify or terminate a bond;

(g) the power of the court under 72-38-708(2) to adjust a trustee's compensation specified in the terms of the trust that is unreasonably low or high;

(h) the effect of an exculpatory term under 72-38-1008;

(i) the rights under 72-38-1010 through 72-38-1013 of a person other than a trustee or beneficiary;

(j) the periods of limitation for commencing a judicial proceeding;

(k) the power of the court to take the action and exercise the jurisdiction that may be necessary in the interests of justice; and

(l) the subject-matter jurisdiction of the court and venue for commencing a proceeding as provided in 72-38-201 and 72-38-205.

History: En. Sec. 5, Ch. 264, L. 2013; amd. Sec. 21, Ch. 325, L. 2021.