No Contest Provision Enforceable; Exceptions

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Sec. 3. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b), a no contest provision is enforceable according to the express terms of the no contest provision.

(b) Subsection (a) does not apply to the following proceedings:

(1) An action brought by a beneficiary if good cause is found by a court.

(2) An action brought by a trustee or other fiduciary serving under the terms of the trust that incorporates a no contest provision, unless the trustee or other fiduciary is a beneficiary against whom the no contest provision is otherwise enforceable.

(3) An agreement, including a nonjudicial settlement agreement, among beneficiaries and any other interested persons to settle or resolve any other matter relating to a trust.

(4) An action to determine whether a proposed or pending motion or proceeding constitutes a contest.

(5) An action brought by or on behalf of a beneficiary to seek a ruling regarding the construction or interpretation of a trust.

(6) An action or objection brought by a beneficiary, executor, or other fiduciary that seeks a ruling on proposed distributions, fiduciary fees, or any other matter where a court has discretion, including actions under IC 30-4-3-22.

(7) An action brought by the attorney general that:

(A) seeks a ruling regarding the construction or interpretation of:

(i) a charitable trust or a trust containing a charitable interest; or

(ii) a no contest provision contained in a trust that purports to penalize a charity or charitable interest; or

(B) institutes any other proceedings relating to a trust if good cause is shown to do so.

As added by P.L.4-2003, SEC.7. Amended by P.L.163-2018, SEC.14.


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