Default and mandatory rules

  1. Law
  2. Mississippi Code
  3. Trusts and Estates
  4. Mississippi Uniform Trust Code
  5. General Provisions and Definitions
  6. Default and mandatory rules

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Except as otherwise provided in the terms of the trust, this chapter governs the duties and powers of a trustee or any other fiduciary under this chapter, relations among trustees and such other fiduciaries, and the rights and interests of a beneficiary. The terms of a trust may expand, restrict, eliminate, or otherwise vary the duties and powers of a trustee, any such other fiduciary, relations among any of them, and the rights and interests of a beneficiary; however, nothing contained in this subsection shall be construed to override or nullify the provisions of subsection (b). The rule of statutory construction that statutes in derogation of the common law are to be strictly construed shall have no application to this section. Except as restricted by subsection (b), pursuant to this section, courts shall give maximum effect to the principal of freedom of disposition and to the enforceability of trust instruments.

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

  1. The requirements for creating a trust;
  2. The duty of a trustee to act in good faith in accordance with the terms and purposes of the trust and the interests of the beneficiaries;
  3. The requirement that a trust and its terms be for the benefit of its beneficiaries as the interests of such beneficiaries are defined under the terms of the trust, and that the trust have a purpose that is lawful and possible to achieve;
  4. The power of the court to modify or terminate a trust under Sections 91-8-410 through 91-8-416;
  5. The effect of a spendthrift provision and the rights of certain creditors and assignees to reach a trust as provided in the Family Trust Preservation Act, Section 91-9-501 et seq.;
  6. The power of the court under Section 91-8-702 to require, dispense with, or modify or terminate a bond;
  7. The power of the court under Section 91-8-708(b) to adjust a trustee's compensation specified in the terms of the trust which is unreasonably low or high;
  8. Subject to subsection (d), the duty under Section 91-8-813(b) to notify beneficiaries of an irrevocable trust (including anyone who holds a power of appointment) who have attained twenty-five (25) years of age that the trust has been established as set forth in that Section 91-8-813(b);
  9. Subject to subsection (d), the duty under Section 91-8-813(a)(1) and (2) to keep the beneficiaries (including anyone who holds a power of appointment) informed and to respond to the request of a beneficiary of an irrevocable trust for trustee's reports and other information reasonably related to the administration of the trust;
  10. The effect of an exculpatory term under Section 91-8-1008;
  11. The rights under Sections 91-8-1010 through 91-8-1013 of a person other than a trustee or beneficiary;
  12. Periods of limitation for commencing a judicial proceeding;
  13. The power of the court to take such action and exercise such jurisdiction as may be necessary in the interests of justice; and
  14. The subject-matter jurisdiction of the court and venue for commencing a proceeding as provided in Sections 91-8-203 and 91-8-204.

Any purpose enunciated as a material purpose of a trust in that trust's trust instrument shall be treated as a material purpose of that trust for all purposes of this chapter.

Notwithstanding subsection (b)(8) and (9) of this section, the duties of a trustee to give notice, information and reports under Section 91-8-813(a) and (b) may be waived or modified in the trust instrument or by the settlor of the trust, or a trust protector or trust advisor that holds the power to so direct, directs otherwise in a writing delivered to the trustee in any of the following ways:

By waiving or modifying such duties as to all qualified beneficiaries during the lifetime of the settlor or the settlor's spouse;

By specifying a different age at which a beneficiary or class of beneficiaries must be notified under Section 91-8-813(b); or

With respect to one or more of the beneficiaries, by designating a beneficiary surrogate to receive such notice, information and reports who will act in good faith to protect the interests of the beneficiary or beneficiaries.


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