2021 Colorado Code
Title 15 - Probate, Trusts, and Fiduciaries
Article 1.5 - Colorado Uniform Custodial Trust Act
§ 15-1.5-101. Definitions

As used in this article 1.5:

1. “Adult” means an individual who is at least eighteen years of age.
2. “Beneficiary” means an individual for whom property has been transferred to or held under a declaration of trust by a custodial trustee for the individual's use and benefit under this article.
3. “Conservator” means a person appointed or qualified by a court to manage the estate of an individual or a person legally authorized to perform substantially the same functions.
4. “Court” means the district courts of this state, except in the city and county of Denver, where it means the probate court.
5. “Custodial trust property” means an interest in property transferred to or held under a declaration of trust by a custodial trustee under this article and the income from and proceeds of that interest.
6. “Custodial trustee” means a person designated as trustee of a custodial trust under this article or a substitute or successor to the person designated.
7. “Guardian” means a person appointed or qualified by a court as a guardian of an individual, including a limited guardian, but not a person who is only a guardian ad litem.
8. “Incapacitated” means lacking the ability to manage property and business affairs effectively by reason of a behavioral or mental health disorder, an intellectual and developmental disability, a physical illness or disability, a substance use disorder, confinement, detention by a foreign power, disappearance, minority, or other disabling cause.
9. “Legal representative” means a personal representative or conservator.
10. “Member of the beneficiary's family” means a beneficiary's spouse, descendant, stepchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, brother, sister, uncle, or aunt, whether related by whole or half blood or by adoption.
11. “Person” means an individual, corporation, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, joint venture, association, or any other legal or commercial entity.
12. “Personal representative” means an executor, administrator, or special administrator of a decedent's estate, a person legally authorized to perform substantially the same functions, or a successor to any of them.
13. “State” means a state, territory, or possession of the United States, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
14. “Transferor” means a person who creates a custodial trust by transfer or declaration.
15. “Trust company” means a financial institution, corporation, or other legal entity authorized to exercise general trust powers.

History. Source: L. 99: Entire article added, p. 1211, § 1, effective August 4. L. 2017: IP and (8) amended,(HB 17-1046), ch. 50, p. 157, § 7, effective March 16; (8) amended,(SB 17-242), ch. 263, p. 1295, § 115, effective May 25.

For the legislative declaration in SB 17-242, see section 1 of chapter 263, Session Laws of Colorado 2017.

1. “Adult” is a person 18 years of age for the purpose of custodial trusts. The result of this is that a person 18 years of age will be eligible to be a custodial trustee under this Act, although he or she may not be eligible under UTMA since minor custodianships under UTMA may run to age 21 and the minor could in some cases be older than the custodian. As the Comments under Section 1 of UTMA explain, the age of 21 was retained under that Act because the Internal Revenue Code continues to permit a “minority trust” under Section 2053(c), to continue in effect until age 21 and because it was believed that most transferors creating trusts or custodianships for minors would prefer to retain the property under management for the benefit of the young person as long as possible. The difference has little or no practical consequence and serves the purpose of each Act.

(3) “Conservator” is defined broadly to permit identification of a person functioning as a conservator.

(4) “Court” means the district courts of this state, except in the city and county of Denver, where it means the probate court. Here the likelihood is that most states would utilize the same court, e.g., the probate court, that deals with conservators and estates.

(5 and 6) The terms, “custodial trust property” and “custodial trustee,” are used throughout to identify clearly the statutory trust property and trustee under this Act. The statutory trust concept is used throughout the Act.

(7) A definition of guardian has been included and is based on the Uniform Probate Code Section 5-103(6).

(8) A definition of incapacitated has been included, for the purpose of this Act, because incapacity of the beneficiary converts the trust from a revocable trust to a discretionary trust. The definition is taken from the Uniform Probate Code Section 5-401(c) relating to the person who is unable to manage property. Compare Uniform Probate Code Section 5-103(7). Note that section (1)(b) permits a transferor to direct that the trust shall be administered as one for an incapacitated person. Section 15-1.5-110 deals specifically with the determination of incapacity.

(10) The beneficiary's family is broadly defined to identify persons who may have standing to seek judicial intervention or accounting (sections 15-1.5-113 and 15-1.5-115 ).

(11) The definition of a person is taken from the Uniform Probate Code Section 1-201(29).

(12) Personal representative is broadly defined and the definition reflects that in the Uniform Probate Code Section 1-201(30).

Law reviews. For article, “Age Requirements in Colorado: A Guide for Estate Planners”, see 34 Colo. Law. 87 (Aug. 2005).