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Legislative Council,
General Assembly
State of Delaware
Title 12
Decedents’ Estates and Fiduciary Relations
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Title 12 - Decedents’ Estates and Fiduciary Relations
Part I
General Provisions
Chapter 1
Definitions
§ 101 Definitions.
For the purpose of wills, intestate succession and for all other purposes under this title, the following definitions shall apply:
(1) “Child” includes any individual entitled to take as a child under this title by intestate succession from the parent whose relationship
is involved and excludes any person who is only a stepchild, a foster child, a grandchild or any more remote descendant.
(2) “Good faith” means honesty in fact and the observance of reasonable standards of fair dealing.
(3) “Heir” means those persons, including the surviving spouse, who are entitled under the statutes of intestate succession to the
property of a decedent and shall include kin and kindred.
(4) “Issue” of a person means all of the person’s lineal descendants of all generations, with the relationship of parent and child at
each generation being determined by the definitions of child and parent contained in this title.
(5) “Parent” includes any person entitled to take, or who would be entitled to take if the child died without a will, as a parent under
this title by intestate succession from the child whose relationship is in question and excludes any person who is only a stepparent,
foster parent or grandparent.
(6) “Personal representative” includes executor, administrator, successor administrator and administrator with will annexed, and
persons who perform substantially the same function under the law governing their status.
(7) The definitions of “child,” “issue” or “parent” contained in this section shall not limit the right of a testator to provide by will
for a definition different from those contained in this section.
(59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1; 79 Del. Laws, c. 352, § 1.)
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Title 12 - Decedents’ Estates and Fiduciary Relations
Part II
Wills
Chapter 2
General Provisions
Subchapter I
Tenets and Principles
§ 201 Who may make a will.
Any person of the age of 18 years, or upwards, of sound and disposing mind and memory, may make a will of real and personal estate.
No person under the age of 18 years shall be capable of making a will either of real or personal estate.
(Code 1852, § 1644; 14 Del. Laws, c. 550, § 5; 15 Del. Laws, c. 165, § 5; Code 1915, § 3240; Code 1935, § 3704; 45 Del. Laws,
c. 233, § 1; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 101; 59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1.)
§ 202 Requisites and execution of will.
(a) Every will, whether of personal or real estate, must be:
(1) In writing and signed by the testator or by some person subscribing the testator’s name in the testator’s presence and by the
testator’s express direction; and
(2) Subject to § 1306 of this title, attested and subscribed in testator’s presence by 2 or more credible witnesses.
(b) Any will not complying with subsection (a) of this section shall be void.
(Code 1852, § 1645; Code 1915, § 3241; Code 1935, § 3705; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 102; 59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c.
186, § 1.)
§ 203 Witnesses; persons competent.
(a) Any person generally competent to be a witness may act as a witness to a will.
(b) A will or any provision thereof is not invalid because the will is signed by an interested person.
(Code 1852, § 1646; Code 1915, § 3242; Code 1935, § 3706; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 103; 59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1.)
§ 204 Devise of real estate generally.
Lands, tenements and hereditaments are devisable by last will and testament.
(Code 1852, § 1643; Code 1915, § 3239; Code 1935, § 3703; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 105; 59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1.)
§ 205 Devise of real estate without limitation.
A devise of real estate, without words of limitation, shall be construed to pass the fee simple, or other whole estate, or interest, which
the testator could lawfully devise in such real estate, unless a contrary intention appears by the will.
(Code 1852, § 1667; Code 1915, § 3243; Code 1935, § 3707; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 106; 59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1.)
§ 206 After-acquired real estate.
Any estate, right or interest in lands, acquired by a testator after the making of a will, shall pass thereby in manner as if possessed at
the making of the will, unless a contrary intention appears by the will.
(Code 1852, § 1668; 18 Del. Laws, c. 671, § 1; Code 1915, § 3244; Code 1935, § 3708; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 107; 59 Del. Laws, c.
384, § 1; 70 Del Laws, c. 186, § 1.)
§ 207 Power of sale of executor or trustee; liability of purchaser.
(a) Where, by the terms of a will or trust instrument, an express power to sell real property is granted to a trustee, such trustee may sell
or exchange such real property as is not specifically required to be distributed in kind to any beneficiary, and it shall not be necessary for
any beneficiary of the trust to join in the instrument transferring or conveying such property.
(b) Where, by the terms of a will, an executor is expressly directed to sell real property, such executor may sell or exchange such real
property and it shall not be necessary for any beneficiary of the estate to join in the instrument transferring or conveying such property.
(c) Where, by the terms of a will, an express power to sell real property is granted to an executor, such executor may sell or exchange
such real property as is not specifically devised and as the executor reasonably believes, at the time of such sale or exchange, is necessary
to be sold in order to pay the debts of the decedent or the expenses of administration (including estate and inheritance taxes and taxes
imposed upon the income of the estate) of the estate, and it shall not be necessary for any beneficiary of the estate to join in the instrument
transferring or conveying such property. In any sale of real estate authorized by this subsection (c) of this section, it shall not be necessary
for the executor to obtain an Order from the Court of Chancery authorizing the sale pursuant to Chapter 27 of this title.
(d) In any sale made by an executor, administrator or other personal representative or by a trustee pursuant to this section, there shall
be no liability upon the purchaser to see to the application of the purchase money, unless the will or trust expressly imposes such liability,
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Title 12 - Decedents’ Estates and Fiduciary Relations
and the purchaser shall be entitled to rely without liability therefor upon the representation by the executor in the deed of conveyance that
any sale of real property is for the purposes set forth in subsection (c) of this section.
(e) No conveyance by an executor, prior to January 1, 1985, of real property not specifically devised shall be invalid or ineffective
solely because 1 or more devisees of such property failed to join in the instrument of conveyance.
(f) For purposes of this section, the term “executor” shall include any personal representative of a testate estate.
(Code 1915, § 3244-A; 30 Del. Laws, c. 208, § 1; Code 1935, § 3709; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 108; 59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 64 Del.
Laws, c. 252, § 1; 74 Del. Laws, c. 272, §§ 1-3.)
§ 208 Revocation of wills generally.
A last will and testament, or any clause thereof, shall not be altered, or revoked, except by canceling by the testator, or by some person
in the testator’s presence and by the testator’s express direction, or by a valid last will and testament, or by a writing signed by the testator,
or by some person subscribing the testator’s name in the testator’s presence and by the testator’s express direction, and attested and
subscribed in the testator’s presence by 2 or more credible witnesses; but this clause shall not preclude nor extend to an implied revocation.
(Code 1852, § 1652; Code 1915, § 3250; Code 1935, § 3715; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 109; 59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 70 Del Laws, c.
186, § 1.)
§ 209 Revocation by divorce; no revocation by other changes or circumstances.
If after executing a will, the testator is divorced or the testator’s marriage annulled, the divorce or annulment revokes any disposition
or appointment of property made by the will to the former spouse, any provision conferring a general or special power of appointment
on the former spouse and any nomination of the former spouse, as executor, trustee, guardian or other fiduciary, unless the will expressly
provides otherwise. Property prevented from passing to a former spouse because of revocation by divorce or annulment passes as if the
former spouse failed to survive the decedent, and other provisions conferring some power or office on the former spouse are interpreted
as if the spouse failed to survive the decedent. If provisions are revoked solely by this section, they are revived by testator’s remarriage
to the former spouse. A decree of separation which does not terminate the status of husband and wife is not a divorce for purposes of this
section. No changes or circumstances other than as described in this section revokes a will or any part thereof.
(59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 70 Del Laws, c. 186, § 1.)
§ 210 Alteration, theft or destruction of will; class E felony.
Whoever wilfully adds to, alters, defaces, erases, obliterates, mutilates, blots, blurs, hides, conceals, destroys, misplaces with intent to
conceal or commits an act of theft of any instrument of writing purporting to be or in the nature of a last will and testament and intended
to take effect upon the death of the testator, whether the person shall have been given custody or possession thereof by the testator, or
shall have obtained custody or possession of the purported last will and testament in any other manner whatsoever, shall be guilty of
a class E felony.
(27 Del. Laws, c. 268, § 1; Code 1915, § 3264; Code 1935, § 3728; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 110; 59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1.)
§ 211 Testamentary additions to trusts.
(a) A will may validly devise or bequeath property to the trustee of a trust established or to be established (i) during the testator’s
lifetime by the testator, by the testator and some other person or by some other person including a funded or unfunded life insurance trust,
although the trustor has reserved any or all rights of ownership of the insurance contracts, or (ii) at the testator’s death by the testator’s
devise to the trustee, if the trust is identified in the testator’s will and its terms are set forth in a written instrument other than a will executed
before, concurrently with or after the execution of the testator’s will or in another individual’s will if that other individual has predeceased
the testator, regardless of the existence, size or character of the corpus of the trust. The devise or bequest is not invalid because the trust
is amendable or revocable or because the trust was amended after the execution of the will or the testator’s death.
(b) Unless the testator’s will provides otherwise, property devised or bequeathed to a trust described in subsection (a) of this section
is not held under a testamentary trust of the testator, but it becomes a part of the trust to which it is devised or bequeathed and must be
administered and disposed of in accordance with the provisions of the governing instrument setting forth the terms of the trust, including
any amendments thereto made before or after the testator’s death.
(c) Unless the testator’s will provides otherwise, a revocation or termination of the trust before the testator’s death causes the devise
or bequest to lapse.
(66 Del. Laws, c. 278, § 1; 71 Del. Laws, c. 76, § 1.)
§ 212 Bequest of tangible personal property by separate writing.
A will may refer to a written statement or list to dispose of items of tangible personal property not otherwise specifically disposed of
by the will, other than money, evidences of indebtedness, documents of title, and securities, and property used in trade or business. To
be admissible under this section as evidence of the intended disposition, the writing:
(1) Must either be in the handwriting of the testator or be signed by the testator and must identify the items and the legatees with
reasonable certainty;
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Title 12 - Decedents’ Estates and Fiduciary Relations
(2) Must not be inconsistent with the terms of the will; and
(3) Must not be inconsistent with any other writing permitted by this section unless the writing is dated in which case the writing
with the latest date will control.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of a writing that includes both provisions for dispositions that are consistent with the terms
of the will or any other writing permitted by this section and provisions for dispositions that are inconsistent with the terms of the will
or any other writing permitted by this section, such writing shall be admissible under this section as evidence of the intended disposition
of those items of tangible personal property that would be disposed of by the provisions of the writing that are not inconsistent with the
terms of the will or any other writing permitted by this section. The writing may be referred to as one to be in existence at the time of the
testator’s death; it may be prepared before or after the execution of the will; it may be altered by the testator after its preparation; and it
may be a writing which has no significance apart from its effect upon the dispositions made by the will.
(59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 70 Del Laws, c. 186, § 1; 77 Del. Laws, c. 98, § 1.)
§ 213 Rules for construction or interpretation of will [For application of this section, see 81 Del. Laws, c.
320, § 8].
In the construction or interpretation of any will the rules set forth in § 3330 of this title shall apply in the absence of any contrary
expression of intent in such will.
(1)-(3) [Repealed.]
(64 Del. Laws, c. 253, § 1; 65 Del. Laws, c. 422, § 2; 81 Del. Laws, c. 320, § 3.)
§ 214 Devolution of property; administration of decedents’ estates.
Solely for the purposes of determining the rights of any person to property of a decedent, it shall be presumed that tangible personal
property acquired
(1) By a decedent through gift or inheritance, or
(2) Solely with the funds of the decedent, or
(3) Acquired by the decedent before marriage to the surviving spouse, is the sole property of the decedent notwithstanding that
such property consists of household goods or that any such property was subject to joint possession and use by a decedent and the
surviving spouse.
(66 Del. Laws, c. 372, § 1; 70 Del Laws, c. 186, § 1.)
Subchapter II
Delaware Uniform International Wills Act
§ 251 Definitions.
In this subchapter:
(1) “Authorized person” and “person authorized to act in connection with international wills” means a person who is empowered by
§ 259 of this title or by the laws of the United States, including a member of the diplomatic and consular service of the United States
designated by foreign service regulations, to supervise the execution of international wills.
(2) “International will” means a will executed in conformity with §§ 252 through 255 of this title.
(71 Del. Laws, c. 81, § 2.)
§ 252 International will; validity.
(a) A will is valid as regards form, irrespective particularly of the place where it is made, of the location of the assets and of the
nationality, domicile or residence of the testator, if it is made in the form of an international will complying with the requirements of
this subchapter.
(b) The invalidity of the will as an international will does not affect its formal validity as a will of another kind.
(c) This subchapter does not apply to the form of testamentary dispositions made by 2 or more persons in 1 instrument.
(d) This subchapter deals only with the form of execution of an international will. Delaware law regarding the scope of testamentary
power, revocation of wills, competency of witnesses, regulation of probate, interpretation and construction of wills, and the administration
of decedents’ estates remains applicable to an international will.
(71 Del. Laws, c. 81, § 2.)
§ 253 International will; requirements.
(a) The will must be made in writing. It need not be written by the testator himself or herself. It may be written in any language, by
hand or by any other means.
(b) The testator shall declare in the presence of 2 credible witnesses and of a person authorized to act in connection with international
wills that the document is the testator’s will and that the testator knows the contents thereof. The testator need not inform the witnesses
or the authorized person of the contents of the will.
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Title 12 - Decedents’ Estates and Fiduciary Relations
(c) In the presence of the witnesses and of the authorized person, the testator shall sign the will or, if the testator has previously signed
it, shall acknowledge the signature.
(d) If the testator is unable to sign, the absence of the testator’s signature does not affect the validity of the international will if the
testator indicates the reason for the inability to sign and the authorized person makes note thereof on the will. In that case, it is permissible
for any other person present, including the authorized person or 1 of the witnesses, at the direction of the testator, to sign the testator’s
name for the testator if the authorized person makes note of this on the will, but it is not required that any person sign the testator’s name.
(e) The witnesses and the authorized person shall there and then attest the will by signing in the presence of the testator.
(71 Del. Laws, c. 81, § 2; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1.)
§ 254 International wills; other points of form.
(a) The signatures must be placed at the end of the will. If the will consists of several sheets, each sheet must be signed by the testator
or, if the testator is unable to sign, by the person signing on the testator’s behalf or, if there is no such person, by the authorized person.
In addition, each sheet must be numbered.
(b) The date of the will must be the date of its signature by the authorized person. That date must be noted at the end of the will by
the authorized person.
(c) The authorized person shall ask the testator whether the testator wishes to make a declaration concerning the safekeeping of the
will. If so, and at the express request of the testator, the place where the testator intends to have the will kept must be mentioned in the
certificate provided for in § 255 of this title.
(d) A will executed in compliance with § 253 of this title is not invalid merely because it does not comply with this section.
(71 Del. Laws, c. 81, § 2; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1.)
§ 255 International will; certificate.
The authorized person shall attach to the will a certificate to be signed by the authorized person establishing that the requirements of
this subchapter for valid execution of an international will have been fulfilled. The authorized person shall keep a copy of the certificate
and deliver another to the testator. The certificate must be substantially in the following form:
CERTIFICATE
I,
(name, address and capacity), a person authorized to act in connection with international wills, certify that
on
(date) at
(place) (testator)
(name, address,
date and place of birth) in my presence and that of the witness (a)
(name, address, date and place of birth) and (b)
(name, address, date and place of birth)
has declared that the attached document is his or her will and that he or she knows the contents thereof.
I furthermore certify that:
(a) In my presence and in that of the witnesses:
(1) The testator has signed the will or has acknowledged his or her signature previously affixed.
(2) * Following a declaration of the testator stating that he or she was unable to sign the will for the following
reason
, I have mentioned this declaration on the will, * and the signature has been affixed by
(name and address);
(b) The witnesses and I have signed the will;
(c) * Each page of the will has been signed by
and numbered;
(d) I have satisfied myself as to the identity of the testator and of the witnesses as designated above;
(e) The witnesses met the conditions requisite to act as such according to the law under which I am acting;
(f) * The testator has requested me to include the following statement concerning the safekeeping of the will:
PLACE OF EXECUTION
DATE
SIGNATURE and, if necessary, SEAL
* to be completed if appropriate
(71 Del. Laws, c. 81, § 2; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1.)
§ 256 International will; effect of certificate.
In the absence of evidence to the contrary, the certificate of the authorized person is conclusive of the formal validity of the instrument
as a will under this subchapter. The absence or irregularity of a certificate does not affect the formal validity of a will under this subchapter.
(71 Del. Laws, c. 81, § 2.)
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Title 12 - Decedents’ Estates and Fiduciary Relations
§ 257 International will; revocation.
An international will is subject to the rules of revocation of wills appearing at §§ 208 and 209 of this title.
(71 Del. Laws, c. 81, § 2.)
§ 258 Source and construction.
Sections 251 through 257 of this title derive from Annex to Convention of October 26, 1973, Providing a Uniform Law on the Form
of an International Will. In interpreting and applying this subchapter, regard shall be had to its international origin and to the need for
uniformity in its interpretation.
(71 Del. Laws, c. 81, § 2.)
§ 259 Persons authorized to act in relation to international will; eligibility; recognition by authorizing
agency.
Individuals who have been admitted to practice law before the courts of this State and who are in good standing as active law practitioners
in this State, are hereby declared to be authorized persons in relation to international wills.
(71 Del. Laws, c. 81, § 2.)
Subchapter III
Disposition of a Person’s Last Remains
§ 260 Definitions.
As used in this subchapter, unless the context otherwise requires:
(1) “Adult” means a natural person 18 years of age or older.
(2) “Declarant” means a competent adult who signs a declaration pursuant to the provisions of this article.
(3) “Declaration instrument” means a written instrument, signed by a declarant, governing the disposition of the declarant’s last
remains and the ceremonies planned after a declarant’s death, including a document governing the disposition of last remains under
this title or a United States Department of Defense Record of Emergency Data Form (DD Form 93) or any successor form executed by
the declarant. Such a declaration may be made within a prepaid funeral, burial, or cremation contract with a mortuary or crematorium.
(4) “Interested person” means the deceased’s spouse, parent, adult child, sibling, grandchild, and other person designated in a
declaration instrument.
(5) “Last remains” means the deceased’s body or cremains after death.
(6) “Reasonable under the circumstances”, applied to the declarant’s instructions, means appropriate in relation to the declarant’s
finances, cultural or family customs, and religious or spiritual beliefs. “Reasonable under the circumstances” implies consideration of
factors that include, but are not limited to, a prepaid funeral, burial or cremation plan of the declarant; the size of the declarant’s estate;
the declarant’s cultural or family customs; the declarant’s religious or spiritual beliefs; and the known or reasonably ascertainable
creditors of the declarant.
(7) a. “Third party” means a person:
1. Who is requested by a declaration instrument to act in good faith in reliance upon such instrument;
2. Who is delegated discretion over ceremonial or dispositional arrangements in a declaration instrument under § 264 of this
title; or
3. Who is delegated discretion over ceremonial or dispositional arrangements in a declaration instrument.
b. “Third party” includes, but is not limited to, a funeral director, mortician, mortuary, crematorium, or cemetery.
(8) “Unreasonable” means an act that is clearly unreasonable, pursuant to the definition of “reasonable under the circumstances”
under paragraph (6) of this section.
(74 Del. Laws, c. 295, § 1; 77 Del. Laws, c. 296, § 1.)
§ 261 Limitations.
This subchapter shall not be construed to:
(1) Invalidate a declaration instrument or will, codicil, trust, power of appointment or power of attorney;
(2) Invalidate any act of an agent, guardian, or conservator;
(3) Affect any claim, right or remedy that accrued prior to June 30, 2004;
(4) Authorize or encourage acts that violate the constitution, statutes, rules, case law or public policy of Delaware or the United States;
(5) Abridge contracts;
(6) Modify the standards, ethics or protocols of the practice of medicine;
(7) Compel or authorize a health care provider or health care facility, to administer medical treatment that is medically inappropriate
or contrary to federal or other Delaware law; or
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(8) Permit or authorize euthanasia or an affirmative or deliberate act to end a person’s life.
(74 Del. Laws, c. 295, § 1.)
§ 262 Declaration of disposition of last remains.
The declarant may specify, in a declaration instrument, any 1 or more of the following:
(1) The disposition to be made of the declarant’s last remains;
(2) Who may direct the disposition of the declarant’s last remains;
(3) The ceremonial arrangements to be performed after the declarant’s death;
(4) Who may direct the ceremonial arrangement after the declarant’s death; or
(5) The rights, limitations, immunities, and other terms of third parties dealing with the declaration instrument.
(74 Del. Laws, c. 295, § 1.)
§ 263 Reliance upon Declaration instruments.
(a) A third party who acts in good faith reliance on a declaration instrument that is legally executed shall not be subject to civil liability
to any greater extent than if the third party were dealing directly with the declarant as a fully competent and living person. Such third
party shall not be subject to criminal liability or regulatory sanction for such reliance.
(b) A third party who deals with a declaration instrument may presume in the absence of actual knowledge to the contrary:
(1) That the declaration instrument was validly executed; and
(2) That the declarant was competent at the time the instrument was executed.
(c) A third party who reasonably relies on a declaration instrument shall not be civilly or criminally liable for the proper application of
property delivered or surrendered to comply with the declarant’s instructions in the declaration instrument.
(d) The directions of a declarant expressed in a declaration instrument shall be binding on all persons as if the declarant were alive
and competent.
(e) A third party who has reasonable cause to question the authenticity or validity of a declaration instrument may promptly and
reasonably seek additional information from the person proffering such declaration or from other involved persons. A third party may
require exhibition of the original declaration instrument or a notarized copy.
(f) A third party seeking to fulfill a declarant’s intent regarding disposition of last remains or ceremonial arrangements may disregard
such intent if such intent is unreasonable under the circumstances.
(74 Del. Laws, c. 295, § 1.)
§ 264 Right to dispose of remains.
(a) The right to control disposition of the last remains or ceremonial arrangements of a decedent vests in and devolves upon the following
persons, at the time of the decedent’s death, in the following order:
(1) The decedent if acting through a declaration instrument;
(2) The surviving spouse of the decedent, if not legally separated from the decedent;
(3) Either the appointed personal representative or administrator of the decedent’s estate if such person has been appointed; or the
nominee for appointment as personal representative under the decedent’s will if a personal representative or administrator has not been
appointed;
(4) A majority of the surviving adult children of the decedent whose whereabouts are reasonably ascertainable;
(5) The surviving parents or legal guardians of the decent whose whereabouts are reasonably ascertainable;
(6) A majority of the surviving adult siblings of the decedent whose whereabouts are reasonably ascertainable;
(7) The person in the classes of the next degree of kinship, in descending order, under the laws of descent and distribution to inherit the
estate of the decedent. If there is more than 1 person of the same degree, any person of that degree may exercise the right of disposition;
(8) In the absence of any person under paragraphs (a)(1) through (a)(6) of this section, any other person willing to assume the
responsibilities to act and arrange the final disposition of the decedent’s remains, including the personal representative of the decedent’s
estate or the funeral director with the custody of the body, after attesting in writing that a good faith effort has been made to no avail
to contact the individuals under paragraphs (a)(1) through (a)(6) of this section;
(9) The public administrator for the decedent’s estate.
(b) To exercise the right to control final disposition pursuant to paragraph (a)(5) of this section, the majority of parents and guardians
shall act in writing.
(c) If the assent of multiple persons under paragraphs (a)(4), (a)(5), or (a)(6) of this section cannot be obtained, a final judgment of the
Chancery Court of the county of the decedent’s residence shall be required to exercise the right to control final disposition. Such final
judgment shall be consistent with the decedent’s last wishes to the extent they are reasonable under the circumstances.
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Title 12 - Decedents’ Estates and Fiduciary Relations
(d) Notwithstanding any provision of this subchapter to the contrary, a United States Department of Defense Record of Emergency
Data Form (DD Form 93) executed by a declarant who thereafter dies while serving in any branch of in the United States Military, as
defined 10 U.S.C. § 1481, shall constitute a valid form of declaration instrument and shall govern the disposition of such declarant’s last
remains, unless a subsequent declaration instrument has been executed by the declarant.
(74 Del. Laws, c. 295, § 1; 76 Del. Laws, c. 112, § 1; 77 Del. Laws, c. 296, § 2.)
§ 265 Declaration of Disposition of Last Remains; form.
The following declaration of disposition of last remains must be substantially in the following form:
DECLARATION OF DISPOSITION OF LAST REMAINS
I,
(Name of Declarant), being of sound mind and lawful age, hereby revoke all prior
declarations, wills, codicils, trusts, powers of appointment, and powers of attorney regarding the disposition of my last remains, and I
declare and direct that after my death the following provisions be taken:
1. If permitted by law, my body shall be (Initial ONE choice):
Buried.
I
direct
that
my
body
be
buried
at
.
Cremated. I direct that my cremated remains be disposed of as follows:
.
Entombed.
I
direct
that
my
body
be
entombed
at
.
Other.
I
direct
that
my
body
be
disposed
of
as
follows:
.
Disposed of as
(Name of Designee) shall decide in writing. If
is unwilling or unable to act,
I nominate
as my alternate designee.
2. I request that the following ceremonial arrangements be made (initial desired choice or choices):
I request
(Name of designee) make all arrangements for any ceremonies, consistent with my directions set forth
in this declaration. If
is unwilling or unable to act, I nominate
as my alternate designee.
Funeral.
I
request
the
following
arrangements
for
my
funeral:
.
Memorial
Service.
I
request
the
following
arrangements
for
my
memorial
service:
.
3. Special
lines
you
Instructions.
In
may
make
addition
special
to
the
requests
instructions
regarding
above,
I
ceremonies
request
(on
the
following
or
lack
of
ceremonies):
.
Note: Those persons or entities asked to carry out a declarant’s intent regarding disposition of last remains and ceremonial arrangements
need do so only if the declarant’s intent is reasonable under the circumstances. “Reasonable under the Circumstances” may take into
consideration factors such as a known prepaid funeral, burial, or cremation plan of the declarant, the size of the declarant’s estate, cultural
or family customs, the declarant’s religious or spiritual beliefs, the known or reasonably ascertainable creditors of the declarant, and the
declarant’s financial situation prior to death.
I may revoke or amend this declaration in writing at any time. I agree that a third party who receives a copy of this declaration may act
according to it. Revocation of this declaration is not effective as to a third party until the third party learns of my revocation. My estate
shall indemnify any third party for costs incurred as a result of claims that arise against the third party because of good-faith reliance
on this declaration.
I execute this declaration as my free and voluntary act, on
.
(Declarant)
.
The following section regarding organ and tissue donation is optional. To make a donation, initial the option you select and sign below.
In the hope that I might help others, I hereby make an anatomical gift, to be effective upon my death, of:
A.
Any needed organs/tissues.
B.
The
following
organs/tissues:
Page 8
Title 12 - Decedents’ Estates and Fiduciary Relations
.
Donor
signature:
.
Notarization Optional:
State of Delaware
County of
Acknowledged before me by
*(Seal)
Public
.
(74 Del. Laws, c. 295, § 1.)
:
, Declarant, on
,
. My commission expires:
Notary
§ 266 Declaration; other points of form.
(a) The form set forth in § 265 of this title is not exclusive, and a person may use another form of declaration instrument if the wording
of the form complies substantially with § 265 of this title, the form is properly completed, and the form is in writing, dated, and signed
by the declarant.
(b) A declaration instrument may be acknowledged, but lack of acknowledgment shall not render the declaration ineffective.
(c) This subchapter shall apply to declaration instruments executed or exercised in Delaware and to declaration instruments signed or
exercised by a person who is a resident of Delaware when such instrument is signed or exercised.
(d) The provisions of the most recent declaration instrument shall control over any other document regarding the disposition of the
last remains.
(74 Del. Laws, c. 295, § 1.)
§ 267 Declaration; revocation generally.
A declaration may be revoked by the declarant in writing or by burning, tearing, canceling, obliterating, or destroying the declaration
instrument with the intent to revoke such instrument.
(74 Del. Laws, c. 295, § 1.)
§ 268 Declaration; revocation by divorce.
Unless otherwise expressly provided in a declaration instrument, a subsequent divorce, dissolution of marriage, annulment of marriage,
or legal separation between the declarant and spouse automatically revokes a delegation to the declarant’s spouse to direct the disposition
of the declarant’s last remains or ceremonies after the declarant’s death. This section shall not be construed to revoke the remaining
provisions of the declaration instrument.
(74 Del. Laws, c. 295, § 1.)
§ 269 Declaration; revocation of designee.
Unless otherwise specified in the declaration instrument, if a declarant revokes a delegation to a person to direct the disposition of the
declarant’s last remains or ceremonies after the declarant’s death, or if such person is unable or unwilling to serve, the nomination of such
person shall be ineffective as to such person. If an alternate designee is not nominated by the declarant, § 264 of this title shall govern.
This section shall not be construed to revoke the remaining provisions of the declaration instruments.
(74 Del. Laws, c. 295, § 1.)
§ 270 Interstate effect of declaration.
(a) Unless otherwise stated in a declaration instrument, it shall be presumed that the declarant intends to have that declarant’s own
declaration instrument executed pursuant to this subchapter and recognized to the fullest extent possible by other states.
(b) Unless otherwise provided in the declaration instrument, a declaration instrument or similar instrument executed in another state
that complies with the requirements of this subchapter may, in good faith, be relied upon by a third party in this State if an action requested
by such declarant does not violate any law of the federal government, Delaware, or a political subdivision.
(74 Del. Laws, c. 295, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1.)
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Title 12 - Decedents’ Estates and Fiduciary Relations
Part II
Wills
Chapter 3
After-Born Children; Marriage After Will
Subchapter I
After-Born Children
§ 301 Shares of after-born children.
A child born after its parent has made a last will and testament and for which such parent made no provision, vested or contingent,
specifically or as member of a class, by will or otherwise, shall take the same portion of its parent’s estate, both real and personal, that the
child would have been entitled to if such parent had died intestate. This section shall not apply and no intestacy shall be created as to any
child or children born after the date of the execution of a will in any case where the testator has provided in the last will and testament
that the birth of any child or children subsequently shall not affect the will.
(Code 1852, § 1654; Code 1915, § 3252; Code 1935, § 3716; 46 Del. Laws, c. 204, § 1; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 301; 70 Del Laws, c.
186, § 1.)
§ 302 Raising share of after-born child.
Towards the raising of the portion of an after-born child, any intestate estate of the deceased, real or personal, shall be first applied and
the residue of such portion, if there be a deficiency of such intestate estate to make up the same, or the whole of the portion if there be
no such intestate estate, shall be contributed proportionable by the devisees and legatees, taking under the last will and testament, out of
the estate or parts devised or bequeathed to them respectively.
(Code 1852, § 1655; Code 1915, § 3253; Code 1935, § 3717; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 302.)
§ 303 Appraisal and assignment of intestate real estate; appointment and duties of freeholders.
(a) The Court of Chancery, upon the petition of any after-born child (which petition in the case of infancy shall be preferred by a
guardian) setting forth the facts of the case and specifying any real or personal estate of which the deceased parent died intestate, may,
by an order, appoint 5 judicious and impartial freeholders, taken from the county of the parent’s last residence or from any county where
intestate real estate of the parent may be situated or from different counties, who shall go to all the lands, tenements and hereditaments,
both testate and intestate, of which the deceased parent died seised and with the assistance of a skillful and impartial surveyor, by them
to be nominated, if deemed necessary, shall appraise the same at the true value thereof in money and also shall ascertain and estimate the
amount and value of the decedent’s clear personal estate, whether bequeathed or intestate.
(b) If the intestate real estate of the deceased parent be sufficient for that purpose (subject to the rights of the surviving spouse, if there
is a surviving spouse), then they shall appraise at the true value thereof in money and lay off and allot to the after-born child so much of
the intestate real estate as will, in their judgment, be equal in value to what would have been such after-born child’s share of both the real
and personal estate (subject as aforesaid) of the deceased parent, if such parent had died intestate; and if all the intestate real estate shall
not, in the judgment of the freeholders, be equal in value (subject as aforesaid) to what would have been the after-born child’s share of
the real and personal estate of the deceased parent if the parent had died intestate, then the freeholders shall appraise all the intestate real
estate at the true value thereof in money and, at such appraisement, allot the same to the after-born child towards such child’s share of
the deceased parent’s estate. The allotment of intestate real estate under the foregoing provisions to after-born children, where there are
more than 1, shall not be made to them in severalty, but as parceners. If there shall be a surviving spouse entitled to dower or thirds in
or to any portion of the deceased parent’s estate, real or personal, testate or intestate, the value of the whole estate and of the share of the
after-born child shall be ascertained as aforesaid with reference to the rights and interests of such surviving spouse, in such manner as to
do justice to the parties concerned and unless dower shall have been previously assigned to or released by the surviving spouse the real
estate allotted to such after-born child shall be so allotted subject to such surviving spouse’s interest therein.
(c) The Court of Chancery, in making the order, may add such further instructions as it deems necessary to give full effect to the
foregoing provisions.
(Code 1852, §§ 1656-1658; Code 1915, §§ 3254, 3255; Code 1935, §§ 3718, 3719; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 303; 57 Del. Laws, c. 402,
§ 3; 70 Del Laws, c. 186, § 1.)
§ 304 Oath of freeholders and surveyor; action by majority.
The freeholders and surveyor and all persons employed in the premises shall, before entering upon their respective duties under the
order of the Court of Chancery, be severally sworn or affirmed faithfully and impartially according to the best of their skill and judgment
to perform the duties assigned them by the order under which they act. A majority of the freeholders may act in the premises.
(Code 1852, § 1659; Code 1915, § 3256; Code 1935, § 3720; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 304; 57 Del. Laws, c. 402, § 3.)
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Title 12 - Decedents’ Estates and Fiduciary Relations
§ 305 Vacancies among freeholders.
The Court of Chancery may fill any vacancy occurring among the freeholders.
(Code 1852, § 1661; Code 1915, § 3258; Code 1935, § 3722; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 305; 57 Del. Laws, c. 402, § 3.)
§ 306 Return of freeholders; conclusiveness.
The freeholders shall return their proceedings in the premises, under their hands, to the Court of Chancery at the next stated term thereof
and the same, being confirmed by the Court, shall be conclusive.
(Code 1852, § 1660; Code 1915, § 3257; Code 1935, § 3721; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 306; 57 Del. Laws, c. 402, § 3.)
§ 307 Contribution from devisees or legatees.
If the intestate real estate, allotted under the foregoing provisions, shall not, at the appraisement thereof, be equal in value to what
would have been the share of the after-born child or children of the entire estate of the deceased parent, had such parent died intestate,
the deficiency shall be made up from the intestate personal estate, if any, of such parent. If there shall be no intestate personal estate or
not sufficient to make up such deficiency the devisees and legatees, taking under the will of the deceased parent, shall proportionately
contribute such sum or sums of money as, added to the intestate estate, will be sufficient to raise the portion of such after-born child
or children.
(Code 1852, § 1662; Code 1915, § 3259; Code 1935, § 3723; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 307.)
§ 308 Disposition of residue of intestate real or personal estate.
Any residue of intestate estate, real or personal, remaining after an allotment is made to an after-born child or children, under the
foregoing provisions, shall belong to the person as by law would have been entitled to the same if no child had been born after the making
of the parent’s will.
(Code 1852, § 1663; Code 1915, § 3260; Code 1935, § 3724; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 308.)
§ 309 Application of intestacy laws to lands allotted after-born children.
Lands and tenements allotted to after-born children under the foregoing provisions shall be subject to all the provisions of law respecting
intestate estates, as fully in all respects, as if the deceased parent had died intestate leaving no other real estate and no other issue but
the children to whom the same shall be allotted.
(Code 1852, § 1664; Code 1915, § 3261; Code 1935, § 3725; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 309.)
§ 310 Posthumous children.
Posthumous children or children in the mother’s womb, if born alive, are within the foregoing provisions respecting after-born children.
Such children shall take any estate or property, real or personal, by descent, transmission, gift, devise, limitation or otherwise in the same
manner as if absolutely born at the decease of its parent. If such child is not born alive, the effect shall be the same, to all intents and
purposes, as if no such child had ever existed.
(Code 1852, § 1665; Code 1915, § 3262; Code 1935, § 3726; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 310; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1.)
Subchapter II
Marriage After Will
§ 321 Share of surviving spouse.
The descent or devolution of the estate, real or personal, of a married person who, before the marriage, has made a last will and testament
and has not made provision for the married person’s spouse by will or otherwise, shall be subject to the following rights of the surviving
husband or widow:
(1) If the testator leaves a widow, she shall have the same part of his estate, real and personal, as she would have been entitled to
if he had died intestate;
(2) If the testatrix leaves a husband, he shall have the same part of her estate, real and personal, as he would have been entitled to
if she had died intestate.
(Code 1852, § 1666; Code 1915, § 3263; 38 Del. Laws, c. 178, § 1; Code 1935, § 3727; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 321; 70 Del Laws, c.
186, § 1.)
§ 322 Assignment of share to surviving spouse.
The part to which the surviving spouse shall be entitled under § 321 of this title shall be assigned and distributed in the same manner as if
the deceased spouse had died intestate. When there are several devisees of such real estate or several legatees of such personal estate, such
assignment and distribution to the surviving spouse shall be so made that each devisee or legatee shall contribute a just portion thereof.
(Code 1852, § 1666; Code 1915, § 3263; 38 Del. Laws, c. 178, § 1; Code 1935, § 3727; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 322.)
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Title 12 - Decedents’ Estates and Fiduciary Relations
§ 323 Revocation of will by subsequent marriage.
Subsequent marriage shall not revoke the last will and testament of a person who, by such last will and testament or otherwise, shall
have made provision for a surviving spouse.
(Code 1852, § 1666; Code 1915, § 3263; 38 Del. Laws, c. 178, § 1; Code 1935, § 3727; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 323; 70 Del. Laws, c.
186, § 1.)
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Title 12 - Decedents’ Estates and Fiduciary Relations
Part III
Descent and Distribution; Escheat
Chapter 5
Intestate Succession
§ 501 Intestate estate.
Any part of the real or personal estate of a decedent not effectively disposed of by will passes to the decedent’s heirs as prescribed
in the following sections of this chapter.
(59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1.)
§ 502 Share of spouse.
The intestate share of the surviving spouse is:
(1) If there is no surviving issue or parents of the decedent, the entire intestate estate;
(2) If there is no surviving issue but the decedent is survived by a parent or parents, the first $50,000 of the intestate personal estate,
plus one half of the balance of the intestate personal estate, plus a life estate in the intestate real estate;
(3) If there are surviving issue all of whom are issue of the surviving spouse also, the first $50,000 of the intestate personal estate,
plus one half of the balance of the intestate personal estate, plus a life estate in the intestate real estate;
(4) If there are surviving issue, one or more of whom are not issue of the surviving spouse, one half of the intestate personal estate,
plus a life estate in the intestate real estate.
(59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 60 Del. Laws, c. 199, § 6.)
§ 503 Share of heirs other than surviving spouse.
The part of the intestate estate not passing to the surviving spouse under § 502 of this title, or the entire intestate estate if there is no
surviving spouse, passes as follows:
(1) To the issue of the decedent, per stirpes;
(2) If there is no surviving issue, to the decedent’s parent or parents equally;
(3) If there is no surviving issue or parent, to the brothers and sisters and the issue of each deceased brother or sister, per stirpes;
(4) If there is no surviving issue, parent or issue of a parent, then to the next of kin of the decedent, and to the issue of a deceased
next of kin, per stirpes;
(5) Any property passing under this section to 2 or more persons passes to such persons as tenants in common.
(59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1.)
§ 504 Requirement that heir survive decedent for 120 hours.
Any person who fails to survive the decedent by 120 hours is deemed to have predeceased the decedent for purposes of intestate
succession, and the decedent’s heirs are determined accordingly. If the time of death of the decedent or of the person who would otherwise
be an heir, or the times of death of both, cannot be determined, and it cannot be established that the person who would otherwise be an
heir has survived the decedent by 120 hours, it is deemed that the person failed to survive for the required period. This section is not to
be applied where its application would result in a taking of intestate estate by the State under this title.
(59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1.)
§ 505 Posthumous children.
Posthumous children, born alive, shall be considered as though living at the death of their parent.
(59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1.)
§ 506 Kindred of half blood.
Relatives of the half blood inherit the same share they would inherit if they were of the whole blood.
(59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1.)
§ 507 Alienage.
No person is disqualified to take as an heir because the person or a person through whom the person claims is or has been an alien.
(59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 70 Del Laws, c. 186, § 1.)
§ 508 Meaning of “child” and related terms [For application of this section, see 79 Del. Laws, c. 172, § 6].
If, for purposes of intestate succession, a relationship of parent and child must be established to determine succession by, through,
or from a person:
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Title 12 - Decedents’ Estates and Fiduciary Relations
(1) An adopted person is the child of an adopting parent and not of the natural parent except that adoption of a child by the spouse
of a natural parent has no effect on the relationship between the child and that natural parent.
(2) In cases not covered by paragraph (1) of this section, a person born out of wedlock is a child of the mother. That person is also
a child of the father, if legitimated pursuant to Chapter 13 of Title 13 or, notwithstanding any contrary provision of Chapter 13 of
Title 13, if:
a. The natural parents participated in a marriage ceremony before or after the birth of the child, even though the attempted marriage
is void; or
b. The paternity is established by an adjudication before the death of the father or is established thereafter by preponderance of
the evidence; except, that the paternity established under this paragraph is ineffective to qualify the father or his kindred to inherit
from or through the child unless the father has openly treated the child as his, and has not refused to support the child.
(59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1; 79 Del. Laws, c. 172, § 1.)
§ 509 Advancements.
If a person dies intestate as to all the estate, property which the person gave in the person’s lifetime to an heir is treated as an advancement
against the latter’s share of the estate only if declared in a contemporaneous writing by the decedent or acknowledged in writing by the
heir to be an advancement. For this purpose, the property advanced is valued as of the time the heir came into possession or enjoyment of
the property or as of the time of death of the decedent, whichever first occurs. If the recipient of the property fails to survive the decedent,
the property is not taken into account in computing the intestate share to be received by the recipient’s issue, unless the declaration or
acknowledgement provides otherwise.
(59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 70 Del Laws, c. 186, § 1.)
§ 510 Debts owed to decedent.
A debt owed to the decedent is charged against the intestate share of the debtor. If the debtor fails to survive the decedent, the debt is
not taken into account in computing the intestate share of the debtor’s issue.
(59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1.)
§ 511 Dower and curtesy abolished.
The estates of dower and curtesy are abolished.
(59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1.)
§ 512 [Reserved.]
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Title 12 - Decedents’ Estates and Fiduciary Relations
Part III
Descent and Distribution; Escheat
Chapter 6
Disclaimer
§ 601 Short title.
This chapter may be cited as the “Delaware Disclaimer Act.”
(63 Del. Laws, c. 448, § 1; 75 Del. Laws, c. 302, § 1.)
§ 602 Definitions.
In this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:
(1) “Beneficiary designation” means a testamentary or nontestamentary instrument or contract, other than an instrument creating a
trust, naming the beneficiary of:
a. An annuity or insurance policy;
b. An account with a designation for payment on death;
c. A security registered in beneficiary form;
d. A pension, profit-sharing, retirement, or other employment-related benefit plan; or
e. Any other non-probate interest in property with a designation for transfer on death.
(2) “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (26 U.S.C. § 1 et seq.), or the comparable provisions of any
later law.
(3) “Disclaimant” means the person to whom a disclaimed interest in property would have passed had the disclaimer not been made,
or the person who would have had a power over property or with respect to property, including a power of appointment, had the
disclaimer not been made.
(4) “Disclaimed interest” means the interest that would have passed to the disclaimant had the disclaimer not been made.
(5) “Disclaimed power” means the power that the disclaimant would have had over property in the nature of a power of appointment
with respect to an interest in property or any other power that a disclaimant could have exercised with respect to property had the
disclaimer not been made.
(6) “Disclaimer” means the refusal to accept an interest in or power over property.
(7) “Fiduciary” means a personal representative, trustee of a trust, agent acting under a power of attorney, conservator, custodian
under a Uniform Transfers to Minors Act [Chapter 45 of this title] or similar statute of any jurisdiction, guardian, or other person
authorized to act as a fiduciary with respect to the property or power of another person.
(8) “Holder” means the person holding a power of appointment over an interest in property held in a trust, or holding a power over
a trust, who is granted the right or authority to exercise the power of appointment over an interest in property held in a trust or of a
power over a trust under the terms of the instrument governing the trust.
(9) “Jointly held property” means property held in the name of 2 or more persons under an arrangement in which all owners have
concurrent interests and under which the last surviving owner is entitled to the whole of the property. The term “jointly held property”
specifically includes a tenancy by the entirety, and an “owner” shall include a tenant by the entirety.
(10) “Person” means an individual, living, deceased or unborn, ascertained or unascertained, corporation, business trust, statutory
trust, estate, trust, partnership, limited liability company, association, joint venture, public corporation, government, or any
governmental subdivision, agency, or instrumentality, or any other legal or commercial entity.
(11) “This State” means the State of Delaware, and “State” means a State of the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico,
the United States Virgin Islands, or any territory or insular possession subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. The term includes
an Indian tribe or band, or Alaskan native village, recognized by federal law or formally acknowledged by a State.
(12) “Trust” means:
a. An express trust, charitable or noncharitable, with additions thereto, whenever and however created; and
b. A trust created pursuant to a statute, judgment, or decree which requires the trust to be administered in the manner of an express
trust.
(75 Del. Laws, c. 302, § 1.)
§ 603 Scope; property subject to disclaimer.
This chapter applies to disclaimers of any interest in or power over property, whenever created, and whether any interest in or power
over property is disclaimed at the time of the creation of the interest in or power over property, or at any time thereafter as provided
hereafter in this chapter.
(63 Del. Laws, c. 448, § 1; 75 Del. Laws, c. 302, § 1.)
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Title 12 - Decedents’ Estates and Fiduciary Relations
§ 604 Chapter supplemented by other law; chapter not exclusive.
(a) Unless displaced by a provision of this chapter, the principles of law and equity supplement this chapter.
(b) This chapter does not limit any right of a person to waive, release, disclaim, or renounce property, an interest in property or a power
over property under a law other than this chapter.
(63 Del. Laws, c. 448, § 1; 75 Del. Laws, c. 302, § 1.)
§ 605 Power to disclaim; requisites and execution; when irrevocable.
(a) A person may disclaim, in whole or part, any interest in or power over property, including a power of appointment. A person
may disclaim the interest or power notwithstanding any limitation under the terms of the instrument creating the interest in property or
granting a power to the holder in the nature of a spendthrift provision or similar restriction on transfer or a restriction or limitation on
the right to disclaim.
(b) Except to the extent that a fiduciary’s right to disclaim is expressly restricted or limited by another statute of this State or by the
instrument creating the fiduciary relationship a fiduciary may disclaim, in whole or part, any interest in or power over property, including
a power of appointment, whether acting in a personal or in a fiduciary capacity. A fiduciary may disclaim an interest in property or power
notwithstanding any limitation on the interest or power of the disclaimant in the nature of a spendthrift provision or similar restriction
on transfer or a restriction or limitation on the disclaimant’s right to disclaim under the instrument creating the interest or power in the
disclaimant (which is distinct from the instrument creating the fiduciary relationship).
(c) To be effective, the disclaimer shall:
(1) Be in a writing;
(2) Declare the disclaimer and the extent thereof;
(3) Describe the interest or power disclaimed;
(4) Be signed either by:
a. The person making the disclaimer; or
b. Some person subscribing the name of the person making the disclaimer, in the person’s presence and by such person’s express
direction in the presence of 2 or more witnesses competent to witness a will under Chapter 2 of this title; and
(5) Be delivered in the form and in the manner provided in § 612 of this title.
(d) A disclaimer may be of a part of an interest in property or power over property and may be expressed as a fractional share, a
percentage, a term of years, a limitation of a power, an interest or estate in property, or any lesser included interest or estate in property,
including a lesser included interest or estate having a specific monetary value.
(e) A disclaimer becomes irrevocable when it is delivered pursuant to § 612 of this title or when it becomes effective as provided in
§§ 606-611 of this title, whichever occurs later.
(f) A disclaimer made under this chapter is not a transfer, assignment or release by the disclaimant.
(63 Del. Laws, c. 448, § 1; 75 Del. Laws, c. 302, § 1.)
§ 606 Disclaimer of interest in property.
(a) Except for a disclaimer governed by § 607 or § 608 of this title, the following rules apply to a disclaimer of an interest in property:
(1) If the interest was created by an instrument, the disclaimer takes effect as of the time the instrument creating the interest becomes
irrevocable, and the disclaimed interest passes as follows:
a. If the instrument creating the interest includes a provision providing for the disposition of the interest, if the interest is disclaimed,
or of disclaimed interests in general, the interest passes according to the provisions in the instrument governing the disposition of
the disclaimed interest.
b. If the instrument creating the interest does not include a provision described in paragraph (a)(1)a. of this section, if the
disclaimant is an individual, the disclaimed interest passes as if the disclaimant had died immediately before the time of distribution,
and if the disclaimant is not an individual, the disclaimed interest passes as if the disclaimant did not exist at the time of distribution.
c. If the disclaimant is an individual, and if, by law or under the provisions of the instrument creating the interest, the descendants
of the disclaimant, or the descendants of any other individual, if applicable, would share in the disclaimed interest by any method
of representation had the disclaimant died immediately before the time of distribution, the disclaimed interest passes only to the
descendants of the disclaimant, or the descendants of the other applicable individual, who survive the time of distribution.
(2) If the interest in property being disclaimed arose under the law of intestate succession, the disclaimer takes effect as of the time
of the intestate’s death.
(3) If a disclaimant disclaims an interest in property preceding the future interest or interests of any person or persons in such property:
a. A future interest held by a person other than the disclaimant takes effect as if the disclaimant had died or ceased to exist
immediately before the time of distribution.
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Title 12 - Decedents’ Estates and Fiduciary Relations
b. A future interest in the property held by the disclaimant that the disclaimant retained when disclaiming the preceding interest
will not accelerate the disclaimant’s possession or enjoyment of the future interest retained by the disclaimant.
(b) For the purposes of this section:
(1) “Future interest” means an interest that takes effect in possession or enjoyment, if at all, later than the time of the creation of
the interest.
(2) “Time of distribution” means the time when a disclaimed interest would have taken effect in possession or enjoyment.
(63 Del. Laws, c. 448, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1; 75 Del. Laws, c. 302, § 1.)
§ 607 Disclaimer of rights of survivorship in jointly held property.
(a) Upon the death of an owner of jointly held property:
(1) If, during the deceased owner’s lifetime, the deceased owner could have unilaterally reacquired a portion of the property
attributable to the deceased owner’s contributions without the consent of the other owner or owners, a surviving owner may disclaim,
in whole or in part, a fractional share of that portion of the property attributable to the deceased owner’s contribution determined by
dividing the number 1 by the number of joint owners alive immediately after the death of the owner to whose death the disclaimer relates.
(2) For all other jointly held property, an owner who survives a deceased owner may disclaim, in whole or part, a fraction of the
whole of the property the numerator of which is 1 and the denominator of which is the product of:
a. The number of joint owners alive immediately before the death of the owner to whose death the disclaimer relates;
b. Multiplied by the number of joint owners alive immediately after the death of the owner to whose death the disclaimer relates.
(b) A disclaimer under subsection (a) of this section takes effect as of the death of the owner of jointly held property to whose death
the disclaimer relates.
(c) An interest in jointly held property disclaimed by a surviving owner of the property passes as if the disclaimant predeceased the
owner to whose death the disclaimer relates.
(d) Disclaimers of interests in property not governed by this section are governed by § 606 of this title.
(63 Del. Laws, c. 448, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1; 75 Del. Laws, c. 302, § 1.)
§ 608 Disclaimer of interest by trustee.
Except as limited by § 3324(a) of this title, if a trustee disclaims an interest in property, as authorized under § 3325(1) of this title,
that otherwise would have become trust property, the interest does not become trust property.
(63 Del. Laws, c. 448, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1; 75 Del. Laws, c. 302, § 1.)
§ 609 Disclaimer of power held in fiduciary capacity.
If a holder who is a fiduciary disclaims a power held in a fiduciary capacity, the following rules apply:
(1) If the fiduciary holder has not previously exercised the power held in a fiduciary capacity the disclaimer of the power takes effect
as of the time the instrument creating the power becomes irrevocable.
(2) If the fiduciary holder has previously exercised the power held in a fiduciary capacity the disclaimer of the power takes effect
immediately after the last exercise of the power.
(3) A disclaimer under this section is effective as to another fiduciary and is binding upon the estate, trust or other person for whom
the fiduciary is acting as limited by Delaware law unless otherwise stated within the instrument.
(63 Del. Laws, c. 448, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1; 75 Del. Laws, c. 302, § 1.)
§ 610 Disclaimer of power of appointment or other power not held in fiduciary capacity.
If a holder that is not a fiduciary disclaims a power of appointment, whether such power is a general power of appointment or a power
that is not a general power of appointment, or other power over a trust, granted to the nonfiduciary holder under the terms of an instrument,
the following rules apply:
(1) If the holder has not previously exercised the power of appointment or the power over a trust, the disclaimer of a power of
appointment or a power over a trust by a holder takes effect as of the time the instrument granting the power to the holder became
or becomes irrevocable.
(2) If the holder has previously exercised a general power of appointment and the disclaimer is of the right to exercise such general
power of appointment, whether or not the holder presently has the power to exercise such general power of appointment, the disclaimer
of such power of appointment takes effect immediately after the last time the holder exercised such general power of appointment.
(3) If the holder has previously exercised a power of appointment and the disclaimer is of a power of appointment that is not a general
power of appointment, whether or not the holder presently has the power to exercise such power of appointment, the disclaimer of such
power of appointment takes effect immediately after the last time the holder exercised such power of appointment.
(4) If the holder has previously exercised a power over a trust and the disclaimer is of a power over a trust, whether or not the holder
presently has the power to exercise such power over the trust, the disclaimer of the power over a trust takes effect immediately after
the last time the holder exercised such power over the trust.
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Title 12 - Decedents’ Estates and Fiduciary Relations
(5) The instrument granting the power of appointment or power over the trust to the holder shall be construed as if the power of the
holder ceased to exist with respect to the power of appointment or power over the trust when the disclaimer became effective.
(63 Del. Laws, c. 448, § 1; 75 Del. Laws, c. 302, § 1.)
§ 611 Disclaimer by appointee, permissible appointee, or taker in default of exercise of power of
appointment.
(a) A disclaimer of an interest in property by an appointee of such interest in property as a result of an exercise of a power of appointment
by a holder takes effect as of the time the instrument by which the holder exercised the power becomes irrevocable.
(b) A disclaimer of an interest in property by a permissible appointee of an interest in property or by a taker of an interest in property
as a result of a holder’s failure to effectively exercise a power of appointment granted to such holder (a taker in default) takes effect as
of the time the instrument creating the power of appointment becomes irrevocable.
(63 Del. Laws, c. 448, § 1; 75 Del. Laws, c. 302, § 1.)
§ 612 Delivery and recording requirements.
(a) Subject to subsections (b) through (k) of this section, delivery of a disclaimer may be effected by personal delivery, first class mail,
or any other method likely to result in its receipt, subject to the following:
(1) A disclaimer is considered as delivered to the person to whom such disclaimer is required to be delivered, if the method of
delivery of the disclaimer would be considered delivered on the date by which it would be considered a timely mailing and treated
as a timely filing if the disclaimer were a return or other document required to be filed within a prescribed period or on or before a
prescribed date under the Code and would be considered to be timely filed under the provisions of § 7502 of the Code [26 U.S.C. §
7502], or the comparable provisions of any later law, and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
(2) If 2 or more persons or fiduciaries are acting as a person or fiduciary to whom a disclaimer is required to be delivered under
subsections (b) through (k) of this section, delivery of such disclaimer shall be made on all such persons or fiduciaries.
(b) In the case of an interest created under the law of intestate succession or an interest created by will, other than an interest in a
testamentary trust:
(1) A disclaimer must be delivered to the personal representative of the decedent’s estate, if one is then serving; and
(2) It must also be delivered to the court in the county in which proceedings for administration of the estate of a deceased transferor
of the property or interest or a deceased donee of the power have been commenced or could be commenced.
(c) In the case of an interest in a testamentary trust:
(1) A disclaimer must be delivered to the trustee then serving, or if no trustee is then serving, to the personal representative of the
decedent’s estate; and
(2) It must also be delivered to the court in the county in which proceedings for administration of the estate of a deceased transferor
of the property or interest or a deceased donee of the power have been commenced or could be commenced.
(d) In the case of an interest in an inter vivos trust:
(1) A disclaimer must be delivered to the trustee then serving; or
(2) If no trustee is then serving, it must be delivered to the court having jurisdiction to enforce the trust.
(3) If the disclaimer is made before the time the instrument creating the trust becomes irrevocable, it must be delivered to the settlor
of a revocable trust or the transferor of the interest.
(e) In the case of an interest created by a beneficiary designation made before the time the designation becomes irrevocable, a disclaimer
must be delivered to the person making the beneficiary designation.
(f) In the case of an interest created by a beneficiary designation made after the time the designation becomes irrevocable, a disclaimer
must be delivered to the person obligated to distribute the interest.
(g) In the case of a disclaimer by a surviving owner of jointly held property the disclaimer must be delivered to the person or persons
to whom the disclaimed interest passes.
(h) In the case of a disclaimer by a permissible appointee or a taker in default of the exercise of a power of appointment at any time
after the power was created:
(1) The disclaimer must be delivered to the holder of the power or to the fiduciary acting under the instrument that created the
power; or
(2) If no fiduciary is then serving, it must be delivered to a court having jurisdiction to appoint the fiduciary.
(i) In the case of a disclaimer by an appointee of a nonfiduciary power of appointment:
(1) The disclaimer must be delivered to the holder, the personal representative of the holder’s estate or to the fiduciary under the
instrument that created the power; or
(2) If no fiduciary is then serving, it must be delivered to a court having jurisdiction to appoint the fiduciary.
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Title 12 - Decedents’ Estates and Fiduciary Relations
(j) In the case of a disclaimer by a fiduciary of a power over a trust or estate, the disclaimer must be delivered as provided in subsection
(b), (c), or (d) of this section, as if the power disclaimed were an interest in property.
(k) In the case of a disclaimer of a power by an agent or attorney-in-fact, the disclaimer must be delivered to the principal or the
principal’s representative.
(l) No fiduciary, person or entity having custody of the disclaimed interest shall be liable for any otherwise proper distribution made
without actual notice of the disclaimer, or, if the disclaimer is barred under § 614 of this title, for any otherwise proper distribution made
in reliance of the disclaimer, if the distribution is made without actual knowledge of the facts constituting the bar of the right to disclaim.
(m) For purposes of this section, when delivery of a disclaimer to a court is referenced, the disclaimant may fulfill this requirement by
filing the disclaimer with the register of wills or the register in chancery for the county in which proceedings for administration of the
estate of a deceased transferor of the property or interest, a deceased donee of the power or a deceased joint tenant has been commenced.
(n) A copy of the disclaimer may also be delivered to the person or persons entitled to the property or interest in the event of disclaimer;
however, failure to make such delivery shall not affect the validity of the disclaimer. Such delivery is in addition to and not in lieu of the
delivery and recording otherwise required under this section.
(63 Del. Laws, c. 448, § 1; 70 Del Laws, c. 186, § 1; 75 Del. Laws, c. 302, § 1.)
§ 613 Disclaimers affecting real property.
If the property interest being disclaimed is an interest in real property, the disclaimer shall be acknowledged in the manner provided
for deeds of real property. The disclaimer shall not be valid as against any person, except the beneficiary, the heirs and devisees of the
beneficiary, and any other person having actual notice of the disclaimer, unless an original thereof, or an attested copy thereof if the
original is required to be filed elsewhere, is recorded in the office for recording of deeds for the county or district in which the real
property is located.
(63 Del. Laws, c. 448, § 1; 70 Del Laws, c. 186, § 1; 75 Del. Laws, c. 302, § 1.)
§ 614 When disclaimer barred or limited.
(a) A disclaimer is barred by a written waiver of the right to disclaim.
(b) A disclaimer of an interest in property is barred if any of the following events occur before the disclaimer becomes effective:
(1) The disclaimant accepts the interest sought to be disclaimed;
(2) The disclaimant voluntarily assigns, conveys, encumbers, pledges, or transfers the interest sought to be disclaimed or contracts
to do so;
(3) A judicial sale of the interest sought to be disclaimed occurs.
(c) A disclaimer is barred or limited if so provided by law other than this chapter.
(d) A disclaimer, in whole or part, of the future exercise of a power held in a fiduciary capacity is not barred by its previous exercise.
(e) A disclaimer of a power over property which is barred by this section is ineffective. A disclaimer of an interest in property which
is barred by this section takes effect as a transfer of the interest disclaimed to the persons who would have taken the interest under this
chapter had the disclaimer not been barred.
(63 Del. Laws, c. 448, § 1; 75 Del. Laws, c. 302, § 1.)
§ 615 Tax qualified disclaimer.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, if as a result of a disclaimer or transfer the disclaimed or transferred interest
is treated pursuant to the provisions of the Code, and the regulations promulgated thereunder, as never having been transferred to the
disclaimant, then the disclaimer or transfer is effective as a disclaimer under this chapter.
(75 Del. Laws, c. 302, § 1.)
§ 616 Application to existing and expired relationships.
(a) Except as otherwise provided in § 614 of this title, an interest in or power over property existing on June 27, 2006, as to which
the 9 months for receipt or filing a disclaimer under Delaware law superseded by this chapter has not expired may be disclaimed after
June 27, 2006.
(b) Any interest in or power over property that has expired under Delaware law superseded by this chapter prior to June 27, 2006,
shall remain expired.
(63 Del. Laws, c. 448, § 1; 75 Del. Laws, c. 302, § 1.)
§ 617 Severability clause.
If any provision of this chapter or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the invalidity does not affect other
provisions or applications of this chapter which can be given affect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the
provisions of this chapter are severable.
(75 Del. Laws, c. 302, § 1.)
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Title 12 - Decedents’ Estates and Fiduciary Relations
Part III
Descent and Distribution; Escheat
Chapter 7
Simultaneous Death
§ 701 Insufficient evidence of survivorship.
Where the title to property or the devolution thereof depends upon priority of death and there is not sufficient evidence that the persons
have died otherwise than simultaneously, the property of each person shall be disposed of as if each person had survived, except as
otherwise provided in this chapter.
(45 Del. Laws, c. 234, § 1; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 701; 70 Del Laws, c. 186, § 1.)
§ 702 Beneficiaries of another person’s disposition of property.
Where 2 or more beneficiaries are designated to take successively by reason of survivorship under another person’s disposition of
property and there is no sufficient evidence that these beneficiaries have died otherwise than simultaneously, the property thus disposed
of shall be divided into as many equal portions as there are successive beneficiaries and these portions shall be distributed respectively
to those who would have taken in the event that each designated beneficiary had survived.
(45 Del. Laws, c. 234, § 2; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 702.)
§ 703 Joint tenants or tenants by the entirety.
Where there is no sufficient evidence that 2 joint tenants or tenants by the entirety have died otherwise than simultaneously, the property
so held shall be distributed one half as if 1 had survived and one half as if the other had survived. If there are more than 2 joint tenants
and all of them have so died, the property thus distributed shall be in the proportion that 1 bears to the whole number of joint tenants.
(45 Del. Laws, c. 234, § 3; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 703.)
§ 704 Insurance policies.
Where the insured and the beneficiary in a policy of life or accident insurance have died and there is no sufficient evidence that they
have died otherwise than simultaneously, the proceeds of the policy shall be distributed as if the insured had survived the beneficiary.
(45 Del. Laws, c. 234, § 4; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 704.)
§ 705 Retroactive effect of chapter.
This chapter shall not apply to the distribution of the property of a person who died before April 18, 1945.
(45 Del. Laws, c. 234, § 5; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 705.)
§ 706 Application of chapter.
This chapter shall not apply in the case of wills, living trusts, deeds or contracts of insurance wherein provision has been made for
distribution of property different from the provisions of this chapter.
(45 Del. Laws, c. 234, § 6; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 706.)
§ 707 Uniformity of interpretation.
This chapter shall be so construed and interpreted as to effectuate its general purpose to make uniform the law in those states which
enact it.
(45 Del. Laws, c. 234, § 7; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 707.)
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Title 12 - Decedents’ Estates and Fiduciary Relations
Part III
Descent and Distribution; Escheat
Chapter 8
Uniform TOD Security Registration Act
§ 801 Definitions.
In this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:
(1) “Beneficiary form” means a registration of a security which indicates the present owner of the security and the intention of the
owner regarding the person who will become the owner of the security upon the death of the owner.
(2) “Devisee” means any person designated in a will to receive a disposition of real or personal property.
(3) “Heirs” means those persons, including the surviving spouse, who are entitled under the statutes of intestate succession to the
property of a decedent.
(4) “Person” means an individual, a corporation, an organization or other legal entity.
(5) “Personal representative” includes executor, administrator, successor personal representative, special administrator and persons
who perform substantially the same function under the law governing their status.
(6) “Property” includes both real and personal property or any interest therein and means anything that may be the subject of
ownership.
(7) “Register,” including its derivatives, means to issue a certificate showing the ownership of a certificated security or, in the case
of an uncertificated security, to initiate or transfer an account showing ownership of securities.
(8) “Registering entity” means a person who originates or transfers a security title by registration and includes a broker maintaining
security accounts for customers and a transfer agent or other person acting for or as an issuer of securities.
(9) “Security” means a share, participation or other interest in property, in a business or in an obligation of an enterprise or other
issuer and includes a certificated security, an uncertificated security and a security account.
(10) “Security account” means:
a. A reinvestment account associated with a security, a securities account with a broker, a cash balance in a brokerage account,
cash, interest, earnings or dividends earned or declared on a security in an account, a reinvestment account or a brokerage account,
whether or not credited to the account before the owner’s death, or
b. A cash balance or other property held for or due to the owner of a security as a replacement for or product of an account security,
whether or not credited to the account before the owner’s death.
(11) “State” includes any state of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and any territory
or possession subject to the legislative authority of the United States.
(70 Del. Laws, c. 394, § 1.)
§ 802 Registration in beneficiary form; sole or joint tenancy ownership.
Only individuals whose registration of a security shows sole ownership by 1 individual or multiple ownership by 2 or more with right
of survivorship, rather than as tenants in common, may obtain registration in beneficiary form. Multiple owners of a security registered
in beneficiary form hold as joint tenants with right of survivorship, as tenants by the entireties or as owners of community property held
in survivorship form and not as tenants in common.
(70 Del. Laws, c. 394, § 1.)
§ 803 Registration in beneficiary form; applicable law.
A security may be registered in beneficiary form if the form is authorized by this or a similar statute of the state of organization of the
issuer or registering entity, the location of the registering entity’s principal office, the office of its transfer agent or its office making the
registration, or by this or a similar statute of the law of the state listed as the owner’s address at the time of registration. A registration
governed by the law of a jurisdiction in which this or similar legislation is not in force or was not in force when a registration in beneficiary
form was made is nevertheless presumed to be valid and authorized as a matter of contract law.
(70 Del. Laws, c. 394, § 1.)
§ 804 Origination of registration in beneficiary form.
A security, whether evidenced by certificate or account, is registered in beneficiary form when the registration includes a designation
of a beneficiary to take the ownership at the death of the owner or the deaths of all multiple owners.
(70 Del. Laws, c. 394, § 1.)
§ 805 Form of registration in beneficiary form.
Registration in beneficiary form may be shown by the words “transfer on death” or the abbreviation “TOD” or by the words “pay on
death” or the abbreviation “POD” after the name of the registered owner and before the name of a beneficiary.
(70 Del. Laws, c. 394, § 1.)
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Title 12 - Decedents’ Estates and Fiduciary Relations
§ 806 Effect of registration in beneficiary form.
The designation of a TOD beneficiary on a registration in beneficiary form has no effect on ownership until the owner’s death. A
registration of a security in beneficiary form may be canceled or changed at any time by the sole owner or all then surviving owners
without the consent of the beneficiary.
(70 Del. Laws, c. 394, § 1.)
§ 807 Ownership on death of owner.
On death of a sole owner or the last to die of all multiple owners, ownership of securities registered in beneficiary form passes to the
beneficiary or beneficiaries who survive all owners. On proof of death of all owners and compliance with any applicable requirements
of the registering entity, a security registered in beneficiary form may be reregistered in the name of the beneficiary or beneficiaries who
survived the death of all owners. Until division of the security after the death of all owners, multiple beneficiaries surviving the death of
all owners hold their interests as tenants in common. If no beneficiary survives the death of all owners, the security belongs to the estate
of the deceased sole owner or the estate of the last to die of all multiple owners.
(70 Del. Laws, c. 394, § 1.)
§ 808 Protection of registering entity.
(a) A registering entity is not required to offer or to accept a request for security registration in beneficiary form. If a registration in
beneficiary form is offered by a registering entity, the owner requesting registration in beneficiary form assents to the protections given
to the registering entity by this chapter.
(b) By accepting a request for registration of a security in beneficiary form, the registering entity agrees that the registration will be
implemented on the death of the deceased owner as provided in this chapter.
(c) A registering entity is discharged from all claims to a security by the estate, creditors, heirs or devisees of a deceased owner if it
registers a transfer of the security in accordance with § 807 of this title and does so in good faith reliance (i) on the registration, (ii) on
this chapter, and (iii) on information provided to it by affidavit of the personal representative of the deceased owner, or by the surviving
beneficiary or by the surviving beneficiary’s representatives or other information available to the registering entity. The protections of this
chapter do not extend to a reregistration or payment made after a registering entity has received written notice from any claimant to any
interest in the security objecting to implementation of a registration in beneficiary form. No other notice or other information available
to the registering entity affects its right to protection under this chapter.
(d) The protection provided by this chapter to the registering entity of a security does not affect the rights of beneficiaries in disputes
between themselves and other claimants to ownership of the security transferred or its value or proceeds.
(70 Del. Laws, c. 394, § 1.)
§ 809 Nontestamentary transfer on death.
(a) A transfer on death resulting from a registration in beneficiary form is effective by reason of the contract regarding the registration
between the owner and the registering entity and this chapter and is not testamentary.
(b) This chapter does not limit the rights of creditors of security owners against beneficiaries and other transferees under other laws
of this State.
(70 Del. Laws, c. 394, § 1.)
§ 810 Terms, conditions, and forms for registration.
(a) A registering entity offering to accept registrations in beneficiary form may establish the terms and conditions under which it will
receive requests (i) for registrations in beneficiary form, and (ii) for implementation of registrations in beneficiary form, including requests
for cancellation of previously registered TOD beneficiary designations and requests for reregistration to effect a change of beneficiary.
The terms and conditions so established may provide for proving death, avoiding or resolving any problems concerning fractional shares,
designating primary and contingent beneficiaries and substituting a named beneficiary’s descendants to take in the place of the named
beneficiary in the event of the beneficiary’s death. Substitution may be indicated by appending to the name of the primary beneficiary
the letters LDPS, standing for “lineal descendants per stirpes.” This designation substitutes a deceased beneficiary’s descendants who
survive the owner for a beneficiary who fails to survive, the descendants to be identified and to share in accordance with the law of the
beneficiary’s domicile at the owner’s death governing inheritance by descendants of an intestate. Other forms of identifying beneficiaries
who are to take on 1 or more contingencies, and rules for providing proofs and assurances needed to satisfy reasonable concerns by
registering entities regarding conditions and identities relevant to accurate implementation of registrations in beneficiary form, may be
contained in a registering entity’s terms and conditions.
(b) The following are illustrations of registrations in beneficiary form which a registering entity may authorize:
(1) Sole owner-sole beneficiary: John S. Brown TOD (or POD) John S. Brown, Jr.
(2) Multiple owners-sole beneficiary: John S. Brown, Mary B. Brown, JT TEN TOD John S. Brown, Jr.
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Title 12 - Decedents’ Estates and Fiduciary Relations
(3) Multiple owners-primary and secondary (substituted) beneficiaries: John S. Brown, Mary B. Brown, JT TEN TOD John S. Brown,
Jr. SUB BENE Peter Q. Brown or John S. Brown, Mary B. Brown JT TEN TOD John S. Brown, Jr. LDPS.
(70 Del. Laws, c. 394, § 1.)
§ 811 Short title.
This chapter shall be known as and may be cited as the “Uniform TOD Security Registration Act.”
(70 Del. Laws, c. 394, § 1.)
§ 812 Application of chapter.
This chapter applies to registrations of securities in beneficiary form made before or after June 26, 1996, by decedents dying on or
after June 26, 1996.
(70 Del. Laws, c. 394, § 1.)
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Title 12 - Decedents’ Estates and Fiduciary Relations
Part III
Descent and Distribution; Escheat
Chapter 9
Elective Share
§ 901 Right to elective share.
(a) If a married person domiciled in this State dies, the surviving spouse has a right of election to take an elective share of an amount
equal to one third of the elective estate, less the amount of all transfers to the surviving spouse by the decedent, under the limitations and
conditions hereinafter stated. The elective share may be satisfied in cash or in kind, or partly in each. Assets distributed in satisfaction
of the elective share shall be valued at date of distribution.
(b) In determining the elective share under subsection (a) of this section or in the case of the death of a married person not domiciled
in this State, the right, if any, of the surviving spouse to take an elective share in real or tangible personal property shall be governed
by the law of the situs of such property.
(59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 65 Del. Laws, c. 428, § 1; 67 Del. Laws, c. 240, § 1; 74 Del. Laws, c. 271, § 1.)
§ 902 Elective estate defined.
(a) The elective estate means the amount of the decedent’s gross estate for federal estate tax purposes, regardless of whether or not a
federal estate tax return is filed for the decedent, modified as follows:
(1) Less those deductions allowable under §§ 2053 and 2054 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended [26 U.S.C. §§ 2053
and 2054], or the comparable provisions of any later law (“the Code”); and
(2) The extent of the inclusion in the decedent’s gross estate for federal estate tax purposes of certain joint interests of the decedent
and the surviving spouse under § 2040(b) of the Code [26 U.S.C. § 2040(b)] shall be modified as follows: the decedent’s gross estate
for federal estate tax purposes shall include one half of any interest in property created at any time, including interests created before
January 1, 1977, held by the decedent and the surviving spouse as:
a. Tenants by the entirety, or
b. Joint tenants with right of survivorship, but only if the decedent and the surviving spouse are the only joint tenants.
(b) For purposes of this chapter, if the federal estate tax is not applicable, because of its permanent or temporary repeal, to the estates
of persons dying on the date of the decedent’s death, any reference in this chapter to “the Code” as defined in paragraph (a)(1) of this
section, “federal estate tax purposes”, and to other terms dependent upon the federal estate tax provisions of the Code shall be deemed
to refer to the provisions of the Code in effect on the last date on which the federal estate tax was applicable to the estates of persons
dying before the date of the decedent’s death.
(c) In every case where an elective share petition has been filed, the personal representative of the estate shall prepare a Form 706
(United States Estate Tax Return) for the estate, regardless of whether such form is required to be filed. If such form is not required to
be filed because of the permanent or temporary repeal of the federal estate tax, the personal representative shall use in such preparation
the Form 706, or its equivalent form, last authorized by the Internal Revenue Service before the repeal became effective. A copy of the
form must be provided to the surviving spouse by the latest of the following dates:
(1) The due date for the Form 706, as extended;
(2) If a Form 706 or an equivalent form is not required to be filed, whether or not because of the permanent or temporary repeal of
the federal estate tax, 15 months from the date of the decedent’s death; or
(3) Three months after the elective share petition has been timely filed.
(59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 67 Del. Laws, c. 240, § 2; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1; 71 Del. Laws, c. 353, § 3; 76 Del. Laws, c. 150,
§§ 1-3.)
§ 903 Transfers to surviving spouse by decedent.
The value of the property transferred to the surviving spouse by the decedent for purposes of § 901(a) of this title is an amount which
equals the value of the property derived from the decedent by virtue of death. For purposes of this section:
(1) Property derived from the decedent by virtue of death shall be:
a. Property which is a part of the decedent’s estate which passes to the surviving spouse by testate or intestate succession;
b. Any property transferred to the surviving spouse by the decedent during the decedent’s lifetime and includable in the decedent’s
gross estate under § 2036 of the Code [26 U.S.C. § 2036];
c. One half of any interest in property created at any time, including interests created before January 1, 1977, held by the decedent
and the surviving spouse as:
1. Tenants by the entirety, or
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Title 12 - Decedents’ Estates and Fiduciary Relations
2. Joint tenants with right of survivorship, but only if the decedent and the surviving spouse are the only joint tenants;
d. Any beneficial interest of the surviving spouse in a trust created by the decedent during the decedent’s lifetime or under the
decedent’s will;
e. Any property appointed to the spouse by the decedent’s exercise of a general or special power of appointment;
f. Any lump sum immediately payable to the surviving spouse and the present value of amounts payable to the surviving spouse
in the future, under any trust, contract or other arrangement, which are attributable to proceeds of insurance, including accidental
death benefits, on the life of the decedent and includible in the decedent’s gross estate for federal estate tax purposes;
g. Any lump sum immediately payable to the surviving spouse and the present value of amounts payable to the surviving spouse
in the future under annuity contracts under which the decedent was the primary annuitant; under any public or private plan or
arrangement for the payment of pension or other retirement benefits, disability compensation, death benefits, salary continuation,
or deferred compensation; and under any individual retirement account, but not including payments to the surviving spouse under
the federal Social Security system or any other similar state or federal retirement system providing an individual right to a surviving
spouse to receive payments as a result of the decedent’s death;
h. Any lump sum immediately payable to the surviving spouse and the present value of amounts payable to the surviving spouse
in the future, under any trust, contract or other arrangement, which are attributable to property transferred by the decedent during
the decedent’s lifetime; and
i. The value of the share of the surviving spouse resulting from rights in community property owned by the decedent in this or
any other state.
(2) Property owned by the spouse at the decedent’s death is valued as of the date it is valued for purposes of computing the elective
estate. Income earned by included property prior to the decedent’s death is not treated as property derived from the decedent.
(3) For purposes of this section, property or an interest in property considered derived from the decedent by virtue of death which
has been disclaimed or renounced by the surviving spouse shall be deemed not to have been disclaimed or renounced for the purpose
of computing the value of the property transferred to the surviving spouse under this chapter, subject to the following:
a. If the surviving spouse is the primary beneficiary of an interest in a trust that:
1. Does not qualify for the marital deduction for federal estate tax purposes, whether or not an election is made to qualify the
trust for a marital deduction for federal estate tax purposes under the Code, and
2. Does not provide the surviving spouse with amounts payable in the future for which a present value can be determined as
of the date of the decedent’s death,
any interest in the trust that the surviving spouse disclaims or renounces shall not be considered derived by the surviving spouse
from the decedent under paragraph (1) of this section.
b. The surviving spouse shall be considered the primary beneficiary of a trust if:
1. The surviving spouse is designated as the primary beneficiary in the trust’s governing instrument;
2. There are no other beneficiaries of the trust entitled to distributions from the trust during the surviving spouse’s lifetime; or
3. There are other beneficiaries of the trust entitled to discretionary distributions from the trust during the surviving spouse’s
lifetime, but the discretionary distributions can be made only after taking into consideration the interest of the surviving spouse,
and if the discretionary distributions are based on an ascertainable standard.
(59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 67 Del. Laws, c. 240, § 3; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1; 76 Del. Laws, c. 150, §§ 4-11.)
§ 904 Right of election personal to surviving spouse.
The right of election of the surviving spouse may be exercised only during the spouse’s lifetime; provided the personal representative
of the spouse’s estate shall succeed to the surviving spouse’s rights under a right of election exercised by the spouse. In the case of a
protected person, the right of election may be exercised only by order of the court in which protective proceedings as to the protected
person’s property are pending, after finding that exercise is necessary to provide adequate support for the protected person during a
probable life expectancy. For purposes of this section a “protected person” is a minor or other person for whom a guardian or trustee has
been appointed or other protective order has been made.
(59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 67 Del. Laws, c. 240, § 4; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1.)
§ 905 Waiver of right to elect and of other rights.
The right of election of a surviving spouse may be waived, wholly or partially, before or after marriage, by a written contract, agreement
or waiver signed by the party waiving. Unless it provides to the contrary, a waiver of “all rights” (or equivalent language) in the property or
estate of a present or prospective spouse or a complete property settlement entered into, after or in anticipation of separation or divorce is a
waiver of all rights to the elective share by each spouse in the property of the other and a renunciation by each of all benefits which would
otherwise pass to each from the other by intestate succession or by virtue of any will executed before the waiver or property settlement.
(59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 67 Del. Laws, c. 240, § 5; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1.)
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§ 906 Proceeding for elective share; time limit.
(a) The surviving spouse may elect to take an elective share in the elective estate by filing in the Court of Chancery and mailing or
delivering to the personal representative a petition for the elective share within 6 months after the grant of letters testamentary or of
administration. The Court, upon petition, may extend the time for election as it sees fit for cause shown by the surviving spouse before
the time for election has expired.
(b) The surviving spouse shall give at least 10 days’ notice by certified mail of the time and place set for hearing to persons interested
in the estate and to the distributees and recipients of portions of the elective estate whose interests will be adversely affected by the taking
of the elective share.
(c) The surviving spouse may withdraw demand for an elective share at any time before entry of a final determination by the Court
of Chancery.
(d) After notice and hearing, the Court of Chancery shall determine the amount of the elective share and shall enter a judgment and
order apportioning the liability for the amount of the elective share among the recipients of the contributing estate and directing payment
of such liability as provided in § 908(a) of this title. If it appears that a fund or property included in the elective estate has not come into
the possession of the personal representative, or has been distributed by the personal representative, the Court nevertheless shall fix the
liability of any person who has any interest in the property or who has possession thereof, whether as trustee or otherwise.
(e) The order or judgment of the Court of Chancery may be enforced as necessary in suit for contribution or payment in other courts
of this State or other jurisdictions.
(f) The Court of Chancery on petition of a surviving spouse may restrain any person from making a payment or transfer of property
which constitutes part of the contributing estate, either before or after a petition for an elective share is filed.
(g) No transferee of, or holder of a lien against, real property comprising part of the contributing estate shall be liable to a surviving
spouse if the transferee or lienholder has given bona fide consideration to the recipient of such real property from the decedent unless a
certified copy of the judgment, order or decree of the Court of Chancery providing to the contrary with respect to such real property has
been recorded in the office for the recording of deeds in the county where the real property is located prior to the recordation of the deed,
mortgage or other instrument transferring, or creating the lien against, such real property. The recording of any such judgment, order or
decree shall be indexed in the grantor’s index under the names of the decedent and the recipient of such real property from the decedent.
(59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 67 Del. Laws, c. 240, § 6; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1.)
§ 907 Effect of election on benefits derived from decedent.
(a) The surviving spouse’s election of an elective share does not affect the share of the surviving spouse under any provisions made for
the surviving spouse under the decedent’s will, any trust established by the decedent, or the intestate succession laws unless the surviving
spouse also either expressly disclaims the benefit of all or any of the provisions in accordance with Chapter 6 of this title, or expressly
renounces in the petition for an elective share the benefit of all or any of the provisions. If any provision is so disclaimed or renounced,
the property or other benefit which would otherwise have passed to the surviving spouse thereunder is treated, subject to contribution
under § 908(a) of this title, as if the surviving spouse had predeceased the decedent for all purposes, except that such property or other
benefit disclaimed or renounced by the surviving spouse shall nonetheless be deemed to be property transferred to the surviving spouse
by the decedent to the extent specified in §§ 903 and 901(a) of this title.
(b) A surviving spouse is entitled to the surviving spouse’s allowance whether or not the surviving spouse elects to take an elective share.
(59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 67 Del. Laws, c. 240, § 7; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1; 77 Del. Laws, c. 98, § 2.)
§ 908 Liability for elective share.
(a) The liability for the amount of the elective share shall be apportioned among the recipients of “the decedent’s contributing estate” (as
defined in subsection (b) of this section). Such apportionment shall be made in the proportion, as near as may be, that the value of the
property of each such recipient bears to the total value of the property received by all such recipients interested in the contributing estate,
provided that in any case where a person is given an interest in income or an estate for years, or for life, or other temporary interest in
any property, the liability for the elective share on both such temporary interest and on the remainder thereafter shall not be apportioned
between or among the recipients of such interest but shall be charged in rem against and paid out of the corpus of such property without
apportionment between remainders and temporary estates. Until it is paid or satisfied the surviving spouse’s elective share shall be a
proportionate charge against the properties constituting the decedent’s contributing estate based upon the values of all such property for
purposes of determining the elective estate. No person or property shall be liable for contribution in any greater amount than the person
or such property would have been if relief had been secured against all persons and property subject to contribution.
(b) For purposes of this section, the decedent’s contributing estate consists of only that portion of the elective estate of which the
decedent was the sole owner at death and which was not transferred or deemed transferred to a surviving spouse by the decedent as
described in § 903(1) of this title. The decedent’s contributing estate does not include any jointly owned property with the right of
survivorship of which the decedent was a joint owner, any insurance proceeds which are payable to a beneficiary other than to the estate,
or any property held in trust.
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Title 12 - Decedents’ Estates and Fiduciary Relations
(c) A recipient of property comprising part of the contributing estate may pay a proportionate elective share liability with respect to
such property or may choose to give up such property, thereby relieving personal liability. If a recipient elects to give up such property the
recipient shall be entitled to any value realized upon the sale or other disposition of such property in excess of the recipient’s proportionate
elective share liability.
(59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 67 Del. Laws, c. 240, § 8; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1.)
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Title 12 - Decedents’ Estates and Fiduciary Relations
Part III
Descent and Distribution; Escheat
Chapter 11
Escheats
Subchapter I
Intestate Property
§ 1101 Escheat of estates.
If any person, being at the time of death seized or possessed of any real or personal estate within this State, dies intestate, without
heirs or any known kindred who can inherit and hold the intestate’s estate, such estate is escheat to the State, subject to all legal demands
on the same.
(Code 1852, § 1587; Code 1915, § 123; Code 1935, § 112; 42 Del. Laws, c. 57, § 1; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 1101; 49 Del. Laws, c. 51;
60 Del. Laws, c. 292, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1.)
§ 1102 Escheator of the State.
There shall be an Escheator of the State, who shall be the Secretary of Finance or the Secretary’s delegate. The administration and
enforcement of this chapter are vested in the Secretary of Finance or the Secretary’s delegate.
(Code 1852, § 1588; Code 1915, § 124; Code 1935, § 113; 42 Del. Laws, c. 57, § 1; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 1102; 57 Del. Laws, c.
741, § 48A; 60 Del. Laws, c. 292, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1; 81 Del. Laws, c. 1, § 1.)
§ 1103 Suit to determine escheat.
(a) Filing suit. — The Escheator, upon personal knowledge or upon receipt of information of any person dying intestate and without
heirs or any known kindred who can inherit and hold the intestate property within this State, of which at the time of death such person
was seized or possessed, and which has not previously been escheated to the State by order of the Probate Court, shall cause to be filed
a suit in the Court of Chancery of the State in the county wherein such property is located (or if located in more than 1 county in any
such county) to inquire whether, as shall be alleged, the person has died without heirs or any known kindred who can inherit and hold
the estate, and whether such person was, at the time of death, seized or possessed of any and what estate, real or personal, in the county
or counties, and also in whose possession the same shall be.
(b) Notice of Court action. — Upon filing suit in the Court of Chancery, the Escheator shall cause to be published at least once a week
for 3 consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the county or counties wherein such property is located, notice that the
State has filed suit in the Court of Chancery to secure an order that the decedent’s property has escheated to the State due to failure of
heirs or next of kin qualified to inherit such property.
Said notice shall invite any person having a valid claim to the intestate property of the decedent to file written notice of such claim with
the Court of Chancery within 30 days of the date of the third and final publication notice. The Escheator shall also cause similar notice to
be posted at the site of any real property the decedent may have owned, and give similar notice by registered mail to all persons known
to the Escheator to be in actual possession of the decedent’s property.
(Code 1852, § 1590; Code 1915, § 126; Code 1935, § 115; 42 Del. Laws, c. 57, § 1; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 1103; 60 Del. Laws, c.
292, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1.)
§ 1104 Final hearing and order.
After the required notice has been given, a hearing shall be scheduled by the Court of Chancery at which all claimants may present
evidence in support of their respective claims. If the Court finds that the conditions for escheat have been met, the Court shall issue an
order that the decedent’s property escheated to the State as of the date of death. If the Court finds that the conditions for escheat have not
been met, the State’s petition shall be dismissed and the decedent’s property shall be disposed of as otherwise provided by law.
(Code 1852, § 1591; Code 1915, § 127; Code 1935, § 116; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 1104; 60 Del. Laws, c. 292, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c.
186, § 1.)
§ 1105 Presumption of death.
If any person is absent from the State for 7 consecutive years, and no evident proof is made of the person’s life in any hearing held
under the foregoing provisions of this subchapter, the person shall be accounted dead.
(Code 1852, § 1592; Code 1915, § 128; Code 1935, § 117; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 1105; 60 Del. Laws, c. 292, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c.
186, § 1.)
§ 1106 Seizure of escheated personalty.
If, after hearing as provided herein, the Court finds that goods and chattels have escheated to the State and that said goods and chattels
are not in the possession of the Court or the Escheator, the Escheator shall issue a writ, directed to the sheriff of the county, commanding
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Title 12 - Decedents’ Estates and Fiduciary Relations
the sheriff to seize, attach and secure such escheated goods and chattels, in whose hands the same are found, or if it is found at the aforesaid
hearing that the goods and chattels or any part thereof have been eloigned, then to seize and attach so much of the goods and chattels of
the person who has eloigned the same as shall be equal in value to the goods and chattels which the person eloigned.
(Code 1852, § 1593; Code 1915, § 129; Code 1935, § 118; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 1106; 60 Del. Laws, c. 292, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c.
186, § 1.)
§ 1107 Sale of seized property by sheriff.
The sheriff shall sell the goods and chattels seized and attached in accordance with this subchapter at public auction, after notice as
in the case of sale of goods and chattels under execution process and shall, without delay, pay over the proceeds, thence arising to the
Escheator for deposit in the General Fund. The sheriff shall be accountable, as in other cases, to the Escheator for money which by virtue
of this section, shall come into the sheriff’s hands.
(Code 1852, § 1594; Code 1915, § 130; Code 1935, § 119; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 1107; 57 Del. Laws, c. 741, § 48B; 60 Del. Laws,
c. 292, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1.)
§ 1108 Return of writ of seizure.
(a) The writ prescribed in § 1106 of this title shall be duly returned to the Escheator, with an inventory and appraisement of the goods
and chattels seized and attached by virtue thereof, and an account of the sale.
(b) The Escheator shall immediately upon receiving the writ transmit a duly certified copy thereof, and of the return, inventory and
appraisement and account of sale to the Secretary of Finance and the State Treasurer.
(Code 1852, §§ 1595, 1596; Code 1915, §§ 131, 132; Code 1935, §§ 120, 121; 12 Del. C. 1953, §§ 1108, 1109; 60 Del. Laws, c.
292, § 1.)
§ 1109 Lease, retention or sale of real property.
If, after hearing under this subchapter, the Court finds that real property has escheated to the State, the Escheator, subject to the approval
of the Governor, may lease such property upon a reasonable rent therefor, or retain such property for the benefit and use of the State. If
the real property is not leased or retained, the Escheator shall sell such property, at public auction, upon like public notice as required
by law for the sale of lands under execution process.
(Code 1852, § 1597; Code 1915, § 133; Code 1935, § 122; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 1110; 60 Del. Laws, c. 292, § 1.)
§ 1110 Conveyance of realty to purchaser after sale.
Immediately after sale under § 1109 of this title, the Escheator shall certify the same to the Governor, who, on filing such certificate
in the office of the Secretary of State, together with a receipt from the State Treasurer for the price of the lands, shall, by and under the
great seal, grant the lands and tenements to the purchaser thereof, to hold to the purchaser, the purchaser’s heirs and assigns forever.
(Code 1852, § 1602; Code 1915, § 138; Code 1935, § 127; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 1115; 57 Del. Laws, c. 741, § 48B; 60 Del. Laws,
c. 292, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1.)
§ 1111 Nature of title of purchaser of realty.
The title conveyed by virtue of a deed under § 1110 of this title shall be subject to any reversion, remainder, lease, rent, mortgage or
encumbrance of the lands to which they were respectively subject prior to escheat as determined by the Court of Chancery at the hearing;
in default of presentment at the hearing, such claims shall forever be barred.
(Code 1852, § 1603; Code 1915, § 139; Code 1935, § 128; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 1116; 60 Del. Laws, c. 292, § 1.)
§ 1112 Proceeds of sale.
The Escheator shall pay over the proceeds received from the sale or disposition of all escheated intestate property, real or personal,
to the State Treasurer for deposit in the General Fund.
(60 Del. Laws, c. 292, § 1.)
§ 1113 Claims to proceeds of sale.
Any person who did not participate in or receive actual notice of the hearing provided by § 1104 of this title shall have the right within
2 years of the date of sale of any property under this subchapter to file a claim by way of petition in the Court of Chancery, to all or any
portion of the escheated property. If such claim is established and allowed by the Court, such person shall be entitled to receive from the
State Treasurer, under a warrant for the same signed by the Secretary of Finance, all such proceeds as the State shall have received on
the sale of such property or portion thereof, after all charges thereon are deducted, or all escheated property, real or personal, still held
by the State, subject to paying all costs of the escheat.
(Code 1852, §§ 1604, 1605; Code 1915, §§ 140, 141; Code 1935, §§ 129, 130; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 1117; 49 Del. Laws, c. 57, § 1;
57 Del. Laws, c. 741, § 48B; 60 Del. Laws, c. 292, § 1.)
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Title 12 - Decedents’ Estates and Fiduciary Relations
§ 1114 Recovery of credits or property of the intestate not included in the Court’s initial escheat order.
If any person, at the death of any intestate, shall be indebted to the intestate, or if any part of such estate, real or personal, was not
mentioned and included in the Court’s initial escheat order, be in the possession of any person, the same shall be recovered to the use of
the State by such action as the case may require, in which proceedings the initial escheat order touching the estate of such intestate shall
be admissible evidence to prove that the intestate died without heirs or known kindred.
(Code 1852, § 1606; Code 1915, § 142; Code 1935, § 131; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 1118; 60 Del. Laws, c. 292, § 1.)
§ 1115 Expenses of Escheator.
The Escheator may, from time to time, draw a warrant upon the State Treasurer for sums necessary to pay the expenses of the
enforcement of this subchapter, which warrants, when approved by the Secretary of Finance, shall be paid by the Treasurer out of the
General Fund of the State.
(Code 1935, § 133; 42 Del. Laws, c. 57, § 1; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 1120; 57 Del. Laws, c. 741, § 48B; 60 Del. Laws, c. 292, § 1; 70
Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1.)
§ 1116 Conveyance of certain escheated real property previously owned by a religious body.
The Secretary of State shall convey to a properly organized corporation of this State whatever title the State may have in any real
property which was formerly held by or for a religious body and which has or may have escheated provided that:
(1) The Secretary is satisfied that the grantee corporation is the proper successor to the body previously holding equitable or legal
title to the property;
(2) A certified copy of the recorded certificate of incorporation of the grantee corporation is provided;
(3) Prior notice of any such proposed conveyance is given by registered mail to the record title holders where known; and
(4) Notice of such proposed conveyance is published in a newspaper of general circulation in the county where the property is situated
each week for 3 weeks prior to the execution of the conveyance.
All expenses of such conveyance and notices shall be paid by the grantee corporation.
(Code 1852, § 1587; Code 1915, § 123; Code 1935, § 112; 42 Del. Laws, c. 57, § 1; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 1101; 49 Del. Laws, c. 51;
60 Del. Laws, c. 292, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1.)
Subchapter II
Unclaimed Property
§ 1130 Definitions.
As used in this chapter:
(1) “Audit Manager” means the Abandoned Property Audit Manager of the Delaware Department of Finance.
(2) “Banking organization” includes any organization, corporation, or association organized and existing under Chapter 7, 15, or 17
of Title 5 or the corresponding provisions of statutes in effect prior to February 12, 1953, or any bank or credit union created under
the laws of the United States or any state.
(3) “Business association” means a for profit or nonprofit corporation, joint stock company, investment company, partnership,
unincorporated association, joint venture, limited liability company, business trust, trust company, land bank, safe deposit company,
safekeeping depository, financial organization, insurance company, federally chartered entity, utility, sole proprietorship, or other
business entity.
(4) “Domicile” means as follows:
a. For a corporation, the state of its incorporation.
b. For a business association, other than a corporation, whose formation or organization requires a filing with a state, the state
of its filing.
c. For a federally chartered entity, the state of its home office.
(5) “Electronic” means relating to technology having electrical, digital, magnetic, wireless, optical, electromagnetic, or similar
capabilities.
(6) “Financial organization” means a savings and loan association, building and loan association, savings bank, industrial bank,
bank, banking organization, or credit union.
(7) “General Fund” means the General Fund described in § 6102 of Title 29.
(8) “Gift card” means a record that may be used to obtain merchandise, goods, or services at a single retailer of goods or services
or an affiliated group of retailers of goods or services.
(9) “Holder” means any person having possession, custody, or control of the property of another person and includes a post office,
a depository, a bailee, a trustee, a receiver or other liquidating officer, a fiduciary, a governmental department, institution or agency, a
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Title 12 - Decedents’ Estates and Fiduciary Relations
municipal corporation and the fiscal officers thereof, a public utility, service corporation, and every other legal entity incorporated or
created under the laws of this State or doing business in this State. For purposes of this chapter, the issuer of any intangible ownership
interest in a corporation, whether or not represented by a stock certificate, which is registered on stock transfer or other like books of
the issuer or its agent, is a holder of such property. This definition shall be construed as distinguishing the term “holder” of property
from the term “owner” of property, as “owner” is defined in this section, and as excluding from the term “holder” any person holding
or possessing property by virtue of title or ownership.
(10) “Insurance company” means an association, corporation, or fraternal or mutual-benefit organization, whether or not for
profit, engaged in the business of providing life endowments, annuities, or insurance, including accident, burial, casualty, credit-life,
contract-performance, dental, disability, fidelity, fire, health, hospitalization, illness, life, malpractice, marine, mortgage, surety, wageprotection, and worker-compensation insurance.
(11) “Loyalty card” means a record given without direct monetary consideration under an award, reward, benefit, loyalty, incentive,
rebate, or promotional program that may be used or redeemed only to obtain goods or services or a discount on goods or services. The
term does not include a record that may be redeemed for money or otherwise monetized by the issuer.
(12) “Mineral” means gas, oil, coal, oil shale, other gaseous liquid or solid hydrocarbon, cement material, sand and gravel, road
material, building stone, chemical raw material, gemstone, fissionable and nonfissionable ores, colloidal and other clay, steam and
other geothermal resources, and any other substance defined as a mineral by law of this State other than this chapter.
(13) “Mineral proceeds” means an amount payable for extraction, production, or sale of minerals, or, on the abandonment of the
amount, the amount that becomes payable after abandonment. The term includes an amount payable as follows:
a. For the acquisition and retention of a mineral lease, including a bonus, royalty, compensatory royalty, shut-in royalty, minimum
royalty, and delay rental.
b. For the extraction, production, or sale of minerals, including a net revenue interest, royalty, overriding royalty, extraction
payment, and production payment.
c. Under an agreement or option, including a joint operating agreement, unit agreement, pooling agreement, and farm out
agreement.
(14) “Municipal bond” means a bond or evidence of indebtedness issued by a municipality or other political subdivision of a state.
(15) “Nonfreely transferable security” means a security that cannot be delivered to the State Escheator by the Depository Trust
Clearing Corporation or a similar custodian of securities providing post-trade clearing and settlement services to financial markets or
cannot be delivered because there is no agent to effect transfer. The term includes a worthless security.
(16) “Owner” means a person, or the person’s legal representative when acting on behalf of the person, that has a legal, beneficial,
or equitable interest in property subject to this chapter. The term includes all of the following:
a. A depositor, for a deposit.
b. A beneficiary, for a trust other than a deposit in trust.
c. A creditor, claimant, or payee, for other property.
d. The lawful bearer of a record that may be used to obtain money, a reward, or a thing of value.
(17) “Person” means an individual; estate; business association; public corporation; government or governmental subdivision,
agency, or instrumentality; or other legal entity.
(18) “Property” means tangible property described in § 1134 of this title or a fixed and certain interest in intangible property held,
issued, or owed in the course of a holder’s business or by a government, governmental subdivision, agency, or instrumentality. The term:
a. Includes all income from or increments to the property.
b. Includes property referred to as or evidenced by any of the following:
1. Money, interest, dividend, a check, draft, or deposit.
2. A credit balance, customer’s overpayment, gift card, stored-value card, security deposit, refund, credit memorandum, unpaid
wage, unused ticket for which the issuer has an obligation to provide a refund, pari-mutuel ticket, mineral proceeds, or unidentified
remittance.
3. A security, bond, debenture, note, or other evidence of indebtedness.
4. Money deposited to redeem a security, make a distribution, or pay a dividend.
5. An amount due and payable under the terms of an annuity contract or insurance policy.
6. An amount distributable from a trust or custodial fund established under a plan to provide health, welfare, pension, vacation,
severance, retirement, death, stock purchase, profit-sharing, employee-savings, supplemental-unemployment insurance, or similar
benefits.
c. Does not include any of the following:
1. “Uninvoiced payables,” as defined in this section. Nothing in this section shall be construed to create a business-to-business
exemption of any kind regardless of whether a current business relationship exists between the holder and the owner.
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Title 12 - Decedents’ Estates and Fiduciary Relations
2. “Nonescheat capital credits,” as defined in § 909 of Title 26.
3. Layaway accounts issued or maintained by any person in the business of selling tangible personal property at retail.
4. A loyalty card.
(19) “Record” means information that is inscribed on a tangible medium or that is stored in an electronic or other medium and is
retrievable in perceivable form.
(20) “Security” means any of the following:
a. A share, participation, debt obligation or similar interest issued by a corporation, business trust, joint stock company, or similar
entity.
b. A share or similar equity interest issued by an entity that is registered as an investment company under the federal investment
company laws.
c. An interest in a unit investment trust that is so registered.
d. A face-amount certificate issued by a face-amount certificate company that is so registered.
e. An interest in a partnership or limited liability company that is dealt in or traded on securities exchanges or in securities markets.
f. All financial assets maintained in an account, but not the physical securities held in a safe deposit box or other safekeeping
repository.
(21) “Sign” means to do 1 of the following with present intent to authenticate or adopt a record:
a. Execute or adopt a tangible symbol.
b. Attach to or logically associate with the record an electronic symbol, sound, or process.
(22) “State” means a state of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin
Islands, or any territory or insular possession subject to the jurisdiction of the United States.
(23) “State Escheator” means the person responsible for the administration and enforcement of this chapter, as established by § 1102
of this title and § 363 of Title 30.
(24) “Stored-value card” means a record that evidences a promise for consideration by the holder of the record that the owner of
the record will be provided, solely or a combination of, merchandise, services, or cash in the value shown in the record, which is prefunded and the value of which may be increased by the owner or holder or decreased by redemption.
(25) “Uninvoiced payables” means amounts due “between merchants,” as defined in § 2-104 of Title 6, from a holder who is a
buyer to a creditor who is the seller of goods ordered by a holder in the ordinary course of business when the goods were received
and accepted by the holder, but which for any reason were never invoiced by the seller. “Uninvoiced payables” include the value of
goods received by a holder from a seller from out of balance transactions where the holder’s purchase order for goods and the amount
of goods received by the holder do not match. “Uninvoiced payables” include unsolicited goods received by a holder from a seller that
fall within § 2505 of Title 6. “Uninvoiced payables” do not include accounts payable, accounts receivable, or any other type of credit
or amount due to the creditor, including uncashed checks of any kind whatsoever whether relating to inventory, goods, or services, and
all of these types of property are still reportable as unclaimed property.
(26) “Utility” means a person that owns or operates for public use a plant, equipment, real property, franchise, or license for any
the following public services:
a. Transmission of communications or information.
b. Production, storage, transmission, sale, delivery, or furnishing of electricity, water, steam, or gas.
c. Provision of sewage and septic services, or trash, garbage, or recycling disposal.
(27) “Worthless security” means a security whose cost of liquidation and delivery would exceed the value of the security on the
date a report is due under this chapter.
(12 Del. C. 1953, § 1130; 50 Del. Laws, c. 507, § 1; 67 Del. Laws, c. 267, § 3; 70 Del. Laws, c. 298, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 327, §
49; 81 Del. Laws, c. 1, § 2.)
§ 1131 Inapplicability to wholly foreign transaction.
This chapter does not apply to property held, due, and owing in a foreign country if the transaction involving the property was a wholly
foreign transaction.
(81 Del. Laws, c. 1, § 2.)
§ 1132 Rule-making.
Except as provided in §§ 1167, 1173(a), and 1176(b) of this title, the State Escheator may make such rules and regulations as the State
Escheator may deem necessary to administer and enforce this chapter.
(12 Del. C. 1953, § 1154; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 1208; 50 Del. Laws, c. 507, § 1; 58 Del. Laws, c. 426, § 13; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, §
1; 81 Del. Laws, c. 1, § 2.)
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§ 1133 When property presumed abandoned.
Subject to § 1136 of this title, property is presumed abandoned if it is unclaimed by the owner at the time specified for the following
property:
(1) A traveler’s check, 15 years after issuance.
(2) A money order, 5 years after issuance.
(3) A bearer bond or an original-issue-discount bond, 5 years after the earliest of the date the bond matures or is called or the
obligation to pay the principal of the bond arises.
(4) Interest on debt of a business association, 5 years after the obligation to pay arises.
(5) A demand, savings, or time deposit, including a deposit that is automatically renewable, 5 years after the earlier of maturity or the
date of the last indication of interest in the property by the owner, except a deposit that is automatically renewable is deemed matured on
its initial date of maturity unless the owner consented in a record on file with the holder to a renewal at or about the time of the renewal.
(6) Money or credits owed to a customer as a result of a retail business transaction, 5 years after the obligation arose.
(7) a. An amount owed by an insurance company on a life or endowment insurance policy or an annuity contract that has matured
or terminated, upon 1 of the following:
1. Five years after knowledge of death of the insured.
2. One year after the date the insured has attained, or would have attained if living, the limiting age under the mortality table on
which the reserve is based in the case of a policy or annuity payable upon death where the obligation to pay did not arise under
paragraph (7)a.1. of this section.
b. For purposes of this paragraph (7) of this section:
1. “Death master file” means the United States Social Security Administration’s death master file or other database or service
that is at least as comprehensive as that file for determining that a person has died.
2. “Knowledge of death” means either of the following:
A. Receipt of an original or valid copy of a certified death certificate.
B. A death master file match validated by the insurer based on a good faith effort within 90 days of notice of the death
master file match.
(8) Property distributable by a business association in the course of dissolution, 5 years after the property becomes distributable.
(9) Property held by a court, including property received as proceeds of a class action, 5 years after the property becomes distributable.
(10) Property held by a government or governmental subdivision, agency, or instrumentality, including state and municipal bond
interest and unredeemed principal under the administration of a paying agent or indenture trustee, 5 years after the property becomes
distributable.
(11) Wages, including commissions, bonuses, or reimbursements to which an employee is entitled, or other compensation for personal
services, 5 years after the amount becomes payable.
(12) A deposit or refund owed to a subscriber by a utility, 5 years after the deposit or refund becomes payable.
(13) A security 3 years after the last indication of interest in the property.
(14) A stored-value card or gift card, 5 years after the later of the date of purchase, the addition of funds to the stored-value card
or gift card, a verification of the balance by the owner, or the last indication of interest in the property. For a stored-value card or
gift card, the amount unclaimed is the amount representing the maximum cost to the issuer of the merchandise, goods, or services
represented by the card.
(15) Property in an individual retirement account that is qualified for tax deferral under the income tax laws of the United States,
upon the earlier of the following:
a. Three years after the owner’s last indication of interest in the account following the date specified in the income tax laws of the
United States by which distribution of the property must begin in order to avoid a tax penalty.
b. Three years after knowledge of the death of the account owner that been confirmed by the holder in its ordinary course of
business, unless a beneficiary of the account has indicated an interest in the account within 3 years after the date of death. For
purposes of this paragraph (15)b. of this section, “knowledge of the death” is as described in § 1137 of this title.
(16) Sums held for the payment of outstanding pari-mutuel tickets from the meet, 1 year following the last day of the meet.
(17) All other property not specified in this section or § 1134 of this title, the earlier of 5 years after the owner first has a right to
demand the property or the obligation to pay or distribute the property arises.
(81 Del. Laws, c. 1, § 2.)
§ 1134 When contents of safe deposit box presumed abandoned.
Proceeds from a sale of tangible property held in a safe deposit box by the holder permitted by law of this State other than this chapter
are presumed abandoned if the property remains unclaimed by the owner 5 years after the earlier of 1 of the following:
(1) The expiration of the lease or rental period for the box.
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Title 12 - Decedents’ Estates and Fiduciary Relations
(2) The earliest date when the lessor of the box is authorized by law of this State other than this chapter to enter the box and remove
or dispose of the contents without consent or authorization of the lessee.
(81 Del. Laws, c. 1, § 2.)
§ 1135 When related property interest presumed abandoned.
At the time an interest is presumed abandoned under this chapter, any other property right accrued or accruing to the owner as a result
of the interest, and not previously presumed abandoned, is also presumed abandoned.
(81 Del. Laws, c. 1, § 2.)
§ 1136 Indication of owner interest in property.
(a) Property is not presumed abandoned if the owner indicates an interest in the property during the applicable periods in this chapter.
(b) An indication of an owner’s interest in property includes any of the following:
(1) A record communicated by the owner to the holder or agent of the holder concerning the property or the account in which the
property is held.
(2) An oral communication by the owner to the holder or agent of the holder concerning the property or the account in which the
property is held, if the holder or its agent contemporaneously makes and preserves a record of the fact of the owner’s communication.
(3) Presentment of a check or other instrument of payment of a dividend, interest payment, or other distribution.
(4) Activity directed by an owner in the account in which the property is held, including accessing the account or information
concerning the account, or a direction by the owner to increase, decrease, or otherwise change the amount or type of property held
in the account.
(5) Subject to subsection (d) of this section, payment of a premium on an insurance policy.
(c) A communication with an owner by a person other than the holder or the holder’s representative is not an indication of the owner’s
interest in the property unless a record of the communication evidences the owner’s knowledge of a right to the property.
(d) Application of an automatic-premium-loan provision or other nonforfeiture provision contained in an insurance policy is not an
indication of the insured’s interest in the policy and does not prevent the policy from maturing or terminating if the insured has died or
the insured or the beneficiary of the policy otherwise has become entitled to the proceeds before depletion of the cash surrender value
of the policy by application of the provision.
(e) If the property is either held within accounts established for automatic electronic deposit of dividends (“ACH Accounts”) or within
accounts established as part of a dividend reinvestment plan, including mutual fund accounts and brokerage accounts (collectively, “DRP
Accounts”), the mailing of an IRS Form 1099 relating to the investment or account by the holder or its agent to the owner that is not
returned to the holder or its agent by the United States Postal Service is an indication of the owner’s interest in the property.
(f) For purposes of a security where the last-known address of the owner is in a foreign country, an executed Form W-8 BEN from
the owner dated within 3 years of the end of any calendar year on file with the holder or its agent is an indication of the owner’s interest
in the property.
(g) If an owner has more than 1 investment or account with a holder, an indication of owner interest with respect to 1 investment or
account with that holder is an indication of the owner’s interest in all accounts of the owner with respect to that holder.
(81 Del. Laws, c. 1, § 2.)
§ 1137 Knowledge of death.
Knowledge of death regarding an owner’s interest in property may be identified through any source, including a declaration of death,
death certificate, a comparison of the holder’s records against the Social Security death master file, or other equivalent resources.
(81 Del. Laws, c. 1, § 2.)
§ 1138 Retained asset account for insurance policy or annuity contract.
If proceeds payable under a life or endowment insurance policy or annuity contract are deposited into an account with check or draft
writing privileges for the beneficiary of the policy or contract and the proceeds are retained by the insurance company or its agent under a
supplementary contract not involving annuity benefits other than death benefits, the policy or contract includes the assets in the account.
(81 Del. Laws, c. 1, § 2.)
§ 1139 Address of owner to establish priority.
(a) The last-known address of an owner is a description, code, or other indication of the location of the owner on the holder’s books
and records which identifies the state of the last-known address of the owner.
(b) The address of the owner of a life or endowment insurance policy or annuity contract or its proceeds is presumed to be the address
of the insured or annuitant if a person other than the insured or annuitant is entitled to the amount owed under the policy or contract and
the address of the other person is not known by the insurance company and cannot be determined under § 1140 of this title.
(12 Del. C. 1953, § 1162; 50 Del. Laws, c. 507, § 1; 58 Del. Laws, c. 451, § 1; 81 Del. Laws, c. 1, § 2.)
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Title 12 - Decedents’ Estates and Fiduciary Relations
§ 1140 Address of owner in this State.
The State Escheator may take custody of property that is presumed abandoned, whether located in this State or another state, or in a
foreign country if the last-known address of the owner, as shown on the records of the holder, is in this State.
(81 Del. Laws, c. 1, § 2.)
§ 1141 Holder domiciled in this State.
(a) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (b) of this section or § 1140 of this title, the State Escheator may take custody of property
presumed abandoned, whether located in this State, another state, or a foreign country, if the holder is domiciled in this State or is the
State or a governmental subdivision, agency, or instrumentality of this State, and any of the following circumstances are met:
(1) Another state is not entitled to the property because there is no last-known address in the records of the holder of the owner or
other person entitled to the property.
(2) The state of the last-known address of the owner or other person entitled to the property does not provide for custodial taking
of the property.
(3) The last-known address of the owner is in a foreign country.
(b) Property is not subject to custody of the State Escheator under subsection (a) of this section if the property is specifically exempt
from custodial taking under the law of this State or the state of the last-known address of the owner.
(c) If the holder’s state of domicile has changed since the time the property was presumed abandoned, the holder’s state of domicile in
this section is deemed to be the state where the holder was domiciled at the time the property was presumed abandoned.
(81 Del. Laws, c. 1, § 2.)
§ 1142 Report required by holder.
(a) A holder of property presumed abandoned and subject to the custody of the State Escheator shall file an annual report to the State
Escheator concerning the property. Beginning March 1, 2018, all reports under this section must be in a web-based record, and the State
Escheator may not accept any other medium or method for submitting the report.
(b) A holder may contract with a third party to make the report required under subsection (a) of this section.
(c) If a holder contracts with a third party under subsection (b) of this section, the holder is responsible to the State Escheator for all
of the following:
(1) The complete, accurate, and timely reporting of property presumed abandoned.
(2) Paying or delivering to the State Escheator property described in the report filed under this section.
(81 Del. Laws, c. 1, § 2.)
§ 1143 Content of report.
(a) The report required under § 1142 of this title must do all of the following:
(1) Be signed by or on behalf of the holder and verified as to its completeness and accuracy.
(2) Describe the property.
(3) Except for a traveler’s check or money order, contain the following information about the owner of the property: the name,
if known; the last-known address, if known; and the Social Security number or taxpayer identification number, if known or readily
ascertainable.
(4) For an amount held or owing under a life or endowment insurance policy or annuity contract, contain the full name and lastknown address of the insured, annuitant, or other owner of the policy or contract and of the beneficiary.
(5) Contain the commencement date for determining abandonment under § 1133 of this title.
(6) State that the holder has complied with the notice requirements of § 1148 of this title.
(7) Identify property that is a nonfreely transferable security, and explain why it is a nonfreely transferable security.
(8) Identify a designated individual employed by the holder who will serve as the contact for all correspondence with the State
related to the reporting and remittance of unclaimed property under this chapter and contain the designated individual’s mailing
address, telephone number, email address, and title. The holder must notify the State of any change of the designated individual or any
information provided about the designated individual.
(9) Contain other information which the State Escheator may prescribe.
(b) A report under § 1142 of this title may include personal information about the owner or the owner’s property to the extent such
information is not otherwise prohibited by federal law. Any personal information, and disclosure of such information, must be treated
in accordance with § 1189 of this title.
(c) If a holder has changed the holder’s name while holding property presumed abandoned or is a successor to another holder that
previously held the property for the owner, the holder shall include in the report under § 1142 of this title the holder’s former name or the
name of the previous holder, if any, and the known name and address of each previous holder of the property.
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Title 12 - Decedents’ Estates and Fiduciary Relations
(d) No reporting shall be required solely by virtue of holding property constituting consideration paid for unredeemed gift cards which,
in the aggregate, for the reporting period have a face value of less than $5,000 or for gift cards having a face value of $5.00 or under
issued by a holder whose business is described in § 2906 of Title 30, whether or not such firm conducts business in this State.
(81 Del. Laws, c. 1, § 2.)
§ 1144 When report to be filed.
(a) Subject to subsection (d) of this section, the report under § 1142 of this title pertaining to property designated under § 1133 of this
title must be filed by all holders and business associations other than banking organizations and insurance companies on or before March
1 of each year to cover the 12 months preceding January 1 of that year.
(b) Subject to subsection (d) of this section, the report under § 1142 of this section pertaining to property designated under § 1133 of this
title must be filed by banking organizations on or before November 10 of each year to cover the 12 months preceding July 1 of that year.
(c) Subject to subsection (d) of this section, the report under § 1142 of this title pertaining to property designated under § 1133 of this
title must be filed by insurance companies on or before December 20 of each year to cover the 12 months preceding January 1 of that year.
(d) Before the date for filing the report under § 1142 of this title, the holder of property presumed abandoned may request an extension
of the date of filing from the State Escheator. The State Escheator may grant an extension for good cause. If the State Escheator grants
an extension, the holder may pay or make a partial payment of the amount the holder estimates ultimately will be due. The payment or
partial payment terminates accrual of interest on the amount paid.
(81 Del. Laws, c. 1, § 2.)
§ 1145 Retention of records by holder.
A holder required to file a report under § 1142 of this title shall retain records for 10 years after the date the report was filed, unless a
shorter period is provided by the State Escheator by rule or regulation. A holder may satisfy the requirement to retain records under this
section through an agent. The records retained must contain all of the following:
(1) The verifiable information required to be included in the report.
(2) The date, place, and nature of the circumstances that gave rise to the property right.
(3) The amount or value of the property.
(4) The last address of the owner, if known to the holder.
(5) If the holder sells, issues, or provides to others for sale or issue in this State traveler’s checks or money orders, a record of the
instruments while they remain outstanding indicating the state and date of issue.
(81 Del. Laws, c. 1, § 2.)
§ 1146 When property reportable and payable or deliverable.
Property is reportable and payable or deliverable under this chapter even if the owner fails to make demand or present an instrument
or document otherwise required to obtain payment.
(81 Del. Laws, c. 1, § 2.)
§ 1147 Limitation on assignment or transfer of liability.
(a) A holder may not assign or otherwise transfer its obligation to hold for or pay or deliver property or to comply with the duties of
this chapter, other than to a parent, subsidiary, or affiliate of the holder.
(b) Unless otherwise agreed to by the parties to a transaction, the holder’s successor by merger or consolidation, or any person or entity
that acquires all or substantially all of the holder’s capital stock or assets, shall be responsible for fulfilling the holder’s obligation to hold
for or pay or deliver property or to comply with the duties of this chapter regarding the transfer to it of property owed to and being held
for an owner resulting from the merger, consolidation, or acquisition.
(c) Nothing in this section prohibits a holder from contracting with a third party for the reporting of unclaimed property. But, a holder
shall remain responsible to the State Escheator for the complete, accurate, and timely reporting of the property.
(81 Del. Laws, c. 1, § 2.)
§ 1148 Notice to owner by holder.
Effective July 1, 2017, the holder of property presumed abandoned shall send to the owner notice that complies with § 1149 of this
title in a format acceptable to the State Escheator, by first-class United States mail, not more than 120 days nor less than 60 days before
filing the report under § 1142 of this title if both of the following apply:
(1) The holder has in its records an address for the owner sufficient to direct the delivery of first-class United States mail to the
owner, which the holder’s records do not disclose to be invalid.
(2) The value of the property is $50 or more, unless the property is a security, in which case the holder must send notice to the owner
regardless of the value of the property.
(81 Del. Laws, c. 1, § 2; 81 Del. Laws, c. 48, § 1.)
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Title 12 - Decedents’ Estates and Fiduciary Relations
§ 1149 Contents of notice by holder.
(a) The notice under § 1148 of this title must contain a heading that reads as follows:
“Notice. The State of Delaware requires us to notify you that your property will be transferred to the custody of the State Escheator if
you do not contact us before [insert date that is 30 days after the date of this notice.]”
(b) The notice under § 1148 of this title must do all of the following:
(1) State that the property will be turned over to the State Escheator.
(2) State that after the property is turned over to the State Escheator an owner that seeks return of the property may file a claim.
(3) Identify the nature and, except for property that does not have a fixed value, the value of the property that is the subject of the
notice.
(4) State that property that is not legal tender of the United States may be sold by the State Escheator.
(5) Provide instructions that the owner must follow to prevent the holder from reporting and paying or delivering the property to
the State Escheator.
(81 Del. Laws, c. 1, § 2.)
§ 1150 Notice to owner by State Escheator.
(a) Subject to subsection (b) of this section, the State Escheator shall send written notice to an owner prior to liquidation that a security
or other property that is not money presumed abandoned and appears to be owned by the owner is held by the State Escheator under
this chapter.
(b) In providing notice under subsection (a) of this section, the State Escheator shall send written notice to each owner of a security or
other property that is not money held by the State Escheator to the last-known address of the owner contained in the records of the holder
as provided to the State Escheator, unless the State Escheator determines that the notice would not be received by the owner or the State
Escheator determines that the total value of the security or other property that is not money does not exceed $50.
(c) The State Escheator and the State of Delaware shall not be liable to an owner based upon the liquidation of a security or other
property that is not money if notice has been sent as provided by this section and if the State Escheator has not acted unreasonably in
determining that mailed notice would not be received by the owner. Except with respect to the provisions of § 1160(a)(2) of this title, the
State Escheator and the State of Delaware are not liable to the owner of a security or other property that is not money for an amount that
exceeds that which was actually received upon the liquidation of the security.
(d) In June and December of each year, the State Escheator shall publish in a daily newspaper of this State a notice that unclaimed
property paid to the State Escheator is available to be claimed by the owners of the unclaimed property.
(e) The notice required by subsection (d) of this section shall be in such form and classified in such manner as the State Escheator shall
determine, except that the notice shall do all of the following:
(1) Occupy at least ½ page in a daily newspaper of this State.
(2) Provide the Uniform Resource Locator address of an internet-based searchable database that includes the names of all persons
appearing to be entitled to any unclaimed property.
(3) Provide a toll-free customer service telephone number.
(4) Contain a statement that a claim for any unclaimed property must be filed with the State Escheator.
(f) Subject to the limitations of § 1189 of this title, the internet-based searchable database required by paragraph (e)(2) of this section
must set forth all of the following:
(1) The names and last-known addresses of all persons appearing from the records in the State Escheator’s office to be entitled to
receive unclaimed property that consists of money in an amount not less than $10.
(2) The names and last-known addresses of all persons appearing from the records in the State Escheator’s office to be entitled to
receive unclaimed property that consists of personal property other than money and that the State Escheator has not determined under
§ 1155(a)(1) of this title to be valueless or of such little value that a sale of the property would cost in excess of the probable proceeds
from the property.
(3) If any unclaimed property consisted of personal property other than money and was converted into money under § 1158 of this
title and such money amounted to $10 or more, the names and last-known addresses of the persons appearing from the records in the
State Escheator’s office to be entitled to receive the money.
(4) Other information as the State Escheator may prescribe.
(g) The State Escheator shall regularly update the internet-based searchable database, and shall include in the database, at a minimum,
all data received by the State 6 months immediately preceding the publication dates specified in subsection (d) of this section.
(h) The State Escheator may not include in the internet-based searchable database the names and last-known addresses of persons
whose claims for unclaimed property have been satisfied previously.
(i) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this section, the State Escheator may omit from such internet-based searchable database
the name and last-known address of any person if special circumstances make it desirable that such information be withheld.
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Title 12 - Decedents’ Estates and Fiduciary Relations
(j) The State Escheator and the State of Delaware are not liable to an owner, absent gross negligence or intentional misconduct, for the
failure to publish a notice of unclaimed property under subsection (d) of this section or the failure to include the name, address, and other
information regarding a person entitled to receive property under subsection (f) of this section.
(81 Del. Laws, c. 1, § 2.)
§ 1151 Cooperation among agencies to determine owner.
Unless prohibited by law of this State other than this chapter, on request of the State Escheator, each officer, agency, board, commission,
division, and department of this State; any body politic and corporate created by this State for a public purpose; and each political
subdivision of this State may make its books and records available to the State Escheator and cooperate with the State Escheator to
determine the current address of an owner of property held by the State Escheator under this chapter.
(81 Del. Laws, c. 1, § 2.)
§ 1152 Payment or delivery of property to State Escheator.
(a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, on filing a report under § 1142 of this title, the holder shall pay or deliver to the State
Escheator the property described in the report.
(b) If property in a report under § 1142 of this title is an automatically renewable deposit and a penalty or forfeiture in the payment of
interest would result from paying the deposit to the State Escheator at the time of the report, the date for payment of the property to the
State Escheator is extended until a penalty or forfeiture no longer would result from payment, if the holder informs the State Escheator
of the extended date.
(c) If property reported to the State Escheator under § 1142 of this title is a security, the State Escheator may do either of the following:
(1) Make an endorsement, instruction, or entitlement order on behalf of the owner to invoke the duty of the issuer, its transfer agent,
or the securities intermediary to transfer the security.
(2) Dispose of the security under § 1159 of this title.
(d) The State Escheator shall establish procedures for the registration, issuance, method of delivery, transfer, and maintenance of
securities delivered to the State Escheator by a holder.
(e) A holder is not required to deliver to the State Escheator a security identified by the holder as a nonfreely transferable security.
Upon determination by the State Escheator or the holder that a security is no longer a nonfreely transferable security, the holder shall remit
the security on the next regular date prescribed for delivery of securities under this chapter. The holder shall annually determine whether
a security identified in a report filed under § 1142 of this title as a nonfreely transferable security is no longer a nonfreely transferable
security.
(81 Del. Laws, c. 1, § 2.)
§ 1153 Effect of payment or delivery of property to State Escheator.
(a) Unless otherwise addressed in subsection (b) of this section, the holder’s payment or delivery of property to the State Escheator
terminates any legal relationship between the holder and the owner with respect to the property reported and releases and discharges the
holder from any and all liability to the owner, the owner’s heirs, personal representatives, successors, or assigns by reason of such payment
or delivery, regardless of whether such property is in fact and in law abandoned property and such delivery and payment may be pleaded as
a bar to recovery and shall be a conclusive defense in any suit or action brought by such owner, the owner’s heirs, personal representatives,
successors and assigns or any claimant against the holder by reason of such delivery or payment. Application of this subsection is mutually
exclusive of subsection (b) of this section and, accordingly, may not be applied in conjunction with subsection (b) of this section.
(b) Upon the delivery in good faith of a duplicate certificated security to the State Escheator or the registration of an uncertificated
security to the State Escheator under § 1152 of this title, the holder and any transfer agent, registrar, or other person acting for or on behalf
of the holder in executing or delivering such duplicate certificate or effectuating such registration, is relieved of all liability of every kind
to every person, including any person acquiring the original of a certificated security or the duplicate of a certificated security issued to
the State Escheator for any losses or damages resulting to any person by issuance and delivery to the State Escheator of the duplicate
certificated security or the registration to the holder’s name of an uncertificated security.
(c) If a holder pays or delivers property to the State Escheator in good faith and thereafter another person claims the property from
the holder or another state claims the money or property under its laws relating to escheat or abandoned or unclaimed property, the State
Escheator, acting on behalf of the State, upon written notice of the claim, shall defend the holder against the claim and indemnify the
holder against any liability on the claim. For purposes of this subsection, “state” includes any foreign jurisdiction or subdivision of a
foreign jurisdiction that is not a state of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the United States
Virgin Islands, or any territory or insular possession subject to the jurisdiction of the United States.
(d) For the purposes of this section, “good faith” means that all of the following apply:
(1) Payment or delivery was made in a reasonable attempt to comply with this chapter.
(2) The person delivering the property was not a fiduciary then in breach of trust in respect to the property and had a reasonable basis
for believing, based on the facts then known to the person, that the property was abandoned for the purposes of this chapter.
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Title 12 - Decedents’ Estates and Fiduciary Relations
(3) There is no showing that the records pursuant to which the delivery was made did not meet reasonable commercial standards
of practice in the industry.
(e) Under § 1155(b) of this title, at the request of a holder, the State Escheator may allow the holder to pay over or deliver property
otherwise properly payable to the State but against which a full period of dormancy has not yet run. If the State Escheator grants the
holder’s request and accepts the property, the holder is entitled to the protections of this section and the property is to be treated generally
as if it had been paid over or delivered after a full period of dormancy had run. Section 1155 of this title does not apply to property
accepted by the State Escheator under this subsection until a full period of dormancy has run against the property.
(81 Del. Laws, c. 1, § 2; 81 Del. Laws, c. 48, § 2.)
§ 1154 Interest not to run after report of property and limitation on claims.
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person entitled to or owner of property shall be entitled to receive interest on account
of such property from and after the date a report of such property is made to the State Escheator under this chapter whether or not the
person was entitled to interest on such property prior to such date.
(b) No person has any claim under this chapter against the State, the holder, any transfer agent, registrar, or other person acting for or
on behalf of a holder for or on account of any appreciation or depreciation in the value of the property occurring after delivery by the
holder to the State Escheator in good faith, as defined in § 1153(d) of this title, except with respect to the State Escheator as provided
by and in the circumstances specified in § 1160(a)(2) of this title.
(12 Del. C. 1953, § 1145; 50 Del. Laws, c. 507, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1; 81 Del. Laws, c. 1, § 2.)
§ 1155 State Escheator’s options as to custody.
(a) The State Escheator may decline to take custody of property reported under § 1142 of this title if the State Escheator determines
1 of the following:
(1) The property has a value less than the estimated expenses of notice and sale of the property.
(2) Taking custody of the property would be unlawful.
(b) A holder may pay or deliver property to the State Escheator before the property is presumed abandoned under this chapter if the
holder does all of the following:
(1) Sends the owner of the property the notice required by § 1148 of this title and conforming to § 1149 of this title.
(2) Provides to the State Escheator evidence of the holder’s compliance with paragraph (b)(1) of this section.
(3) Includes with the payment or delivery a report regarding the property conforming to § 1142 of this title.
(4) First obtains the State Escheator’s consent in a record to accept payment or delivery.
(c) A holder’s request for the State Escheator’s consent under paragraph (b)(4) of this section must be in a record. If the State Escheator
fails to respond to the request not later than 90 days after receipt of the request, the State Escheator is deemed to consent to the payment
or delivery of the property and the payment or delivery is considered to have been made in good faith, as defined in § 1153(d) of this title.
(d) On payment or delivery of property under subsection (b) of this section, the property is presumed abandoned.
(81 Del. Laws, c. 1, § 2; 81 Del. Laws, c. 48, § 3.)
§ 1156 Periods of limitation.
(a) Expiration, before, on, or after February 2, 2017, of a period of limitation on an owner’s right to receive or recover property, whether
specified by contract, statute, or court order, does not prevent the property from being presumed abandoned or affect the duty of a holder
to file a report or pay or deliver property to the State Escheator under this chapter.
(b) The State Escheator may not commence an action or proceeding to enforce this chapter with respect to the reporting, payment, or
delivery of property more than 10 years after the duty arose. The period of limitation established by this subsection is tolled by the State
Escheator’s delivery of a notice of an examination to a holder under this chapter, or if the State Escheator reasonably concludes that the
holder has filed a report containing a fraudulent or wilful misrepresentation.
(73 Del. Laws, c. 417, § 1; 81 Del. Laws, c. 1, § 2.)
§ 1157 No private escheat.
Any provision in a certificate of incorporation, bylaw, trust agreement, contract, or any other writing regulating the relationships
between an owner and a holder, which relates to property that is or may be subject to the provisions of this chapter, with the exception
of “nonescheat capital credits” as defined in § 909 of Title 26, and which provides that upon the owner’s failure to act or make a claim
regarding property in possession of the holder that the property reverts to or becomes the property of the holder is void and unenforceable.
(68 Del. Laws, c. 122, § 13; 71 Del. Laws, c. 448, § 2; 81 Del. Laws, c. 1, § 2.)
§ 1158 Public sale of property.
(a) All property, other than money, delivered to the State Escheator under this chapter shall be sold or disposed of in accordance with
this section.
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Title 12 - Decedents’ Estates and Fiduciary Relations
(b) All property, other than money, delivered to the State Escheator under this chapter may be sold or disposed of at public auction to
the highest bidder or in such manner and at such times as the State Escheator determines to be in the best interest of the State. The State
Escheator may dispose of securities by sale through a registered broker on a recognized securities exchange or over the counter market
or, if there is no ready market for such security, by negotiation or public auction.
(c) The State Escheator shall hold the proceeds from a sale of property, other than money, delivered to the State Escheator, less all
costs incurred in connection with the sale, in the place of the property and any claimant of the property is entitled only to the money so
received, less lawful service charges.
(d) The State Escheator is not liable in any action for any act made in good faith under this section.
(12 Del. C. 1953, § 1143; 50 Del. Laws, c. 507, § 1; 59 Del. Laws, c. 16, § 1; 67 Del. Laws, c. 245, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1;
81 Del. Laws, c. 1, § 2.)
§ 1159 Disposal of securities.
If a security is delivered to the State Escheator under this chapter on or after July 1, 2017, the State Escheator shall, subsequent to
satisfying the notice requirements of § 1150 of this title, sell the security on any established stock exchange or by such other means as the
State Escheator deems advisable as soon as the State Escheator deems practicable after the delivery. The State Escheator may not sell a
security listed on an established stock exchange for less than the price prevailing on the exchange at the time of sale. The State Escheator
may sell a security not listed on an established exchange by any commercially-reasonable method.
(81 Del. Laws, c. 1, § 2.)
§ 1160 Recovery of securities or value by owner.
(a) Beginning on July 1, 2017, a person that makes a valid claim under this chapter of ownership of a security following delivery of a
security to the State Escheator is entitled to receive from the State Escheator 1 of the following:
(1) If the security is in the custody of the State Escheator at the time of the claim, the security the holder delivered to the State
Escheator, plus dividends, interest, and other increments on the security up to the time the claim is paid, to the extent paid to the State
Escheator.
(2) If the claim is made within 18 months from the date notice was mailed by the State Escheator to the rightful owner under §
1150 of this title, the replacement of the security or the market value of the security at the time the claim is filed, at the option of
the State Escheator.
(3) If the claim is made more than 18 months after the date notice was mailed by the State Escheator to the rightful owner under §
1150 of this title, the net proceeds of the sale of the security, plus dividends, interest, and other increments on the security up to the
time the security is sold, to the extent paid to the State Escheator.
(b) The State Escheator is not liable in any action for any act of his or hers made in good faith under this section.
(81 Del. Laws, c. 1, § 2; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1.)
§ 1161 Purchaser owns property after sale.
All sales of property made by the State Escheator under this chapter pass absolute title to the purchaser. The State Escheator or the
Secretary of State shall execute all documents necessary to complete the transfer of title.
(81 Del. Laws, c. 1, § 2.)
§ 1162 Military medals.
(a) A financial institution may not sell a medal or decoration awarded for military service in the armed forces of the United States.
(b) A financial institution, with the consent of the respective organization under paragraph (b)(1) of this section, agency under paragraph
(b)(2) of this section, or entity under paragraph (b)(3) of this section, may deliver a medal or decoration described in subsection (a) of
this section to be held in custody for the owner, to 1 of the following:
(1) A military veterans organization qualified under 26 U.S.C. § 501(c)(19).
(2) The agency that awarded the medal or decoration.
(3) A governmental entity.
(81 Del. Laws, c. 1, § 2.)
§ 1163 Deposit and disbursement of funds.
(a) Subject to the limitations in § 6102(s) of Title 29, the State Escheator shall deposit into the General Fund all moneys or proceeds
of property received under this chapter.
(b) The Secretary of Finance shall pay all disbursements, including disbursements for expenses, claims, or storage, made or authorized
by the State Escheator in connection with the administration of this chapter upon the presentation of a signed voucher by the State
Escheator.
(12 Del. C. 1953, §§ 1131, 1205; 50 Del. Laws, c. 507, § 1; 57 Del. Laws, c. 741, § 48B; 58 Del. Laws, c. 426, § 10; 60 Del. Laws,
c. 598, § 2; 79 Del. Laws, c. 79, § 29; 81 Del. Laws, c. 1, § 2.)
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Title 12 - Decedents’ Estates and Fiduciary Relations
§ 1164 State Escheator to retain records of property.
The State Escheator shall record and retain the holder report filed under § 1142 of this title and the information contained in the report
for at least 10 years after the report was filed.
(81 Del. Laws, c. 1, § 2.)
§ 1165 Claim for property by person claiming to be owner.
(a) Any person claiming an interest in any property paid or delivered to the State Escheator under this chapter may file a claim with
the State Escheator for the property or for the proceeds from the sale of the property.
(b) The determination of claims and rights of appeal are as prescribed in § 1167 of this title.
(12 Del. C. 1953, § 1146; 50 Del. Laws, c. 507, § 1; 57 Del. Laws, c. 718, § 18; 57 Del. Laws, c. 741, § 48C; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186,
§ 1; 81 Del. Laws, c. 1, § 2.)
§ 1166 When State Escheator must honor claim for property.
(a) The State Escheator shall pay or deliver property to a claimant under § 1165 of this title if the State Escheator receives evidence
sufficient to establish to the reasonable satisfaction of the State Escheator that the claimant is the owner of the property.
(b) The State Escheator shall allow or deny the claim and give the claimant notice of the decision in a record. If the claim is denied
the State Escheator shall do all of the following:
(1) Inform the claimant of the reason for the denial and specify what additional evidence, if any, is required for the claim to be allowed.
(2) Treat an amended claim as an initial claim under this section.
(81 Del. Laws, c. 1, § 2.)
§ 1167 Claims and rights of appeal.
(a) The State Escheator shall possess full and complete authority to determine all claims filed under § 1165 of this title and shall
immediately send written notice of such determination to the claimant. At any time within 4 months after the State Escheator sends notice
of a determination, a claimant may apply for a hearing and determination of the claim by the Tax Appeal Board created by subchapter II,
Chapter 3, Title 30. The procedure before the Tax Appeal Board for such hearings is the same as that provided for by § 329 of Title 30 and
the Board has the same power to compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of evidence as is provided in § 330 of Title 30.
(b) Within 30 days after notice of the Tax Appeal Board’s decision, the State Escheator or a claimant may appeal the decision to the
Court of Chancery upon notice to all parties to the proceeding before the Tax Appeal Board and upon such other notice as the Court
of Chancery may order.
(c) The Court of Chancery may make such rules as it deems proper for the perfection, hearing and determination of such appeals.
(12 Del. C. 1953, § 1146; 50 Del. Laws, c. 507, § 1; 57 Del. Laws, c. 718, § 18; 57 Del. Laws, c. 741, § 48C; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186,
§ 1; 81 Del. Laws, c. 1, § 2.)
§ 1168 Payment by State Escheator.
Any claim which is allowed by, or ordered to be paid by, the State Escheator pursuant to § 1165 of this title, together with such costs
and disbursements as may be allowed by the Court of Chancery or the Tax Appeal Board, must be paid out of the General Fund. The
State Escheator is not liable in any action for any claim paid in good faith.
(12 Del. C. 1953, § 1147; 50 Del. Laws, c. 507, § 1; 57 Del. Laws, c. 741, § 48C; 60 Del. Laws, c. 598, §§ 4, 6; 70 Del. Laws, c.
186, § 1; 81 Del. Laws, c. 1, § 2.)
§ 1169 Allowance of claim for property.
(a) On request of the owner, the State Escheator may sell or liquidate a security and pay the net proceeds to the owner.
(b) At the discretion of the State Escheator, property of an owner is subject to a claim for payment of an enforceable debt that the
owner owes in this State for any of the following:
(1) Child-support arrearages, including child-support collection costs and child-support arrearages that are combined with
maintenance.
(2) A civil or criminal fine or penalty, court costs, a surcharge, or restitution imposed by a final order of an administrative agency
or a final court judgment.
(3) State or local taxes, penalties, and interest that have been determined to be delinquent or as to which notice has been recorded
with the Secretary of the State or a local taxing authority.
(c) The State Escheator may make periodic inquiries of state and local agencies in the absence of a claim filed under § 1165 of this
title to determine whether owners included in the unclaimed property records of this State have enforceable debts described in subsection
(b) of this section.
(d) Before delivery or payment to an owner under subsection (a) of this section of property or net proceeds of a sale of the property,
the State Escheator may first apply the property or net proceeds to a debt under subsection (b) of this section that the State Escheator
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Title 12 - Decedents’ Estates and Fiduciary Relations
has determined is owed by the owner. The State Escheator may pay the amount to the appropriate state or local agency and notify the
owner of the payment.
(81 Del. Laws, c. 1, § 2.)
§ 1170 Request for report of property; compliance reviews.
(a) If a person does not file a report required by § 1142 of this title or the State Escheator believes that a person may have filed an
inaccurate, incomplete, or false report, the State Escheator may require the person to file a verified report in a form prescribed by the
State Escheator. The verified report must do all of the following:
(1) State whether the person is holding property reportable under this chapter.
(2) Describe property not previously reported or about which the State has inquired or about which there is a dispute as to whether
it is reportable under this chapter.
(3) State the amount or value of the property.
(b) If the State Escheator believes that a person may have filed an inaccurate, incomplete, or false report, including a report submitted
under paragraph (a)(1) of this section, the State Escheator may authorize a compliance review of that report and the notification
requirements of § 1172(a) of this title do not apply. The compliance review must be limited to the contents of the report filed as required
by §§ 1142, 1143 of this title, and subsection (a) of this section, and all supporting documents related to such reports. If the compliance
review results in a finding of a deficiency in unclaimed property due and payable to the State, the State Escheator shall notify the holder in
writing of the amount of deficiency within 1 year from the authorization of the compliance review. If the holder fails to pay the deficiency
within 90 days, the State Escheator may seek to enforce the assessment pursuant to § 1180 of this title or may refer the holder to the
Department of State in order to request that the holder enter into an unclaimed property voluntary disclosure agreement under § 1173 of
this title. The State Escheator shall not be required to conduct a compliance review under this section prior to initiating an examination
under §§ 1171 and 1172 of this title. The filing of a verified report or participation in a compliance review does not preclude the holder
from participating in the Secretary of State’s voluntary disclosure program under § 1173 of this title.
(81 Del. Laws, c. 1, § 2.)
§ 1171 Examination to determine compliance with chapter.
The State Escheator, at reasonable times and on reasonable notice, may do any of the following:
(1) Examine the records of a person or the records in the possession of an agent, representative, subsidiary, or affiliate of the person
under examination in order to determine whether the person complied with this chapter.
(2) Take testimony of a person, including the person’s employee, agent, representative, subsidiary, or affiliate, to determine whether
the person complied with this chapter.
(3) Issue an administrative subpoena to require that the records specified in paragraph (1) of this section be made available for
examination and that the testimony specified in paragraph (2) of this section be provided.
(4) Bring an action in the Court of Chancery seeking enforcement of an administrative subpoena issued under paragraph (3) of this
section, which the Court shall consider under procedures that will lead to an expeditious resolution of the action.
(67 Del. Laws, c. 267, § 2; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1; 77 Del. Laws, c. 417, § 4; 80 Del. Laws, c. 2, § 1; 80 Del. Laws, c. 114, § 1;
81 Del. Laws, c. 1, § 2.)
§ 1172 Rules and procedures for conducting an examination.
(a) Effective July 1, 2015, and subject to subsection (d) of this section, the State Escheator shall not initiate any new examination of
records or an investigation of any person under this section unless the person has first been notified in writing by the Secretary of State
that the person may enter into an unclaimed property voluntary disclosure agreement, or the holder fails to otherwise comply with a
requirement imposed on such holder pursuant to § 1173 of this title.
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of § 1173(e)(3) of this title, for any examination authorized by the State Escheator on or before July
22, 2015, except any securities examinations in which estimation is not required, the person under such an examination may notify the
State Escheator and the Secretary of State of the person’s intent to convert the pending examination into a review under the Secretary of
State’s voluntary disclosure program and to enter into the Secretary of State’s unclaimed property voluntary disclosure program under §
1173 of this title. The person shall notify the State Escheator and Secretary of State in writing in a form and manner provided by the State
Escheator and the Secretary of State. If such notice is not received within 60 days of the adoption of regulations under § 1176(b) of this
title, the person may not convert the examination into a review under the Secretary of State’s unclaimed property voluntary disclosure
program under § 1173 of this title. The look back period for any such voluntary disclosure permitted under this section is 10 years prior
to when property is presumed abandoned under this chapter from the calendar year in which the State Escheator provided the original
notice of examination.
(c) (1) For any examination authorized by the State Escheator before February 2, 2017, the person under examination may notify
the State Escheator of the person’s intent to expedite the completion of the pending examination by providing written notification on a
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Title 12 - Decedents’ Estates and Fiduciary Relations
form provided by the State Escheator that must be received by the State Escheator within 60 days of the adoption of regulations under
§ 1176(b) of this title.
(2) If the person provides the written notification under paragraph (c)(1) of this section and responds within the time and in the
manner established by the State Escheator to all requests for records, testimony, and information made by the person conducting the
examination, the State Escheator shall complete the examination and provide an examination report under § 1177 of this title within 2
years from the date of receipt of the written notification and shall waive interest and penalty under §§ 1183 and 1184 of this title.
(3) All requests for records, testimony, and information must be made by the person conducting the examination to the person under
examination no later than 18 months after the written notification under paragraph (c)(1) of this section.
(4) The determination whether the person has responded within the time and in the manner established and a resulting determination
to terminate expediting the person’s examination under this subsection if the person has not, shall be within the complete discretion of
the State Escheator and subject only to the review of the Secretary of Finance.
(5) An examination report produced at the conclusion of the expedited examination shall be treated as any other report after the
conclusion of an examination of a holder under § 1179(a) of this title.
(d) The State Escheator may authorize an examination of records or an investigation of any person under this section without the person
having been notified in writing by the Secretary of State as outlined in subsection (a) of this section in any of the following circumstances:
(1) Pursuant to information received under Chapter 12 of Title 6.
(2) As a joint examination initiated by another state under § 1182 of this title after consultation with the Secretary of State.
(e) The State Escheator shall adopt rules governing procedures and standards for a compliance review under § 1170 of this title and
an examination under § 1171 of this title, including rules for use of an estimation, extrapolation, and statistical sampling in conducting
an examination.
(f) If the person subject to examination under § 1171 of this title has filed all reports required by § 1142 of this title and has retained
the records required by § 1145 of this title, all of the following rules apply:
(1) The examination must include a review of the person’s records.
(2) The examination may not be based upon an estimate unless the holder expressly consents in a record to the use of an estimate.
(3) The person conducting the examination shall consider all evidence presented by the person in good faith in preparing the findings
of the examination under § 1177 of this title.
(g) Any examination under this section may include the State Escheator utilizing any and all reliable external data, including electronic
databases deemed relevant by the State Escheator.
(h) After February 2, 2017, the State Escheator may not conduct any examination of records or an investigation under this section for
any period more than 10 years prior to when property is presumed abandoned under this chapter from the calendar year in which the
State Escheator provides written notice of such examination, except if the State Escheator reasonably concludes that the holder has filed
a report containing a fraudulent or wilful misrepresentation.
(67 Del. Laws, c. 267, § 2; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1; 77 Del. Laws, c. 417, § 4; 80 Del. Laws, c. 2, § 1; 80 Del. Laws, c. 114, § 1;
81 Del. Laws, c. 1, § 2; 81 Del. Laws, c. 48, § 4.)
§ 1173 Voluntary property reporting outreach program.
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this title or Chapter 23 of Title 29, the Secretary of State may resolve and compromise
claims for property otherwise owing to the State Escheator under this chapter if a holder of such property voluntarily discloses to the
Secretary of State such property on or before the deadlines provided in this section.
(1) The Secretary of State shall waive interest and penalty under §§ 1183 and 1184 of this title for holders that complete the voluntary
disclosure in good faith.
(2) The Secretary of State shall possess full and complete authority to determine and resolve all such claims consistent with this
chapter and exercise such authorities as are granted to the State Escheator under this chapter.
(3) Notwithstanding paragraph (a)(2) of this section, any unclaimed property voluntary disclosure agreement accepted by the
Secretary of State is deemed as waiving the right of the Secretary of State and the State Escheator to seek payment of any amounts
of property under §§ 1156 or 1179 of this title as to the property voluntarily disclosed by the holder in the agreement, except in
circumstances where the Secretary of State reasonably concludes that there has been a fraudulent or wilful misrepresentation as to any
such voluntary disclosure by the holder or those acting on the holder’s behalf.
(4) If the Secretary of State is unable to resolve such claims by agreement, the Secretary of State may refer the resolution of such
claims to the State Escheator at any time.
(5) The care and custody of all property paid under this section is assumed for the benefit of those entitled to receive the same and the
Secretary of State shall have all the responsibilities, duties, and obligations as if such property were recovered by the State Escheator.
(6) The Secretary of State may make such rules and regulations as deemed necessary to enforce this section.
(b) The Secretary of State may request that a person enter into an unclaimed property voluntary disclosure agreement to determine if
the person has complied with any provision of this chapter. If the form indicating the person’s intent to enter into a voluntary disclosure
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Title 12 - Decedents’ Estates and Fiduciary Relations
agreement is not received by the Secretary of State by certified mail or by other means deemed acceptable by the Secretary of State within
60 days after the request to enter the voluntary disclosure agreement program was mailed by certified mail, the Secretary of State shall
refer the person to the State Escheator for examination under § 1171 of this title.
(c) With respect to a person who has indicated in writing the person’s intent to enter into an unclaimed property voluntary disclosure
agreement under this chapter by completing, executing, and delivering to the Secretary of State a form acceptable to the Secretary of
State, the person shall complete a review of its books and records and file reports of property related to the following years:
(1) Beginning January 1, 1996, with respect to any person who enters an unclaimed property voluntary disclosure agreement and
makes payment in full or enters into a payment plan no later than June 30, 2016.
(2) With respect to a person who enters an unclaimed property voluntary disclosure agreement and makes payment in full on or after
July 1, 2016, the person shall complete a review of the person’s books and records starting the first of January for the prior 10 years
from when the property is presumed abandoned starting from the calendar year in which the person’s intent to enter into an unclaimed
property voluntary disclosure agreement was accepted by the Secretary of State.
(d) With respect to any person whose intent to enter into an unclaimed property voluntary disclosure agreement was accepted by the
Secretary of State after September 30, 2014, the person shall enter an unclaimed property voluntary disclosure agreement and make
payment in full or enter into a payment plan within 2 years from the date the person’s intent to enter into an unclaimed property voluntary
disclosure agreement was accepted by the Secretary of State. The due date for entering into an unclaimed property voluntary disclosure
agreement and making payment in full or entering into a payment plan may be amended by the Secretary of State.
(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section or of this chapter, the Secretary of State may not enter an unclaimed property
voluntary disclosure agreement with or otherwise receive or seek payment of any amounts of property from any of the following:
(1) A person who has indicated in writing the person’s intent to enter into an unclaimed property voluntary disclosure agreement by
completing, executing, and delivering, on or before June 30, 2012, the appropriate form promulgated by the State Escheator. But, the
Secretary of Finance and the Secretary of State may permit the person to enter into the voluntary disclosure program administered by
the Secretary of State under this section. If a person is permitted to enter the program, the look back period for the voluntary disclosure
under this section relates to the date the original notice of intent to enter a voluntary disclosure was completed, executed, and delivered.
(2) A person who has entered a voluntary disclosure agreement with the State Escheator on or before June 30, 2012. But, the Secretary
of State may enter an unclaimed property voluntary disclosure agreement with any person with respect to property types or periods
or both property types and periods that were not included in the voluntary disclosure agreement executed prior to June 30, 2012, or
with respect to the person, its subsidiaries, or related entities that were not included in the voluntary disclosure agreement executed
prior to June 30, 2012.
(3) A person to which a notice of examination has been mailed by the State Escheator, except those persons that elect to enroll in
the Secretary of State’s unclaimed property voluntary disclosure program under § 1172(b) of this title.
(4) A person who had previously enrolled in the Secretary of State’s voluntary disclosure agreement program and 1 of the following
occurred:
a. The person formally withdrew from the voluntary disclosure agreement program.
b. The Secretary of State removed the person from the voluntary disclosure agreement program for failure to work in good faith
to complete the voluntary disclosure agreement program as soon as practicable.
(f) Each person described in paragraph (e)(1) or (e)(2) of this section shall be accorded the benefit of the same look back periods
established in subsection (c) of this section, but the State Escheator shall retain authority over all voluntary disclosure agreements so
described.
(78 Del. Laws, c. 317, § 1; 79 Del. Laws, c. 2, §§ 2, 3; 79 Del. Laws, c. 278, § 1; 80 Del. Laws, c. 114, §§ 3-5, 7; 81 Del. Laws, c.
1, § 2.)
§ 1174 Records obtained in examination.
All of the following apply to records obtained and records, including work papers, compiled by the State Escheator in the course of
conducting an examination under § 1171 of this title:
(1) The records are subject to the confidentiality and security provisions of § 1189 of this title and are not a “public record” under
Chapter 100 of Title 29.
(2) The records may be used by the State Escheator in an action to collect property or otherwise enforce this chapter.
(3) The records may be used in a joint examination conducted with another state, the United States, a foreign country or subordinate
unit of a foreign country, or any other governmental entity if the other person conducting the examination is legally bound to maintain
the confidentiality and security of information obtained from a person subject to examination in a manner substantially equivalent to
§ 1189 of this title.
(4) The records may be disclosed to the person that administers the unclaimed property law of another state for that state’s use in
circumstances equivalent to circumstances described in this chapter, if the other state is required to maintain the confidentiality and
security of information obtained in a manner substantially equivalent to § 1189 of this title.
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Title 12 - Decedents’ Estates and Fiduciary Relations
(5) The records must be produced by the State Escheator under an administrative or judicial subpoena or administrative or court order.
(6) The records must be produced by the State Escheator on request of the person that is the subject of the examination.
(81 Del. Laws, c. 1, § 2.)
§ 1175 Evidence of debt or undischarged obligation.
(a) A record showing an unpaid debt or undischarged obligation is prima facie evidence of an obligation. In claiming property from a
holder, the State Escheator’s burden of proof as to the existence and amount of the property and its abandonment is satisfied by showing
evidence of the unpaid debt or undischarged obligation and passage of the requisite period of abandonment.
(b) A holder may overcome prima facie evidence under subsection (a) of this section by establishing by a preponderance of the evidence
that 1 of the following occurred:
(1) A check, draft, or similar instrument was issued as an unaccepted offer in settlement of an unliquidated amount.
(2) A check, draft, or similar instrument was issued but later was replaced with another instrument because the earlier instrument
was lost or contained an error that was corrected.
(3) A check, draft, or similar instrument was issued to a party affiliated with the issuer.
(4) A check, draft, or similar instrument was paid, satisfied, or discharged.
(5) A check, draft, or similar instrument was issued in error.
(6) A check, draft, or similar instrument was issued without consideration.
(81 Del. Laws, c. 1, § 2.)
§ 1176 Failure of person examined to retain records.
(a) If a person subject to examination under § 1171 of this title does not retain the records required by § 1145 of this title, the State
Escheator may determine the amount of property due using a reasonable method of estimation based on all information available to the
State Escheator, including to extrapolation and the use of statistical sampling when appropriate.
(b) The Secretary of Finance, in consultation with the Secretary of State, shall, on or before December 1, 2017, adopt regulations
regarding the method of estimation to create consistency in any examination or voluntary disclosure. These regulations must include
permissible base periods, items to be excluded from the estimation calculation, aging criteria for outstanding and voided checks, and the
definition of what constitutes complete and researchable records.
(81 Del. Laws, c. 1, § 2; 81 Del. Laws, c. 48, § 5.)
§ 1177 Report to person whose records were examined.
At the conclusion of an examination under § 1171 of this title, the State Escheator shall provide to a person whose records were
examined a complete and unredacted examination report, which must identify in detail all of the following:
(1) The property types reviewed.
(2) The methodology of any estimation technique, extrapolation, or statistical sampling method used in conducting the examination.
(3) The calculation showing the value of property determined to be due.
(4) The findings of the person conducting the examination.
(81 Del. Laws, c. 1, § 2.)
§ 1178 State Escheator’s contract with another to conduct compliance review and examination and limit on
future employment.
(a) The State Escheator may contract with a person to conduct compliance reviews and examinations in accordance with this chapter but
no such person shall be assigned more than 50% of the number of all such compliance reviews and examinations undertaken subsequent
to January 1, 2015.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code, every contract between the State and a person conducting examinations and
providing any unclaimed property examination or consulting services must meet both of the following:
(1) Be for a term of no more than 5 years.
(2) Provide that the person may not hire, retain, or compensate in any way any employee of the Division of Revenue or the Department
of Finance who functions in a senior supervisory role related to unclaimed property, including the Secretary of Finance, a Deputy
Secretary of Finance, the State Escheator, or Audit Manager, for a period of 2 years from the time such employee leaves the employ
of the State.
(81 Del. Laws, c. 1, § 2.)
§ 1179 Judicial review procedure; Court of Chancery jurisdiction.
(a) If, after examining any report required by this chapter and filed by or on behalf of a holder or after the conclusion of an examination
of a holder, the State Escheator determines that a holder has underreported unclaimed property due and owing under this chapter, the
State Escheator shall mail a statement of findings and request for payment to the holder that filed, or on whose behalf the report was
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Title 12 - Decedents’ Estates and Fiduciary Relations
filed, or that was the subject of an examination. Ninety days after the date on which the State Escheator mails a statement of findings and
request for payment, it shall constitute the State Escheator’s final determination of the amount of the holder’s liability, including interest
and penalties, if any, for the unclaimed property specified in the statement of findings and request for payment.
(b) Not later than 90 days after the State Escheator mails a statement of findings, the holder may do any of the following:
(1) File an action against the State Escheator in the Court of Chancery challenging the State Escheator’s determination of liability
and seeking a declaration that the determination is unenforceable, in whole or in part.
(2) Pay the amount or deliver the property determined by the State Escheator to be paid or delivered to the State Escheator and file
an action against the State Escheator in the Court of Chancery for a refund of all or part of the amount paid or return of all or part
of the property delivered.
(c) If the holder pays or delivers property the State Escheator determined must be paid or delivered to the State Escheator at any time
after the holder files an action under paragraph (b)(1) of this section, the Court of Chancery shall continue the action as if it had been filed
originally as an action for a refund or return of property under paragraph (b)(2) of this section.
(d) In the appeal to the Court of Chancery, the Court, when factual determinations are at issue, shall take due account of the experience
and specialized competence of the State Escheator and of the purposes of the basic law under which the State Escheator has acted. The
Court’s review shall be limited to a determination of whether the statement of findings and request for payment was the product of an
orderly and logical deductive process rationally supported by substantial, competent evidence on the hearing record. The Court shall
review errors of law de novo, and the Court’s review shall include state or federal constitutional questions related to the examination. If the
Court determines that the statement of findings is insufficient for its review, it shall remand to the State Escheator for further proceedings.
(e) When a determination under this section becomes final and is not subject to judicial review, the State Escheator may commence an
action in the Court of Chancery or in an appropriate court of another state to enforce the determination and secure payment or delivery
of past due, unpaid, or undelivered property.
(68 Del. Laws, c. 122, § 7; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1; 77 Del. Laws, c. 417, § 1; 80 Del. Laws, c. 2, § 1; 81 Del. Laws, c. 1, § 2.)
§ 1180 Judicial action to enforce liability.
(a) If any person refuses to pay or deliver property, including penalty or interest on the property, to the State Escheator as required by
this chapter, the State Escheator may bring an action to enforce such payment or delivery in the Court of Chancery in the county in which
the holder resides or has a principal place of business or, if no such principal place of business exists, in New Castle County.
(b) In an action under subsection (a) of this section, if no court in this State has jurisdiction over the defendant, the State Escheator may
commence an action in a federal court or state court having jurisdiction over the defendant.
(81 Del. Laws, c. 1, § 2.)
§ 1181 Interstate agreement and cooperation.
(a) Subject to subsection (b) of this section, the State Escheator may do both of the following:
(1) Exchange information with another state relating to property presumed abandoned or relating to the possible existence of property
presumed abandoned.
(2) Authorize in a record another state or foreign country or a person acting on behalf of the other state or country to examine its
records of a holder as provided in § 1171 of this title.
(b) An exchange of information or examination of records under subsection (a) of this section may be done only if the other state has
confidentiality and security requirements substantially equivalent to those in § 1189 of this title or agrees in a record to be bound by this
State’s confidentiality and security requirements.
(81 Del. Laws, c. 1, § 2.)
§ 1182 Action involving another state.
(a) The State Escheator may join other states to examine and seek enforcement of this chapter against any person believed to be holding
property reportable under this chapter.
(b) On request of another state, the Attorney General may commence an action on behalf of the other state to enforce, in this State, the
law of the other state against a holder of property presumed abandoned and therefore subject to a claim by the other state, if the other
state agrees to pay costs incurred by the Attorney General in the action.
(c) The State Escheator may request the official authorized to enforce the unclaimed property law of another state to commence an
action to recover property in the other state on behalf of the State Escheator. This State shall pay all costs, including reasonable attorneys’
fees and expenses, incurred by the other state in an action under this subsection.
(d) The State Escheator may pursue an action on behalf of this State to recover property subject to this chapter but delivered to the
custody of another state if the State Escheator believes the property is subject to the custody of the State Escheator.
(e) The State Escheator may retain a private attorney in this State or another state or foreign country to commence an action to recover
property on behalf of the State Escheator and may agree to pay attorneys’ fees based in whole or in part on a fixed fee, hourly fee, or a
percentage of the amount or value of property recovered in the action.
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Title 12 - Decedents’ Estates and Fiduciary Relations
(f) Expenses incurred by this State in an action under this section may be paid from property received under this chapter or net proceeds
of the property. Expenses paid to recover property may not be deducted from the amount that is subject to a claim under this chapter
by the owner.
(81 Del. Laws, c. 1, § 2.)
§ 1183 Interest and penalties.
(a) Interest at 0.5% per month on outstanding unpaid amounts accrues from the date the amounts or property were due under this
chapter until paid. Interest due in accordance with this subsection may not exceed 50% of the amount required to be paid. Penalties under
subsections (b), (c), or (d) of this section are not interest for purposes of this subsection. This subsection applies to any late-filed unclaimed
property that is reported and remitted on or after July 1, 2017.
(1) Under § 1173 of this title, the Secretary of State possesses the authority to waive interest under this section on outstanding unpaid
amounts reported through the Secretary of State’s voluntary disclosure program.
(2) Interest is waived for any holder who has filed the holder’s intent in accordance with § 1172(c) of this title to enter a Department
of Finance expedited examination process within 60 days of the adoption of regulations under § 1176(b) of this title if the holder acts
in good faith to complete the examination.
(b) If a person fails to file any report required by this chapter on or before the due date prescribed for the report, determined with regard
to any extension of time for filing, unless it is shown that such failure is due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect, the person shall
add to the amount of unclaimed property required to be shown on the report the lesser of 5% of the amount thereof if the failure is not for
more than 1 month, with an additional 5% for each additional month or fraction thereof during which such failure continues, not to exceed
50% in the aggregate or a civil penalty of $100 for each day the report is withheld or the duty is not performed, but not more than $5,000.
(c) If a person fails to pay the amount of unclaimed property required to be shown on any report required by this chapter on or before the
due date prescribed for the payment of such property, determined with regard to any extension of time for payment, unless it is shown that
such failure is due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect, the person shall add to the amount of such property required to be shown
on any report 0.5% of the amount of such property if the failure is for not more than 1 month, with an additional 0.5% for each additional
month or fraction thereof during which such failure continues, not to exceed 25% in the aggregate. For purposes of this subsection, the
amount of property shown on any report is to be reduced by the amount of any property which is paid on or before the beginning of the
month for which a calculation is made under this subsection.
(d) If any part of a deficiency in payment of unclaimed property required to be shown on any report is due to fraud, the person must
add to the property required to be shown on the report an amount equal to 75% of the portion of the deficiency in payment which is
attributable to fraud. The penalty prescribed by this subsection applies only in cases where a report of unclaimed property is filed and
only to that part of the deficiency in payment the State Escheator establishes is due to fraud or willful misrepresentation
(12 Del. C. 1953, § 1207; 58 Del. Laws, c. 426, § 12; 63 Del. Laws, c. 311, § 3; 68 Del. Laws, c. 122, § 6; 73 Del. Laws, c. 417, §
2; 79 Del. Laws, c. 278, § 1; 80 Del. Laws, c. 114, § 2; 81 Del. Laws, c. 1, § 2; 81 Del. Laws, c. 48, § 6.)
§ 1184 Other civil penalties.
If a holder enters into a contract or other arrangement for the purpose of evading an obligation under this chapter or otherwise wilfully
fails to perform a duty imposed on the holder under this chapter, the State Escheator may require the holder to pay the State Escheator,
in addition to interest as provided in § 1183(a) of this title, a civil penalty of $1,000 for each day the obligation is evaded or the duty is
not performed, up to a cumulative maximum amount of $25,000, plus 25% of the amount or value of any property that should have been
but was not reported, paid, or delivered as a result of the evasion or failure to perform.
(81 Del. Laws, c. 1, § 2.)
§ 1185 Waiver of interest and penalty.
(a) The State Escheator may, for good cause, waive, in whole or in part, penalties under § 1183 or § 1184 of this title.
(b) The State Escheator may, for good cause shown, do all of the following related to unclaimed property remitted to the State before
January 1, 2019:
(1) Waive, in whole or in part, the calculable interest under § 1183 of this title for unclaimed property remitted to the State with a
required report under § 1142 or § 1170 of this title.
(2) Waive, in whole or in part, the calculable interest under § 1183 of this title for unclaimed property remitted to the State as a result
of securities examinations in which estimation is not required under §§ 1171 and 1172 of this title.
(3) Waive up to 50% of the calculable interest under § 1183 of this title for all unclaimed property remitted to the State and not
provided for in paragraph (b)(1) or (b)(2) of this section.
(c) The State Escheator may, for good cause shown, do all of the following related to unclaimed property remitted to the State on or
after January 1, 2019:
(1) Waive, in whole or in part, the calculable interest under § 1183 of this title for unclaimed property remitted to the State with a
required report under § 1142 or § 1170 of this title.
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Title 12 - Decedents’ Estates and Fiduciary Relations
(2) Except for examinations expedited under § 1172(c) of this title, waive up to 50% of the calculable interest under § 1183 of this
title for all unclaimed property remitted to the State and not provided for in paragraph (c)(1) of this section.
(81 Del. Laws, c. 1, § 2; 81 Del. Laws, c. 48, § 7.)
§ 1186 When agreement to locate property enforceable.
An agreement by an owner and a person, the primary purpose of which is to locate, deliver, recover, or assist in the location, delivery,
or recovery of property held by the State Escheator, is enforceable only if the agreement meets all of the following criteria:
(1) It is in a record that clearly sets forth the nature of the property and the services to be provided.
(2) It is signed by or on behalf of the owner, with signature notarized.
(3) It states the amount or value of the property reasonably estimated or expected to be recovered computed both before and after
a fee or other compensation to be paid to the other person has been deducted.
(4) It discloses that the property is being held by the Department of Finance.
(81 Del. Laws, c. 1, § 2.)
§ 1187 When agreement to locate property unenforceable.
(a) Subject to subsection (b) of this section, an agreement under § 1186 of this title is void and unenforceable if it is entered into during
the period beginning on the date the property was distributable to the owner and ending 24 months after the payment or delivery.
(b) If a provision in an agreement described in subsection (a) of this section applies to mineral proceeds for which compensation is
to be paid to the other person based in whole or in part on a portion of the underlying minerals or mineral proceeds not then presumed
abandoned, the provision is void and unenforceable regardless of when the agreement is entered into.
(c) For an agreement under subsection (a) of this section, total fees and costs may not exceed $1,000 or 10% of the value of the property
recovered, whichever is less.
(d) An owner or the State Escheator may assert that an agreement described in this section is invalid on a ground other than it provides
for payment of unconscionable compensation.
(e) This section does not apply to an owner’s agreement with an attorney to contest the State Escheator’s denial of a claim for recovery
of the property.
(81 Del. Laws, c. 1, § 2.)
§ 1188 Right of owner’s agent to recover property held by State Escheator.
(a) An owner that contracts with a person to locate, deliver, recover, or assist in the location, delivery, or recovery of property of the
owner that is held by the State Escheator may appoint or designate the person as the owner’s agent. The appointment or designation must
be in a record signed by the owner.
(b) An owner’s agent is entitled to receive from the State Escheator all information concerning the property which the owner would be
entitled to receive, including information that would otherwise be confidential information under § 1189 of this title.
(c) If authorized by the owner, the owner’s agent may bring an action against the State Escheator on behalf of and in the name of
the owner.
(81 Del. Laws, c. 1, § 2.)
§ 1189 Confidentiality of records.
(a) Except in accordance with proper judicial order or as otherwise provided by law, it shall be unlawful for any officer or employee
of the Department of Finance or the Department of State or for any other officer or employee of this State to disclose or make known in
any manner to any person who is not a current officer or employee of this State any of the following:
(1) The amount of unclaimed property that has been reported to and received by the State Escheator or the Secretary of State, or
both, by any holder, under this chapter, or to disclose the terms of or supporting documentation related to any annual filing, unclaimed
property voluntary disclosure agreement, or settlement agreement resulting from the reporting of any unclaimed property under this
chapter, including all agreements entered into under this chapter, including past agreements.
(2) Identifying information regarding any unclaimed property owner that is set forth in any report or record made or delivered to the
State Escheator, including the exact amount of any property and the character of any property received by the State Escheator.
(b) Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this section, the State Escheator shall maintain a public record of all names and last-known
addresses of the person or persons appearing to be entitled to property paid or delivered to the State Escheator under this chapter, including
whether the value of such property exceeds a set amount to be determined by the State Escheator.
(1) The State Escheator shall retain other identifying information in a report or record made or delivered to the State Escheator.
(2) The State Escheator shall consider the information in paragraph (b)(1) of this section to be confidential and the information may
be disclosed only in the discretion of the State Escheator.
(3) The State Escheator may provide additional information regarding unclaimed property as follows:
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Title 12 - Decedents’ Estates and Fiduciary Relations
a. To a person who has presented satisfactory proof of an interest in or title to such property.
b. For purposes directly connected with the administration of this chapter.
(c) For purposes of this section, “officer or employee” includes present and former officers and employees, and any person currently
or formerly employed or retained by the State.
(d) Any violation of this section shall be a misdemeanor, punishable upon conviction by a fine not to exceed $1,000, or imprisonment
not to exceed 6 months, or both. The Superior Court shall have exclusive original jurisdiction over such misdemeanor.
(12 Del. C. 1953, § 1141; 50 Del. Laws, c. 507, § 1; 79 Del. Laws, c. 2, § 1; 79 Del. Laws, c. 278, § 1; 81 Del. Laws, c. 1, § 2.)
§ 1190 Severability.
If any provision of this chapter or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the invalidity does not affect other
provisions or applications of this chapter which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the
provisions of this chapter are severable.
(81 Del. Laws, c. 1, § 2.)
Subchapter III
Unclaimed Life Insurance Funds
Subchapter IV
Other Unclaimed Property
Subchapter V
Escheat of Postal Savings System Accounts
§ 1220 Declaration of escheat.
All postal savings system accounts created by the deposits of persons whose last known addresses are in this State which have not been
claimed by the persons entitled thereto before June 1, 1971, are presumed to have been abandoned by their owners and are declared to
escheat and become the property of the State.
(12 Del. C. 1953, § 1220; 58 Del. Laws, c. 329; 58 Del. Laws, c. 426, § 18.)
§ 1221 Obtaining information on accounts.
The Secretary of State shall request from the Bureau of Accounts of the United States Treasury Department records providing the
following information:
(1) The names of depositors at the post offices of this State whose accounts are unclaimed;
(2) The last known addresses of such persons, as shown by the records of the Post Office Department; and
(3) The balance remaining in each account, as shown by the records of the Post Office Department.
The Secretary of State shall agree to return to the Bureau of Accounts, promptly, all account cards showing last addresses in another
state.
(12 Del. C. 1953, § 1221; 58 Del. Laws, c. 329; 58 Del. Laws, c. 426, § 18.)
§ 1222 Proceeding to adjudicate escheat.
The Secretary of State may bring proceedings in the United States District Court to escheat unclaimed postal savings system accounts
held by the United States Treasury Department. A single proceeding may be used to escheat as many accounts as may be available for
escheat at 1 time.
(12 Del. C. 1953, § 1222; 58 Del. Laws, c. 329; 58 Del. Laws, c. 426, § 18.)
§ 1223 Notice.
The Secretary of State shall notify depositors whose accounts are to be escheated, as follows:
(1) A letter advising that a postal savings system account in the name of the addressee is about to be escheated and setting forth the
procedure by which a deposit may be claimed shall be mailed by first-class mail to the named depositor at the last address shown on
the account records for each account to be escheated having an unpaid principal balance of more than $25;
(2) General notice of intention to escheat postal savings system accounts shall be published once in each of 3 successive weeks in
1 or more newspapers which combine to provide general circulation throughout the State;
(3) Special notice of intention to escheat the unclaimed postal savings system accounts originally deposited in each post office must
be published once in each of 3 successive weeks in a newspaper published in the county in which the post office is located. Such notice
must list the names of the owners of each unclaimed account to be escheated if the account has a principal balance of $3 or more.
(12 Del. C. 1953, § 1223; 58 Del. Laws, c. 329; 58 Del. Laws, c. 426, § 18.)
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Title 12 - Decedents’ Estates and Fiduciary Relations
§ 1224 Collection and deposit of funds; indemnification of United States.
(a) The Secretary of State shall present a copy of each final judgment of escheat to the United States Treasury Department for payment
of the principal due and the interest computed under regulations of the United States Treasury Department. The payment received shall
be deposited in the General Fund in the State Treasury.
(b) This State shall indemnify the United States for any losses suffered as a result of the escheat of unclaimed postal savings system
accounts. The burden of the indemnification falls upon the fund into which the proceeds of the escheated accounts have been paid.
(12 Del. C. 1953, § 1224; 58 Del. Laws, c. 329; 58 Del. Laws, c. 426, § 18.)
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Title 12 - Decedents’ Estates and Fiduciary Relations
Part IV
Administration of Decedents’ Estates
Chapter 13
General Provisions
§ 1301 Production of will; liability.
(a) Any person, having the custody or possession of any instrument of writing purporting to be a last will and testament and intended
to take effect upon the death of the testator therein named, shall produce and deliver the same to the Register of Wills for the county in
which the person resides, within 10 days from the time the person receives information of the death of the testator.
(b) Any person who wilfully fails to deliver a will is liable to any person aggrieved for the damages which may be sustained by the
failure. Also, any person who wilfully fails to deliver a will after being ordered by the Court of Chancery in a proceeding brought for the
purpose of compelling delivery is subject to penalty for civil contempt of Court.
(27 Del. Laws, c. 268, § 2; Code 1915, § 3265; Code 1935, § 3729; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 1301; 59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 70 Del.
Laws, c. 186, § 1.)
§ 1302 Proving will.
(a) A will shall be proved before the Register of Wills of the county in which the testator was domiciled at the time of death. If the
testator was not domiciled in this State, it may be proved before the Register of any county in this State wherein there are any goods or
chattels, rights or credits, or lands or tenements of the deceased.
(b) To be effective to prove a transfer of any property or to nominate an executor, a will must be declared to be valid by admission
to probate.
(Code 1852, §§ 1767, 1768; 18 Del. Laws, c. 674; Code 1915, § 3334; 35 Del. Laws, c. 203, § 1; Code 1935, § 3799; 12 Del. C.
1953, § 1303; 59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1.)
§ 1303 Notice and subpoena to persons interested.
Proof of a will may be taken without notice to persons interested, unless such a person requests it by petition filed with the Court of
Chancery. Upon receiving such petition, the Court shall, and in any case it may, appoint a time for taking the proof, and issue subpoena,
requiring any person to be present at the taking of such proof. In respect to persons not within the State it may order such service or
publication of notice as it deems proper.
(Code 1852, §§ 1767, 1768; 18 Del. Laws, c. 674; Code 1915, § 3334; 35 Del. Laws, c. 203, § 1; Code 1935, § 3799; 12 Del. C.
1953, § 1304; 59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1.)
§ 1304 Unavailability of witnesses.
(a) In case any attesting and subscribing witness to a will, at the time the will is presented for probate, is dead, is serving in the
armed forces of the United States or is a merchant sailor, or is mentally or physically incapable of testifying or is not within the State,
or is otherwise unavailable, proof of the signature of such witness shall be sufficient. Such proof shall be the testimony in person or
by deposition of a credible disinterested person that the signature of the witness on the will is in the handwriting of the person whose
signature it purports to be, or other sufficient proof of such handwriting.
(b) If a will cannot be proven because the signature of 1 or more of the attesting and subscribing witnesses to it cannot be proven, then
proof of the signature of the testator shall be sufficient. Where the signature of 1 witness can be proven, the proof of the signature of
the testator shall be the testimony in person or by deposition of a credible disinterested person that the signature of the testator on the
will is in the handwriting of the person whose will it purports to be, or other sufficient proof of such handwriting. Where none of the
signatures of the witnesses can be proven, the proof of the signature of the testator shall be the testimony in person or by deposition of
2 credible disinterested persons that the signature of the testator on the will is in the handwriting of the person whose will it purports to
be, or other sufficient proof of such handwriting.
(c) The foregoing provisions of this section shall not preclude the Register of Wills from requiring, in addition, the testimony in person
or by deposition of any subscribing witness, or proof of such other pertinent facts and circumstances as the Register deems necessary
to admit the will to probate.
(Code 1852, §§ 1767, 1768; 18 Del. Laws, c. 674; Code 1915, § 3334; 35 Del. Laws, c. 203, § 1; Code 1935, § 3799; 45 Del.
Laws, c. 232, § 1; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 1305; 59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1.)
§ 1305 Self-proved will.
An attested will may at the time of its execution or at any subsequent date be made self-proved, by the acknowledgment thereof by the
testator and the affidavits of the witnesses, each made before an officer authorized to administer oaths under the laws of this State, and
evidenced by the officer’s certificate, under official seal, attached or annexed to the will in form and content substantially as follows:
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Title 12 - Decedents’ Estates and Fiduciary Relations
STATE OF
SS
COUNTY OF
Before me, the subscriber, on this day personally appeared, .................................... and .................................... known to me to be the
testator and the witnesses, respectively, whose names are signed to the attached or foregoing instrument and, all of these persons being
by me first duly sworn .................................... the testator, declared to me and to the witnesses in my presence that the instrument is the
testator’s last will and that had willingly signed or directed another to sign for the testator, and that the testator executed it as a free and
voluntary act for the purposes therein expressed; and each of the witnesses stated to me, in the presence and hearing of the testator, that
the witness signed the will as witness and that to the best of the witness’ knowledge the testator was eighteen years of age or over, of
sound mind and under no constraint or undue influence.
.....................................................................................................................
Testator
.....................................................................................................................
Witness
.....................................................................................................................
Witness
Subscribed, sworn and acknowledged before me by .................. , the testator, subscribed and sworn before me by .................. and
........................... witnesses, this .................. day of .................................... , A.D., ............................
(SEAL)
(SIGNED) ......................................................................................................
(OFFICIAL CAPACITY OF OFFICER)
(59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1.)
§ 1306 Choice of law as to execution and proving of wills.
(a) A written will signed by the testator, or by some person subscribing the testator’s name in the testator’s presence and at the testator’s
express direction, is valid provided that:
(1) It is executed in compliance with § 202 of this title;
(2) It is executed in compliance with the law at the time of execution of the place where the will is executed; or
(3) It is executed in compliance with the law of the place where at the time of execution or at the time of death the testator is
domiciled, has a place of abode or is a national.
(b) An attested will that is considered valid under the provisions of this section shall be considered self-proved provided that:
(1) It is executed in compliance with the requirements of § 1305 of this title;
(2) It is executed in compliance with requirements of the law necessary to create a self-proved will in the jurisdiction where such
will is made self-proved, at the time such will is made self-proved; or
(3) It is executed in compliance with requirements of the law necessary to create a self-proved will in the jurisdiction where the
testator is domiciled, has a place of abode, or is a national at the time of death.
(59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1; 80 Del. Laws, c. 150, § 1.)
§ 1307 Will of nondomiciliary; admission, recording and evidence.
(a) The written will of a testator who died domiciled outside this State, but who owned real estate or personal property located in this
State, may be admitted to probate and recorded in this State. If such will has been admitted to probate in the domiciliary jurisdiction,
such admission and recording shall be accomplished by filing a verified copy of the will and a verified copy of the record admitting the
same to probate as hereinafter provided. If such will has not been admitted to probate in the domiciliary jurisdiction, but has not been
rejected from probate in the domiciliary jurisdiction except for a cause which is not grounds for rejection of a will of a testator who died
domiciled in this State, and is valid under the laws of this State, such admission and recording shall be accomplished by proving such
will in accordance with §§ 1302-1305 of this title. In either case, such will shall then have the same force and effect as if originally
proved and allowed in this State.
(b) A copy, to be duly verified, must be certified by the proper officer under the officer’s hand and seal of office, if there be a seal of
office, and there must also be a certificate, either under the great seal of such state, territory or country or under the hand of the presiding
judge of a court of record of the state, territory or country, that such copy is certified in due form and by the proper officer; and in case
of a certificate under the hand of the presiding judge, there must be an attestation of the officer keeping the seal of the court, under the
hand of the office and the seal, that the certificate is under the hand of the presiding judge entitled to full faith and credit. If the will shall
have been proved in a foreign country, the certificate under the hand of a presiding judge, as hereinbefore required, may be attested by
the resident United States Consul-General, or Consul-General’s deputy, under the seal of the United States Consulate General.
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(c) The will or a verified copy of it, and any verified copy of the record admitting the will to probate, shall be recorded in the office
of the Register of Wills of any county where real estate or personal property of the testator is located, and the record, or an office copy
thereof, shall be sufficient evidence. When the will or a verified copy of it, or any verified copy of the record admitting the will to probate
is given in evidence, the Court of Chancery, on the application of the adverse party, may order it to be deposited and retained in the office
of the Register of the county, and in that case an office copy thereof shall be sufficient evidence.
(Code 1852, §§ 1648, 1649, 1767, 1768; 18 Del. Laws, c. 674; 24 Del. Laws, c. 234; Code 1915, §§ 3246, 3247, 3334; 28 Del.
Laws, c. 224, § 1; 35 Del. Laws, c. 203, § 1; Code 1935, §§ 3711, 3712, 3799; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 1307; 59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1;
65 Del. Laws, c. 422, § 3; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1.)
§ 1308 Caveat against allowance of instrument as will; procedure.
(a) A caveat against the allowance of an instrument as a will shall be received by the Court of Chancery at any time prior to the entry
of an order of probate. The caveat having been received, the Court shall appoint a time for hearing and award citations for the parties
interested, and order service or publication of notice to the parties not within the State in accordance with § 1303 of this title. If, when
a caveat is received, a time be appointed and process issued, it shall not be necessary to adjourn the taking of the proof and hearing; but
an adjournment may be decreed, and other process awarded, or order made.
(b) The Court of Chancery may determine the costs occasioned by such caveat and decree the payment thereof.
(38 Del. Laws, c. 177, § 1; Code 1935, § 3800; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 1309; 57 Del. Laws, c. 402, § 3; 59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 66
Del. Laws, c. 373, § 1; 75 Del. Laws, c. 97, § 19; 76 Del. Laws, c. 90, § 18.)
§ 1309 Review of proof of will; procedure.
(a) Any person interested who shall not voluntarily appear at the time of taking the proof of a will, or be served with citation or notice
as provided in § 1303 of this title, shall, at any time within 6 months after the entry of the order of probate, have a right of review which
shall on the person’s petition be ordered by the Court of Chancery. Upon such review, there shall be the same proceedings as upon a
caveat, and the allowance of the will and granting of letters may be affirmed or the will rejected and the letters revoked.
(b) The Court of Chancery may determine the costs occasioned by such review and decree the payment thereof.
(Code 1852, §§ 1770, 1771; Code 1915, § 3336; 38 Del. Laws, c. 179, § 1; Code 1935, § 3801; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 1310; 49 Del.
Laws, c. 117; 57 Del. Laws, c. 402, § 3; 59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1; 75 Del. Laws, c. 97, § 1.)
§ 1310 Formal testacy proceedings; contested cases; testimony of attesting witnesses.
If the will is self-proved, compliance with signature requirements for execution is conclusively presumed and other requirements of
execution are presumed subject to rebuttal without the testimony of any witness upon filing the will and the acknowledgment and affidavits
annexed or attached thereto, and, unless there is proof of fraud or forgery affecting the acknowledgment or affidavit, the will shall be
admitted to probate subject to all other provisions of this title.
(59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1.)
§ 1311 Pre-mortem will validation [For application of this section, see 80 Del. Laws, c. 153, § 5].
(a) No proceedings under § 1308 or § 1309 of this title may be commenced following the death of a testator, who resided in Delaware
at the time of death, with respect to a will which has been validated pursuant to the pre-mortem will validation procedure of this § 1311
by any person who was duly notified pursuant to this section if the time period set forth in this section has expired as of the date of the
death of the testator, and no such person may become a party to any such proceeding commenced by another person. If such time period
has not expired as of the date of the death of the testator, the limitation of this § 1311 shall have no application to such testator’s will.
The preceding provisions of this subsection shall apply with respect to the exercise of a power of appointment in a will only if the testator
has followed the provisions of subsection (c) of this section and shall apply with respect to the exercise of a power of appointment only
to the extent of proceedings which challenge the exercise of the power of appointment on the basis that a proceeding could be brought
challenging the will itself under § 1308 or § 1309 of this title.
(b) A testator may notify in writing any person named in a will as a beneficiary, any person who would be entitled to inherit under
Chapter 5 of this title if the testator had died intestate on the date of such notification, and/or any other person the testator wishes to
be bound as to the validity of the testator’s will. The notice shall include a copy of the testator’s will, and shall state that a person who
wishes to contest the validity of the will must do so within 120 days of receipt of such notice, unless the testator dies before such 120day period has elapsed. A person receiving such written notice who wishes to contest the will shall file a proceeding in the Court of
Chancery no later than 120 days following receipt of such notice. Such proceeding shall follow procedures comparable to those under
§ 1308 of this title for the caveat of a will.
(c) If the testator’s will includes a provision exercising a power of appointment, then in addition to complying with the provisions
of subsection (b) of this section, the testator may notify in writing any person named in the exercise of the power of appointment as
a beneficiary, any person who would be entitled to receive property over which the testator exercises the power of appointment if the
testator failed to validly exercise the power of appointment, the trustees of a trust holding property subject to the power of appointment,
and/or any other person the testator wishes to be bound as to the validity of the exercise of the power of appointment under the testator’s
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will. The notice shall include a copy of the testator’s will, a copy of the trust or other instrument which contains the power of appointment
which the testator is exercising, and shall state that a person who wishes to contest the validity of the exercise of the power of appointment
must do so within 120 days of receipt of such notice, unless the testator dies before such 120-day period has elapsed. A person receiving
such written notice who wishes to contest the exercise of the power of appointment shall file a proceeding in the Court of Chancery no
later than 120 days following receipt of such notice. Such proceeding shall follow procedures comparable to those under § 1308 of this
title for the caveat of a will.
(d) The failure of a testator to use the provisions of this section shall not be construed as evidence that a will is not valid.
(e) Nothing in this section shall preclude a person who has provided notice under this section or with respect to whose will a proceeding
has been commenced pursuant to subsection (b) of this section from executing a codicil to such person’s will, or from executing a later will,
but the notice under this section or proceedings under this section shall not be deemed to determine the validity of such later will or codicil.
(f) Nothing in this section shall be construed as abrogating the right or cutting short the period for a spouse to file an elective share
petition under § 901 et seq. of this title or to claim the surviving spouse’s allowance. Nothing in this section shall be construed as
abrogating the right or cutting short any time period for any person to claim an intestate share of a decedent’s estate to the extent that
a will results in a complete or partial intestacy.
(g) For purposes of this section, notice shall have been given when received by the person to whom the notice was given and, absent
evidence to the contrary, it shall be presumed that notice mailed or delivered to the last known address of such person constitutes receipt
by such person.
(h) For purposes of this section, a person is deemed to have been given any notice that has been given to any other person who under
§ 3547 of this title may represent and bind such person.
(80 Del. Laws, c. 153, § 2.)
§ 1312 Limitation on action contesting validity of exercise of power of appointment [For application of this
section, see 80 Del. Laws, c. 153, § 5].
(a) A judicial proceeding to contest whether an exercise of a power of appointment by any written instrument other than a will, under
which property is transferred pursuant to the exercise of the power of appointment only as of the death of the person exercising the power
of appointment (the “exercisor”) may not be initiated later than the first to occur of:
(1) One hundred twenty days after the date that the exercisor notified in writing the person who is contesting the exercise of the
existence of the instrument exercising the power of appointment, the name and address of the exercisor, whether such person is a
beneficiary, and of the time allowed under this section for initiating a judicial proceeding to contest the exercise of the power of
appointment. The exercisor shall also provide to the person who is contesting the exercise a copy of the instrument which creates
the power of appointment. For purposes of this subsection, notice shall have been given when received by the person to whom the
notice was given and, absent evidence to the contrary, it shall be presumed that notice mailed or delivered to the last known address
of such person constitutes receipt by such person. This paragraph (a)(1) shall be applicable only to a proceeding to contest whether
an exercise of a power of appointment by any written instrument other than a will is valid to the extent that the basis for such contest
is a failure to comply with formalities for the execution of the power of appointment, undue influence over the exercisor, or lack of
capacity of the exercisor;
(2) Two years after the death of the exercisor; or
(3) The date the person’s right to contest was precluded by adjudication, consent, or other limitation.
(b) For purposes of subsection (a) of this section, a person is deemed to have been given any notice that has been given to any person
who under § 3547 of this title may represent and bind such person.
(80 Del. Laws, c. 153, § 2.)
§ 1313 Restricted access to a decedent’s safe deposit box for the limited purpose of retrieving the decedent’s
last will and/or declaration of last remains prior to the appointment of personal representative [Effective
Oct. 25, 2020].
(a) After the death of the decedent but prior to the appointment of a personal representative for the decedent’s estate, access to the
decedent’s safe deposit box located in a “financial institution,” as defined by § 101 of Title 5, and held in the decedent’s sole name shall
be limited to only such person or persons who present to the financial institution all of the following:
(1) A key or combination to the lock to the decedent’s safe deposit box.
(2) A certified copy of the certificate of the decedent’s death or other satisfactory proof thereof.
(3) Proof of identity of the person seeking access to the safe deposit box, with a photocopy of the proof of identity to be placed in
the safe deposit box and to remain in the safe deposit box until retrieved by the personal representative of the decedent’s estate.
(b) The financial institution has no duty to inquire into the truth of any statement, declaration, certificate, affidavit, or document offered
as proof of the decedent’s death or proof of identity of the person seeking access.
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(c) If a person is unable to present a key or combination to the lock to the decedent’s safe deposit box, a court order is required for
access to the safe deposit box.
(d) Access to a safe deposit box pursuant to subsection (a) of this section shall be only under the supervision of an officer or employee
of the financial institution, and shall be restricted only to the following:
(1) Opening the safe deposit box with the key presented in accordance with subsection (a) of this section;
(2) Making a photocopy of any wills or declarations of last remains located in the safe deposit box;
(3) Removal of wills and declarations from within the safe deposit box only after placing in the safe deposit box the photocopies
of such wills and declarations to be removed, with the photocopies remaining in the safe deposit box until removed by the personal
representative of the decedent’s estate.
(e) Any will removed from a safe deposit box pursuant to this section and appearing on its face to have been executed in Delaware or
by a testator residing in Delaware shall be sent from the financial institution to the Register of Wills in accordance with § 1301(a) of this
title if the decedent was domiciled in Delaware at the time of death. All declarations of last remains removed from the safe deposit box
may be released to the person seeking access to the safe deposit box after compliance with subsection (d) of this section.
(f) The financial institution may charge reasonable fees for any cost of sending the will to the Register of Wills and for photocopying
any documents pursuant to subsections (a) and (d) of this section. Nothing herein shall preclude the person seeking access to the safe
deposit box from seeking reimbursement of such costs from the decedent’s estate.
(g) No financial institution shall be liable for the loss of any content of any safe deposit box for which access was granted pursuant
to this section.
(82 Del. Laws, c. 283, § 1.)
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Title 12 - Decedents’ Estates and Fiduciary Relations
Part IV
Administration of Decedents’ Estates
Chapter 15
Letters Testamentary and Letters of Administration
Subchapter I
General Provisions
§ 1501 Necessity for letters testamentary or of administration.
No one shall act as the executor or administrator of a domiciliary decedent’s estate within this State without letters testamentary or of
administration being granted in accordance with this title.
(Code 1852, § 1775; Code 1915, § 3340; Code 1935, § 3805; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 1502; 59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c.
186, § 1.)
§ 1502 Grant of letters testamentary.
(a) If a will of a domiciliary or nondomiciliary decedent is admitted to probate in accordance with this title, letters testamentary shall
be granted by the Register of Wills of the county in which the decedent was domiciled, or in the case of a nondomiciliary in which the
decedent owned real or personal property, to the executor or executors thereof, upon their giving bond in accordance with this title.
(b) If several are named as executors, and any are deceased, or fail to give the necessary bond, or renounce or are incapacitated, letters
testamentary shall be granted to the others so named. If all of them, or a sole executor, is deceased, or fails to give the necessary bond, or
renounces or is incapacitated, administration with the will annexed, shall be granted in accordance with this title.
(Code 1852, §§ 1773, 1774; Code 1915, § 3339; Code 1935, § 3804; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 1501; 59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 65 Del.
Laws, c. 422, § 4.)
§ 1503 Grant of letters to one under an incapacity.
If a person named executor shall be under an incapacity, either by reason of minority, physical disability or mental disability, letters
testamentary shall be granted upon the removal of the incapacity and upon the giving of bond in accordance with this title. In the meantime,
letters testamentary shall be granted to the coexecutor or coexecutors of the person under a disability, if there is 1 or more named who
qualify in accordance with this title, but if there is none, or if the coexecutor or coexecutors all fail to qualify, letters of administration,
with the will annexed, shall be granted in accordance with this title.
(59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1.)
§ 1504 Grant of letters of administration.
(a) Letters of administration, with the will annexed, of the estate of a domiciliary decedent for whom a will has been admitted to probate
in accordance with this title, and letters of administration of the estate of a domiciliary decedent for whom no will shall have been admitted
to probate in accordance with this title, shall be granted by the Register of Wills of the county in which the decedent was domiciled.
(b) Letters of ancillary administration, with the will annexed, of a nondomiciliary decedent for whom a will has been admitted to
probate in accordance with this title, and letters of ancillary administration of the estate of a nondomiciliary decedent for whom no will
has been admitted to probate in accordance with this title, shall be granted by the Register of Wills for any county. The administration
which shall first be lawfully granted in either case shall extend to all the estate of the decedent within Delaware, and shall exclude the
jurisdiction of the Register for any other county.
(Code 1852, §§ 1777, 1778; Code 1915, § 3342; Code 1935, § 3807; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 1504; 59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1.)
§ 1505 Persons entitled to letters of administration.
(a) Letters of administration with the will annexed, letters of administration, letters of ancillary administration with the will annexed
and letters of ancillary administration shall be granted by a Register of Wills to such person or persons as shall be entitled to such letters
under this section upon their giving bond in accordance with this title.
(b) (1) The persons entitled to letters of administration shall be those in the first of the following classes of persons which shall have
a member of that class living and not under an incapacity: Spouse of the decedent; children of the decedent; parents of the decedent;
siblings of the whole blood and half blood of the decedent.
(2) If there shall be more than 1 person living in the first qualifying class mentioned in paragraph (1) of this subsection, letters
of administration shall be granted to all of those persons in the class who give the necessary bond, do not renounce or who are not
incapacitated.
(3) If all of the persons in the first qualifying class mentioned in paragraph (1) of this subsection shall fail to give the necessary bond,
renounce or are incapacitated, a Register of Wills shall grant letters of administration to such person or persons as all of them in that
class who are not under an incapacity shall have agreed to in writing.
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Title 12 - Decedents’ Estates and Fiduciary Relations
(c) If all of the persons specified in the first class in paragraph (b)(1) of this section which shall have a member of that class living
and not under an incapacity shall fail to give the necessary bond, renounce or are incapacitated, and if all of them who are not under an
incapacity fail to agree in writing on a person or persons to whom letters of administration shall be granted as provided in paragraph (b)(3)
of this section, then any or all of those who fail to agree may petition the Court of Chancery for the grant of letters of administration to their
nominee or nominees, and the Court shall grant letters of administration to such person or persons as it, in its discretion, shall determine.
(d) If there shall be no person living in any of the classes specified in paragraph (b)(1) of this section who is not under an incapacity, or if
no petition for administration is filed within 60 days from the date of death, then the Register of Wills shall grant letters of administration
to such person or persons as the Register, in the Register’s discretion, shall determine.
(e) Any interested person may petition the Register of Wills of a proper county for the appointment of an administrator.
(Code 1852, § 1779; Code 1915, § 3343; Code 1935, § 3808; 47 Del. Laws, c. 352, § 1; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 1505; 59 Del. Laws, c.
384, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1.)
§ 1506 Power of attorney by nondomiciliary executor or administrator.
In case of the grant of letters testamentary or of administration, the person designated as an executor or administrator, if a
nondomiciliary, or if a corporation not incorporated under the laws of Delaware, shall file in the office of the Register of Wills granting
such letters, before the issuance of the letters, an irrevocable power of attorney designating that Register and the Register’s successors
in office as the person upon whom all notices and process issued by any court in this State may be served, with like effect as personal
service in relation to any suit, matter, cause or thing affecting or pertinent to the estate in which the letters are issued. The Register shall
forward forthwith, by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the address of such executor or administrator, which shall be stated in
the power of attorney, any notices or process served upon the Register.
(Code 1915, § 3343(a); 38 Del. Laws, c. 180, § 1; Code 1935, § 3808; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 1506; 59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 70 Del.
Laws, c. 186, § 1.)
§ 1507 Successor administrator; personal representative of executor or administrator; administration
during pendency of litigation.
(a) Upon the removal or resignation from office, or upon the death or incapacity of a sole executor or administrator, or if there are
more than 1, all of them, administration shall be granted to a successor administrator or administrators in accordance with this title as
though such administration were an original administration.
(b) A personal representative of a deceased executor or administrator shall not represent (unless expressly appointed) and shall have
no personal liability or responsibility with respect to the estate being executed or administered by such decedent, other than to notify the
Register of Wills of the death of the decedent’s executor or administrator.
(c) Administration during the pendency of litigation concerning proof of a will or the right to administer, or during the absence of a
personal representative appointed in accordance with the foregoing provisions of this title, may be granted by the Register of Wills of
the county in which the decedent was domiciled, in the case of a domiciliary decedent, or by the Register of any county, in the case of a
nondomiciliary decedent, as such Register, in the Register ’s discretion, may deem appropriate. In the case of a nondomiciliary decedent,
the administration which shall first be lawfully granted shall extend to all the estate of the decedent within Delaware, and shall exclude
the jurisdiction of the Register for any other county during the pendency of such litigation or during the absence of such a personal
representative.
(Code 1852, §§ 1780-1782; Code 1915, § 3344; Code 1935, § 3809; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 1507; 59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 70 Del.
Laws, c. 186, § 1.)
§ 1508 Persons not qualified to receive letters testamentary or of administration.
Letters testamentary, or of administration, shall not be granted to a minor, to a person who is mentally incapacitated or to a person
convicted of a crime disqualifying the person from taking an oath.
(Code 1852, § 1783; Code 1915, § 3345; Code 1935, § 3810; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 1508; 59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c.
186, § 1.)
§ 1509 Oath of executor or administrator.
Every executor or administrator shall take and subscribe an oath, to be affixed to the bond, to perform the duties of office with fidelity.
(Code 1852, § 1791; Code 1915, § 3347; Code 1935, § 3812; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 1509; 59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c.
186, § 1.)
§ 1510 Personal representatives of deceased guardians.
Upon appointment, every executor or administrator of the estate of a guardian who dies in office shall notify the Court of Chancery of
the guardian’s death, and thereafter perform the duties of the guardian as specified in § 3941 of this title.
(69 Del. Laws, c. 109, § 3.)
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Title 12 - Decedents’ Estates and Fiduciary Relations
Subchapter II
Bond
§ 1521 Requirement.
Prior to receiving letters, a personal representative shall qualify by filing with the Register of Wills any required bond.
(Code 1852, §§ 1792-1798; Code 1915, § 3348; Code 1935, § 3813; 42 Del. Laws, c. 139, § 1; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 1521; 59 Del.
Laws, c. 384, § 1; 63 Del. Laws, c. 282, § 1.)
§ 1522 Exception to bond requirement.
No bond shall be required of a personal representative prior to receiving letters, except:
(1) When an executor or other personal representative is appointed to administer an estate under a will containing an express
requirement of bond; or
(2) When bond is required by order of the Court of Chancery under § 1524 of this title.
A bond otherwise required by any will may be dispensed with upon determination by the Court of Chancery that it is not necessary
or desirable.
(63 Del. Laws, c. 282, § 1.)
§ 1523 Amount; security; execution; excusing requirement.
If bond is required and the provisions of the will or court order do not specify the amount, the amount of the bond shall be fixed by
the Register of Wills in an amount which shall not be less than the best estimate that can be made of the decedent’s personal estate. The
personal representative shall execute and file with the Register a bond with surety, or with other suitable security in an amount not less
than the bond. The Register shall determine that the bond is duly executed by a corporate surety, or 1 or more individual sureties whose
performance is secured by pledge of personal property, mortgage on real estate or other adequate security. On petition of the personal
representative or other interested persons, the Court of Chancery may excuse a requirement of bond, increase or reduce the amount of
the bond, release sureties or permit the substitution of another bond with the same or different sureties. In increasing or decreasing the
amount of the bond the Court shall take into account, inter alia, whether the will excuses the requirement of bond.
(Code 1852, §§ 1792-1798, 1800; 15 Del. Laws, c. 468; Code 1915, §§ 3348, 3350, 3352; Code 1935, §§ 3813, 3815, 3817; 42
Del. Laws, c. 139, § 1; 12 Del. C. 1953, §§ 1521, 1525, 1527; 59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 60 Del. Laws, c. 199, §§ 4, 5; 63 Del.
Laws, c. 282, § 1.)
§ 1524 Demand that representative be bonded.
Any person apparently having an interest in the estate worth in excess of $2,000, or any creditor having a claim in excess of $2,000,
may make a written demand that a personal representative give bond. The demand must be filed with the Court of Chancery and a copy
mailed to the personal representative, if appointment and qualification have occurred. Upon finding that bond is necessary or desirable
the Court may order bond but the requirement ceases without order of Court if the person demanding bond ceases to be interested in the
estate, or if bond is excused as provided in this section or § 1523 of this title. After bond has been ordered and until the filing of the bond
or cessation of the requirement of bond, the personal representative shall refrain from exercising any powers of office except as necessary
to preserve the estate. Failure of the personal representative to meet the requirement of bond by giving suitable bond within 10 days from
notice is cause for removal and appointment of a successor personal representative.
(63 Del. Laws, c. 282, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1.)
§ 1525 Conditions.
(a) The following requirements and provisions apply to any bond required by this subchapter:
(1) Bonds shall name the State as obligee for the benefit of the persons interested in the estate including without limitation the
legatees, devisees and other beneficiaries thereof, and shall be conditioned upon the faithful discharge by the fiduciary of all duties
according to law;
(2) Unless otherwise provided by the terms of the approved bond, sureties are jointly and severally liable with the personal
representative and with each other. The address of sureties shall be stated in the bond;
(3) By executing an approved bond of a personal representative, the surety consents to the jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery
in any proceedings pertaining to the fiduciary duties of the personal representative and naming the surety as a party. Notice of any
proceedings shall be delivered to the surety or mailed to the surety by registered or certified mail at the surety’s address as listed with
the Register of Wills where the bond is filed;
(4) On petition of a successor personal representative, any other personal representative of the same decedent or any interested
person, a proceeding in the Court may be initiated by a surety for breach of the obligation of the bond of the personal representative;
(5) The bond of the personal representative is not void after the first recovery but may be proceeded against from time to time until
the whole penalty is exhausted.
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Title 12 - Decedents’ Estates and Fiduciary Relations
(b) No action or proceeding may be commenced against the surety on any matter as to which an action or proceeding against the primary
obligator is barred by adjudication or limitation.
(63 Del. Laws, c. 282, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1.)
§ 1526 Objection to amount or condition.
If any interested person objects to the amount of the bond as provided in § 1523 of this title or the condition of the bond as provided
in § 1525 of this title, such person may petition the Court of Chancery and the Court shall fix the amount and condition of the bond.
(59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 63 Del. Laws, c. 282, § 1.)
§ 1527 Liability for estate taxes and duties related thereto.
The bond of a personal representative shall be liable for all money received for taxes of this State or the United States or for any
penalty assessed against the personal representative for failure to file a tax return of this State or the United States within the period
prescribed by law.
(25 Del. Laws, c. 225, § 4; Code 1915, § 149; 37 Del. Laws, c. 8, § 1; 40 Del. Laws, c. 10, § 1; Code 1935, § 140; 42 Del. Laws,
c. 58, § 2; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 1523; 59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 63 Del. Laws, c. 282, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1; 71 Del. Laws,
c. 353, § 4.)
§ 1528 Certificate of approval; preservation.
(a) The execution of the required bond shall be sufficient without any certificate of approval by the Register of Wills.
(b) The Register shall provide safekeeping for every bond.
(Code 1852, §§ 1801, 1802; Code 1915, § 3351; Code 1935, § 3816; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 1526; 59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 63 Del.
Laws, c. 282, § 1.)
Subchapter III
Death, Removal or Discharge of Executor or Administrator
§ 1541 Removal for neglect of duties.
(a) If an executor or administrator neglects official duties, the Court of Chancery may remove the executor or administrator from office.
(b) If any executor or administrator fails to perform any of the duties imposed upon the executor or administrator under Chapter 15 of
Title 30, the Court of Chancery may, upon petition of the Division of Revenue, revoke the same, and the executor’s or administrator’s
bond shall be liable, and the same proceedings shall be had as if the executor’s or administrator’s administration had been revoked for
other cause.
(Code 1852, § 1784; 25 Del. Laws, c. 225, § 4; Code 1915, §§ 149, 3346; 37 Del. Laws, c. 8, § 1; 40 Del. Laws, c. 10, § 1; Code
1935, §§ 140, 3811; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 1541; 59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1; 71 Del. Laws, c. 353, § 5.)
§ 1542 Removal of executor or administrator upon subsequent probate of will.
If, after the grant of letters testamentary or the grant of letters of administration, a will of the deceased is admitted to probate and letters
testamentary or of administration with the will annexed are thereupon granted, the prior executor or administrator shall by such grant be
removed from office. All the previous lawful acts of the removed executor or administrator shall be valid as provided in § 1545 of this title.
(Code 1852, § 1785; Code 1915, § 3346; Code 1935, § 3811; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 1542; 59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1.)
§ 1543 Rights of coexecutor, coadministrator or successor upon death or removal.
Whenever an executor or administrator is removed or dies before the estate of the deceased is closed, a coexecutor or coadministrator,
or if there be none such, a successor, shall be entitled to receive all the unadministered effects, including books and papers, which, at the
time of such removal or death, shall be in the executor’s or administrator’s hands, or for which the executor or administrator is answerable,
just allowances being made.
(Code 1852, § 1786; Code 1915, § 3346; Code 1935, § 3811; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 1543; 59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c.
186, § 1.)
§ 1544 Commissions; allowance and apportionment.
When part of the effects of the deceased passes from 1 executor or administrator to another under § 1543 of this title, commissions
shall not be twice allowed, but may be apportioned or the whole may be allowed to the one who, according to the circumstances, ought
to have the same. When commissions have been once allowed, there shall be no more allowed upon the same subject matter, except in
cases of apportionment, unless the first allowance is annulled.
(Code 1852, § 1787; Code 1915, § 3346; Code 1935, § 3811; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 1544; 59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1.)
§ 1545 Validity of acts of removed or deceased executor or administrator.
Any act done by an executor or administrator in the due course of administration, and any payment made by the executor or administrator
on account of a legacy or distributive share shall be valid, until it appears to have been erroneously or unlawfully done or made although
the executor or administrator shall be removed from office or shall die before closing the estate.
(Code 1852, § 1788; Code 1915, § 3346; Code 1935, § 3811; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 1545; 59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c.
186, § 1.)
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§ 1546 Refusal to deliver unadministered assets.
(a) If any executor or administrator who has been removed refuses to deliver to a coexecutor or coadministrator, if there be such, and
if not, to a successor, all the unadministered effects belonging to the deceased, which shall be in the executor’s or administrator’s hands,
the Court of Chancery may, in a summary proceeding, upon the petition of such coexecutor, administrator or successor, hear the parties,
and make an order for such delivery, and enforce the same by attachment, sequestration or any other process.
(b) The Court of Chancery may also proceed, in like manner, against the personal representative of a deceased executor or administrator,
refusing to deliver, according to law, any such effects belonging to the estate of the first testator or intestate which shall come to personal
representative’s hands.
(Code 1852, §§ 1789, 1790; Code 1915, § 3346; Code 1935, § 3811; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 1546; 59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 70 Del.
Laws, c. 186, § 1.)
§ 1547 Discharge of executor or administrator upon petition; procedure; appeal.
(a) An executor or administrator may, by petition to the Court of Chancery, apply to be discharged from the office of executor or
administrator. Upon such petition and upon it appearing to the Court that the discharge of the executor or administrator will be for the
benefit of the parties interested in the estate of the deceased, the Court may grant such discharge and revoke the letters testamentary or
of administration, upon such terms and conditions as the Court deems necessary for the security of the estate of the decedent. Notice of
such application and of the time and place of hearing the same shall be given to parties interested, by citation served on such as reside
within this State, and as to nonresident parties by such publication as the Court directs.
(b) The provisions of law relating to the acts of a removed executor or administrator, the delivery of unadministered effects, books
and papers, the remedies for enforcing such delivery and the apportionment of commissions and the fees of the Register of Wills in the
proceedings for the removal of an executor or administrator, shall apply to the case of an executor or administrator discharged under
this section.
(c) The Court of Chancery may make any order upon a discharged executor or administrator which may be necessary to carry into
effect this section, and may enforce such order by attachment, sequestration or any other process.
(12 Del. Laws, c. 304, §§ 1-4; Code 1915, § 3403; Code 1935, § 3866; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 1547; 49 Del. Laws, c. 220, § 10; 59
Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1.)
Subchapter IV
Life Interest in Personalty Where Will Appoints No Trustee to Administer
§ 1551 Appointment of trustee upon petition of executor or administrator; bond, duties and release of
trustee.
(a) When any person, other than the person who during life shall be entitled under the will of any deceased testator to the income on
the personal estate of such deceased testator or any part thereof, shall be the executor or administrator with the will annexed of the estate
of such deceased testator, such executor or administrator with the will annexed may, if no trustee is named in such will, after having
passed a final account of administration on the estate before the Register of Wills, petition the Court of Chancery for the appointment of
a trustee to receive from such executor or administrator with the will annexed, the fund to which the person named in the will is entitled
during the person’s life.
(b) The Court of Chancery, upon petition being presented to it as provided in subsection (a) of this section, shall appoint a trustee to
receive, manage and invest the fund, and the trustee shall give bond as the Court may order and direct.
(c) The trustee shall manage and invest the fund, and pay over to the person entitled for life to the fund the profits and income arising
thereout; and after the death of the person entitled for life, shall pay the fund to the person entitled absolutely.
(d) The trust shall terminate upon the death of the person entitled during life to the fund, and the release of the person entitled absolutely
to the fund shall discharge and release the trustee from all liability for or concerning the same.
(21 Del. Laws, c. 295, § 1; Code 1915, §§ 3357, 3358; Code 1935, §§ 3822, 3823; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 1551; 59 Del. Laws, c. 384,
§ 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1.)
§ 1552 Receipt of trustee.
The receipt of the trustee, appointed under § 1551 of this title, to the executor or administrator with the will annexed for the fund shall
release and discharge the executor or administrator with the will annexed of and from all liability for or concerning the fund.
(21 Del. Laws, c. 295, § 1; Code 1915, § 3359; Code 1935, § 3824; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 1552; 59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1.)
§ 1553 Personalty in possession of life tenant; discharge of executor or administrator with will annexed;
liability of life tenant.
When the executor or administrator with the will annexed, in cases where the will so provides, leaves in the possession of the person
entitled for life, perishable personal property, livestock, household goods, family stores and farming implements, together with the crops
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Title 12 - Decedents’ Estates and Fiduciary Relations
saved for the maintenance of such stock, the receipt of such person entitled for life to such executor or administrator with the will annexed
shall discharge the executor or administrator with the will annexed of and from all liability for or concerning the goods and chattels and
crops so devised and the appraised value thereof. The Register of Wills shall allow the amount of the appraisement of the goods and
chattels in the account of the executor or administrator as a credit upon the production, at the time of passing the account, of the receipt;
but such release shall not discharge the person so entitled for life, the person’s executor or administrator from liability to the person
entitled to such personal property absolutely, after the death of the person entitled thereto for life, or prevent such action at law or in
equity as is necessary to secure the delivery of such personal property or payment therefor, at its appraised value, to the person entitled
thereto absolutely, after the death of the person entitled to such property for life.
(21 Del. Laws, c. 295, § 1; Code 1915, § 3360; Code 1935, § 3825; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 1553; 59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 70 Del.
Laws, c. 186, § 1.)
Subchapter V
Foreign Representatives
§ 1561 Definitions.
As used in this subchapter, the following definitions shall apply:
(1) “Local administration” means administration by a personal representative appointed in this State pursuant to appointment
proceedings described in this title.
(2) “Local personal representative” includes any personal representative appointed in this State pursuant to appointment proceedings
described in this title and excludes foreign personal representatives who acquire the power of a local personal representative pursuant
to § 1566 of this title.
(3) “Personal representative” includes executor, administrator, administrator with the will annexed and successor personal
representatives and persons who perform substantially the same function under the law governing their status.
(4) “Resident creditor” means a person domiciled in, or doing business in this State, who is, or could be, a claimant against an estate
of a nonresident decedent.
(59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1.)
§ 1562 Payment of debt and delivery of property to domiciliary foreign personal representative without
local administration.
At any time after the expiration of 60 days from the death of a nonresident decedent, any person indebted to the estate of the nonresident
decedent or having possession or control of property of such nonresident decedent or having possession or control of an instrument
evidencing a debt, obligation, stock or chose in action belonging to the estate of the nonresident decedent may pay the debt, deliver the
property or the instrument evidencing the debt, obligation, stock or chose in action to the domiciliary foreign personal representative of the
nonresident decedent upon being presented with proof of appointment and an affidavit made by or on behalf of the representative stating:
(1) The date of the death of the nonresident decedent;
(2) That no local ancillary administration, or application or petition therefor, is pending in this State;
(3) That the domiciliary foreign personal representative is entitled to payment or delivery.
(59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1.)
§ 1563 Payment or delivery discharges.
Payment or delivery made in good faith on the basis of the proof of authority and affidavit releases the debtor or person having possession
of the personal property to the same extent as if payment or delivery had been made to a local personal representative.
(59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1.)
§ 1564 Resident creditor notice.
Payment or delivery under § 1562 of this title may not be made if a resident creditor of the nonresident decedent has notified the debtor
of the nonresident decedent or the person having possession of the personal property belonging to the nonresident decedent that the debt
should not be paid nor the property delivered to the domiciliary foreign personal representative.
(59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1.)
§ 1565 Proof of authority and bond.
If no local ancillary administration or application or petition therefor is pending in this State, a domiciliary foreign personal
representative may file with the Register of Wills in this State in a county in which property belonging to the decedent is located
exemplified copies of the domiciliary foreign personal representative’s appointment and of any official bond given.
(59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1.)
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Title 12 - Decedents’ Estates and Fiduciary Relations
§ 1566 Powers.
A domiciliary foreign personal representative who has complied with § 1565 of this title may exercise as to assets in this State all
powers of a local personal representative and may maintain actions and proceedings in this State subject to any conditions imposed
upon nonresident parties generally and provided that such domiciliary foreign personal representative complies with § 1905 of this title
governing the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets consisting of tangible personal property and real estate actually situated
within this State.
(59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 75 Del. Laws, c. 97, § 2.)
§ 1567 Power of representatives in transition.
The power of a domiciliary foreign personal representative under § 1562 or § 1565 of this title shall be exercised only if there is no
administration or application therefor pending in this State. An application or petition for local administration of the estate terminates
the power of the foreign personal representative to act under § 1566 of this title, but the Court of Chancery may allow the foreign
personal representative to exercise limited powers to preserve the estate. No person who, before receiving actual notice of a pending local
administration, has changed position in reliance upon the powers of a foreign personal representative shall be prejudiced by reason of
the application or petition for, or grant of, local administration. The local personal representative is subject to all duties and obligations
which have accrued by virtue of the exercise of the powers by the foreign personal representative and may be substituted for the foreign
personal representative in any action or proceeding in this State.
(59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1.)
§ 1568 Ancillary and other local administrations; provisions governing.
In respect to the local administration of the estate of a nonresident decedent, the provisions of this title govern:
(1) Proceedings, if any, before a Register of Wills or the Court of Chancery in this State, for probate of the will, appointment, removal,
supervision and discharge of the local personal representative, and any other order concerning the estate; and
(2) The status, powers, duties and liabilities of any local personal representative and the rights of claimants, purchasers, distributors
and others in regard to a local administration.
(59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1.)
§ 1569 Jurisdiction by act of foreign personal representative.
A foreign personal representative submits to the jurisdiction of the courts of this State by:
(1) Filing exemplified copies of appointment as provided in § 1565 of this title,
(2) Receiving payment of money or taking delivery of personal property under § 1562 of this title, or
(3) Doing any act as a personal representative in this State which would have given the State jurisdiction over the person as an
individual.
Jurisdiction under paragraph (2) of this section is limited to the money or value of personal property collected.
(59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1.)
§ 1570 Jurisdiction by act of decedent.
In addition to jurisdiction conferred by § 1569 of this title, a foreign personal representative is subject to the jurisdiction of the courts
of this State to the same extent that the decedent was subject to jurisdiction immediately prior to death.
(59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1.)
§ 1571 Service on foreign personal representative.
(a) Service of process may be made upon the foreign personal representative by certified mail, addressed to the last reasonably
ascertainable address, requesting a return receipt signed by the addressee only. Notice by ordinary first-class mail is sufficient if certified
mail service to the addressee is unavailable. Service may be made upon a foreign personal representative in the manner in which service
could have been made under other laws of this State on either the foreign personal representative or the decedent immediately prior to
death.
(b) If service is made upon a foreign personal representative as provided in subsection (a) of this section, the foreign personal
representative shall be allowed at least 30 days within which to appear or respond.
(59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1.)
§ 1572 Effect of adjudication for or against personal representative.
In the absence of fraud or collusion, an adjudication rendered in the domiciliary jurisdiction or any ancillary jurisdiction in favor of
or against any personal representative of the estate is as binding on the local personal representative as if the representative were a party
to the adjudication.
(59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1.)
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Title 12 - Decedents’ Estates and Fiduciary Relations
§ 1573 Authentication and recognition of acknowledgements.
The authentication and recognition of the acknowledgement of a foreign notary public or other officer on an instrument necessary under
this chapter shall be in accordance with subchapter II of Chapter 43 of Title 29.
(63 Del. Laws, c. 61, § 1.)
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Title 12 - Decedents’ Estates and Fiduciary Relations
Part IV
Administration of Decedents’ Estates
Chapter 17
Absentees; Presumed Decedents
§ 1701 Presumption of death.
(a) When the death of a person or the date thereof is in issue, the unexplained absence from the last known place of residence and the
fact that the person has been unheard of for 7 years may be a sufficient ground for finding that the person died 7 years after the person
was last heard of.
(b) The fact that a person was exposed to a specific peril of death may be sufficient ground for finding that the person died less than
7 years after the person was last heard of.
(c) A written finding of missing in action or presumed death made by the Secretary of the Army, the Secretary of the Navy or other
officer or employee of the United States authorized to make such finding pursuant to the Federal Missing Persons Act (37 U.S.C. § 551
et seq.), as now or hereafter amended, or a duly certified copy of such finding shall be received in any court, office or other place in
this State as prima facie evidence of the death of the person therein found to be missing in action or dead, and the date, circumstances
and place of disappearance.
(59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1.)
§ 1702 Petition for adjudication of presumed death; notice of hearing.
(a) Whenever any person is presumed to be dead on account of absence for 7 years or more, exposure to specific peril or pursuant to
a finding under Federal Missing Persons Act (37 U.S.C. § 551 et seq.), whether such person was domiciled within this State or in some
other state, territory or possession of the United States or in any foreign country, any person entitled under the last will and testament of
such presumed decedent or under the intestate laws to any share of the estate within this State, or under any deed, will or other instrument
in writing or in any other way, method or manner to any share or interest in any estate held by or for such presumed decedent for years
or for the term of natural life, or the Escheator for the State or any creditor of the presumed decedent, may present a petition to the
Court of Chancery, setting forth the facts which raise the presumption and praying for an adjudication thereon declaring such person to
be presumed to be deceased.
(b) The Court of Chancery, if satisfied as to the interest of the petitioner, shall cause to be advertised in a newspaper of general circulation
in the county of the principal residence of the presumed decedent (or if nonresident then in such county as the Court shall direct), once
a week for 3 consecutive weeks, together with such other advertisement as the Court, according to the circumstances of the case, deems
expedient or advisable, the fact of such application, together with notice that on a day certain, which shall be at least 2 weeks after the
last appearance of the advertisement, the Court shall hear evidence concerning the alleged absence of the presumed decedent and the
circumstances and duration thereof.
(16 Del. Laws, c. 132, §§ 1, 2; Code 1915, § 3361; Code 1935, § 3826; 42 Del. Laws, c. 140, § 1; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 1701; 59
Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1.)
§ 1703 Petition for ancillary letters on estate of nondomiciliary presumed decedent; notice of hearing.
(a) Whenever letters of administration or letters testamentary have been granted in any other state, territory or possession of the United
States, or in any foreign country, on the estate of a domiciliary thereof, presumed to be dead, the person to whom such letters have been
granted may present a petition to the Court of Chancery, accompanied by a complete exemplification of the record of the grant of such
letters, praying for the grant of ancillary letters testamentary or of administration upon the estate of such presumed decedent, situate,
owing or belonging to the decedent within this State.
(b) The Court of Chancery, if satisfied that the person proposed in such petition would be a fit person to whom such letters might
be issued, shall cause publication to be made, in the manner and for the period as provided in § 1702 of this title, of the fact of such
application, together with notice that on a day certain, which shall be at least 2 weeks after the last appearance of the advertisement,
the Court of Chancery shall hear evidence concerning the alleged absence of the presumed decedent and the circumstances and duration
thereof.
(16 Del. Laws, c. 132, §§ 1, 2; Code 1915, § 3361; Code 1935, § 3826; 42 Del. Laws, c. 140, § 1; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 1702; 59
Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1.)
§ 1704 Hearing; competency of witnesses.
At the hearing in either of the cases provided for in §§ 1702 and 1703 of this title, the Court of Chancery shall take such legal evidence
as shall be offered, for the purpose of ascertaining whether the presumption of death is established; or it may appoint a master to take
such testimony, and report the findings thereon. No person shall be disqualified to testify by reason of relationship as husband or wife to
the presumed decedent, or of interest in the estate of the presumed decedent.
(16 Del. Laws, c. 132, §§ 1, 2; Code 1915, § 3361; Code 1935, § 3826; 42 Del. Laws, c. 140, § 1; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 1703; 59
Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1.)
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Title 12 - Decedents’ Estates and Fiduciary Relations
§ 1705 Search for absentee.
The Court of Chancery, on its own motion or upon the application of any party in interest, may appoint a master, investigator or
appropriate agency to search for the presumed decedent in any manner which the Court shall deem appropriate, and the expenses of such
search shall be paid out of the property of the absentee.
(59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1.)
§ 1706 Decree of presumed death; admission of will to probate and grant of letters.
(a) If satisfied, upon the hearing, or upon the report of a master, that the death of the presumed decedent has been established, the Court
of Chancery shall so decree, and the Court shall determine in such decree the date of such death.
(b) The Register of Wills shall issue letters of administration to the person thereto entitled, or receive for probate the last will and
testament of such presumed decedent, and, if duly proved, admit the same to probate and issue letters testamentary thereunder. The letters,
until revoked, and all acts done in pursuance thereof and in reliance thereon shall be as valid as if the presumed decedent were actually dead.
(16 Del. Laws, c. 132, §§ 1, 2; Code 1915, § 3361; Code 1935, § 3826; 42 Del. Laws, c. 140, § 1; 12 Del. C. 1953, §§ 1704, 1705;
59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1.)
§ 1707 Title to real estate of presumed decedent; recording of decree.
(a) Whenever the Court of Chancery enters a decree that the presumption of death of any person has been established, the real estate
of the presumed decedent shall pass and devolve as in the case of actual death, and the person entitled by will or under the intestate laws
may enter and take possession. In case the presumption of death is thereafter rebutted by adequate proof that the presumed decedent
is in fact alive, and the decree is vacated, the real estate shall revert to the person erroneously presumed decedent as fully as though
such decree had never been entered, subject, however, to subsection (b) of this section and to payment of the costs and expenses of the
proceedings and advertisement.
(b) The decree may be recorded in the office of the Recorder of Deeds of the proper county, in the deed book, and shall be indexed
by the Recorder in the grantors’ index under the names of the persons taking the real estate; and if so recorded, and the persons taking
the real estate sell or mortgage the same, the purchaser or mortgagee shall take a good title or security interest, free and discharged of
any interest or claim of the presumed decedent.
(16 Del. Laws, c. 132, §§ 1, 2; Code 1915, § 3361; Code 1935, § 3826; 42 Del. Laws, c. 140, § 1; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 1706; 59
Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1.)
§ 1708 Duties of executor or administrator.
The executor or administrator to whom letters have been issued upon the estate of a presumed decedent shall administer the estate in
the same manner and with the same effect as the same would be administered under existing laws of this State if the presumed decedent
were in fact dead.
(16 Del. Laws, c. 132, §§ 1, 2; Code 1915, § 3361; Code 1935, § 3826; 42 Del. Laws, c. 140, § 1; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 1707; 59
Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1.)
§ 1709 Security given by beneficiaries.
(a) Before any distribution is made of the assets of the estate of the presumed decedent or before the decree is recorded in the office of the
Recorder of Deeds as provided in § 1707(b) of this title, the persons, other than creditors, entitled to receive the same, shall, respectively
give sufficient real or personal security, to be approved by the Court of Chancery, in such sum and form as the Court directs, with condition
that, if the presumed decedent shall in fact be at the time alive, they will respectively refund the assets received by each, on demand.
(b) If any person entitled to receive assets refuses or neglects, or is unable to enter such security, the Court of Chancery may, upon
petition of any person interested, and upon due notice to all persons interested, so far as such notice can reasonably be given, appoint a
suitable person or corporation as trustee to receive and hold the share of the distributee refusing or neglecting, or being unable to enter
security until further order of the Court. Such trustee shall not be an insurer of the trust fund, and shall be liable to the person interested
therein only for such care, prudence and diligence in the execution of the trust as trustees are liable for.
(c) If the Court of Chancery shall be satisfied, from the evidence at the hearing to ascertain whether the presumption of death is
established, or from the report of the master, that there is no likelihood of the presumed decedent’s being still alive, then the Court may
accept refunding bonds from the distributees of the presumed decedent’s estate without requiring sureties thereon.
(16 Del. Laws, c. 132, §§ 1, 2; Code 1915, § 3361; Code 1935, § 3826; 42 Del. Laws, c. 140, § 1; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 1708; 59
Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1.)
§ 1710 Revocation of letters and vacation of decree of presumed death — Effect generally.
The Court of Chancery may revoke the letters and vacate the decree that the presumption of death has been established, at any time, on
due and satisfactory proof that the presumed decedent is in fact alive. After such revocation all the powers of the executor or administrator
shall cease, but all receipts or disbursements of assets, and other acts previously done by the executor or administrator, shall remain as
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Title 12 - Decedents’ Estates and Fiduciary Relations
valid as if the letters were unrevoked. The executor or administrator shall settle an account of administration down to the time of such
revocation, and shall transfer all assets remaining to the person as whose executor or administrator the executor or administrator acted,
or to a duly authorized agent or attorney. Nothing contained in this chapter shall validate the title of any person to any money or property
received as surviving spouse, next of kin, heir, legatee or devisee of such presumed decedent, but the same may be recovered from such
person in all cases in which such recovery would be had if this chapter had not been passed.
(16 Del. Laws, c. 132, §§ 1, 2; Code 1915, § 3361; Code 1935, § 3826; 42 Del. Laws, c. 140, § 1; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 1709; 59
Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1.)
§ 1711 Revocation of letters and vacation of decree of presumed death — Effect upon pending actions and
upon judgments rendered.
After revocation of the letters, and vacation of the decree that the presumption of death has been established, the person erroneously
presumed to be dead may, on the suggestion filed of record of the proper facts, be substituted as plaintiff or petitioner in all actions or
proceedings at law or in equity brought by the executor or administrator, whether prosecuted to judgment or decree, or otherwise; the
person erroneously presumed to be dead may, in all actions or proceedings previously brought against the executor or administrator, be
substituted as defendant or respondent, on proper suggestion filed by the person erroneously presumed to be dead, or by proper service
of writ or other process, but shall not be compelled to go to trial in less than 3 months from the time of such suggestion filed or process
served. Judgments or decrees recovered against the executor or administrator before revocation and vacation of the letters and decree
may be opened on application by the presumed decedent, made within 3 months from the revocation, and supported by affidavit denying
specifically, on the knowledge of the affiant, the cause of action, or specifically alleging the existence of facts which would be a valid
defense; but, if within 3 months, such application shall not be made, or being made the facts exhibited shall be adjudged an insufficient
defense, the judgment or decree shall be conclusive to all intents, saving the defendant’s right to have it reviewed as in other cases on
appeal. Notwithstanding the substitution of the presumed decedent as defendant in any judgment or decree, it shall continue as a lien upon
the presumed decedent’s real estate in the county, as other judgments.
(16 Del. Laws, c. 132, §§ 1, 2; Code 1915, § 3361; Code 1935, § 3826; 42 Del. Laws, c. 140, § 1; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 1710; 57
Del. Laws, c. 402, § 3; 59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1.)
§ 1712 Probate of will produced after issuance of letters; effect upon prior administration.
(a) Whenever letters testamentary or of administration shall be issued upon the estate of any person presumed to be dead, in accordance
with this chapter, the person having custody of any will which may have been left by such presumed decedent, in case letters of
administration have been issued, or of any later will, in case letters testamentary have been issued, or any creditor of any person interested
in the estate, may file a petition with the Court of Chancery in which the proceedings to establish the death by presumption have been
held, setting forth the facts of the case, a copy of the will or later will, or an averment that such will exists, and the names of all persons
interested in the estate of the presumed decedent.
(b) Upon the filing of such petition the Court of Chancery shall issue a citation to the person to whom letters of administration or letters
testamentary have been issued, and to all persons interested in the estate of the presumed decedent, to appear upon a day fixed, and to
show cause why the alleged will or later will should not be admitted to probate.
(c) Upon the return of the citation, if the Court of Chancery shall be satisfied from all the evidence that may be adduced that the proposed
will was, in fact, the last will and testament made by the presumed decedent before the departure or disappearance from the residence,
the will shall be admitted to probate as if the testator were in fact dead. If, upon such probate, it appears that an executor is named in the
will, the letters of administration previously granted shall be revoked, and letters testamentary shall be issued to the executor, in the same
manner and form as if the testator were in fact dead; but, if no executor shall be named in such will, then a certified copy of the will shall
be attached to the letters of administration theretofore issued, or to a certified copy of such letters. Thereafter the executor or administrator
shall execute the will according to its terms, and all property of the decedent shall be distributed and passed as provided by the will to the
several legatees and devisees named therein. In case an earlier will shall have been admitted to probate, the letters testamentary issued
thereunder shall be revoked, and letters shall be issued under the last will, or if no executor shall be named in the last will, then letters of
administration with the will annexed shall be issued to the person entitled thereto. All the previous lawful acts of the removed executor
or administrator shall be valid as provided in § 1545 of this title.
(16 Del. Laws, c. 132, §§ 1, 2; Code 1915, § 3361; Code 1935, § 3826; 42 Del. Laws, c. 140, § 1; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 1711; 59
Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1.)
§ 1713 Costs.
The costs attending the issuance or revocation of letters shall be paid out of the estate of the presumed decedent, and costs arising upon
an application for letters which shall not be granted shall be paid by the applicant.
(16 Del. Laws, c. 132, §§ 1, 2; Code 1915, § 3361; Code 1935, § 3826; 42 Del. Laws, c. 140, § 1; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 1712; 59
Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1.)
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Title 12 - Decedents’ Estates and Fiduciary Relations
Part IV
Administration of Decedents’ Estates
Chapter 19
Assets of Estates; Inventory and Appraisal
§ 1901 Personal property constituting assets of estate; exceptions; employee death benefit plans and
insurance policies.
(a) Estates in lands, tenements and hereditaments held by the decedent for the life of another shall be chattels; and such estates, estates
by elegit or for years, the crop of the decedent growing or begun (except on lands devised by the decedent), bank and other stock, money
(whether in hand or deposited), and all goods and chattels shall be assets and included in the inventory.
(b) The following articles shall not be included in the inventory: The family Bible; clothes of the decedent; and the family stores laid
in before the death of the decedent.
(c) If, under the terms of any insurance policy or contract, pension, bonus, stock option or other employee benefit or incentive plan, a
person, trust or corporation, other than the decedent or the decedent’s estate’s personal representative, is designated to receive, upon or
after the death of the decedent, any property or other death benefit, such property or death benefit shall not be included in the inventory
of the decedent as chargeable to the decedent’s personal representative; and such person, trust or corporation shall be entitled to such
property or death benefits as against the claim of any personal representative, creditor, legatee or next of kin of the decedent.
(d) Subsection (c) of this section shall apply to designations whether made prior to or subsequent to the enactment of this section with
respect to decedents dying after June 30, 1969. This section shall have no effect on the validity of other designations, nor shall it affect
the calculations of estate taxes with respect to any decedent.
(Code 1852, § 1804; Code 1915, § 3363; Code 1935, § 3828; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 1901; 57 Del. Laws, c. 76; 59 Del. Laws, c. 384,
§ 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1; 71 Del. Laws, c. 353, § 6.)
§ 1902 Rents and profits of deceased’s real estate as estate assets; possession and repair of real estate.
(a) The rents and profits of the real estate of the deceased which shall come into the hands of the executor or administrator shall be
assets for the payment of debts, and the executor or administrator shall be chargeable therewith accordingly; and upon a demand of the
heir or devisee for such rents and profits it shall be a sufficient answer that the same have been applied to debts against the deceased,
or that there are such debts to which they are applicable.
(b) Nothing in this section shall give to the executor or administrator any right of possession of the real estate; but if in possession, the
executor or administrator shall, with the rents and profits, keep the premises in tenantable repair.
(Code 1852, § 1831; Code 1915, § 3375; Code 1935, § 3840; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 1902; 59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c.
186, § 1.)
§ 1903 Growing crops.
When there is a crop growing or begun, the executor or administrator may finish or sell it as deemed best for the estate. If finishing the
crop, the executor’s or administrator’s account shall comprehend the proceeds and expenses.
(Code 1852, § 1814; Code 1915, § 3368; Code 1935, § 3833; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 1903; 59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c.
186, § 1.)
§ 1904 Appraisers; appointment.
The personal representative may employ 1 or more qualified and disinterested appraisers to assist in ascertaining the fair market value
as of the date of the decedent’s death of any asset the value of which may be subject to reasonable doubt. Different persons may be
employed to appraise different kinds of assets included in the estate. The names and addresses of any appraiser shall be indicated on the
inventory with the item or items being appraised.
(Code 1852, §§ 1805, 1806; Code 1915, § 3364; Code 1935, § 3829; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 1904; 59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 70 Del.
Laws, c. 186, § 1.)
§ 1905 Inventory and appraisal; filing requirements, form, contents and supporting affidavits; notice of
action affecting title.
(a) Every executor or administrator shall, within 3 months after the granting of letters testamentary or of administration, file in the
office of the Register of Wills of the county in which the letters have been granted, an inventory and appraisal and shall also file a copy
of said inventory and appraisal in the office of the Register of Wills of any county in which the decedent owned real estate, which shall
contain an inventory of all goods and chattels of the decedent, a list of all debts and credits due or belonging to the decedent or to the
decedent’s estate, and a statement setting forth a general description of every parcel of real estate in this State of which the decedent died
seized, which description shall include the parcel identification number assigned to said parcel, and the name of each party entitled to any
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Title 12 - Decedents’ Estates and Fiduciary Relations
estate or interest in any part of such real or personal estate and the relationship, if any, of each such party to the decedent. Each item of
property included in such inventory, list and statement, shall be separately valued at its fair market value as of the date of death of the
decedent and such value shall be stated in the inventory and appraisal.
(b) The inventory and appraisal shall be supported by an affidavit of each executor or administrator.
(c) The executor’s or administrator’s affidavit shall be as follows:
“.................. makes solemn oath (or affirmation) that due inquiry concerning the goods, chattels and money of, and the debts and
credits due or belonging to ...................... , deceased has been made, and that this inventory and list contains all the goods, chattels
and money of, and debts or credits due or belonging to the said ...................... , which have come to the knowledge of the deponent
(or affirmant) and that the information contained in the statement of real estate and the information pertaining to transfers of property,
powers of appointment, entireties and jointly owned real and personal property and annuity contracts is true to the best of deponent’s
(or affirmant’s) knowledge and belief.”
(d) Every executor or administrator shall, in the event [that] any action affecting title to real estate of the decedent in Delaware is
brought in any court, whether by way of caveat, petition for review, petition for instructions or otherwise, within 10 days after such
action, file a notice of the pendency of such action in the office of the Register of Wills of any county in which the decedent owned
real estate other than the county in which letters had been granted. Nothing in this subsection shall affect any other notice that may be
filed concerning such an action.
(e) When no letters testamentary or of administration are required for an estate and real property passes to any person by virtue of joint
ownership with right of survivorship or tenancy by the entireties with the decedent, then the personal representative (as defined in § 101
of this title) or the surviving joint tenant shall, within 3 months after the decedent’s death, shall complete and file an affidavit in the office
of the Register of Wills of the county in which the real property is located with a statement setting forth a general description of the real
estate and the name or names of the surviving owner or owners.
(Code 1852, §§ 1807-1812; 25 Del. Laws, c. 225, § 3; 27 Del. Laws, c. 269, § 1; Code 1915, §§ 148, 3365, 3366; 37 Del. Laws, c.
8, § 1; 40 Del. Laws, c. 10, § 1; Code 1935, §§ 139, 3830, 3831; 41 Del. Laws, c. 191, §§ 1, 3; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 1905; 59 Del.
Laws, c. 384, § 1; 64 Del. Laws, c. 252, §§ 2, 3; 68 Del. Laws, c. 142, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1; 72 Del. Laws, c. 342, § 1;
79 Del. Laws, c. 352, § 1.)
§ 1906 Failure to file inventory; civil and criminal penalties.
(a) Any executor or administrator who fails to file the inventory, list and statement with the Register of Wills within 3 months after the
granting of letters testamentary or of administration shall be subject, personally and individually, to a penalty of $1 per day for each day
delinquent. This penalty shall not apply until 1 month after notice by the Register of Wills of such delinquency.
(b) Any executor or administrator who fails to file the inventory, list and statement as required by § 1905 of this title, after being
ordered to do so by the Court of Chancery, shall be subject to penalty for contempt of Court.
(Code 1852, § 1812; 25 Del. Laws, c. 225, § 3; 27 Del. Laws, c. 269, § 1; Code 1915, §§ 148, 3366; 37 Del. Laws, c. 8, § 1; 40
Del. Laws, c. 10, § 1; Code 1935, §§ 139, 3831; 41 Del. Laws, c. 8, § 9; 41 Del. Laws, c. 191, § 3; 42 Del. Laws, c. 59, § 1; 12
Del. C. 1953, § 1906; 59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 64 Del. Laws, c. 252, § 4.)
§ 1907 Refusal of a coexecutor or coadministrator to file inventory.
Where there are several executors or administrators, if either of them refuses or neglects to join in the inventory or list of debts, the
Court of Chancery shall remove the person or persons from office, unless the person or persons shall cause an inventory or list to be
made and delivered on the person’s own behalf.
(Code 1852, § 1813; Code 1915, § 3367; Code 1935, § 3832; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 1907; 59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c.
186, § 1.)
§ 1908 Affidavit of diligent inquiry.
An affidavit, signed by the executor or administrator and declaring upon oath or affirmation that the executor or administrator has
diligently inquired and can obtain no knowledge of any goods or chattels of the decedent, shall be a sufficient excuse for not delivering
an inventory; and a like affidavit that the executor or administrator has diligently inquired and can obtain no knowledge of any debts
or credits due or belonging to the decedent shall be a sufficient excuse for not delivering a list. Such affidavit shall be certified by the
Register of Wills and filed with the bond.
(Code 1852, § 1812; Code 1915, § 3366; Code 1935, § 3831; 41 Del. Laws, c. 191, § 3; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 1908; 59 Del. Laws, c.
384, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1.)
§ 1909 Executor’s debt to decedent.
The making of a person executor shall not extinguish any demand of the decedent against said person, but the same shall be truly
inserted in the list of debts.
(Code 1852, §§ 1807-1811; Code 1915, § 3365; Code 1935, § 3830; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 1910; 59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 70 Del.
Laws, c. 186, § 1.)
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Title 12 - Decedents’ Estates and Fiduciary Relations
§ 1910 Additional inventory; after discovered assets.
If, after the return of an inventory or list of debts, personal estate or debts due the decedent, not included therein, shall come to the
knowledge of the executor or administrator, the executor or administrator shall cause an additional inventory or list to be made and
returned into the Register of Wills’ office.
(Code 1852, § 1815; Code 1915, § 3369; Code 1935, § 3834; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 1911; 59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c.
186, § 1.)
§ 1911 Power of Court to suppress, reject and order another inventory or list.
The Court of Chancery may order an inventory or list of debts to be suppressed, or adjudge the same imperfect and order another to
be made and filed in the office of the Register of Wills. No inventory or list of debts shall be suppressed or adjudged imperfect because
of any defect in the affidavit or in any certificate of any oath or affirmation.
(Code 1852, §§ 1816, 1817; Code 1915, § 3370; Code 1935, § 3835; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 1912; 57 Del. Laws, c. 402, § 3; 59 Del.
Laws, c. 384, § 1.)
§ 1912 Recording inventory and notation of inheritance tax status in Inheritance and Succession Docket.
(a) Every inventory, list and statement filed pursuant to § 1905 of this title, shall be recorded and indexed by the Register of Wills
in the “Inheritance and Succession Docket.”
(b) Whenever any parcel of real estate or any estate or interest therein described in the statement of the executor or administrator or
affidavit filed pursuant to § 1905(e) of this title shall be subject to estate taxes under Title 30, the Register of Wills shall make an entry
in the Inheritance and Succession Docket that the real estate is subject to tax, and in the event of an appeal to the Superior Court from a
determination by the State Tax Appeal Board of the amount of estate taxes to be paid, shall further note in said docket the fact of appeal.
When any estate tax due this State shall be paid and discharged, the Register shall make a note thereof in the docket, upon notice from
the Division of Revenue of payment.
(25 Del. Laws, c. 225, § 3; 27 Del. Laws, c. 269, § 1; Code 1915, § 148; 37 Del. Laws, c. 8, § 1; 40 Del. Laws, c. 10, § 1; Code
1935, § 139; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 1913; 59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 71 Del. Laws, c. 353, § 7; 72 Del. Laws, c. 342, § 2.)
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Title 12 - Decedents’ Estates and Fiduciary Relations
Part IV
Administration of Decedents’ Estates
Chapter 21
Debts of and Claims Against Estate
§ 2101 Notice to creditors to present claims; publication.
(a) The Register of Wills shall give notice as provided in this section of the granting of letters. Said notice shall contain the date of grant
of letters, the date of the decedent’s death and the name and address of the personal representative and of the personal representative’s
counsel, if any.
(b) Such notice shall be given in all cases by advertisements to be posted within 40 days from the grant of letters on the designated county
website and/or in the county courthouse in the county in which the decedent resided at the time of death, or, in the case of nonresident
decedents, in the county in which letters testamentary or of administration shall have been granted; and, such notice shall also be published
in any 1 or more newspapers approved by the Register of Wills published in such county at least 3 times within the same period not less
frequently than once a week for 3 successive weeks; except that if the Register of Wills at the time of granting of letters shall determine
from evidence satisfactory to the Register that the gross personal estate of the decedent does not exceed $30,000 and also that the gross
real and personal estate of the decedent does not in the aggregate exceed $35,000, the Register may give such notice solely by the posting
of advertisements as aforesaid, and not by publication in a newspaper or newspapers.
(c) The Register of Wills may require that the actual costs and expenses of such posting and publication be advanced to the Register of
Wills prior to the grant of letters. The Register shall note or record in the Register’s docket the giving of notice and the form of notice given.
(d) The Register of Wills shall send a copy of the notice, described in this section, to the State Treasurer within 40 days from the grant
of letters. The State Treasurer, within 40 days from the receipt of notice, and at least monthly, shall send the information included therein
in a convenient or summary form to each state agency which requests the information without charge.
(Code 1852, §§ 1855-1858; Code 1915, § 3398; 38 Del. Laws, c. 183, § 1; Code 1935, § 3861; 42 Del. Laws, c. 142, § 1; 12 Del.
C. 1953, § 2101; 57 Del. Laws, c. 173; 59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 64 Del. Laws, c. 319, § 1; 66 Del. Laws, c. 374, § 2; 70 Del.
Laws, c. 114, § 3; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1; 74 Del. Laws, c. 227, § 3; 77 Del. Laws, c. 229, § 1.)
§ 2102 Limitations on claims against estate.
(a) All claims against a decedent’s estate which arose before or at the death of the decedent, including claims of the State and any
subdivision thereof, whether due or to become due, absolute or contingent, liquidated or unliquidated, founded on contract, tort or other
legal basis, except debts of which notice is presumed pursuant to § 2103 of this title, if not barred earlier by other statute of limitations,
are barred against the estate, the personal representative and the heirs and devisees of the decedent unless presented as provided in § 2104
of this title within 8 months of the decedent’s death whether or not the notice referred to in § 2101 of this title has been given.
(b) All claims against a decedent’s estate which arise after the death of the decedent, including claims of the State or any subdivision
thereof, whether due or to become due, absolute or contingent, liquidated or unliquidated, founded on contract, tort or other legal basis,
unless presented in accordance with § 2104 of this title, are barred against the estate, the personal representatives and the heirs and devisees
of the decedent, as follows:
(1) A claim based on a contract with the personal representative, within 6 months after performance by the personal representative
is due;
(2) Any other claim, within 6 months after it arises.
(c) Any claim not barred under subsections (a) and (b) of this section which has been rejected by an executor or administrator shall
be barred forever unless an action or suit be commenced thereon within 3 months after the executor or administrator has notified the
claimant of such rejection by writing delivered to the claimant in person or mailed to the claimant’s last address known to the executor or
administrator; provided, however, in the case of a claim which is not presently due or which is contingent or unliquidated, the executor
or administrator may consent to an extension of the 3-month period, or to avoid injustice the Court of Chancery, on petition, may order
an extension of the 3-month period, but in no event shall the extension run beyond the applicable statute of limitations.
(d) Subsections (a), (b) and (c) of this section shall not apply to claims for legacies or shares of an estate of a decedent.
(e) (1) No claim for a deficiency or otherwise, based on a bond which has been secured by a mortgage on real estate, may be presented
against a decedent’s estate, the personal representative and the heirs and devisees of a decedent after the expiration of 8 months from
the date of the decedent’s death.
(2) The failure to present a claim on a bond secured by a mortgage on real estate, in accordance with the foregoing provisions, shall
not invalidate the bond so as to prevent the foreclosure of the mortgage on real estate at any time thereafter, but no claim may be
asserted against the decedent’s estate on or by reason of the bond.
(f) Nothing in this section affects or prevents, to the limits of the insurance protection only, any proceeding to establish liability of the
decedent or the personal representative for which the decedent is protected by liability insurance.
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Title 12 - Decedents’ Estates and Fiduciary Relations
(g) No claim against the estate of any decedent in which letters were granted prior to the effective date of this chapter shall be in any
way affected by this section, but as to all such claims this section as it existed prior to the effective date of this chapter shall apply.
(Code 1852, §§ 1855-1858; Code 1915, § 3398; 38 Del. Laws, c. 183, § 1; Code 1935, § 3861; 42 Del. Laws, c. 142, §§ 1, 3, 4;
12 Del. C. 1953, § 2102; 50 Del. Laws, c. 377, §§ 1-3; 58 Del. Laws, c. 493, § 1; 59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 66 Del. Laws, c. 374,
§ 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1; 81 Del. Laws, c. 150, § 1.)
§ 2103 Debts of which notice is presumed.
An executor or administrator shall be deemed to have notice only to mortgages (but not of the bonds accompanying such mortgages)
and of such judgments as would be liens against real estate at the date of death of the decedent, which mortgages and judgments are of
record in the county of this State in which letters were granted upon the estate of the decedent, unless there has been a failure to insert
them in the general indices of the office wherein it is proper that they be recorded.
(Code 1852, § 1830; Code 1915, § 3374; 38 Del. Laws, c. 181, § 1; Code 1935, § 3839; 47 Del. Laws, c. 116, § 1; 12 Del. C.
1953, § 2103; 59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1.)
§ 2104 Manner of presentation of claims.
Claims against a decedent’s estate may be presented as follows:
(1) The claimant may deliver or mail to the personal representative a written statement of claim indicating its basis, the name and
address of the claimant and the amount claimed, or may file a written statement of claim, in the form prescribed by rule of the Court
of Chancery, with the Register of Wills. The claim is deemed presented on the first to occur of the receipt of the written statement of
claim by the personal representative, or the filing of the claim with the Register of Wills. If a claim is not yet due, the date when it
will become due shall be stated. If the claim is contingent or unliquidated, the nature of the uncertainty shall be stated. If the claim is
secured, the security shall be described. Failure to describe correctly the security, the nature of any uncertainty and the due date of a
claim not yet due does not invalidate the presentation made.
(2) The claimant may commence a proceeding against the personal representative in any court where the personal representative may
be subject to jurisdiction, to obtain payment of the claim against the estate, but the commencement of the proceeding must occur within
the time limited for presenting the claim. No presentation of claim is required in regard to matters claimed in proceedings against the
decedent which were pending at the time of the decedent’s death.
(Code 1852, §§ 1832-1835, 1837; Code 1915, §§ 3376, 3377; Code 1935, §§ 3841, 3842; 48 Del. Laws, c. 232, § 1; 12 Del. C.
1953, § 2104; 59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1.)
§ 2105 Order of preference of claims against estate.
(a) Executors and administrators after payment of all administration expenses, fees and commissions shall pay claims against the
decedent in the following order:
(1) Surviving spouse’s allowance as provided in § 2308 of this title;
(2) Funeral expenses;
(3) Child support arrears or retroactive support due as of the date of the decedent’s death;
(4) The reasonable bills for medicine and medical attendance during the last sickness and for nursing and necessaries for the last
sickness of the decedent;
(5) Wages of servants and laborers employed in household affairs or in the cultivation of a farm; but no servant or laborer shall be
allowed this preference for more than 1 year’s wages;
(6) Taxes imposed by the State;
(7) Rent for not exceeding 1 year; and this, at the election of the party entitled, may be of rent in arrear or rent growing due;
(8) Judgments against the decedent, which shall include judgments before justices of the peace and decrees of a court of equity
against the decedent for the payment of money;
(9) Recognizances, mortgages and other obligations of record, for the payment of money;
(10) Obligations and contracts under seal;
(11) Contracts under hand for the payment of money, or delivery of goods, wares or merchandise;
(12) Other demands.
(b) No preference shall be given in the payment of any claims over any other claims of the same class, and a claim due and payable
shall not be entitled to a preference over claims not due.
(Code 1852, §§ 1819-1828; 12 Del. Laws, c. 13, § 1; Code 1915, § 3372; 28 Del. Laws, c. 226, § 1; Code 1935, § 3837; 41 Del.
Laws, c. 191, § 4; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 2105; 50 Del. Laws, c. 425, § 1; 59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 70 Del Laws, c. 186, § 1; 70 Del.
Laws, c. 288, § 6.)
§ 2106 Petition to Court of Chancery to determine order of preference.
Whenever an executor or administrator is unable to determine between 2 or more creditors the order of preference to be given to their
respective demands, the executor or administrator may, upon petition to the Court of Chancery, have the parties in interest summoned to
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Title 12 - Decedents’ Estates and Fiduciary Relations
appear in the Court, and upon hearing duly had the Court shall determine the order of preference to be given to the respective demands
of the creditors who may have been made parties to the proceeding. Upon compliance with such determination the petitioner and the
petitioner’s sureties shall be discharged from all further liability in respect to the preference made by the Court.
(Code 1915, § 3410A; 28 Del. Laws, c. 226, § 1; Code 1935, § 3837; 41 Del. Laws, c. 191, § 4; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 2106; 57 Del.
Laws, c. 402, § 3; 59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 70 Del Laws, c. 186, § 1.)
§ 2107 Payment of claims after 3 months without notice of claim of higher priority.
If an executor or administrator, after the expiration of 3 months from the grant of letters, pays a claim of lower preference, before
presentation pursuant to § 2104 of this title of a claim of a higher preference, such payment shall be allowed.
(Code 1852, § 1829; Code 1915, § 3373; Code 1935, § 3838; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 2107; 59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 70 Del Laws, c.
186, § 1.)
§ 2108 [Reserved.]
§ 2109 Barring of claims against estates when no letters have been granted within 10 years from death.
If no letters have been granted upon the estate of any person within 10 years from the date of the person’s death, all claims of creditors
and persons otherwise beneficially interested in the estate, except those evidenced by mortgage or judgment which shall be controlled by
the law applicable to mortgages and judgments as heretofore, shall be thereafter barred.
(12 Del. C. 1953, § 2109; 52 Del. Laws, c. 333; 59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 70 Del Laws, c. 186, § 1.)
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Title 12 - Decedents’ Estates and Fiduciary Relations
Part IV
Administration of Decedents’ Estates
Chapter 23
Accounting and Distribution
Subchapter I
General Provisions
§ 2301 Rendering of accounts; extension of time; appeal; authority of Register of Wills and Court of
Chancery.
(a) Every executor or administrator shall render an account of their administration to the Court of Chancery, in money, every year from
the date of their letters until the estate is closed and a final account passed by the Court.
(b) If an executor or administrator fails to perform this duty, the Court of Chancery shall issue process of attachment against the executor
or administrator, and may enforce compliance by imprisonment.
(c) The Register of Wills may, for sufficient cause, extend the time for accounting, not to exceed 6 months; and the Register may, upon
the affidavit of an executor or administrator, and on its appearing to the Register that there are no transactions or matters for an account
in any year, dispense with an account; but from the Register’s determination in this respect an appeal may be taken by any interested
party to the Court of Chancery.
(d) The Register of Wills shall receive all accountings filed for approval by the Court of Chancery but shall have no power to deny
any debt, expense or other item for which allowance is sought. The Court may, however, refuse to allow any item indicative of fraud,
illegality or negligent failure to fulfill fiduciary obligations or may further refuse to allow any item representing a debt or expense incurred
solely for the purpose of avoiding any tax.
(e) The Register of Wills may forward to the Court of Chancery any estate where there are 2 consecutive years of in activity for judicial
action in the Court’s discretion, including but not limited to closing the estate or a sua sponte order for a rule to show cause against the
executor or administrator.
(Code 1852, §§ 1838, 1839; Code 1915, § 3378; Code 1935, § 3843; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 2301; 57 Del. Laws, c. 402, § 3; 59 Del.
Laws, c. 384, § 1; 70 Del Laws, c. 186, § 1; 74 Del. Laws, c. 227, § 4.)
§ 2302 Notice of filing of account; waiver; exceptions.
(a) Every account filed by an executor or administrator shall be accompanied by a statement of the names and mailing addresses of
each beneficiary entitled to share in the distribution of the estate. In addition, such statement shall indicate the name and address of any
beneficiary who is subject to a legal incapacity and the name and address of the guardian or trustee for such beneficiary, if any, and if
none, the name and address of a parent, natural or adoptive, of such beneficiary, and the name and address of any beneficiary who has
waived the notice to beneficiary as provided in subsection (c) of this section.
(b) Upon the filing of an account with the statement of names and addresses of beneficiaries as provided in subsection (a) of this
section, the Register of Wills shall forthwith mail to such beneficiaries or to the guardian, trustee or parent of any legally incapacitated
beneficiary, a notice in writing of the filing of the account and that the same shall be open for inspection and exception for 3 months
from the mailing of the notice. Such notice need not be mailed to any beneficiary who has waived the notice to beneficiary as provided
in subsection (c) of this section. The Register shall certify on the account that the notices required by this subsection were mailed by the
Register and the date of such mailing.
(c) Any beneficiary entitled to share in the distribution of an estate may waive in writing any notice of the filing of an account to which
such beneficiary is entitled. The beneficiary by such waiver shall consent that the account be approved by the Court. The waiver of a
beneficiary subject to a legal incapacity shall be executed by the guardian, trustee or parent, natural or adoptive, of such beneficiary.
(d) Within 3 months of the mailing of such notice, any beneficiary entitled to share in the distribution of the estate who has not waived
the notice of the filing of the account pursuant to subsection (c) of this section, may file in the office of the Register of Wills exceptions
in writing to the account of an executor or administrator. Exceptions not filed within such 3-month period shall not be considered by the
Court. If no exception to the account is filed within such 3-month period, the account shall, subject to the power of the Court to disallow
items of the account pursuant to § 2301(d) of this title, be approved.
(59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 60 Del. Laws, c. 199, § 1; 70 Del Laws, c. 186, § 1.)
§ 2303 Recording of account; fees; evidence.
(a) All accounts and settlements of executors and administrators as the same shall be passed by the Court of Chancery shall be recorded
by the Register of Wills of the several counties in uniform books. The Register shall also maintain an alphabetical index of all such
settlements and accounts.
(b) The cost of recording and indexing the settlements and accounts shall be paid out of the funds of the estate to which they relate.
The Register shall receive for recording and indexing the accounts and settlements the fees provided by this title.
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(c) A certified copy of such record of settlement and accounts of executors and administrators shall be received as evidence in the
several courts of the State.
(Code 1915, § 3379; Code 1935, § 3844; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 2302; 59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1.)
§ 2304 Estate tax returns or affidavits.
(a) Whenever a return required under Chapter 15 of Title 30 has been filed and the correct tax and additions to tax, if any, have been
paid, a certificate to that effect shall be filed by the Director of Revenue with the Register of Wills of the counties in which the letters
have been granted and in which the decedent owned real property.
(b) When no return is required under Chapter 15 of Title 30, and
(1) Real property passed to any person by virtue of joint ownership with right of survivorship or tenancy by the entireties with the
decedent, or
(2) Letters have been granted by the Register of Wills in any county and the decedent owned real property,
then an affidavit in a form approved by the Director of Revenue shall be filed by the personal representative (as defined in § 1501 of
Title 30 [repealed]) with the Register of Wills of the counties in which the real property is located. The Director of Revenue may require
a copy of said affidavit be filed with the Division of Revenue.
(c) [Repealed.]
(25 Del. Laws, c. 225, § 4; Code 1915, § 149; 37 Del. Laws, c. 8, § 1; 40 Del. Laws, c. 10, § 1; Code 1935, § 140; 12 Del. C.
1953, § 2303; 59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 60 Del. Laws, c. 199, § 2; 64 Del. Laws, c. 252, § 6; 67 Del. Laws, c. 15, § 4; 70 Del.
Laws, c. 71, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1; 71 Del. Laws, c. 353, § 9; 75 Del. Laws, c. 198, § 3; 77 Del. Laws, c. 85, § 7; 79 Del.
Laws, c. 11, § 1; 81 Del. Laws, c. 52, § 1.)
§ 2305 Allowance of commissions and attorneys’ fees.
(a) Commissions and attorneys’ fees shall be allowed as provided by rule of the Court of Chancery.
(b) No commission shall be allowed by the Court of Chancery to any executor or administrator who has not complied with the
requirements of Chapter 13 of Title 30. This penalty shall not apply until 1 month after notice by the Division of Revenue of such
delinquency.
(c) The Court of Chancery may reduce commissions and attorneys’ fees if the accounts required to be filed by this chapter are not
filed within the required time period.
(25 Del. Laws, c. 225, § 4; Code 1915, § 149; 37 Del. Laws, c. 8, § 1; 40 Del. Laws, c. 10, § 1; Code 1935, § 140; 41 Del. Laws,
c. 8, § 10; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 2304; 59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1.)
§ 2306 Distribution of decedent’s property without grant of letters where estate assets do not exceed
$30,000.
(a) The spouse of a decedent or any person who is a grandparent of the decedent, a lineal descendant of a grandparent of the decedent,
the personal representative of any of the foregoing who may be deceased, or the guardian or trustee of any of the foregoing who may be
incapacitated, or the trustee of a trust created by the decedent, a funeral director licensed in the State, or the named executor or executors
in the decedent’s will if the named executor or executors satisfies all qualifications set forth in § 1508 of this title, shall be entitled to
the personal estate of the decedent for the purpose of making distribution thereof in accordance with the decedent’s will or, if there be
no will, with Chapter 5 of this title without awaiting the appointment of a personal representative or probate of a will upon executing
an affidavit attesting under oath that:
(1) No petition for the appointment of a personal representative is pending or has been granted;
(2) Thirty days have elapsed since the death of the decedent;
(3) The value of the personal estate of the decedent other than property described in § 1901(b) and (c) of this title and other than
jointly owned property, does not exceed $30,000;
(4) All known debts of the decedent are paid or provided for;
(5) The surviving spouse’s allowance, pursuant to § 2308 of this title, has been paid, provided for, waived or has expired by lapse
of time pursuant to § 2308(b) of this title;
(6) Decedent did not own real estate in Delaware, either solely or as tenants in common; and
(7) There is furnished to any person owing any money, having custody of any property or acting as registrar or transfer agent of any
evidence of interest, indebtedness, property or right of the decedent an affidavit showing the existence of the foregoing conditions and
the right of the affiant to receive such money or property or to have such evidence transferred for the purpose set forth in this subsection.
(b) Preference for receiving the personal estate of the decedent under this section for the purpose of making distribution thereof shall
be given to the named executor in the decedent’s will who is not disqualified by the provisions set forth in § 1508 of this title, the spouse,
any child, any parent, any sibling, any grandchild or any grandparent of the decedent, or to a funeral director licensed in the State, in
that order. There shall be no order of preference among the remaining persons or entities entitled to receive the personal estate pursuant
to subsection (a) of this section.
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(c) The named executor in the decedent’s will who is not disqualified by the provisions set forth in § 1508 of this title and next of kin
of a decedent shall have the right upon the death of the decedent:
(1) To take possession of the decedent’s motor vehicle or vehicles; and
(2) To enter any premises for the sole and exclusive purpose of removing from the premises clothing belonging to the decedent to
be used for the burial or viewing of the decedent; and
(3) To enter the residential rental unit of the decedent, when the decedent is the sole tenant of a residential rental unit for the purpose
of removing therefrom and taking possession, but not ownership, of all of the decedent’s belongings in that unit. Access and removal
shall take place during business hours at mutually agreeable times to the parties with standing unless otherwise agreed to and must be
completed within 30 days of the death of the decedent or else the rights granted under this subsection shall expire.
The executor shall have preference over the next of kin to carry out the actions set forth in this subsection. If the decedent did not leave
a will that names a qualified executor and no next of kin is available, a funeral director may have access to enter the premises for the
aforementioned purpose of securing clothes only. The register of wills shall provide a form limited to facilitating action taken pursuant
to this subsection. Such a form must be obtained prior to any person acting pursuant to this subsection.
(d) Nothing in subsection (a) of this section shall preclude the Register of Wills from issuing an affidavit when and where appropriate.
(26 Del. Laws, c. 259, § 1; Code 1915, § 3380; Code 1935, § 3845; 46 Del. Laws, c. 165, § 1; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 2305; 53 Del.
Laws, c. 370; 56 Del. Laws, c. 295; 59 Del. Laws, c. 68, § 1; 59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 63 Del. Laws, c. 281, § 1; 64 Del. Laws, c.
252, § 5; 66 Del. Laws, c. 350, §§ 1, 2; 70 Del. Laws, c. 114, §§ 1, 2; 74 Del. Laws, c. 227, §§ 1, 2; 75 Del. Laws, c. 189, § 1; 77
Del. Laws, c. 302, § 1; 78 Del. Laws, c. 151, §§ 1, 2; 79 Del. Laws, c. 65, § 1; 80 Del. Laws, c. 151, § 1.)
§ 2307 Effect of distribution without letters.
(a) The person making payment, delivery, transfer or issuance pursuant to the affidavit described in § 2306 of this title shall be released
to the same extent as if made to the personal representative of the decedent and the person shall not be required to see to the application
thereof or to inquire into the truth of any statement in the affidavit, but the distributees to whom payment, delivery, transfer or issuance
is made shall be answerable therefor to any person having a prior right and be accountable to any intestate distributee or to any personal
representative thereafter appointed.
(b) If the person to whom an affidavit is delivered pursuant to § 2306 of this title refuses to pay, deliver, transfer or issue the property,
it may be recovered or compelled in an action brought in the Court of Chancery for such purposes by or on behalf of the distributees
entitled thereto, upon proof of the facts required to be stated in the affidavit.
(26 Del. Laws, c. 259, § 2; Code 1915, § 3381; 30 Del. Laws, c. 209, § 1; Code 1935, § 3846; 46 Del. Laws, c. 165, § 1; 12 Del.
C. 1953, § 2306; 59 Del. Laws, c. 68, § 2; 59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 70 Del Laws, c. 186, § 1.)
§ 2308 Surviving spouse’s allowance.
(a) The surviving spouse of any decedent shall be entitled to receive and the executor or administrator shall pay to such spouse as soon
as convenient, in the manner provided in this section, cash up to the amount of $7,500 out of the estate of the decedent, which payment
shall be made in the order of preference of claims against the estate in § 2105 of this title, as amended. The foregoing provision shall not
affect any other rights to which such spouse may be entitled, either under the will of the decedent or the intestacy laws of this State.
(b) The allowance to the surviving spouse of a decedent provided for in subsection (a) of this section shall be of no effect unless and
until such spouse shall, within 9 months from the date of death or 6 months from the date of the granting of letters, testamentary or of
administration, whichever shall be the shorter period, notify in writing the Register of Wills of the county wherein the letters were granted
and the executor or administrator of such spouse’s demand that a specific sum, not exceeding $7,500, be so set aside out of the proceeds
of the estate of the decedent.
(c) The allowance provided for in subsection (a) of this section shall be considered to be a debt of the estate, and the executor or
administrator may sell so much of the property of the decedent as will enable the executor or administrator to pay the allowance in the
same manner as the executor or administrator may be enabled to do by law for the payment of other debts of the decedent or of the estate.
(Code 1915, § 3415; 38 Del. Laws, c. 185, § 1; Code 1935, § 3876; 43 Del. Laws, c. 211, § 1; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 2307; 50 Del.
Laws, c. 16, § 1; 50 Del. Laws, c. 378, §§ 1-3; 59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 63 Del. Laws, c. 281, § 2; 70 Del Laws, c. 186, § 1; 75
Del. Laws, c. 189, § 2.)
§ 2309 Recordation of death certificates.
In all cases where there is an interest in real property owned by the decedent at the time of death, a certified copy of the death certificate
of the decedent shall be filed in the office of the Registrar of Wills in and for the county wherein the interest in the real property is situated.
(66 Del. Laws, c. 368, § 1.)
Subchapter II
Payment of Legacies or Distributive Shares
§ 2311 Time for settling estate; accounting for interest or earnings pending settlement.
Except where circumstances justify a longer period, an executor or administrator shall have 1 year from the date of letters for settling
the estate of the decedent; and until the expiration of that time, the executor or administrator shall not be required to make distribution,
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Title 12 - Decedents’ Estates and Fiduciary Relations
nor be chargeable with interest upon the assets in the executor’s or administrator’s hands; but if any part of the estate carry interest or be
productive the executor or administrator shall account for the interest or produce.
(Code 1852, § 1844; Code 1915, § 3387; Code 1935, § 3852; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 2311; 59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 70 Del Laws, c.
186, § 1.)
§ 2312 Payment of legacies; refusal to pay or deliver; bond; interest.
(a) Any legacy, if no time is appointed, shall be payable 1 year from the date of the first appointment of a personal representative.
(b) Payment or delivery of any legacy may be refused if it is apparent that there are not assets for the purpose; and a personal
representative, if the representative knows of any demand, whether outstanding or potential, shall not be obliged to pay or deliver a legacy
or distributive share unless the person entitled shall, with sufficient security, become bound to the executor or administrator by a joint
and several obligation, in a penalty double the value of the legacy or share, with condition to be void if the person receiving the legacy or
share, or the person’s executors or administrators, in case of a deficiency of assets of the decedent for the payment of all the just demands
and charges against the decedent’s estate and all legacies by the decedent duly given, without such share or legacy or part thereof, shall
refund and pay to the executor or administrator, or the person’s executors, administrators or assigns, the sum or value of the legacy or
distributive share, with interest, or such portion thereof as justly and lawfully ought to be contributed on occasion of such deficiency.
(c) Except where circumstances justify a longer period, pecuniary legacies shall bear interest at the rate of 4 percent per annum payable
from the estate beginning 13 months after the first appointment of a personal representative until payment unless a contrary intent is
indicated by the will.
(d) If a legacy is to be paid before the expiration of the first year from the date of the first appointment of a personal representative,
security may be required, although no claim against the estate is known.
(Code 1852, §§ 1845, 1846; Code 1915, § 3388; Code 1935, § 3853; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 2312; 59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 70 Del
Laws, c. 186, § 1; 75 Del. Laws, c. 299, § 5.)
§ 2313 Anti-lapse; deceased devisee; class gifts.
(a) (1) If a devisee or legatee who is a grandparent or lineal descendant of a grandparent of the testator is dead at the time of the
execution of the will, fails to survive the testator or is treated as if the devisee or legatee predeceased the testator, the issue of the deceased
devisee or legatee who survived the testator by 120 hours take in place of the deceased devisee or legatee, per stirpes.
(2) One who would have been a devisee or legatee under a class gift if that person had survived the testator is treated as a devisee or
legatee for purposes of this section whether death occurred before or after the execution of the will.
(b) This section shall not apply in the case of wills wherein provisions have been made for distribution of property different from
this section.
(36 Del. Laws, c. 259, § 1; Code 1935, § 3854; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 2313; 59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 70 Del Laws, c. 186, § 1.)
§ 2313A Failure of share of residuary.
(a) Except as provided in § 2313 of this title, if the residue is given to 2 or more persons and if a share of a residuary beneficiary fails
for any reason, such share shall pass to the other residuary beneficiary or beneficiaries in proportion to the interest of each beneficiary
in the remaining part of the residue.
(b) This section shall not apply in the case of wills wherein provisions have been made for distribution of property different from
this section.
(75 Del. Laws, c. 303, § 1.)
§ 2314 Legacy to creditor of testator.
A legacy shall not be deemed to be in satisfaction of a debt due from the testator to the legatee, unless the intention of the testator that
it shall be so accepted shall appear upon the will expressly or by manifest implication.
(Code 1852, § 1847; Code 1915, § 3390; Code 1935, § 3855; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 2314; 59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1.)
§ 2315 Payment of legacies or distributive shares to minors or persons absent from the State.
(a) If an executor or administrator cannot pay over money in the executor’s or administrator’s hands as such because of the infancy
or absence from the State of a person entitled to a legacy or distributive share of personal estate, or any part thereof, the executor or
administrator may deposit the same in any state or national bank with its principal office in the State to the credit of the person so entitled;
and the executor or administrator shall take from the cashier a certificate of deposit, and deliver the same to the Register of Wills for the
county where the deposit is made, to be by the Register of Wills recorded in accordance with § 2320 of this title; and the record of the
certificate, or a certified copy thereof, shall be evidence.
(b) Whenever the party entitled to any deposit under subsection (a) of this section is a minor, the executor or administrator shall, in
respect to the minor, make a report to the Court of Chancery in the county where the deposit is made of the executor’s or administrator’s
proceedings under subsection (a) of this section, and shall exhibit to and file in the Court, the original certificate of deposit, which shall
be recorded in the Court.
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Title 12 - Decedents’ Estates and Fiduciary Relations
(c) A deposit under this section and a compliance with its provisions shall be a sufficient discharge of the executor or administrator,
and of the executor’s or administrator’s sureties, for the money so deposited.
(Code 1852, §§ 1848-1851; Code 1915, § 3391; Code 1935, § 3856; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 2315; 57 Del. Laws, c. 402, § 3; 59 Del.
Laws, c. 384, § 1; 63 Del. Laws, c. 142, § 29; 70 Del Laws, c. 186, § 1.)
§ 2316 Payment of legacy, distributive share or trust fund where person entitled is out of State, unknown,
etc.; proceedings.
(a) If an executor, administrator or trustee cannot pay over a legacy, residue of intestate personal estate, distributive share or trust
fund in the executor’s, administrator’s or trustee’s hands, because the person entitled to the same, or any part thereof, is absent from the
State, unknown or incompetent to receive the same or because the shares of the persons entitled to the same are unknown, such executor,
administrator or trustee may present to the Court of Chancery a petition setting forth the facts and praying relief. The Court, upon being
satisfied that it is a proper case for relief, shall order the petitioner to pay into the Court of Chancery the amount in the petitioner’s
hands, with the interest which may have accrued thereon, less such costs, expenses and counsel fees as may be allowed by the Court.
Upon compliance with such order the petitioner and the petitioner’s sureties shall be discharged from all further liability in respect to
the money so paid.
(b) Any money so paid into Court may, by order of the Court, be deposited, in the name of the Court, in any state or national bank
having its principal office in the State, or in any savings bank in this State, or invested in the name of the State in the funded debt of
this State or of the United States, or upon bond or mortgage or both for the benefit of the parties entitled to the same. The costs of such
investment shall be payable out of the fund.
(c) The Court may direct such proceedings, issue such writs and make such orders as it deems expedient for ascertaining the parties
entitled to the money paid into Court, and for the payment and distribution of the same; and for this purpose the Court may cause notice
to parties interested, residing out of this State or whose residences are unknown, to be given by publication or otherwise as it directs and
may appoint an auditor to investigate and report to the Court as to any matter necessary to be determined in the premises. Any proceeding,
writ or order authorized by this section may be taken, directed, issued, returned or made as well in vacation at chambers as at term time.
(d) Any payment or distribution of money paid into Court and made by order of the Court under this section shall be final and conclusive
as to the right of the parties interested therein.
(16 Del. Laws, c. 523, §§ 1-4; Code 1915, § 3392; Code 1935, § 3857; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 2316; 50 Del. Laws, c. 209, §§ 1, 2; 59
Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 63 Del. Laws, c. 142, § 30; 70 Del Laws, c. 186, § 1.)
§ 2317 Abatement.
(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section and except as provided in connection with the elective share of the surviving
spouse who elects to take an elective share, shares of distributees abate, with personal property to be abated prior to real property within
each class, in the following order:
(1) Property not disposed of by the will;
(2) Residuary bequests and devises;
(3) General bequests and devises;
(4) Specific bequests and devises.
For purposes of abatement, a general bequest or devise charged on any specific property or fund is a specific bequest or devise to the
extent of the value of the property on which it is charged, and upon the failure or insufficiency of the property on which it is charged, a
general bequest or devise to the extent of the failure or insufficiency. Abatement within each classification is in proportion to the amounts
of property each of the beneficiaries would have received if full distribution of the property had been made in accordance with the terms
of the will.
(b) If the will expresses an order of abatement, or if the testamentary plan or the express or implied purpose of the devise would be
defeated by the order of abatement stated in subsection (a) of this section, the shares of the distributees abate as may be found necessary
to give effect to the intention of the testator.
(c) If the subject of a preferred bequest or devise is sold or used incident to administration, abatement shall be achieved by appropriate
adjustments in, or contribution from, other interests in the remaining assets.
(Code 1852, § 2594; Code 1915, § 4522; Code 1935, § 4976; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 2317; 59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 64 Del. Laws, c.
252, § 7.)
§ 2318 Proportional contribution of legatees.
If there are several legacies, and a return of part of a legacy which has been paid becomes necessary, the legatee shall only be required
to return a proportional part of the legatee’s legacy towards making up the whole sum wanting.
(Code 1852, § 2600; Code 1915, § 4528; Code 1935, § 4982; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 2318; 59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 70 Del Laws, c.
186, § 1.)
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Title 12 - Decedents’ Estates and Fiduciary Relations
§ 2319 Transfer of investments or other property to guardian or trustee in payment of specific legacy or
distributive share; receipt.
Whenever an executor or administrator makes an assignment of any investment or transfers or delivers any personal property of any
testator or intestate to a guardian or trustee as payment in whole or in part of a specific legacy or of a distributive share, such guardian
or trustee shall give to the executor or administrator, for the purpose of accounting by the executor or administrator in the settlement of
the estate only, a receipt therefor at the valuation fixed in the appraisement of the estate of such testator or intestate. The receipt, when
filed with the Court of Chancery, shall be a sufficient discharge of such executor or administrator and of the executor’s or administrator’s
sureties for any property so transferred or delivered, and such guardian or trustee may take over such property and may, without liability
for any loss or depreciation therein, continue to hold the same, until in the exercise of due care it shall become no longer wise so to do.
Nothing herein contained shall permit or require a guardian or trustee to take over in settlement of a distributive share of an estate property
at a value less than the distributive portion of the estate to which such guardian or trustee would otherwise be entitled. In case a guardian
or trustee is acting under authority of an instrument or a court order, the terms and provisions of such instrument or court order shall be
controlling as to the powers and duties of such guardian or trustee.
(20 Del. Laws, c. 114, § 3; 20 Del. Laws, c. 115, § 2; Code 1915, § 3394; 37 Del. Laws, c. 245, § 2; Code 1935, § 3858; 42 Del.
Laws, c. 141, § 1; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 2319; 59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 70 Del Laws, c. 186, § 1.)
§ 2320 Release, acquittance or receipt to executor or administrator; form, execution, recording and
evidence.
(a) Any release, acquittance or receipt, being executed under hand and seal by any legatee, next of kin or interested person, of full age,
to an executor or administrator, for any property or sum of money due by virtue of a will or upon a testamentary or administration account
passed before the Register of Wills, and acknowledged before any justice or judge, Register of Wills, justice of the peace, notary public
of any state or territory of the United States or of the District of Columbia, or before any consul general, consul, vice-consul, consular
agent or commercial agent of the United States duly appointed in any foreign country, and certified under the hand of such officer and
the seal of such office, shall, upon being filed with the Court of Chancery in and for the county in which such will or account is recorded
or filed, be recorded in a book for that purpose, which shall have direct and reversed alphabetical indices. Such record or a duly certified
copy thereof under the hand and official seal of the Register of Wills shall be competent evidence in all cases.
(b) The following form of acknowledgment shall be sufficient in all cases:
“State of ....................................................
ss.
County of .................................................
Acknowledged by ........................................................................ to be a voluntary act and deed, before me (here state the official
character of the person before whom the acknowledgment is made) this .................................... day of ................................................. ,
..................
Witness my hand and seal.”
Justices of the peace of this State need only sign their name, there being no seal of office.
(Code 1852, §§ 1870-1873; 12 Del. Laws, c. 325, §§ 1, 2; 24 Del. Laws, c. 246, § 3; 24 Del. Laws, c. 247, §§ 1, 2; 25 Del. Laws,
c. 224, § 1; 26 Del. Laws, c. 257, § 1; Code 1915, §§ 3408, 3410; Code 1935, §§ 3872, 3874; 43 Del. Laws, c. 210, § 1; 12 Del.
C. 1953, § 2320; 59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 70 Del Laws, c. 186, § 1.)
§ 2321 Distributions by fiduciaries in satisfaction of pecuniary bequests.
(a) Where a will or a trust agreement authorizes the executor or trustee (hereinafter called the “fiduciary”) to satisfy wholly or partly in
kind a pecuniary bequest or transfer in trust of a pecuniary amount, unless the will or trust agreement otherwise expressly provides, the
assets selected by the fiduciary for that purpose shall be valued at their respective values on the date or dates of their distribution.
(b) Where a will or a trust agreement authorizes the fiduciary to satisfy wholly or partly in kind a pecuniary bequest or a transfer in trust
of a pecuniary amount, and the will or trust agreement requires the fiduciary to value the assets selected for such distribution by a formula
using a date other than the date or dates of their distribution, unless the will or trust agreement otherwise expressly provides, the assets
selected by the fiduciary for distribution, together with any cash to be distributed, shall have an aggregate value on the date or dates of
their distribution equal to the amount of such bequest or transfer in trust as determined by the formula stated in the will or trust agreement.
(12 Del. C. 1953, § 2321; 56 Del. Laws, c. 225, § 1; 59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1.)
§ 2322 Effect of manslaughter or murder on intestate succession, wills, joint assets, life insurance and
beneficiary designations.
(a) Definitions. — (1) “Decedent” shall mean any person whose life is taken by a slayer.
(2) “Property” shall include any real or personal property, tangible or intangible, and any right or interest therein.
(3) “Slayer” shall mean any person who pleads guilty or nolo contendere to or is convicted of the offenses described in § 632, §
635, or § 636 of Title 11, as the same may be amended from time to time, excluding, however, those persons who plead guilty or nolo
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Title 12 - Decedents’ Estates and Fiduciary Relations
contendere or are convicted of manslaughter under § 632 of Title 11 as a result of the mitigating circumstances of extreme emotional
distress as described in § 641 of Title 11. “Slayer” shall also mean:
a. Any person who pleads guilty or nolo contendere to or is convicted in a court of competent jurisdiction under the laws of the
United States, any state, commonwealth, possession, or territory thereof, or any foreign country that requires that guilt be proven
beyond a reasonable doubt of any act that would constitute an offense described in the preceding sentence; or
b. Any person, excluding a person who has been acquitted, found not guilty, or against whom a charge of having committed a
homicide against a decedent has been found by a court of competent jurisdiction to be not proved, who is determined beyond a
reasonable doubt by a court of competent jurisdiction to have committed a homicide against a decedent.
(b) Statutory descent and rights. — The slayer shall be deemed to have predeceased the decedent as to property which would have
passed from the estate of the decedent to the slayer under the statutes of descent and distribution or have been acquired by statutory right
as surviving spouse.
(c) Wills and trusts. — The slayer shall be deemed to have predeceased the decedent as to property which would have passed to the
slayer by devise or legacy from the decedent, and as to property which would have passed to the slayer from a trust to the extent that the
decedent was the grantor of the trust or was the beneficiary of the trust immediately before the death of the decedent.
(d) Tenancy by entirety. — Any property held by the slayer and the decedent as tenants by the entirety shall, upon the death of the
decedent, be converted to property held as tenants in common, and 1/2 of the property shall pass to the decedent’s heirs, legatees and
devisees, and the other half shall pass to the slayer, unless the slayer or the decedent’s estate effects a partition of the property.
(e) Joint tenancy with rights of survivorship. — (1) Any property held solely by the slayer and the decedent as joint tenants, joint owners
or joint obligees shall, upon the death of the decedent, be converted to property held as tenants in common and 1/2 of the property shall
pass to the decedent’s heirs, legatees or devisees, and the other half shall pass to the slayer, unless the slayer or the decedent’s estate
effects a partition of the property.
(2) As to property held jointly by 3 or more persons as joint tenants with right of survivorship, including the slayer and the decedent,
the decedent’s interest shall be converted to that of a proportional tenant in common, and the decedent’s interest shall pass to the
decedent’s heirs, legatees and devisees, unless the decedent’s estate or a surviving joint tenant effects a partition of the property. The
interest of the other tenants remains unaffected.
(3) The provisions of this section shall not affect any enforceable agreement between the parties or any trust arising because a greater
proportion of the property has been contributed by 1 party than by the other.
(f) Vested remainder. — Property in which the slayer holds a reversion or vested remainder and would have obtained the right of present
possession upon the death of the decedent shall pass to the heirs, legatees or devisees of the decedent, and be redistributed in accordance
with the decedent’s will or the laws of intestate distribution, excluding the slayer, during the period of what would have been the life
expectancy of the decedent if the decedent had not been slain. If the particular estate is held by a third person, it shall remain in the third
person’s hands for such period.
(g) Contingent remainder. — As to any contingent remainder or executory or other future interest held by the slayer, subject to become
vested in the slayer or increased in any way for the slayer upon the condition of the death of the decedent:
(1) If the interest would not have become vested or increased if the slayer had predeceased the decedent, the slayer shall be deemed
to have so predeceased the decedent.
(2) In any other case, the interest of the slayer shall be extinguished.
(h) Proceeds passing by designation. — (1) Except when there are conflicting provisions in a contract governing any policy or certificate
of insurance on the life of the decedent, or of a joint life policy on the life of the decedent and the slayer, or governing the designee of any
other property, the proceeds of such property shall be paid according to the terms of the contract as though the slayer had predeceased
the decedent. If the contract does not provide for a beneficiary in the event that the slayer predeceased the decedent, the property shall
be paid to the estate of the decedent.
(2) If the decedent is beneficiary or assignee of any policy or certificate of insurance on the life of the slayer, or the designee of any
other property, the proceeds shall be paid to the estate of the decedent upon the death of the slayer, unless the policy or certificate names
some person other than the slayer or the slayer’s estate as secondary beneficiary, or unless the slayer, by naming a new beneficiary or
assigning the policy, performs an act which would have deprived the decedent of the interest in the policy if the decedent had been living.
(3) Any insurance or other company making payment according to the terms of its policy or any bank or other person performing
an obligation for the slayer as one of several joint obligees shall not be subjected to additional liability by the terms of this section if
such payment or performance is made without written notice of the conviction of the slayer.
(i) Purchasers for value without notice. — The provisions of this section shall not affect the rights of any person who, before the slayer
has been convicted, purchases or has agreed to purchase, from the slayer for value and without notice, property which the slayer would
have acquired except for the terms of this section, but all proceeds received by the slayer from such sale shall be held by the slayer in
trust for the persons entitled to the property under the provisions of this section, and the slayer shall also be liable both for any portion
of such proceeds which the slayer may have dissipated and for any difference between the actual value of the property and the amount
of such proceeds.
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(j) Record of conviction admissible in civil actions. — The record of the slayer’s conviction for participating in or causing the death of
the decedent shall be admissible in evidence against a claimant of property in any civil action arising as a consequence of this section.
(k) Construction. — This section shall not be considered penal in nature, but shall be construed broadly in order to effect the policy of
this State that a person shall not be permitted to profit by that person’s own wrong.
(69 Del. Laws, c. 162, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 139, §§ 1-7; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1; 76 Del. Laws, c. 254, § 1.)
Subchapter III
Decree of Distribution
§ 2331 Jurisdiction of Court of Chancery.
The jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery shall extend to and embrace the distribution of the assets and surplusage of the estates of
decedents among the persons entitled thereto in all cases where such jurisdiction is invoked as provided in this subchapter.
(Code 1915, § 3403(a); 38 Del. Laws, c. 184, § 1; Code 1935, § 3867; 42 Del. Laws, c. 143, § 1; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 2331; 57 Del.
Laws, c. 402, § 3; 59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1.)
§ 2332 Petition for decree of distribution; notice required by Constitution.
(a) An executor or administrator or any person claiming to have an interest in the estate to be distributed may, at any time after any
account has been filed by an executor or administrator, apply to the Court of Chancery in the county in which letters testamentary or of
administration were granted upon the estate to be distributed, by a written petition filed in the Court for a decree of distribution of the
estate among the persons entitled thereto. Such petition shall have attached to it a certified copy of all accounts that have been theretofore
filed by the executor or administrator in the office of the Register of Wills for the county. The petition shall contain the names of all
persons known to the petitioner who claim or may claim an interest in the estate to be distributed, together with their post-office addresses
so far as known, and shall state whether the executor or administrator of the estate has given the notice required to be given by § 32,
article IV of the Constitution of this State, and shall be duly verified.
(b) If at the time the petition is filed the executor or administrator of the estate shall not have given the notice required to be given
by § 32, article IV of the state Constitution, the Court shall forthwith order such notice to be given by such executor or administrator
within such time as shall be fixed by the Court.
(Code 1915, § 3403(a); 38 Del. Laws, c. 184, § 1; Code 1935, § 3867; 42 Del. Laws, c. 143, § 1; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 2332; 57 Del.
Laws, c. 402, § 3; 59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1.)
§ 2333 Order fixing hearing date and providing for notice.
(a) Upon the filing of the petition provided for under § 2332 of this title, the Court of Chancery, after having satisfied itself of the
sufficiency of the petition, shall make an order:
(1) Taking jurisdiction of the proceeding;
(2) Setting the application for a decree of distribution down for a hearing before the Court, at a time fixed in such order;
(3) Providing for written notice and delivery of a copy of the petition by certified mail to each person who is named in the petition
as a person who claims or may claim an interest in the estate to be distributed, and each such person of whom the Court otherwise has
knowledge, and also to the personal representative of the decedent, if the personal representative is not the petitioner in the proceeding;
(4) Providing for the publication of the notice in a newspaper published in the county, at least once a week for at least 4 weeks
before the date of such hearing.
(b) The notice shall be mailed and published by and in the name of the Register of Wills of the county in which the proceeding is
pending, and shall be in substantially the following form:
IN THE COURT OF CHANCERY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE IN
AND FOR
.......................................................... COUNTY
TO ALL PERSONS CLAIMING TO HAVE AN INTEREST IN THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE ESTATE OF
........................................................................ , DECEASED, INCLUDING PERSONS CLAIMING TO BE HEIRS, LEGATEES,
BENEFICIARIES OR OTHER DISTRIBUTEES OF SAID ESTATE.
YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that an application has been made to the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware, in and
for ................................................. County, for a decree of distribution of the estate of said decedent and that the application has
been set down for a hearing before the Court on the .................................... day of ........................................................................ A.D.
...................... , at .................................... M., in the courtroom of the Court of Chancery in the County Courthouse in the City of
........................................................................ , Delaware.
You are further notified that if you desire to make any claim to an interest in the distribution of the estate, or to all or any part of the
distributable amount of the estate, you must appear before the Court at the time and place aforesaid and present such claim together
with any evidence you desire to present to sustain such claim.
Your failure to appear and present your evidence at the time and place aforesaid will be at your peril.
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Title 12 - Decedents’ Estates and Fiduciary Relations
.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Register of Wills of
.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................
County.
(Code 1915, § 3403(a); 38 Del. Laws, c. 184, § 1; Code 1935, § 3867; 42 Del. Laws, c. 143, § 1; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 2333; 57 Del.
Laws, c. 402, § 3; 59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 70 Del Laws, c. 186, § 1.)
§ 2334 Hearing and evidence.
At the hearing of the application or any adjournment thereof, the Court of Chancery shall consider the sworn petition of the applicant
and any sworn answer or answers that have been filed in the proceeding and shall take and receive any and all pertinent evidence that may
be offered by the petitioner or by the personal representative of the decedent or by any person appearing and claiming to have an interest
in the estate to be distributed. The evidence so taken shall be recorded stenographically and, if required by the Court, or if an appeal is
taken from any decree of distribution that may be made on the application, shall be transcribed.
(Code 1915, § 3403(a); 38 Del. Laws, c. 184, § 1; Code 1935, § 3867; 42 Del. Laws, c. 143, § 1; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 2334; 59 Del.
Laws, c. 384, § 1.)
§ 2335 Decree of distribution; reservation for contingent liabilities.
If, upon the hearing, the Court of Chancery shall be satisfied that the estate or any part thereof may then be distributed, the Court shall
make a decree determining the distribution of the estate then available for distribution to the person or persons who are by law entitled to
the same. If it appears that a portion of the estate may then be distributed and the balance of the estate should be reserved for contingent
liabilities against the estate, such decree may, if the Court deems proper, determine the distribution of such balance if and to the extent
that the same may thereafter become available for distribution.
(Code 1915, § 3403(a); 38 Del. Laws, c. 184, § 1; Code 1935, § 3867; 42 Del. Laws, c. 143, § 1; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 2335; 59 Del.
Laws, c. 384, § 1.)
§ 2336 Distribution of assets in kind.
Whenever it appears in any proceeding under this subchapter that the balance of the estate, after the payment of debts, includes stocks,
bonds or other securities, the Court may direct distribution of such assets in kind to and among those lawfully entitled thereto, including
fiduciaries. Such distribution in kind shall specify what stocks, bonds or other securities shall be distributed to each distributee separately.
Any fiduciary to whom such a distribution in kind has been made may accept the stocks, bonds or other securities so distributed, but, with
respect to the retention thereof after such distribution, such fiduciary shall be governed by the general law applicable thereto.
(Code 1915, § 3403(a); 38 Del. Laws, c. 184, § 1; Code 1935, § 3867; 42 Del. Laws, c. 143, § 1; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 2336; 59 Del.
Laws, c. 384, § 1.)
§ 2337 Appointment of master; exceptions to master’s report.
The Court of Chancery, instead of hearing in the first instance an application for a decree of distribution under this subchapter, may
appoint a master to hear the same who shall thereafter proceed in accordance with this subchapter, and thereupon the master shall make
a report to the Court recommending the decree to be entered in the proceeding. Such report shall be subject to exceptions by the personal
representative of the estate or any person claiming to have an interest therein and such exceptions shall be heard by the Court and thereafter
a decree shall be entered by the Court in the proceeding.
(Code 1915, § 3403(a); 38 Del. Laws, c. 184, § 1; Code 1935, § 3867; 42 Del. Laws, c. 143, § 1; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 2337; 57 Del.
Laws, c. 402, § 3; 59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 70 Del Laws, c. 186, § 1.)
§ 2338 Finality of decree; appeal to Supreme Court; record on appeal.
(a) Every decree of distribution made by the Court of Chancery in a proceeding initiated under this subchapter shall be a final decree,
but the personal representative of the decedent or any person claiming to have an interest in the estate thereby decreed to be distributed
shall have the right, at any time within 30 days after the making and entry of such decree, to take an appeal therefrom to the Supreme
Court. After the expiration of the period of 30 days such decree of distribution, with respect to all matters contained therein, if no appeal
has been taken therefrom, shall become and be conclusive and binding upon the executor or administrator of the estate of the decedent
and upon every person claiming to have an interest in the estate thereby distributed.
(b) If an appeal is taken from any such decree, the decree or judgment made and entered by the Supreme Court on such appeal shall
likewise be conclusive and binding upon the executor or administrator and every person claiming as aforesaid, from the date of the making
and entry of the decree or judgment by the Supreme Court.
(c) Any appeal taken to the Supreme Court shall be heard by that Court upon the record of the proceeding in the Court of Chancery
and the procedure on such appeal shall be in accordance with the rules of the Supreme Court.
(Code 1915, § 3403(a); 38 Del. Laws, c. 184, § 1; Code 1935, § 3867; 42 Del. Laws, c. 143, § 1; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 2338; 57 Del.
Laws, c. 402, § 3; 59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1.)
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§ 2339 Rule-making power of Court of Chancery.
The Court of Chancery may make all necessary rules of procedure before the master and other rules governing the proceeding not
inconsistent with this subchapter.
(Code 1915, § 3403(a); 38 Del. Laws, c. 184, § 1; Code 1935, § 3867; 42 Del. Laws, c. 143, § 1; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 2339; 57 Del.
Laws, c. 402, § 3; 59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1.)
Subchapter IV
Nondomiciliary Decedents’ Estates
§ 2351 Definitions.
As used in this subchapter:
(1) “Death tax” and “death taxes” include inheritance and estate taxes and any taxes levied against the estate of a decedent upon
the occasion of the decedent’s death.
(2) “Domiciliary state” means the jurisdiction in which the decedent was domiciled at the time of the decedent’s death.
(42 Del. Laws, c. 138, § 1; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 2351; 59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 70 Del Laws, c. 186, § 1.)
§ 2352 Proof of payment of domiciliary death taxes.
At any time before the expiration of 18 months after the qualification before any Register of Wills in this State of any executor of the
will or administrator of the estate of any nondomiciliary decedent, such executor or administrator shall file with such Register proof that
all death taxes, together with interest or penalties thereon, which are due to the domiciliary state of such decedent, or to any political
subdivision thereof, have been paid or secured, or that no such taxes, interest or penalties are due, as the case may be, unless it appears
that letters testamentary or of administration have been issued on the estate of such decedent in the domiciliary state. The proof may be
in the form of a certificate issued by the official or body charged with the administration of the death tax laws of the domiciliary state.
(42 Del. Laws, c. 138, § 1; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 2352; 59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1.)
§ 2353 Notice to domiciliary state.
If the proof required by § 2352 of this title has not been filed within the time prescribed by that section, and if within such time it does
not appear that letters testamentary or of administration have been issued in the domiciliary state, the Register of Wills shall forthwith
upon the expiration of such time notify by mail the official or body of the domiciliary state charged with the administration of the death
tax laws thereof with respect to such estate, and shall state in such notice so far as is known to the Register:
(1) The name, date of death and last domicile of such decedent,
(2) The name and address of each executor or administrator,
(3) A summary of the values of the real estate, tangible personalty and intangible personalty, wherever situated, belonging to such
decedent at the time of the decedent’s death and
(4) The fact that such executor or administrator has not filed theretofore the proof required by § 2352 of this title.
The Register shall attach to such notice a plain copy of the will and codicils of such decedent, if the decedent died testate, or, if the
decedent died intestate, a list of heirs and next of kin so far as is known to such Register.
(42 Del. Laws, c. 138, § 1; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 2353; 59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 70 Del Laws, c. 186, § 1.)
§ 2354 Accounting and decree of Court of Chancery upon petition of domiciliary state.
Within 60 days after the mailing of the notice required by § 2353 of this title, the official or body charged with the administration of
the death tax laws of the domiciliary state may file with the Court of Chancery in this State a petition for an accounting in such estate,
and such official or body of the domiciliary state shall, for the purposes of this section, be a party interested for the purpose of petitioning
the Court for such accounting. If such petition be filed within said period of 60 days, the Court shall decree such accounting and, upon
such accounting being filed and approved, shall decree either the payment of any such tax found to be due to the domiciliary state or
subdivision thereof or the remission to a fiduciary appointed or to be appointed by the probate court, or other court charged with the
administration of estates of decedents, of the domiciliary state, of the balance of the intangible personalty after the payment of creditors
and expenses of administration in this State.
(42 Del. Laws, c. 138, § 1; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 2354; 59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1.)
§ 2355 Prerequisites of approval of final account.
No final account of an executor or administrator of a nondomiciliary decedent shall be approved unless either:
(1) Proof has been filed as required by § 2352 of this title, or
(2) Notice under § 2353 of this title has been given to the official or body charged with the administration of the death tax laws
of the domiciliary state, and such official or body has not petitioned for an accounting under § 2354 of this title within 60 days after
the mailing of such notice, or
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Title 12 - Decedents’ Estates and Fiduciary Relations
(3) An accounting has been had under § 2354 of this title, a decree has been made upon such accounting and it appears that the
executor or administrator has paid such sums and remitted such securities, if any, as the executor or administrator was required to pay
or remit by such decree, or
(4) It appears that letters testamentary or of administration have been issued by the domiciliary state and that no notice has been
given under § 2353 of this title.
(42 Del. Laws, c. 138, § 1; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 2355; 59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 70 Del Laws, c. 186, § 1.)
§ 2356 Applicability of subchapter.
This subchapter shall apply to the estate of a nondomiciliary decedent only in case the laws of the domiciliary state contain a provision,
of any nature or however expressed, whereby this State is given reasonable assurance, as finally determined by the Division of Revenue,
of the collection of its death taxes, interest and penalties from the estates of decedents dying domiciled in this State, when such estates
are administered in whole or in part by a probate court, or other court charged with the administration of estates of decedents, in such
other state.
(42 Del. Laws, c. 138, § 1; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 2356; 59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1.)
§ 2357 Construction of subchapter.
This subchapter shall be liberally construed in order to ensure that the domiciliary state of any nondomiciliary decedent whose estate
is administered in this State shall receive any death taxes, together with interest and penalties thereon, due to it from the estate of such
decedent.
(42 Del. Laws, c. 138, § 1; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 2357; 59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1.)
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Title 12 - Decedents’ Estates and Fiduciary Relations
Part IV
Administration of Decedents’ Estates
Chapter 25
Register of Wills
§ 2501 Register of Wills is a Clerk of Court of Chancery.
In performing the functions of the office, the Register of Wills of each county shall act only as a Clerk of the Court of Chancery.
(59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 70 Del Laws, c. 186, § 1.)
§ 2502 Powers.
(a) The Register of Wills shall have power to take acknowledgements, administer oaths, issue notices, certify and authenticate copies
of instruments, documents and records of the Court and perform the usual functions of the Register’s office.
(b) If a matter is one with respect to which no notice is required by statute or rule of court to be given to any person then, except as
otherwise provided in this title or by rule of court, the Register of Wills may hear and determine it and make all orders, adjudgments
and decrees in connection therewith which the Court of Chancery could make, subject to being set aside or modified by the Court at
any time within 30 days thereafter; and if not so set aside or modified such orders, adjudgments and decrees shall have the same effect
as if made by the Court.
(c) All actions commenced in the Court of Chancery shall be filed with the Register in Chancery, who shall have custody of the records
thereof, as provided by the Rules of the Court of Chancery, notwithstanding that such action may be brought upon a cause of action
previously within the cognizance of the Register of Wills.
(d) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Register of Wills shall have such further powers and duties as may be specifically
conferred upon the Register by statute or by rule of the Court of Chancery.
(59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 64 Del. Laws, c. 252, § 8; 70 Del Laws, c. 186, § 1.)
§ 2503 Commission to take deposition.
(a) If the attendance of a witness to a will cannot be procured because of the witness’ sickness, age, infirmity, imminent departure from
the State, being beyond the reach of process or any other reason deemed satisfactory to the Register of Wills, the Register may award
a commission to take the deposition of such witness.
(b) The commission may be issued on interrogatories filed, or the Register may make any order deemed proper concerning the issuance
or execution of the commission.
(Code 1852, § 1818; Code 1915, § 3371; Code 1935, § 3836; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 2503; 59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 70 Del Laws, c.
186, § 1.)
§ 2504 Compensation.
The Registers of Wills in respective counties shall receive the following annual salaries:
(1) New Castle County, as fixed by the New Castle County government.
(2) In Kent County the Register of Wills of Kent County shall receive a salary in an amount to be set by ordinance of the Kent
County Levy Court.
(3) In Sussex County the Register of Wills of Sussex Council shall receive a salary in an amount to be set by ordinance of the Sussex
County Council.
(23 Del. Laws, c. 60, § 7; 24 Del. Laws, c. 84, § 1; 24 Del. Laws, c. 87, § 1; 24 Del. Laws, c. 94, § 1; Code 1915, § 1438; 40 Del.
Laws, c. 139, § 1; Code 1935, § 1597; 44 Del. Laws, c. 98, § 1; 45 Del. Laws, c. 138, § 1; 46 Del. Laws, c. 298, § 1; 12 Del. C.
1953, § 2505; 49 Del. Laws, c. 283; 49 Del. Laws, c. 292; 50 Del. Laws, c. 488, § 1; 52 Del. Laws, c. 52, § 1; 52 Del. Laws, c.
174, § 1; 53 Del. Laws, c. 222, § 8; 54 Del. Laws, c. 23, § 11; 54 Del. Laws, c. 215, § 8; 56 Del. Laws, c. 204, § 2; 57 Del. Laws,
c. 692, § 10; 59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 59 Del. Laws, c. 514, § 4; 61 Del. Laws, c. 506, § 9; 65 Del. Laws, c. 163, § 9; 65 Del.
Laws, c. 216, § 6; 67 Del. Laws, c. 255, § 7; 68 Del. Laws, c. 234, § 5.)
§ 2505 Bond.
The official bond of every Register of Wills of this State shall embrace and include the faithful performance by the Register of all the
duties imposed upon the Register by law.
(25 Del. Laws, c. 225, § 7; Code 1915, § 152; 37 Del. Laws, c. 8, § 1; 40 Del. Laws, c. 10, § 1; Code 1935, § 141; 12 Del. C.
1953, § 2504; 59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1.)
§ 2506 Deputy register — Powers; recording appointment.
In all cases where, in the administration of the affairs of the office of Register of Wills in the several counties of the State, it is necessary
or proper to administer an oath of affirmation, such oath of affirmation may be administered by a deputy register; and, where the Register
might have done so, such deputy register may probate wills and grant letters testamentary and of administration. The appointment of each
deputy shall be recorded in the office of the Recorder of Deeds of the county for which the deputy shall be appointed.
(24 Del. Laws, c. 77, § 1; Code 1915, § 3338; Code 1935, § 3803; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 2506; 59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1.)
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§ 2507 Deputy Register — Chief deputy; employment of deputies and clerks.
(a) The Chancellor shall name a chief deputy register of wills for each county who shall perform such duties as shall from time to
time be assigned by the Court of Chancery. The annual compensation of such chief deputy shall be as fixed by the New Castle County
government, the Sussex County government or the Levy Court of Kent County. A Chief Deputy Register of Wills when appointed and
qualified shall not be removed from office except for good and sufficient cause.
(b) The Register of Wills in each county may employ such number of deputies and clerks at such salaries as shall be fixed by the
government body of such county. In Kent County, minimum qualifications may be established by the county government for each position,
and said minimum qualifications and compensation and any subsequent adjustments thereto shall have the concurrence of the register
of wills.
(23 Del. Laws, c. 60, § 8; 24 Del. Laws, c. 83, § 1; 24 Del. Laws, c. 86, § 2; 26 Del. Laws, c. 61, § 1; 27 Del. Laws, c. 73, § 1;
27 Del. Laws, c. 83, § 1; Code 1915, § 1439; 29 Del. Laws, c. 91, § 1; 29 Del. Laws, c. 92, § 1; 31 Del. Laws, c. 13, § 1; 32 Del.
Laws, c. 67, § 1; 35 Del. Laws, c. 79, § 1; 40 Del. Laws, c. 139, § 2; Code 1935, §§ 1191, 1598; 43 Del. Laws, c. 120, § 1; 44
Del. Laws, c. 99, § 1; 44 Del. Laws, c. 100, §§ 1, 2; 44 Del. Laws, c. 101, § 1; 45 Del. Laws, c. 109, §§ 1, 2; 45 Del. Laws, c. 140,
§ 1; 46 Del. Laws, c. 139, § 1; 46 Del. Laws, c. 298, §§ 1, 2; 47 Del. Laws, c. 192; 48 Del. Laws, c. 111, § 1; 12 Del. C. 1953, §
2507; 53 Del. Laws, c. 245; 59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 60 Del. Laws, c. 218, § 1; 61 Del. Laws, c. 486, § 1; 74 Del. Laws, c. 45, §
6.)
§ 2508 Report of real estate transfers to Board of Assessment.
Each Register of Wills shall furnish to the Board of Assessment of each county a description of each parcel of real estate devised or
descending by virtue of will or by operation of law insofar as the records of the Register’s office will enable. The Register shall also
furnish the date of the transfer, the name of the deceased and the name and the address of the transferee. The Register shall furnish such
information promptly after the filing in the Register’s office of an inventory and appraisement.
(19 Del. Laws, c. 26, § 27; 19 Del. Laws, c. 562, § 11; 20 Del. Laws, c. 389, § 1; Code 1915, §§ 1126A, 1178; 28 Del. Laws, c.
82, § 28; 29 Del. Laws, c. 72, § 20; 30 Del. Laws, c. 77, § 19; 30 Del. Laws, c. 78, § 7; 31 Del. Laws, c. 14, § 24; 33 Del. Laws,
c. 79, § 1; 33 Del. Laws, c. 84, § 23; Code 1935, §§ 1272, 1309, 1328, 1420, 1453; 46 Del. Laws, c. 299, § 1; 12 Del. C. 1953, §
2508; 59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 70 Del Laws, c. 186, § 1.)
§ 2509 Delivery of records; photocopies; evidence.
(a) Each Register of Wills upon the advice and approval of the Court of Chancery may deliver to the Delaware Public Archives
any volume of probate records in the Register’s official custody, the age and condition of which render its continued use by the public
inadvisable, and the Register shall take a receipt for the same and the receipt shall be recorded in the office from which such volume
or record is taken.
(b) Within a reasonable time after any such volume or record has been delivered to the Delaware Public Archives, the State Archivist
and Records Administrator shall make a photocopy of its contents and shall certify that such contents are complete and correct, and such
certificate shall be included in such photocopy. Such photocopy shall be delivered to the Register of Wills from whom the original volume
was received, and the Register may issue certified copies of any records photocopied under the provisions of this section, and any such
certified copy shall be admissible as evidence in any judicial or administrative proceeding in the same manner and entitled to the same
weight and have the same effect as certified copies made from the original volume.
(37 Del. Laws, c. 110, § 1; Code 1935, § 1563; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 2509; 54 Del. Laws, c. 206; 59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 70 Del
Laws, c. 186, § 1; 72 Del. Laws, c. 91, §§ 6-8.)
§ 2510 Fees.
The governing body of each county shall determine the fees which shall be charged by the Register of Wills of that county.
(Code 1852, § 2833; Code 1893, c. 125, § 14; 24 Del. Laws, c. 246, § 3; 24 Del. Laws, c. 247, §§ 1, 2; Code 1915, §§ 4859,
4859A, 4860, 4886; 30 Del. Laws, c. 241, § 2; 36 Del. Laws, c. 275, § 1; Code 1935, §§ 5353, 5354, 5355, 5374; 46 Del. Laws, c.
300, § 1; 12 Del. C. 1953, §§ 2321, 2322, 2323; 52 Del. Laws, c. 156; 53 Del. Laws, c. 229, §§ 1, 2; 57 Del. Laws, c. 704; 59 Del.
Laws, c. 384, § 1; 60 Del. Laws, c. 199, § 3; 62 Del. Laws, c. 19, § 1; 63 Del. Laws, c. 131, §§ 1, 2; 64 Del. Laws, c. 76, § 1.)
§ 2511 Posting of fee list.
Every Register of Wills shall keep for public inspection in the Register’s office a printed or written list of the fees then in effect.
(Code 1852, § 2834; Code 1915, § 4887; Code 1935, § 5375; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 2524; 59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 70 Del Laws, c.
186, § 1.)
§ 2512 Refusal to pay fees; penalty.
Whoever neglects or refuses to pay the fees provided for in this chapter, for any service performed, within 30 days after written demand
from the Register of Wills to whom such fees are due, shall be fined $20 besides costs of suit unless the Court of Chancery, upon application
within such 30-day period for good cause shown, grants an extension of time for payment of such fees.
(24 Del. Laws, c. 246, § 6; 24 Del. Laws, c. 247, § 4; Code 1915, § 4890; Code 1935, § 5378; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 2526; 59 Del.
Laws, c. 384, § 1.)
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§ 2513 Deposit of original wills with Register in New Castle County, Kent County, and Sussex County.
(a) An original will may be deposited by any testator, testatrix, attorney-in-fact or attorney-at-law for safekeeping in the office of the
Register of Wills for New Castle County, Kent County, or Sussex County upon payment of a fee of $5.00.
(b) Upon receipt of said will, the Register shall:
(1) Give to such testator, testatrix, attorney-in-fact or attorney-at-law a receipt for such deposit;
(2) Place the will in an envelope and seal it securely in the presence of the testator, testatrix, attorney-in-fact or attorney-at-law;
(3) Number the envelope and indicate thereon the name of the testator or testatrix;
(4) Record the date on which it is lodged;
(5) List the name of the person or persons whom the testator or testatrix wishes to serve as personal representative upon testator’s
or testatrix’s death; and
(6) Index the same alphabetically in a permanent index kept for that purpose.
(c) The Register shall carefully preserve the envelope containing the will unopened unless it is returned to the testator, testatrix, attorneyin-fact or attorney-at-law during the lifetime of the testator or testatrix. The testator or testatrix may examine the contents of the envelope
in the Register of Wills’ office and return the same for a fee of $1. Should such will be returned to the testator or testatrix during testator’s
or testatrix’s lifetime, removed from the office and then redeposited with the Register, it shall be considered as a new lodging under the
provisions of this section.
(d) Upon receipt of notice of the death of the testator or testatrix or by order of the court, the Register shall open the will and place the
will in its pending file to await probate. While awaiting probate the will may be reviewed by any person entitled to offer it for probate,
authorized by court order or named in the will as a beneficiary, trustee or guardian. Copies of the will shall be given to the executor,
executrix, beneficiary, trustee, guardian, at their request or upon court order. The person or party making the request shall be responsible
for reasonable copying charges. Except as provided herein, no other person is permitted to receive a copy of a will.
(e) The Register, upon receipt of notice of death and an affidavit of the proposed personal representative which alleges that, at the time
of the decendent’s death, the decedent was not a resident of the county in which the will was deposited shall deliver the will to the probate
officer or Register of Wills for the county or state where the decedent is alleged to have resided at the decedent’s death.
(f) Any attorney-at-law, bank or trust company, upon holding a will lodged with the attorney-at-law, bank or trust company for
safekeeping by a client for 7 years or more and having no knowledge of whether the said client is alive or dead after such time, may
lodge such will with the Register as provided in subsections (a)-(e) of this section for which the Register shall be paid a fee of $5 for
such lodging, indexing and preserving.
(g) The filing of a will with the Register shall not create any presumption as to the authenticity of the document, the signatures on
the will or its admissibility to probate.
(h) The fee to be paid the Register may be increased or reduced by the county council in the county in which the will was deposited,
at the county council’s election.
(i) The Register of Wills shall not be liable for the loss of any document.
(64 Del. Laws, c. 401, § 1; 70 Del Laws, c. 186, § 1; 81 Del. Laws, c. 359, § 1.)
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Title 12 - Decedents’ Estates and Fiduciary Relations
Part IV
Administration of Decedents’ Estates
Chapter 27
Sale of Lands by Executors and Administrators
§ 2701 Petition for sale of realty to pay decedent’s debts; notice.
(a) When the personal estate of a decedent is not sufficient to pay the decedent’s debts, the decedent’s executor or administrator may
present to the Court of Chancery of the county in which there is any real estate of the decedent a petition outlining such facts, and praying
for an order for sale of the whole, or such part thereof, if the personal estate is not sufficient for that purpose.
(b) Written notice of intention to present such petition, and of the day and place of doing so, shall be given by the executor or
administrator at least 10 days in advance to the parties interested or, if any of the parties be minors and have guardians, to such guardians
if such parties and guardians reside in the State, and also to the tenants in possession of the premises intended to be sold. If any of the
parties or guardians do not reside in the State, there shall, in such case, be such publication or service of notice in respect to them as shall
be prescribed by the Court of Chancery, by general rule, or specially directed in any case.
(c) Where the decedent has real estate in more than 1 of the counties of this State the petition may be presented to the Court of Chancery
of any of the counties wherein such real estate is located. The Court may, in such action, make an order in relation to any real estate of
the decedent located within this State. The Court shall order the part of the proceedings which relates to real estate in a county, other than
that where the petition is presented, to be certified and recorded in the Court of Chancery in that county; and the record shall have all the
effect of an original record. The sale of any such real estate shall be conducted only in the county wherein such real estate is located.
(Code 1852, §§ 1877, 1878; Code 1915, § 3417; Code 1935, § 3877; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 2701; 57 Del. Laws, c. 402, § 3; 59 Del.
Laws, c. 384, § 1; 70 Del Laws, c. 186, § 1.)
§ 2702 Application by creditor to compel sale of realty; procedure.
A creditor of the decedent may apply to the Court of Chancery of the county wherein the letters were granted to issue a citation to an
executor or administrator to appear before it, on a day to be therein mentioned, to show cause why the creditor shall not present a petition
to the Court for the purpose mentioned in § 2701 of this title. The citation shall be served at least 10 days before its return. If upon a
hearing it appears that there is a deficiency of assets for the payment of the decedent’s debts, and that the creditor will be remediless
without the sale of the real estate, or part thereof, then the Court may order the executor or administrator to present such petition to it on
or before such date to be fixed by the Court as will enable the notice required by § 2701 of this title to be given.
(Code 1852, §§ 1812, 1879, 1880; Code 1915, §§ 3366, 3418; Code 1935, §§ 3831, 3878; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 2702; 57 Del. Laws,
c. 402, § 3; 59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 70 Del Laws, c. 186, § 1.)
§ 2703 Proof in action to compel sale of realty.
In cases of a petition for an order for sale of realty, the executor or administrator shall exhibit to the Court of Chancery, on oath, a true
account of all the personal estate of the decedent, and of all debts outstanding against the estate of the decedent which shall have come
to the executor’s or administrator’s knowledge, stating therein the amount of the inventory and appraisal, the amount of the debts due to
the decedent and all other property, rights and credits belonging to the decedent’s personal estate of which the executor or administrator
has knowledge; and the executor or administrator shall also exhibit the inventory, list and statement filed pursuant to § 1905 of this title,
or certified copies thereof.
(Code 1852, §§ 1881, 1882; Code 1915, § 3419; Code 1935, § 3879; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 2703; 59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 70 Del.
Laws, c. 186, § 1.)
§ 2704 Order of sale; realty to be sold.
The Court of Chancery may, if it appears that there is a deficiency of personal estate for the payment of the decedent’s debts, order
that the executor or administrator shall sell the real estate, or a part thereof to be specified in the order, for the purpose of supplying the
deficiency. No more shall be sold than the Court deems sufficient for that purpose, unless the Court considers that the condition of any
premises is such that a part thereof, merely sufficient, could not be laid off and sold without injury to the whole, in which case the Court
may order the whole or any part of such premises to be sold, as may be deemed best for the parties interested.
(Code 1852, §§ 1881, 1882; Code 1915, § 3419; Code 1935, § 3879; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 2704; 59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1.)
§ 2705 Partition no bar to sale.
The fact that partition has been made of the real estate shall be no bar to an order for sale.
(Code 1852, §§ 1881, 1882; Code 1915, § 3419; Code 1935, § 3879; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 2705; 59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1.)
§ 2706 Manner of sale; notice and adjournment in case of public auction.
Every sale under this chapter shall be by public auction or by private sale with the approval of the Court of Chancery. If the sale is
by public auction, the Court shall direct the executor or administrator to give notice thereof by advertisements made and signed by the
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Title 12 - Decedents’ Estates and Fiduciary Relations
Clerk, describing the land to be sold and appointing the day, hour and place of such sale, posted, at least 10 days before the day of sale, at
such places in the county as the order specifies, and also in such other manner as may be deemed proper in a particular case. The executor
or administrator may adjourn the sale.
(Code 1852, § 1885; 19 Del. Laws, c. 252, § 1; Code 1915, § 3423; Code 1935, § 3883; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 2711; 59 Del. Laws, c.
384, § 1.)
§ 2707 Effect of contribution in advance of sale to payment of debts; contribution to equalize burden after
sale.
If any devisee, or person holding any part of the real estate, contributes so much as the Court of Chancery adjudges to be devisee’s or
other person’s proportionable part towards payment of the outstanding debts, no order shall be made for the sale of the premises owned or
held by the devisee or other person. A devisee or other owner of premises which shall be sold pursuant to an order under this chapter may
compel contribution to equalize the burden from any other owner if more than devisee’s or other person’s proportionate share towards
payment of the debts is raised by the sale.
(Code 1852, § 1886; Code 1915, § 3424; Code 1935, § 3884; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 2712; 59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 70 Del Laws, c.
186, § 1.)
§ 2708 Return of sale; deed.
(a) An executor or administrator shall return the proceedings to any adjourned or regular term of the Court of Chancery after the making
or renewing of an order of sale; and if the return is approved, the executor or administrator shall make a deed to the purchaser for the
premises sold.
(b) If an order is made to several executors or administrators, upon the death of any, it shall survive.
(c) A successor administrator may return a sale made by a former executor or administrator and make a deed to the purchaser, if the
Court of Chancery approves the sale and orders the successor to make a deed. The successor may, under order of the Court, make a deed
pursuant to a sale returned by such former executor or administrator and duly approved.
(d) A deed may also be made, by order of the Court of Chancery, to the heirs or to the assigns of a deceased purchaser.
(e) The Court of Chancery shall not order a deed to be made in any case, unless the purchase money is first paid.
(Code 1915, § 3425; Code 1935, § 3885; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 2713; 57 Del. Laws, c. 402, § 3; 59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 70 Del
Laws, c. 186, § 1.)
§ 2709 Title of purchaser.
The grantee in any deed made in pursuance of this chapter shall take all the estate, title and claim which the decedent, at the time of
the decedent’s death, had to the real estate thereby conveyed, either at law or in equity, with the benefit of all acts and matters done after
the decedent’s death for perfecting or securing the title, and shall hold the same paramount to all encumbrances created or suffered by,
and all right and title of the devisees or heirs of the decedent, and all persons claiming through them, and also discharged from the lien
of all judgments against decedent, or the decedent’s executors or administrators, and also of all the mortgages and recognizances entered
into or executed by the decedent for the payment of money or interest, absolutely and not dependent on a contingency. But neither the
sale nor the deed shall impair or affect the lien of any recognizance or obligation entered into or executed by the decedent with condition
for the performance of any official duties, or of any recognizance or mortgage entered into or executed by the decedent with any other
condition than for the absolute payment of money, or interest.
(Code 1852, § 1892; Code 1915, § 3426; Code 1935, § 3886; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 2714; 59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 70 Del Laws, c.
186, § 1.)
§ 2710 Application of proceeds of sale; order of payment of debts.
The purchase money of a sale, made by authority of this chapter (all just charges to be allowed by the Court of Chancery, being first
deducted), shall be applied to outstanding debts against the decedent in the following order:
(1) First Class. — To judgments against the decedent, which, before the sale, were liens on the premises sold, and to recognizances
and mortgages entered into or executed by the decedent with condition for the payment of money or interest, absolutely, and not
dependent on a contingency, and which, before the sale, were liens on the premises sold; such judgments, recognizances and mortgages
shall be of equal grade, but shall be preferred in payment according to the legal priority of their lien respectively; and if in an action
or proceeding upon a recognizance, obligation or mortgage entered into or executed by the decedent with other condition than for the
absolute payment of money or interest (but which was by its own force or legal effect, without judgment thereon, a lien on the premises
sold), a sum shall have been assessed or ascertained as payable or recoverable by virtue thereof, and judgment or decree, at the time of
the sale, has been thereupon given or pronounced, the sum so assessed or ascertained with the costs shall stand in priority, according to
the date of the obligation or recognizance, or of the depositing of the mortgage duly acknowledged or proved in the proper recorder’s
office to be recorded, and shall be preferred in payment according to such priority; but in no other case shall the proceeds of such
sale be applied or retained for the purpose of being applied to any recognizance, obligation or mortgage entered into or executed by
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Title 12 - Decedents’ Estates and Fiduciary Relations
the decedent with other condition than for the absolute payment of money or interest, in preference to, or to the postponement of, any
debt outstanding against the decedent.
But no debt shall be regarded as within this class unless it was before the sale a lien on the premises sold; a sum assessed or ascertained,
as mentioned, under this class, being here understood to be demandable by virtue of the mortgage, recognizance or obligation upon
which the action or proceeding was instituted.
(2) Second Class. — To other debts outstanding against the decedent, observing the same rule of priority as prescribed by § 2105
of this title.
(Code 1852, §§ 1893-1897; Code 1915, § 3427; 35 Del. Laws, c. 204, § 1; Code 1935, § 3887; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 2715; 57 Del.
Laws, c. 402, § 3; 59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1.)
§ 2711 Disposition of surplus after paying debts.
If there is any surplus of the sale, after paying all the debts, it shall belong to the person to whom the premises sold belonged at the time
of the sale, who shall have the same proportion, quantity and manner of interest in the surplus, as the person had in the premises sold;
and an executor or administrator shall not detain the surplus, or any part of it, on account of any mortgage, obligation or recognizance
entered into or executed by the decedent with other condition than for the absolute payment of money or interest and which was a lien
on the premises sold.
(Code 1852, § 1898; Code 1915, § 3428; Code 1935, § 3888; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 2716; 59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 70 Del Laws, c.
186, § 1.)
§ 2712 Order for disposition of surplus.
The Court of Chancery, upon the petition of an executor or administrator, shall give direction for the payment or disposal of the surplus.
(Code 1852, § 1899; Code 1915, § 3429; Code 1935, § 3889; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 2717; 57 Del. Laws, c. 402, § 3; 59 Del. Laws, c.
384, § 1.)
§ 2713 Bond to be given by executor or administrator before executing order of sale.
Every executor or administrator before proceeding to execute an order of sale shall, in the Court of Chancery, with 1 or more sufficient
sureties to be approved by the Court, enter into bond to the State in a penal sum to be determined by the Court, with condition, in substance
to account truly for all money to arise from the sale, and (the just charges to be allowed by the Court being first deducted) to apply all the
balance thereof to the payment of the outstanding debts against the decedent, according to their legal priority, and to pay the surplus, if
any, according to law, and to perform the executor’s or administrator’s duty in the premises with fidelity.
(Code 1852, § 1900; Code 1915, § 3430; Code 1935, § 3890; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 2718; 57 Del. Laws, c. 402, § 3; 59 Del. Laws, c.
384, § 1; 70 Del Laws, c. 186, § 1.)
§ 2714 Purchase money payable to a successor administrator.
If a sale, made by an executor or former administrator, shall be returned by a successor administrator, the purchase money shall be
payable to the latter, but such payment shall not be made nor the sale approved until the successor administrator gives bond in the Court of
Chancery as prescribed in § 2713 of this title; and in that case, the Court may discharge the bond of the executor or former administrator
upon such terms as may be deemed proper.
(Code 1852, § 1901; Code 1915, § 3431; Code 1935, § 3891; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 2719; 57 Del. Laws, c. 402, § 3; 59 Del. Laws, c.
384, § 1; 70 Del Laws, c. 186, § 1.)
§ 2715 Refund of purchase money when sale not returned or not approved.
If the purchase money arising from any sale under this chapter shall be paid to the executor or administrator before the sale is approved,
the executor or administrator shall refund the same without delay if such sale is not returned or shall not be approved. If the executor
or administrator does not refund the money, it shall be a breach of the condition of the bond prescribed in § 2713 of this title, although
the executor or administrator shall have died before the time for returning such sale, for such death shall not excuse the executor or
administrator from the strict performance of the executor’s or administrator’s duty.
(Code 1852, § 1902; Code 1915, § 3431; Code 1935, § 3891; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 2720; 59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 70 Del Laws, c.
186, § 1.)
§ 2716 Charges of sale; taxing and payment.
All the charges of any sale under this chapter, whether under the name of commissions or otherwise, shall be taxed by the Court of
Chancery and paid to the Clerk before approving the sale; and no other charges shall be allowed on account of the sale, or of receiving
or paying the purchase money, but the account shall be passed before the Register of Wills, as other accounts.
(Code 1852, § 1903; 19 Del. Laws, c. 252, § 3; Code 1915, § 3432; Code 1935, § 3892; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 2721; 57 Del. Laws, c.
402, §§ 3, 5; 59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1.)
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Title 12 - Decedents’ Estates and Fiduciary Relations
§ 2717 Power to refuse order for sale or to approve a sale.
The Court of Chancery may refuse an order for sale of real estate or may refuse to approve a sale, if under the circumstances it is
considered improper that such sale should be made, although it should sufficiently appear that the personal estate is not sufficient for the
payment of the debts, or that the sale was regularly conducted.
(Code 1852, § 1904; Code 1915, § 3433; Code 1935, § 3893; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 2722; 57 Del. Laws, c. 402, § 3; 59 Del. Laws, c.
384, § 1.)
§ 2718 Appeal to Supreme Court.
Any person aggrieved by an order or decree of the Court of Chancery made in any proceeding under this chapter may appeal therefrom
to the Supreme Court, and no such order or decree shall be drawn in question except upon appeal.
(Code 1852, § 1905; Code 1915, § 3434; Code 1935, § 3894; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 2723; 57 Del. Laws, c. 402, § 3; 59 Del. Laws, c.
384, § 1.)
§ 2719 Power of sale in will; execution; liability of purchaser for application of purchase money.
(a) If, by any will, authority is given to several executors, or other persons, to sell real estate, and, if 1 or more of them die before the
complete execution of the authority, such authority shall survive.
(b) If, by any will, real estate is devised to be sold, and no person is authorized to make the sale, the person, or persons, having the
execution of the will, or the survivor or survivors of them, if several, may sell the real estate in execution of the devise.
(c) If, by any will, real estate is devised to a person or persons for life and after the death of such life tenant or life tenants to be sold,
and no person is authorized to make the sale, the person or persons who have the execution of said will at the period when such sale is
directed to be made, or the survivor or survivors of them, if several, may sell the real estate in execution of the devise.
(d) If, by any will, authority is given to an executor to sell real estate, and the person so named as executor therein dies, or is removed
or discharged from the office of executor before the execution of the authority, or refuses or neglects to give bond, or renounces, or is
incapable, the person or persons having the execution of the will, or the survivor or survivors of them, if several, may sell the real estate
in execution of the devise.
(e) Whenever real estate is sold and conveyed in any such case as mentioned and provided for in this section, the purchaser or purchasers
thereof shall take the same free and discharged from any liability as to the application, misapplication or nonapplication of the purchase
money or any part thereof. Nothing in this section shall contravene any express direction contained in any will.
(Code 1852, § 1906; 14 Del. Laws, c. 79, § 1; 24 Del. Laws, c. 235, § 1; Code 1915, § 3435; 30 Del. Laws, c. 211, § 1; Code
1935, § 3895; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 2724; 59 Del. Laws, c. 384, § 1; 70 Del Laws, c. 186, § 1.)
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Title 12 - Decedents’ Estates and Fiduciary Relations
Part IV
Administration of Decedents’ Estates
Chapter 29
Apportionment of Estate Taxes [Effective Jan. 1, 2014, but see § 2914 of this title for future applicability]
§ 2901 Short title [Effective Jan. 1, 2014, but see § 2914 of this title for future applicability].
This chapter may be cited as the “Estate Tax Apportionment Act of Delaware.”
(79 Del. Laws, c. 159, § 1.)
§ 2902 Definitions [Effective Jan. 1, 2014, but see § 2914 of this title for future applicability].
In this chapter:
(1) “Apportionable estate” means the value of the gross estate as finally determined for purposes of the estate tax to be apportioned
reduced by:
a. Any claim or expense allowable as a deduction for purposes of the tax;
b. The value of any interest in property that, for purposes of the tax, qualifies for a marital or charitable deduction or otherwise
is deductible or is exempt; and
c. Any amount added to the decedent’s gross estate because of a gift tax on transfers made before death.
(2) “Estate tax” means a federal, state, or foreign tax imposed because of the death of an individual and interest and penalties
associated with the tax. The term does not include an inheritance tax, income tax, or generation-skipping transfer tax other than a
generation-skipping transfer tax incurred on a direct skip taking effect at death.
(3) “Gross estate” means, with respect to an estate tax, all interests in property subject to the tax.
(4) “Person” means an individual, corporation, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, limited liability company, association, joint
venture, public corporation, government, governmental subdivision, agency, or instrumentality, or any other legal or commercial entity.
(5) “Ratable” means apportioned or allocated pro rata according to the relative values of interests to which the term is to be applied.
“Ratably” has a corresponding meaning.
(6) “Time-limited interest” means an interest in property which terminates on a lapse of time or on the occurrence or nonoccurrence
of an event or which is subject to the exercise of discretion that could transfer a beneficial interest to another person. The term does
not include:
a. A cotenancy unless the cotenancy itself is a time-limited interest; or
b. An interest in property to the extent outright distribution to the beneficiary is within the sole power of the beneficiary.
(7) “Value” means, with respect to an interest in property, fair market value as finally determined for purposes of the estate tax that
is to be apportioned, reduced by any outstanding debt secured by the interest without reduction for taxes paid or required to be paid
or for any special valuation adjustment.
(79 Del. Laws, c. 159, § 1.)
§ 2903 Apportionment by will or other dispositive instrument [Effective Jan. 1, 2017, but see § 2914 of this
title for future applicability].
(a) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (c) of this section, the following rules apply:
(1) To the extent that a provision of a decedent’s will specifically indicates an intent to direct the apportionment of an estate tax,
the tax must be apportioned accordingly.
(2) Any portion of an estate tax not apportioned pursuant to paragraph (a)(1) of this section must be apportioned in accordance with
any provision of a revocable trust of which the decedent was the settlor which specifically indicates an intent to direct the apportionment
of an estate tax. If conflicting apportionment provisions appear in 2 or more revocable trust instruments, the provision in the most
recently dated instrument prevails. For purposes of this paragraph:
a. A trust is revocable if it was revocable immediately after the trust instrument was executed, even if the trust subsequently
becomes irrevocable; and
b. The date of an amendment to a revocable trust instrument is the date of the amended instrument only if the amendment contains
an apportionment provision.
(3) If any portion of an estate tax is not apportioned pursuant to paragraph (a)(1) or (2) of this section, and a provision in any other
dispositive instrument specifically directs that any interest in the property disposed of by the instrument is or is not to be applied to
the payment of the estate tax attributable to the interest disposed of by the instrument, the provision controls the apportionment of
the tax to that interest.
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Title 12 - Decedents’ Estates and Fiduciary Relations
(b) Subject to subsection (c) of this section, and unless the decedent in a will or revocable trust specifically indicates an intent to waive
the application of this statute, the following rules apply:
(1) If an apportionment provision directs that a person receiving an interest in property under an instrument is to be exonerated from
the responsibility to pay an estate tax that would otherwise be apportioned to the interest,
a. The tax attributable to the exonerated interest must be apportioned among the other persons receiving interests passing under
the instrument, or
b. If the values of the other interests are less than the tax attributable to the exonerated interest, the deficiency must be apportioned
ratably among the other persons receiving interests in the apportionable estate that are not exonerated from apportionment of the tax.
(2) If an apportionment provision directs that an estate tax is to be apportioned to an interest in property a portion of which qualifies
for a marital or charitable deduction, the estate tax must first be apportioned ratably among the holders of the portion that does not
qualify for a marital or charitable deduction and then apportioned ratably among the holders of the deductible portion to the extent that
the value of the nondeductible portion is insufficient.
(3) Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (b)(4) of this section, if an apportionment provision directs that an estate tax be
apportioned to property in which 1 or more time-limited interests exist, other than interests in specified property under § 2907 of this
title, the tax must be apportioned to the principal of that property, regardless of the deductibility of some of the interests in that property.
(4) If an apportionment provision directs that an estate tax is to be apportioned to the holders of interests in property in which 1 or
more time-limited interests exist and a charity has an interest that otherwise qualifies for an estate tax charitable deduction, the tax must
first be apportioned, to the extent feasible, to interests in property that have not been distributed to the persons entitled to receive the
interests. No tax shall be paid from a charitable remainder annuity trust or a charitable remainder unitrust described in § 664 of the
Internal Revenue Code [26 U.S.C. § 664] and created during the decedent’s life.
(c) A provision that apportions an estate tax is ineffective to the extent that it increases the tax apportioned to a person having an interest
in the gross estate over which the decedent had no power to transfer immediately before the decedent executed the instrument in which
the apportionment direction was made. For purposes of this subsection, a testamentary power of appointment is a power to transfer the
property that is subject to the power.
(79 Del. Laws, c. 159, § 1.)
§ 2904 Statutory apportionment of estate taxes [Effective Jan. 1, 2017, but see § 2914 of this title for future
applicability].
To the extent that apportionment of an estate tax is not controlled by an instrument described in § 2903 of this title and except as
otherwise provided in §§ 2906 and 2907 of this title, the following rules apply:
(1) Subject to paragraphs (2), (3), and (4) of this section, the estate tax is apportioned ratably to each person that has an interest
in the apportionable estate.
(2) A generation-skipping transfer tax incurred on a direct skip taking effect at death is charged to the person to which the interest
in property is transferred.
(3) If property is included in the decedent’s gross estate because of § 2044 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 [26 U.S.C. § 2044]
or any similar estate tax provision, the difference between the total estate tax for which the decedent’s estate is liable and the amount
of estate tax for which the decedent’s estate would have been liable if the property had not been included in the decedent’s gross estate
is apportioned ratably among the holders of interests in the property. The balance of the tax, if any, is apportioned ratably to each other
person having an interest in the apportionable estate.
(4) Except as otherwise provided in § 2903(b)(4) of this title and except as to property to which § 2907 of this title applies, an
estate tax apportioned to persons holding interests in property subject to a time-limited interest must be apportioned, without further
apportionment, to the principal of that property.
(79 Del. Laws, c. 159, § 1.)
§ 2905 Credits and deferrals [Effective Jan. 1, 2017, but see § 2914 of this title for future applicability].
Except as otherwise provided in §§ 2906 and 2907 of this title, the following rules apply to credits and deferrals of estate taxes:
(1) A credit resulting from the payment of gift taxes or from estate taxes paid on property previously taxed inures ratably to the
benefit of all persons to which the estate tax is apportioned.
(2) A credit for state or foreign estate taxes inures ratably to the benefit of all persons to which the estate tax is apportioned, except
that the amount of a credit for a state or foreign tax paid by a beneficiary of the property on which the state or foreign tax was imposed,
directly or by a charge against the property, inures to the benefit of the beneficiary.
(3) If payment of a portion of an estate tax is deferred because of the inclusion in the gross estate of a particular interest in property,
the benefit of the deferral inures ratably to the persons to which the estate tax attributable to the interest is apportioned. The burden of
any interest charges incurred on a deferral of taxes and the benefit of any tax deduction associated with the accrual or payment of the
interest charge is allocated ratably among the persons receiving an interest in the property.
(79 Del. Laws, c. 159, § 1.)
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§ 2906 Insulated property: advancement of tax [Effective Jan. 1, 2017, but see § 2914 of this title for future
applicability].
(a) In this section:
(1) “Advanced fraction” means a fraction that has as its numerator the amount of the advanced tax and as its denominator the value
of the interests in insulated property to which that tax is attributable.
(2) “Advanced tax” means the aggregate amount of estate tax attributable to interests in insulated property which is required to be
advanced by uninsulated holders under subsection (c) of this section.
(3) “Insulated property” means property subject to a time-limited interest which is included in the apportionable estate but is
unavailable for payment of an estate tax because of impossibility or impracticability.
(4) “Uninsulated holder” means a person who has an interest in uninsulated property.
(5) “Uninsulated property” means property included in the apportionable estate other than insulated property.
(b) If an estate tax is to be advanced pursuant to subsection (c) of this section by persons holding interests in uninsulated property
subject to a time-limited interest other than property to which § 2907 of this title applies, the tax must be advanced, without further
apportionment, from the principal of the uninsulated property.
(c) Subject to § 2909(b) and (d) of this title, an estate tax attributable to interests in insulated property must be advanced ratably by
uninsulated holders. If the value of an interest in uninsulated property is less than the amount of estate taxes otherwise required to be
advanced by the holder of that interest, the deficiency must be advanced ratably by the persons holding interests in properties that are
excluded from the apportionable estate under § 2902(1)b. of this title as if those interests were in uninsulated property.
(d) A court having jurisdiction to determine the apportionment of an estate tax may require a beneficiary of an interest in insulated
property to pay all or part of the estate tax otherwise apportioned to the interest if the court finds that it would be substantially more
equitable for that beneficiary to bear the tax liability personally than for that part of the tax to be advanced by uninsulated holders.
(e) When a distribution of insulated property is made, each uninsulated holder may recover from the distributee a ratable portion of the
advanced fraction of the property distributed. To the extent that undistributed insulated property ceases to be insulated, each uninsulated
holder may recover from the property a ratable portion of the advanced fraction of the total undistributed property.
(f) Upon a distribution of insulated property for which, pursuant to subsection (e) of this section, the distributee becomes obligated to
make a payment to uninsulated holders, a court may award an uninsulated holder a recordable lien on the distributee’s property to secure
the distributee’s obligation to that uninsulated holder.
(79 Del. Laws, c. 159, § 1.)
§ 2907 Apportionment and recapture of special elective benefits [Effective Jan. 1, 2017, but see § 2914 of
this title for future applicability].
(a) In this section:
(1) “Special elective benefit” means a reduction in an estate tax obtained by an election for:
a. A reduced valuation of specified property that is included in the gross estate;
b. A deduction from the gross estate, other than a marital or charitable deduction, allowed for specified property; or
c. An exclusion from the gross estate of specified property.
(2) “Specified property” means property for which an election has been made for a special elective benefit.
(b) If an election is made for 1 or more special elective benefits, an initial apportionment of a hypothetical estate tax must be computed
as if no election for any of those benefits had been made. The aggregate reduction in estate tax resulting from all elections made must
be allocated among holders of interests in the specified property in the proportion that the amount of deduction, reduced valuation, or
exclusion attributable to each holder’s interest bears to the aggregate amount of deductions, reduced valuations, and exclusions obtained
by the decedent’s estate from the elections. If the estate tax initially apportioned to the holder of an interest in specified property is
reduced to zero, any excess amount of reduction reduces ratably the estate tax apportioned to other persons that receive interests in the
apportionable estate.
(c) An additional estate tax imposed to recapture all or part of a special elective benefit must be charged to the persons that are liable
for the additional tax under the law providing for the recapture.
(79 Del. Laws, c. 159, § 1.)
§ 2908 Securing payment of estate tax from property in possession of fiduciary [Effective Jan. 1, 2014, but
see § 2914 of this title for future applicability].
(a) A fiduciary may defer a distribution of property until the fiduciary is satisfied that adequate provision for payment of the estate
tax has been made.
(b) A fiduciary may withhold from a distributee an amount equal to the amount of estate tax apportioned to an interest of the distributee
and the estate tax required to be advanced by the distributee.
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(c) As a condition to a distribution, a fiduciary may require the distributee to provide a bond or other security for the portion of the
estate tax apportioned to the distributee and also for the estate tax required to be advanced by the distributee.
(79 Del. Laws, c. 159, § 1.)
§ 2909 Collection of estate tax by fiduciary [Effective Jan. 1, 2014, but see § 2914 of this title for future
applicability].
(a) A fiduciary responsible for payment of an estate tax may collect from any person the tax apportioned to and the tax required to
be advanced by the person.
(b) Except as otherwise provided in § 2906 of this title, any estate tax due from a person that cannot be collected from the person may
be collected by the fiduciary from other persons in the following order of priority:
(1) Any person having an interest in the apportionable estate which is not exonerated from the tax;
(2) Any other person having an interest in the apportionable estate;
(3) Any person having an interest in the gross estate.
(c) A domiciliary fiduciary may recover from an ancillary personal representative the estate tax apportioned to the property controlled
by the ancillary personal representative.
(d) The total tax collected from a person pursuant to this chapter may not exceed the value of the person’s interest.
(79 Del. Laws, c. 159, § 1.)
§ 2910 Right of reimbursement [Effective Jan. 1, 2014, but see § 2914 of this title for future applicability].
(a) A person required under § 2909 of this title to pay an estate tax greater than the amount due from the person under § 2903 or §
2904 of this title has a right to reimbursement from another person to the extent that the other person has not paid the tax required by §
2903 or § 2904 of this title and a right to reimbursement ratably from other persons to the extent that each has not contributed a portion
of the amount collected under § 2909(b) of this title.
(b) A fiduciary may enforce the right of reimbursement under subsection (a) of this section on behalf of the person that is entitled to
the reimbursement and shall take reasonable steps to do so if requested by the person.
(79 Del. Laws, c. 159, § 1.)
§ 2911 Jurisdiction of Court of Chancery; action to determine or enforce chapter [Effective Jan. 1, 2014, but
see § 2914 of this title for future applicability].
(a) The Court of Chancery has jurisdiction and all power necessary to make the prorations and the orders directing the payment of
amounts of tax contemplated by this chapter.
(b) Such jurisdiction may be invoked by petition filed in the Court of Chancery by an executor, administrator, temporary administrator,
trustee or other person acting in a fiduciary capacity, transferee, beneficiary of the gross estate, or any other person having such an interest
as may in the judgment of the Court entitle such person to file such a petition.
(c) The Court of Chancery, upon making a determination as provided in this chapter, shall make a decree or order directing the executor,
administrator or other fiduciary to charge the prorated amounts against the persons against whom the tax has been so prorated, insofar as
such person is in possession of property or interests of such persons against whom such charge has been made, and summarily directing
all other persons against whom the tax has been so prorated or who are in possession of property or interests of such persons to make
payment of such prorated amounts to such executor, administrator or other fiduciary or to another person who has paid such tax.
(79 Del. Laws, c. 159, § 1.)
§ 2912 Uniformity of application and construction [Effective Jan. 1, 2014, but see § 2914 of this title for
future applicability].
In applying and construing this chapter, consideration must be given to the need to promote uniformity of the law with respect to its
subject matter among states that enact similar legislation.
(79 Del. Laws, c. 159, § 1.)
§ 2913 Severability [Effective Jan. 1, 2014, but see § 2914 of this title for future applicability].
If any provision of this chapter or the application thereof to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the invalidity does not affect
other provisions or applications of this chapter which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end
the provisions of this chapter are severable.
(79 Del. Laws, c. 159, § 1.)
§ 2914 Delayed application [Effective Jan. 1, 2014, but see this section for future applicability].
(a) Sections 2903 through 2907 of this title do not apply to the estate of a decedent who dies on or within 3 years after the effective
date of this chapter, nor to the estate of a decedent who dies more than 3 years after the effective date of this chapter if the decedent
continuously lacked testamentary capacity from the expiration of the 3-year period until the date of death.
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(b) For the estate of a decedent who dies on or after January 1, 2014, to which §§ 2903-2907 do not apply, estate taxes must be
apportioned pursuant to the law in effect immediately before January 1, 2014.
(79 Del. Laws, c. 159, § 1.)
§ 2915 Effective date [Effective Jan. 1, 2014, but see § 2914 of this title for future applicability].
This chapter takes effect for decedents dying on or after January 1, 2014.
(79 Del. Laws, c. 159, § 1.)
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Part IV
Administration of Decedents’ Estates
Chapter 31
Suits Against Executors and Administrators
Subchapter I
Suit for Legacy or Distributive Share
§ 3101 Action at law.
(a) An action at law may be maintained against an executor or administrator for a legacy or distributive share that is due. Assets in the
executor’s or administrator’s hands to pay a legacy shall create a legal liability and raise a consequent promise to pay it. If there are not
sufficient assets to pay the whole legacy, a part may be recovered. If the delivery of a specific legacy has been refused, the value of it
may be recovered by an action at law. There shall be a legal liability to pay a distributive share and a consequent implied promise.
(b) An action at law shall not lie for a legacy which is either directly or by implication the subject of a trust.
(Code 1852, §§ 1852-1854, 2591, 2592; Code 1915, §§ 3397, 4520; Code 1935, §§ 3860, 4974; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 3101.)
§ 3102 Action by infant legatee.
An infant legatee may sue for the legacy by guardian or next friend, as in other cases.
(Code 1852, § 2593; Code 1915, § 4521; Code 1935, § 4975; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 3102; 70 Del Laws, c. 186, § 1.)
§ 3103 Appointment of auditors; duties.
If the defense to an action for a legacy is insufficient assets to pay all the debts and legacies, the court shall appoint auditors to examine
the accounts of the executor or administrator with the will annexed. The auditors, after full hearing of the parties upon notice to them
respectively of the times and places of such hearing, shall report the condition of the accounts, what assets will remain after payment of
the debts and what proportion of such residue is properly applicable to the plaintiff’s legacy, having regard to all such settlements of the
accounts as may have been made before any court or officer having authority to settle the same.
(Code 1852, § 2595; Code 1915, § 4523; Code 1935, § 4977; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 3103.)
§ 3104 Exceptions to auditors’ report.
Exceptions may be taken by either of the parties to the report of auditors and thereupon the court, upon hearing the exceptions, may
correct any errors in such report.
(Code 1852, § 2596; Code 1915, § 4524; Code 1935, § 4978; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 3104.)
§ 3105 Judgment and execution.
If, upon proceedings under this subchapter, the assets are found insufficient to pay all the debts and legacies of the testator, execution
shall be awarded only for such proportion of the assets as may be properly applicable to the plaintiff’s legacy, but judgment for the whole
legacy shall be entered and shall stand as a security for the payment of the residue of the legacy, when sufficient assets for such payment
shall come to the hands of the executor or administrator. A scire facias shall lie for further execution, suggesting that other assets have
come to the hands of the executor or administrator.
(Code 1852, § 2597; Code 1915, § 4525; Code 1935, § 4979; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 3105.)
§ 3106 Costs; liability of personal representative therefor.
The court shall exercise equitable powers in respect to costs. In case of inexcusable neglect or delay on the part of the executor or
administrator to pay the legacy demanded or a proportional part thereof the court may order that the costs be paid by the executor or
administrator. No costs shall be recovered in an action brought for a legacy without a reasonable demand for the same first made upon
the executor or administrator who ought to pay the same.
(Code 1852, § 2598; Code 1915, § 4526; Code 1935, § 4980; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 3106; 70 Del Laws, c. 186, § 1.)
§ 3107 Security to refund legacy.
The court shall exercise equitable powers in requiring the plaintiff to give security to refund the legacy or any part thereof and also
in respect to the delivery and acceptance of a specific legacy.
(Code 1852, § 2599; Code 1915, § 4527; Code 1935, § 4981; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 3107.)
Subchapter II
General
§ 3121 Consequences of instituting suit without presenting claim.
If in an action against an executor or administrator for a debt against the decedent the affidavit required by § 2104 of this title is not
produced by the plaintiff, the action shall, upon motion, be dismissed and if such action has been brought, without previously exhibiting
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to the defendant an affidavit in due form, the plaintiff shall not recover any costs, unless the action has been controverted. The question
of disallowance of costs shall be decided by the court on a rule to show cause, which shall not be granted unless the exhibiting of an
affidavit be denied on oath or affirmation.
(Code 1852, § 1836; Code 1915, § 3376; Code 1935, § 3841; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 3121.)
§ 3122 Process; default judgment and proceedings thereon.
In an action against an executor or administrator the first process shall be a summons. If the defendant, being summoned, does not
appear, judgment by default shall be entered against the defendant and upon such judgment the Superior Court may, upon motion, order
the Prothonotary to ascertain the amount in which case, at least 5 days’ written notice shall be given to the defendant of the time when the
Prothonotary will consider the case and execution may be issued as soon as the amount is ascertained or, upon such judgment by default,
a rule of reference may be entered as prescribed in Chapter 47 of Title 10 or a writ of inquiry awarded if it be a case proper for the writ.
(Code 1852, § 1863; Code 1915, § 3400; Code 1935, § 3863; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 3122; 70 Del Laws, c. 186, § 1.)
§ 3123 Effect of judgment against executor or administrator.
(a) The effect of judgments against executors or administrators, on the report of referees, as to the question of assets and the lien of
such judgments on the real estate of the deceased shall be as provided by Chapter 47 of Title 10.
(b) Judgments before justices of the peace against executors and administrators shall be judgments of assets. Writs of scire facias upon
a suggestion of waste may be sued out and tried. Judgment and execution shall be awarded, as provided by § 9542 of Title 10.
(Code 1852, § 1864; Code 1915, § 3401; Code 1935, § 3864; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 3123.)
§ 3124 Costs; allowance in account.
Costs shall be awarded to and against executors and administrators in like manner as other parties, but costs awarded against them
shall not be allowed in their accounts, unless the court shall certify the propriety of such allowance or there is other good evidence that
they were properly incurred.
(Code 1852, § 1865; Code 1915, § 3402; Code 1935, § 3865; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 3124.)
§ 3125 Suit for specific performance of decedent’s contract for sale of real estate; proof and recording of
contract; effect of deed.
(a) Before suit shall be brought against an executor or administrator upon a written contract of the decedent under seal or under hand
and attested by 1 or more witnesses for the conveyance of any real estate within the State, the person with whom such contract was made
or who is entitled to the benefit thereof, either as heir, devisee, assignee or otherwise, shall cause the contract to be proved in the Court
of Chancery in the county where the premises are situated and recorded in the recorder’s office therein and shall thereupon apply to the
executor or administrator for the fulfillment of the contract. Thereupon, the executor or administrator, if the consideration of the premises
has been paid or upon payment thereof, may exhibit to such Court a petition stating the facts and praying authority to convey the premises
in execution of the contract. The Court may inquire into the case and order specific performance of the contract, according to equity and
good conscience. A deed made pursuant to such order shall be as effectual as if executed by the decedent in the decedent’s lifetime.
(b) If the premises lie partly in 2 counties, the proof may be taken and the order made in either, but the contract must be recorded in each.
(c) If it is evident that the executor or administrator cannot fulfill the contract specifically or if it is a case in which a specific execution
ought not to be accepted, proceedings under this section shall not be necessary.
(d) If a suit is brought against the true intent of this section, the Court may dismiss the action.
(Code 1852, §§ 1859-1862; Code 1915, § 3399; Code 1935, § 3862; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 3125; 70 Del Laws, c. 186, § 1.)
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Part V
Fiduciary Relations
Chapter 33
Administrative Provisions
§ 3301 Application of chapter; definitions [For application of this section, see 79 Del. Laws, c. 172, § 6].
(a) This chapter shall govern fiduciaries, as well as agents in certain instances, now or hereafter acting under governing instruments.
Except as otherwise specified within the definitions of this section, the definitions of this section shall apply to this chapter, as well as
to Chapters 35, 39, and 45 of this title, as well as to any other laws of this State incorporating by reference either this section or the
laws of trusts generally.
(b) The term “agents” shall mean custodians (other than those acting under the Uniform Transfers to Minors Act, Chapter 45 of this
title), escrow agents, managing agents, all persons defined as agents by the general law of agency and persons holding, other than in
the capacity of a fiduciary as defined in this section, property belonging to another person whether that other person is a fiduciary or
a nonfiduciary.
(c) The term “clearing corporation” shall refer to a “clearing corporation” as defined in § 8-102 of Title 6.
(d) The term “fiduciary” shall mean trustees, personal representatives, guardians, custodians under the Uniform Transfers to Minors
Act (Chapter 45 of this title), advisers or protectors acting in a fiduciary capacity under § 3313(a) of this title, designated representatives
acting in a fiduciary capacity under § 3339 of this title, agents to the extent delegated duties by another fiduciary and other fiduciaries;
while the term “nonfiduciary” shall mean advisers or protectors acting in a nonfiduciary capacity under § 3313(a) of this title or designated
representatives acting in a nonfiduciary capacity under § 3339 of this title.
(e) The term “governing instrument” shall mean a will, trust agreement or declaration, court order, or other instrument that creates
or defines the duties and powers of a fiduciary, and shall include any instrument that modifies a governing instrument, allocates trustee
powers, duties, and responsibilities among cotrustees under § 3343 of this title, or, in effect, alters the duties and powers of a fiduciary
or other terms of a governing instrument.
(f) The terms “legal investment” or “authorized investment” or words of similar import, as used in any governing instrument, shall
mean any investment which is permitted by the terms of § 3302 of this title.
(g) The term “wilful misconduct” shall mean intentional wrongdoing, not mere negligence, gross negligence or recklessness and
“wrongdoing” means malicious conduct or conduct designed to defraud or seek an unconscionable advantage.
(h) For purposes of construing a governing instrument, unless a contrary statement appears in such governing instrument:
(1) The term “fiduciary fund” means the trust, estate, guardianship account, or account established under a Uniform Transfers to
Minors Act [Chapter 45 of this title] that is being administered by a fiduciary.
(2) The term “interested person” means any living person who:
a. Is an income beneficiary or remainder beneficiary of a trust;
b. Has a vested interest in a decedent’s estate;
c. Receives benefits as a ward from a guardianship account; or
d. Is the minor with respect to an account established under a Uniform Transfers to Minors Act [Chapter 45 of this title].
(3) The term “issue” shall denote a distribution per stirpes, such that the children of the person whose issue is referred to shall be taken
to be the heads of the respective stocks of issue and a person legally adopted, whether under or over the age of 18 years at adoption,
shall thereafter be considered to be a child and issue of the adopting person and an issue of the ascendants of the adopting person, and
the issue of the person so adopted shall be considered to be issue of the adopting person and the adopting person’s ascendants.
(4) The term “published fee schedule” and other terms of similar import mean the schedule or formula described in § 3561(b)(1) of
this title in the case of any trustee required to file such a schedule or formula under that section.
(5) The term “wilful misconduct” means intentional wrongdoing, not mere negligence, gross negligence, or recklessness and
“wrongdoing” means malicious conduct or conduct designed to defraud or seek an unconscionable advantage.
(25 Del. Laws, c. 226, § 3; Code 1915, § 3875; 37 Del. Laws, c. 259, § 1; 40 Del. Laws, c. 230, § 1; Code 1935, § 4401; 43 Del.
Laws, c. 224, § 1; 44 Del. Laws, c. 171, § 1; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 3301; 59 Del. Laws, c. 271, § 2; 76 Del. Laws, c. 254, § 2; 77
Del. Laws, c. 98, §§ 3-5; 77 Del. Laws, c. 330, §§ 1, 2; 78 Del. Laws, c. 117, § 2; 79 Del. Laws, c. 172, § 2; 81 Del. Laws, c. 149,
§ 1; 81 Del. Laws, c. 320, § 4; 82 Del. Laws, c. 52, § 1.)
§ 3302 Degree of care; authorized investments [For application of this section, see 79 Del. Laws, c. 172, § 6;
81 Del. Laws, c. 320, § 8].
(a) When investing, reinvesting, purchasing, acquiring, exchanging, retaining, selling and managing property for the benefit of another,
a fiduciary shall act with the care, skill, prudence and diligence under the circumstances then prevailing that a prudent person acting
in a like capacity and familiar with such matters would use to attain the purposes of the account. In making investment decisions, a
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fiduciary may consider the general economic conditions, the anticipated tax consequences of the investment and the anticipated duration
of the account and the needs of the beneficiaries; when considering the needs of the beneficiaries, the fiduciary may take into account the
financial needs of the beneficiaries as well as the beneficiaries' personal values, including the beneficiaries' desire to engage in sustainable
investing strategies that align with the beneficiaries' social, environmental, governance or other values or beliefs of the beneficiaries.
(b) Within the limitations of the foregoing standard and considering individual investments as part of an overall investment strategy, a
fiduciary is authorized to acquire every kind of property, real, personal or mixed, and every kind of investment, wherever located, whether
within or without the United States, including, but not by way of limitation, bonds, debentures and other corporate obligations, stocks,
preferred or common, shares or interests in common funds or common trust funds, securities of any open-end or closed-end management
type investment company or investment trust registered under the Federal Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. § 80a-1 et seq.),
options, futures, warrants, limited partnership interests and life insurance. No investment made by a fiduciary shall be deemed imprudent
solely because the investment is not specifically mentioned in this subsection.
(c) The propriety of an investment decision is to be determined by what the fiduciary knew or should have known at the time of the
decision about:
(1) The inherent nature and expected performance of the investment portfolio;
(2) The limitations of the standard set forth in subsection (a) of this section; and
(3) The nature and extent of other investments and resources, whether held in trust or otherwise, available to the beneficiaries as
they existed at the time of the decision; provided however, that the fiduciary shall have no duty to inquire as to the nature and extent
of any such other investments and resources not held by the fiduciary held by the fiduciary in a trust or trust account subject to the
direction of an adviser or cotrustee authorized to direct the fiduciary with respect to investment decisions, within the meaning of §
3313(d) of this title, concerning the assets held in the trust or trust account, or held by the fiduciary in a trust or trust account where
a cotrustee has exclusive authority with respect to investment decisions, within the meaning of § 3313(d) of this title, concerning the
assets held in the trust or trust account.
Any determination of liability for investment performance shall consider the performance of the entire portfolio and such other factors
as the fiduciary considered when the investment decision was made.
(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this section, a trustee who discloses the application of this subsection and the limitation
of the trustee’s duties thereunder either in the governing instrument or in a separate writing delivered to each insured at the inception
of a contract of life insurance or thereafter if prior to an event giving rise to a claim thereunder, may acquire or retain a contract of life
insurance upon the life of the trustor or the trustor’s spouse, or both, without liability for a loss arising from the trustee’s failure to:
(1) Determine whether the contract is or remains a proper investment;
(2) Investigate the financial strength or changes in the financial strength of the life insurance company;
(3) Make a determination of whether to exercise any policy option available under the contract;
(4) Make a determination of whether to diversify such contracts relative to 1 another or to other assets, if any, administered by the
trustee; or
(5) Inquire about changes in the health or financial condition of the insured or insureds relative to any such contract.
(e) Any fiduciary acting under a governing instrument shall not be liable to anyone whose interests arise from that instrument for breach
of fiduciary duty for the fiduciary’s good faith reliance on the express provisions of such instrument. The standards set forth in this section
may be expanded, restricted or eliminated by express provisions in a governing instrument.
(f) Where a bank or trust company acting in a fiduciary capacity invests trust funds in, or otherwise acquires an interest in, a common
trust fund which it or 1 of its affiliates manages, as defined in § 23A of the Federal Reserve Act (12 U.S.C. § 371c), the plan for such
common trust fund shall be filed and recorded in the office of the Register in Chancery of the county in which is located the main office
in Delaware of the bank or trust company which is the fiduciary for such trust funds.
(g) Fees may be charged for making an investment through a computerized or automated process, such as sweeping otherwise uninvested
cash into a cash management vehicle, provided that the amount of such fees is disclosed on a continuing basis as a separate item on the
regular periodic statements furnished to the beneficiaries of the account.
(h) A fiduciary is authorized, in the absence of an express provision to the contrary, whenever a law, regulation, governing instrument
or order directs, requires, authorizes or permits investment in United States government obligations, to invest in those obligations, either
directly or in the form of securities of, or other interests in, any open-end or closed-end management investment company or investment
trust registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (54 Stat. 847, 15 U.S.C. § 80a-1 et seq.), if the portfolio of that investment
company or investment trust is limited to United States government obligations and to repurchase agreements fully collateralized by
United States government obligations, which collateral shall be delivered to or held by the investment company or investment trust, either
directly or through an authorized custodian.
(i) Except in the case of United States government obligations, which are treated in subsection (h) of this section above, the authority to
invest in specified types of investments includes authorization to invest in any open-end or closed-end management investment company
or investment trust registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (54 Stat. 847, 15 U.S.C. § 80a-1 et seq.), or in any common
or collective trust fund established and maintained by a corporate fiduciary, if the portfolio of the investment company or investment
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trust, or of the common or collective trust fund, consists substantially of the specified types of investments and is otherwise in conformity
with the laws of the State.
(25 Del. Laws, c. 226, § 3; Code 1915, § 3875; 37 Del. Laws, c. 259, § 1; 40 Del. Laws, c. 230, § 1; Code 1935, § 4401; 44 Del.
Laws, c. 171, § 1; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 3302; 64 Del. Laws, c. 141, § 3; 65 Del. Laws, c. 422, § 5; 72 Del. Laws, c. 55; 74 Del.
Laws, c. 81, §§ 1, 2; 75 Del. Laws, c. 97, § 18; 79 Del. Laws, c. 172, § 2; 81 Del. Laws, c. 320, § 4.)
§ 3303 Effect of provisions of instrument [For application of this section, see 79 Del. Laws, c. 172, § 6].
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code or other law, the terms of a governing instrument may expand, restrict, eliminate,
or otherwise vary any laws of general application to fiduciaries, trusts, and trust administration, including, but not limited to, any such
laws pertaining to:
(1) The rights and interests of beneficiaries, including, but not limited to, the right to be informed of the beneficiary’s interest for
a period of time, as set forth in subsection (c) of this section;
(2) The grounds for removal of a fiduciary;
(3) The circumstances, if any, in which the fiduciary must diversify investments;
(4) The manner in which a fiduciary should invest assets, including whether to engage in 1 or more sustainable or socially responsible
investment strategies, in addition to, or in place of, other investment strategies, with or without regard to investment performance;
(5) A fiduciary’s powers, duties, standard of care, rights of indemnification and liability to persons whose interests arise from that
instrument; and
(6) The terms of a power of appointment over trust property;
provided, however, that nothing contained in this section shall be construed to permit the exculpation or indemnification of a fiduciary
for the fiduciary’s own wilful misconduct or preclude a court of competent jurisdiction from removing a fiduciary on account of the
fiduciary’s wilful misconduct. The rule that statutes in derogation of the common law are to be strictly construed shall have no application
to this section. It is the policy of this section to give maximum effect to the principle of freedom of disposition and to the enforceability
of governing instruments.
(b) In furtherance of and not in limitation of the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, the terms of a governing instrument of a
trust established and existing for religious, charitable, scientific, literary, or educational purposes or for noncharitable purposes shall not
be modified by the court to change the trust’s purposes unless the purposes of the trust have become unlawful under the Constitution of
this State or the United States or the trust would otherwise no longer serve any religious, charitable, scientific, literary, educational, or
noncharitable purpose, in which case the court shall proceed in the manner directed by § 3541 of this title. A settlor may maintain an
action to enforce a charitable or noncharitable trust under this section and may designate a person or persons, whether or not born at the
time of such designation, to enforce a charitable or noncharitable trust under this section. For purposes of this subsection, a “noncharitable
purpose” is a purpose within the meaning of § 3555 or § 3556 of this title.
(c) The terms of a governing instrument may expand, restrict, eliminate, or otherwise vary the right of a beneficiary to be informed of
the beneficiary’s interest in a trust for a period of time, including but not limited to:
(1) A period of time related to the age of a beneficiary;
(2) A period of time related to the lifetime of each trustor and/or spouse of a trustor;
(3) A period of time related to a term of years or specific date; and/or
(4) A period of time related to a specific event that is certain to occur.
(d) During any period of time that a governing instrument restricts or eliminates the right of a beneficiary to be informed of the
beneficiary’s interest in a trust, unless otherwise provided in the governing instrument, any designated representative (as defined in §
3339 of this title) then serving shall represent and bind such beneficiary for purposes of any judicial proceeding and for purposes of
any nonjudicial matter, and shall have the authority to, and is a proper party to, initiate a proceeding relating to the trust before a court
or administrative tribunal on behalf of any such beneficiary.
(e) For purposes of this section, “judicial proceeding” means any proceeding before a court or administrative tribunal, including but
not limited to, a proceeding that involves a trust whether or not the administration of the trust is governed by the laws of this State, and
“nonjudicial matter” includes, but is not limited to, the grant of consents, releases or ratifications pursuant to § 3588 of this title and the
receipt of a report for purposes of measuring the limitation period described in § 3585 of this title.
(25 Del. Laws, c. 226, § 3; Code 1915, § 3875; 37 Del. Laws, c. 259, § 1; 40 Del. Laws, c. 230, § 1; Code 1935, § 4401; 44 Del.
Laws, c. 171, § 1; 47 Del. Laws, c. 19, § 1; 48 Del. Laws, c. 41, § 1; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 3303; 59 Del. Laws, c. 271, § 3; 72 Del.
Laws, c. 388, § 9; 74 Del. Laws, c. 82, § 1; 75 Del. Laws, c. 97, § 3; 76 Del. Laws, c. 90, § 1; 76 Del. Laws, c. 254, § 3; 79 Del.
Laws, c. 172, § 2; 79 Del. Laws, c. 352, § 2; 80 Del. Laws, c. 89, § 1; 81 Del. Laws, c. 320, § 4; 82 Del. Laws, c. 52, § 1.)
§ 3304 Retention by fiduciary of decedent’s or settlor’s investments.
Unless expressly provided otherwise in any instrument specified in § 3303 of this title, any provisions in any such instrument
prescribing, defining or limiting the kind of property in which the funds of the trust to which such instrument relates shall be invested shall
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not apply to any property owned by a testator at the time of the testator’s death and delivered to the fiduciary by the personal representative
of such testator who has created a trust by the testator’s will or delivered by the settlor to the fiduciary of a trust created in a trust agreement
or delivered to the fiduciary pursuant to a court order or other instrument creating or defining the fiduciary’s duties and powers and such
fiduciary may retain all such property so acquired, subject to the limitations of the standards set forth in § 3302 of this title. Furthermore,
a provision in any such instrument directing the retention of any such property as a trust investment shall be deemed to waive any duty
of diversification otherwise applicable to the fiduciary with respect to such property and shall exonerate the fiduciary from liability for
retaining the property except in the case of wilful misconduct proven by clear and convincing evidence in the Court of Chancery.
(25 Del. Laws, c. 226, § 3; Code 1915, § 3875; 37 Del. Laws, c. 259, § 1; 40 Del. Laws, c. 230, § 1; Code 1935, § 4401; 44 Del.
Laws, c. 171, § 1; 48 Del. Laws, c. 41, § 1; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 3304; 70 Del Laws, c. 186, § 1; 77 Del. Laws, c. 330, § 3.)
§ 3305 Retention by bank or trust company acting as a fiduciary of its own stock.
Unless expressly provided otherwise in any instrument specified in § 3303 of this title, a bank or trust company acting as a fiduciary
and authorized so to act may retain in a trust estate shares of its own capital stock acquired in any manner referred to in § 3304 of this
title, as effectively as though the instrument creating or defining the fiduciary’s duties and powers expressly so provided, subject to the
limitations of the standards set forth in § 3302 of this title.
(25 Del. Laws, c. 226, § 3; Code 1915, § 3875; 37 Del. Laws, c. 259, § 1; 40 Del. Laws, c. 230, § 1; Code 1935, § 4401; 44 Del.
Laws, c. 171, § 1; 47 Del. Laws, c. 19, § 1; 48 Del. Laws, c. 41, § 1; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 3305.)
§ 3306 Deviation from terms of instrument.
Subject to the provisions of § 3303 of this title, nothing contained in this chapter shall be construed as restricting the power of a court
of proper jurisdiction to permit fiduciaries to deviate from the terms of any will, agreement or other instrument relating to the acquisition,
investment, reinvestment, exchange, retention, sale or management of fiduciary property.
(25 Del. Laws, c. 226, § 3; Code 1915, § 3875; 37 Del. Laws, c. 259, § 1; 40 Del. Laws, c. 230, § 1; Code 1935, § 4401; 44 Del.
Laws, c. 171, § 1; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 3306; 76 Del. Laws, c. 254, § 4.)
§ 3307 Common fund investments by bank or trust company; regulations.
(a) A bank or trust company authorized to act in a fiduciary capacity or in the capacity of agent with investment discretion, and acting
in such capacity, may invest funds held by it for investment in fractional undivided interests in a common fund composed exclusively
of property permitted for investment by the terms of § 3302 of this title and of cash, if such common fund shall have been created and
is managed by any bank or trust company authorized to act in a fiduciary capacity, as trustee under a written plan, an original copy of
which, executed by such bank or trust company, has been filed and is recorded in the Office of the Register in Chancery of the county in
which the main office of such bank or trust company is located. Under such plan it shall not be permitted that any such fractional interests
shall at any time be owned by other than a bank or trust company as fiduciary under will, under agreement or for a person with a mental
condition or as guardian of a minor or of the property of a person who is elderly or impaired or a person with a mental condition or physical
disability or as executor or administrator or as custodian pursuant to Chapter 45 of this title or as agent with investment discretion.
(b) At least once each 3 months, as of a predetermined date, a bank or trust company administering a common fund shall determine the
fair value of the assets in the common fund. No fractional interest in the common fund shall be acquired or redeemed except on the basis
of such valuation and as of such valuation date. A fractional interest in such common fund may only be acquired by payment:
(1) In cash; or
(2) In property other than cash, provided that such property other than cash is a permissible investment under the terms of § 3302
of this title and under the terms of the plan of a common fund.
If a fractional interest is acquired with property other than cash, such property shall be valued for the purposes of the acquisition in
the same manner as assets are valued when held in the common fund and the purchaser shall bear all costs of the transfer to the common
fund of title to such property. A fractional interest in such common fund may be redeemed by payment of an amount in cash, or ratably
in kind, or partly in cash and partly in kind, equal to its proportionate part of the fair value of the common fund.
A reasonable period following each such predetermined date may be used to make the computations necessary to determine the value
of the common fund and of the participations therein.
(c) Unless a bank or trust company making an investment for an account in a common fund shall find that the investments of the
common fund as a whole are ones in which the funds of such account might not properly be invested at the time, the investment in such
common fund shall not be improper.
(d) The bank or trust company may charge a fee or commission to the common fund for its management and receive fees or commissions
from participating accounts which may be invested in a common fund in addition to those it would be entitled to receive if such accounts
were otherwise invested.
(25 Del. Laws, c. 226, § 3; Code 1915, § 3875; 37 Del. Laws, c. 259, § 1; 40 Del. Laws, c. 230, § 1; Code 1935, § 4401; 43 Del.
Laws, c. 224, § 1; 44 Del. Laws, c. 171, § 1; 46 Del. Laws, c. 268, § 1; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 3307; 55 Del. Laws, c. 209; 63 Del.
Laws, c. 207, § 1; 63 Del. Laws, c. 280, § 1; 78 Del. Laws, c. 179, §§ 78, 79.)
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§ 3308 Power of bank or trust company acting as a fiduciary to purchase property held by its commercial or
banking department.
(a) A bank or trust company shall not purchase, with funds held by it as a fiduciary, any property held by its commercial or banking
department, but this prohibition shall not apply to mortgages and their accompanying bonds designated by its commercial or banking
department for future trust investment at the time of acquisition by the commercial or banking department and purchased within 1 year
from such time of acquisition with funds held by it in its trust department; provided the interest and taxes are current at the time of
purchase by the trust department and an appraisal certificate on the real estate covered by the mortgages being purchased from at least
1 person competent and qualified to appraise real estate is obtained by the trust department at any time within 10 days prior to the
purchase by and transfer to the trust department. This exception shall apply to all types of mortgages held by the commercial or banking
department, including mortgages covering properties constructed during the 1-year period from the time the mortgages were acquired by
the commercial or banking department; provided, with respect to the latter type of mortgages, that an appraisal certificate on the completed
property from at least 1 person competent and qualified to appraise such property and a certificate from the owner of the property and/or
the registered architect who planned the construction of the property certifying that the construction is complete and satisfactory in every
respect, are obtained by the trust department at any time within 10 days prior to the purchase by and transfer to said department.
(b) The commercial or banking department shall make a report monthly to the board of directors of the bank or trust company listing
all mortgages designated for trust investment and covering all transactions relating thereto and such report shall be noted in the minutes
of the meeting of the board.
(c) The purchase of mortgages and their accompanying bonds permitted by this section shall be made subject to the limitations of the
standard set forth in § 3302 of this title.
(25 Del. Laws, c. 226, § 3; Code 1915, § 3875; 37 Del. Laws, c. 259, § 1; 40 Del. Laws, c. 230, § 1; Code 1935, § 4401; 48 Del.
Laws, c. 226, § 1; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 3308.)
§ 3309 Identification of securities.
(a) Except as otherwise provided by the terms of the governing instrument, all securities in a fiduciary estate, whether held by the
fiduciary or an agent for the fiduciary, shall be held in such manner that the fiduciary’s name and the fiduciary capacity in which the
securities are held are fully disclosed, except as provided hereafter in this section or in § 3311 of this title.
(b) A bank or trust company acting as fiduciary or as agent for a fiduciary or nonfiduciary may hold securities in the name of its
nominee without disclosing the capacity in which they are held, provided the records maintained with respect to those securities disclose
the capacity in which they are held and provided there is no written objection from either a cofiduciary or the person for whom it is
acting as agent.
(59 Del. Laws, c. 271, § 4.)
§ 3310 Storage of securities.
(a) Except as otherwise provided by the terms of the governing instrument, all securities in a fiduciary estate, whether held by the
fiduciary or an agent for the fiduciary, shall be stored separately from any other securities, except as provided hereafter in this section
or in § 3311 of this title.
(b) A bank or trust company may store together securities of the same class of the same issuer held by it as fiduciary or as agent for a
fiduciary or nonfiduciary (but not its own securities) and may combine the securities so stored together into 1 or more securities of the
same class of the same issuer, provided the records maintained with respect to those securities disclose the capacity in which they are
held and provided there is no written objection from either a cofiduciary or the person for whom it is acting as agent.
(59 Del. Laws, c. 271, § 5.)
§ 3311 Deposit of securities in clearing corporation.
(a) Except as otherwise provided by the terms of the governing instrument, a bank or trust company may deposit or arrange for the
deposit of in a clearing corporation securities held by it as fiduciary or as agent for a fiduciary or nonfiduciary, provided the records
maintained with respect to those securities by such bank or trust company disclose the capacity in which they are held and provided there
is no written objection from either a cofiduciary or the person for whom it is acting as agent.
(b) Securities deposited in a clearing corporation may be registered in the name of either the clearing corporation or its nominee without
disclosing the capacity in which they are held.
(c) Securities deposited in a clearing corporation may be stored together with other securities of the same class of the same issuer also
stored in the clearing corporation (but not the securities of the clearing corporation) and may be combined with such other securities into
1 or more securities of the same class of the same issuer.
(59 Del. Laws, c. 271, § 6; 61 Del. Laws, c. 489, § 1.)
§ 3312 Investments in affiliated investments; transactions with affiliates [For application of this section, see
80 Del. Laws, c. 153, § 5; 81 Del. Laws, c. 149, § 6].
(a) As used in this section:
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(1) “Affiliate” means any corporation or other entity that directly or indirectly through 1 or more intermediaries controls, is controlled
by or is under common control with the fiduciary.
(2) “Affiliated investment” means an investment for which the fiduciary or an affiliate of the fiduciary acts as adviser, administrator,
distributor, placement agent, underwriter, broker or in any other capacity for which it receives or has received a fee or commission
from such investment or an investment acquired or disposed of in a transaction for which the fiduciary or an affiliate of the fiduciary
receives or has received a fee or commission.
(3) “Fee or commission” means compensation paid to a fiduciary or an affiliate thereof on account of its services to or on behalf
of an investment.
(4) “Fiduciary” means any person, including a bank or trust company, acting as a fiduciary as defined in § 3301 of this title, and
includes an agent with investment discretion, whether or not such investment discretion has been delegated to such agent by another
fiduciary or fiduciaries or granted directly to such agent.
(5) “Governing instrument” means any governing instrument as defined in § 3301 of this title, and includes any agreement or
instrument granting fiduciary investment discretion.
(6) “Investment” shall mean any security as defined in § 2(a)(1) of the Securities Act of 1933, any contract of sale of a commodity
for future delivery within the meaning of § 2(i) of the Commodity Exchange Act, or any other asset permitted for fiduciary accounts
pursuant to the terms of § 3302 of this title or by the terms of the governing instrument, including by way of illustration and not
limitation, shares or interests in a private investment fund (including a private investment fund organized as a limited partnership,
limited liability company, a statutory or common law business trust, or a real estate investment trust), joint venture or other general
or limited partnership, or an open-end or closed-end management type investment company or investment trust registered under the
Investment Company Act of 1940.
(b) Subject to the investment standards stated in § 3302 of this title, a fiduciary may purchase, sell, hold or otherwise deal with an
affiliate or an interest in an affiliated investment and, upon satisfaction of the conditions stated in subsection (c) of this section, such
fiduciary may receive fiduciary compensation from such account at the same rate as the fiduciary would otherwise be entitled to be
compensated.
(c) A fiduciary seeking compensation pursuant to subsection (b) of this section shall disclose to each principal in an agency relationship,
and to all current recipients of account statements of any other fiduciary account, all fees or commissions paid or to be paid by the account,
or received or to be received by an affiliate arising from such affiliated investment or such other dealing with an affiliate. The disclosure
required under this subsection may be given either in a copy of the prospectus or any other disclosure document prepared for the affiliated
investment under federal or state securities laws or in a written summary that includes all fees or commissions received or to be received
by the fiduciary or any affiliate of the fiduciary and an explanation of the manner in which such fees or commissions are calculated (either
as a percentage of the assets invested or by some other method). Such disclosure shall be made at least annually unless there has been
no increase in the rate at which such fees or commissions are calculated since the most recent disclosure. Notwithstanding the foregoing
provisions of this subsection, no such disclosure is required if:
(1) The governing instrument or a court order expressly authorizes the fiduciary to invest the fiduciary account in affiliated
investments or otherwise deal with an affiliate or an interest in an affiliated investment; or
(2) The fiduciary invests in an affiliated investment or otherwise deals with an affiliate or an interest in an affiliated investment at
the direction of an adviser (who expressly directs the fiduciary to enter into a transaction that would otherwise require disclosure under
this subsection and who is not an affiliate) pursuant to subsection (b) of § 3313 of this title.
(d) A fiduciary that has complied with subsection (c) of this section (whether by making the applicable disclosure or by relying on the
terms of a governing instrument or court order) shall have full authority to administer an affiliated investment (including the authority to
vote proxies thereon) without regard to the affiliation between the fiduciary and the investment.
(65 Del. Laws, c. 422, § 5; 72 Del. Laws, c. 33, § 1; 73 Del. Laws, c. 329, § 54; 74 Del. Laws, c. 82, § 2; 74 Del. Laws, c. 268, §§
1, 2, 3, 4, 5; 77 Del. Laws, c. 330, § 4; 80 Del. Laws, c. 153, § 3; 81 Del. Laws, c. 149, § 1.)
§ 3313 Advisers [For application of this section, see 80 Del. Laws, c. 153, § 5].
(a) Where 1 or more persons are given authority by the terms of a governing instrument to direct, consent to or disapprove a fiduciary’s
actual or proposed investment decisions, distribution decisions or other decision of the fiduciary, such persons shall be considered to
be advisers and fiduciaries when exercising such authority provided, however, that the governing instrument may provide that any such
adviser (including a protector) shall act in a nonfiduciary capacity.
(b) If a governing instrument provides that a fiduciary is to follow the direction of an adviser or is not to take specified actions except
at the direction of an adviser, and the fiduciary acts in accordance with such a direction, then except in cases of wilful misconduct on the
part of the fiduciary so directed, the fiduciary shall not be liable for any loss resulting directly or indirectly from any such act.
(c) If a governing instrument provides that a fiduciary is to make decisions with the consent of an adviser, then except in cases of wilful
misconduct or gross negligence on the part of the fiduciary, the fiduciary shall not be liable for any loss resulting directly or indirectly
from any act taken or omitted as a result of such adviser’s objection to such act or failure to provide such consent after having been
requested to do so by the fiduciary.
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(d) For purposes of this section, unless the terms of the governing instrument provide otherwise, “investment decision” means with
respect to all of the trust’s investments (or, if applicable, to investments specified in the governing instrument), the retention, purchase,
sale, exchange, tender or other transaction or decision affecting the ownership thereof or rights therein (including the powers to borrow
and lend for investment purposes, provided, however, that the power to lend for investment purposes shall be considered an investment
decision only with respect to loans other than those described in § 3325(19)b. and c. of this title), all management, control and voting
powers related directly or indirectly to such investments (including, without limitation, nonpublicly traded investments), the selection of
custodians or subcustodians other than the trustee, the selection and compensation of, and delegation to, investments advisers, managers
or other investment providers, and with respect to nonpublicly traded investments, the valuation thereof, and an adviser with authority
with respect to such decisions is an investment adviser.
(e) Whenever a governing instrument provides that a fiduciary is to follow the direction of an adviser with respect to investment
decisions, distribution decisions, or other decisions of the fiduciary or shall not take specified actions except at the direction of an adviser,
then, except to the extent that the governing instrument provides otherwise, the fiduciary shall have no duty to:
(1) Monitor the conduct of the adviser;
(2) Provide advice to the adviser or consult with the adviser; or
(3) Communicate with or warn or apprise any beneficiary or third party concerning instances in which the fiduciary would or might
have exercised the fiduciary’s own discretion in a manner different from the manner directed by the adviser.
Absent clear and convincing evidence to the contrary, the actions of the fiduciary pertaining to matters within the scope of the adviser’s
authority (such as confirming that the adviser’s directions have been carried out and recording and reporting actions taken at the adviser’s
direction), shall be presumed to be administrative actions taken by the fiduciary solely to allow the fiduciary to perform those duties
assigned to the fiduciary under the governing instrument and such administrative actions shall not be deemed to constitute an undertaking
by the fiduciary to monitor the adviser or otherwise participate in actions within the scope of the adviser’s authority.
(f) For purposes of this section, the term “adviser” shall include a “protector” who shall have all of the power and authority granted to
the protector by the terms of the governing instrument, which may include but shall not be limited to:
(1) The power to remove and appoint trustees, advisers, trust committee members, and other protectors;
(2) The power to modify or amend the governing instrument to achieve favorable tax status or to facilitate the efficient administration
of the trust; and
(3) The power to modify, expand, or restrict the terms of a power of appointment granted to a beneficiary by the governing instrument.
(g) A person who accepts appointment as an adviser of a trust, or acts as an adviser of a trust under this section, submits to personal
jurisdiction of this State regarding any matter related to the trust. This provision does not preclude other methods of obtaining jurisdiction
over such adviser of a trust.
(65 Del. Laws, c. 422, § 5; 69 Del. Laws, c. 279, § 1; 74 Del. Laws, c. 82, § 3; 76 Del. Laws, c. 90, § 2; 76 Del. Laws, c. 254, § 5;
78 Del. Laws, c. 117, § 3; 79 Del. Laws, c. 197, § 1; 80 Del. Laws, c. 153, § 3; 81 Del. Laws, c. 320, § 4.)
§ 3313A Excluded cotrustee.
(a) If the terms of a governing instrument confer upon a cotrustee, to the exclusion of another cotrustee, the power to take certain actions
with respect to the trust, including the power to direct or prevent certain actions of the trustees, the duty and liability of the excluded
trustee is as follows:
(1) If the terms of the governing instrument confer upon the cotrustee the power to direct certain actions of the excluded trustee,
the excluded trustee must act in accordance with the direction and shall have no duty to act in the absence of such direction and is not
liable, individually or as a fiduciary, for any loss resulting directly or indirectly from compliance with the direction unless compliance
with the direction constitutes wilful misconduct on the part of the directed cotrustee;
(2) If the terms of the governing instrument confer upon the cotrustee exclusive authority to exercise any power, the excluded trustee is
not liable, individually or as a fiduciary, for any loss resulting directly or indirectly from the action taken by the cotrustee in the exercise
of the power, such that the excluded trustee shall not be a fiduciary with respect to any power as to which the governing instrument has
conferred upon the cotrustee exclusive authority in accordance with this paragraph (a)(2), but shall remain a fiduciary with respect to
any powers or other matters as to which the governing instrument has not conferred exclusive authority on the cotrustee; and
(3) The excluded trustee has no duty to monitor the conduct of the cotrustee, provide advice to the cotrustee or consult with or request
directions from the cotrustee. The excluded trustee is not required to give notice to any beneficiary of any action taken or not taken by
the cotrustee whether or not the excluded trustee agrees with the result. Administrative actions taken by the excluded trustee for the
purpose of implementing directions of the cotrustee, including confirming that the directions of the cotrustee have been carried out, do
not constitute monitoring of the cotrustee nor do they constitute participation in decisions within the scope of the cotrustee’s authority.
(b) The cotrustee holding the power to take certain actions with respect to the trust shall be liable to the beneficiaries with respect to the
exercise of the power as if the excluded trustee were not in office and shall have the exclusive obligation to account to the beneficiaries
and defend any action brought by the beneficiaries with respect to the exercise of the power.
(81 Del. Laws, c. 149, § 1; 81 Del. Laws, c. 320, § 4.)
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§ 3314 Limitation on certain fiduciary powers.
(a) This section shall apply to:
(1) Any trust created under a governing instrument that, but for this section, would permit any of the powers described in subsection
(c) of this section to be exercised by the fiduciary unless the governing instrument expressly provides that this section does not apply.
(2) For purposes of this section, the term “fiduciary” means any trustee or trust adviser or the personal representative of an estate
except to the extent the governing instrument expressly states that such person is not serving in a fiduciary capacity.
(b) This section shall not apply to:
(1) Any trust during the time that the trust is revocable or amendable by its trustor.
(2) A spouse of a decedent or trustor where the spouse is a fiduciary of a testamentary or inter vivos trust for which a marital
deduction has been allowed.
(3) A fiduciary who possesses in such fiduciary’s individual, nonfiduciary, capacity an unlimited right to appoint all or part of the
property held in trust to the fiduciary, the fiduciary’s estate, the fiduciary’s creditors, or the creditors of the fiduciary’s estate.
(4) A trust under a governing instrument that by specific reference expressly rejects the application of this section.
(5) A trust created under a governing instrument executed on or before August 1, 2008, if, in the case of a fiduciary’s possessing a
power described in subsection (c) of this section and dying at any time on or after August 1, 2008, no part of the property of the trust
would be included in the gross estate of the fiduciary for federal estate-tax purposes or, notwithstanding that all or some part of the
property held in trust would be so included, no federal estate tax would be payable by such estate.
(6) A trust created under a governing instrument executed on or before August 1, 2008, if, in the case of a beneficiary’s possessing
a power to appoint a trustee and dying at any time on or after August 1, 2008, no part of the property of the trust would be included in
the gross estate of the beneficiary for federal estate-tax purposes or, notwithstanding that all or some part of the property held in trust
would be so included, no federal estate tax would be payable by such estate.
(c) The following powers conferred by a governing instrument upon a fiduciary in that fiduciary’s capacity as a fiduciary shall not
be exercised by that fiduciary:
(1) The power to make discretionary distributions of either principal or income to or for the benefit of the fiduciary, the fiduciary’s
estate, the creditors of the fiduciary, or the creditors of the fiduciary’s estate unless the power is either:
a. Limited by an ascertainable standard relating to the fiduciary’s health, education, support, or maintenance within the meaning
of 26 U.S.C. §§ 2041 (relating to powers of appointment) and 2514 (relating to powers of appointment); or
b. Exercisable by the fiduciary only in conjunction with another person having a substantial interest in the property subject to the
power which is adverse to the interest of the fiduciary within the meaning of 26 U.S.C. § 2041(b)(1)(C)(ii).
(2) The power to make discretionary distributions of either principal or income to satisfy any of the fiduciary’s personal legal
obligations for support or other purposes.
(3) The power to make discretionary allocations in the fiduciary’s personal favor of receipts or expenses as between income and
principal unless the fiduciary has no power to enlarge or shift any beneficial interest except as an incidental consequence of the discharge
of the fiduciary’s duties.
(4) The power to exercise any of the powers proscribed in this subsection with regard to an individual other than the fiduciary to the
extent that the individual could exercise a similar prohibited power in connection with a trust that benefits the fiduciary.
(5) The power to make an election, other than an election under 26 U.S.C. §§ 2056(b)(7) and 2523(f) (relating to the federal estatetax and gift-tax marital deductions), in a fiduciary capacity that would cause the property over which the election could be made to be
included in the gross estate of the fiduciary for federal estate-tax purposes.
(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions:
(1) If a fiduciary is prohibited by this section from exercising a power conferred upon the fiduciary, the fiduciary nevertheless may
exercise that power but shall be limited to distributions for the fiduciary’s health, education, support, or maintenance to the extent
otherwise permitted by the terms of the trust.
(2) Unless otherwise prohibited by the provisions of this section, a fiduciary may exercise a power described herein in favor of
someone other than the fiduciary, the fiduciary’s estate, the creditors of the fiduciary, or the creditors of the fiduciary’s estate.
(3) Subject to the preceding paragraphs of this subsection, any purported exercise of a power proscribed by subsection (c) of this
section shall be void and of no effect.
(e) If a governing instrument creates a power proscribed by this section:
(1) If the power is conferred on 2 or more fiduciaries, it may be exercised by the fiduciary or fiduciaries who are not so prohibited
as if they were the only fiduciary or fiduciaries.
(2) If there is no fiduciary in office who can exercise the power as provided in paragraph (e)(1) of this section, the court, upon petition
and hearing after such notice as it may direct, shall appoint a fiduciary who is not disqualified and whose term in office shall be as the
court directs for the sole purpose of exercising the power that the other fiduciary or fiduciaries cannot exercise.
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(3) The court may, upon petition by any fiduciary or beneficiary of the trust subject to the power, appoint an additional fiduciary
or fiduciaries.
(f) No beneficiary of a trust in an individual, fiduciary, or other capacity may appoint, or remove and appoint, a fiduciary who is related
or subordinate to the beneficiary within the meaning of 26 U.S.C. § 672(c) unless:
(1) The fiduciary’s discretionary power to make distributions to or for the beneficiary is limited by an ascertainable standard relating
to the beneficiary’s health, education, support, or maintenance within the meaning of 26 U.S.C. §§ 2041 and 2514;
(2) The fiduciary’s discretionary power may not be exercised to satisfy any of the beneficiary’s legal obligations for support or other
purposes; and
(3) The fiduciary’s discretionary power may not be exercised to grant to the beneficiary a general power to appoint property of the
trust to the beneficiary, the beneficiary’s estate, or the creditors thereof within the meaning of 26 U.S.C. § 2041.
(4) This subsection shall not apply if the appointment of the fiduciary by the beneficiary may be made only in conjunction with
another person having a substantial interest in the property of the trust subject to the power which is adverse to the exercise of the
power in favor of the beneficiary within the meaning of 26 U.S.C. § 2041(b)(1)(C)(ii).
(76 Del. Laws, c. 254, § 6; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1.)
§ 3315 Trustee’s exercise of discretion; review by court; discretionary interests.
(a) Where discretion is conferred upon the fiduciary with respect to the exercise of a power, its exercise by the fiduciary shall be
considered to be proper unless the court determines that the discretion has been abused within the meaning of § 187 of the Restatement
(Second) of Trusts, not §§ 50 and 60 of the Restatement (Third) of Trusts.
(b) A beneficiary eligible to receive distributions from a trust in the trustee’s discretion has a discretionary interest in the trust. A
creditor may not directly or indirectly compel the distribution of a discretionary interest except to the extent expressly granted by the
terms of a governing instrument in accordance with § 3536(a) of this title.
(76 Del. Laws, c. 254, § 7.)
§ 3316 Substituted property; equivalent value; fiduciary duty.
Except as otherwise expressly provided by the terms of a governing instrument, if a trustor has a power to substitute property of
equivalent value, the fiduciary responsible for investment decisions has a fiduciary duty to determine that the substituted property is of
equivalent value prior to allowing the substitution.
(77 Del. Laws, c. 330, § 5; 79 Del. Laws, c. 197, § 1.)
§ 3317 Cofiduciaries and co-nonfiduciaries; duty to keep informed.
Except as otherwise provided in a governing instrument, each trust fiduciary (including trustees, advisers, protectors, and other
fiduciaries), and each trust nonfiduciary, has a duty upon request to keep all of the fiduciaries and nonfiduciaries for the trust reasonably
informed about the administration of the trust with respect to any specific duty or function being performed by such fiduciary or
nonfiduciary to the extent that providing such information to the other fiduciaries and nonfiduciaries is reasonably necessary for the other
fiduciaries and nonfiduciaries to perform their duties; provided, however, that:
(1) A fiduciary or nonfiduciary requesting and receiving any such information shall have no duty to: monitor the conduct of the
fiduciary or nonfiduciary providing the information; provide advice to or consult with the fiduciary or nonfiduciary providing the
information; or communicate with or warn or apprise any beneficiary or third party concerning instances in which the fiduciary or
nonfiduciary receiving the information would or might have exercised the fiduciary's or nonfiduciary's own discretion in a manner
different from the manner in which such discretion was actually exercised by the fiduciary or nonfiduciary providing the information;
and
(2) A fiduciary or nonfiduciary providing any such information shall have no duty to: monitor the conduct of the fiduciary or
nonfiduciary requesting and receiving the information; provide advice to or consult with the fiduciary or nonfiduciary requesting and
receiving the information; or communicate with or warn or apprise any beneficiary or third party concerning instances in which the
fiduciary or nonfiduciary providing the information would or might have exercised the fiduciary's or nonfiduciary's own discretion in
a manner different from the manner in which such discretion was actually exercised by the fiduciary or nonfiduciary requesting and
receiving the information.
(77 Del. Laws, c. 330, § 6; 81 Del. Laws, c. 320, § 4.)
§§ 3318-3320 [Reserved.]
§ 3321 Applicability of chapter; definitions [Repealed].
Repealed 76 Del. Laws, c. 254, § 8.
§ 3322 Fiduciary agency contracts; delegation.
(a) A fiduciary may appoint agents to assist in the performance of the fiduciary’s duties, pay such agents from the fiduciary fund and
delegate investment, management, or other fiduciary duties to any such agent, including an agent who is a cofiduciary.
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(b) When a fiduciary, acting in the fiduciary’s discretion and not at the direction of any adviser, appoints an agent to assist in the
performance of the fiduciary’s duties, the standard of care applicable to the fiduciary when personally performing such duties shall
continue to apply to the fiduciary with respect to selecting and hiring the agent, paying the agent from the fiduciary fund, establishing the
scope and specific terms of the agency relationship, and overseeing the agent’s actions and continuing the agency relationship, but the
fiduciary shall not otherwise be liable for the conduct of such agent. The foregoing rule shall apply even if:
(1) The aggregate amount paid to the agent and the fiduciary from the fiduciary fund exceeds the amount otherwise payable from
the fiduciary fund to the fiduciary under subchapter V of Chapter 35 of this title or other applicable law; or
(2) The standard of care applicable to the agent is a lower standard than the standard applicable to the fiduciary when personally
performing duties to be performed by the agent.
(c) When a fiduciary delegates investment, management, or other fiduciary duties to an agent, such delegation shall not cause the
fiduciary to cease to be a fiduciary or cause the agent to be a fiduciary.
(65 Del. Laws, c. 422, § 6; 73 Del. Laws, c. 47, § 1; 74 Del. Laws, c. 82, § 7; 75 Del. Laws, c. 300, § 1; 79 Del. Laws, c. 352, § 3;
82 Del. Laws, c. 52, § 1.)
§ 3323 Cofiduciaries and co-nonfiduciaries.
(a) Unless provided otherwise by the governing instrument, any power vested in 3 or more fiduciaries or nonfiduciaries by the governing
instrument or by law may be exercised by a majority of such fiduciaries or nonfiduciaries and a majority of fiduciaries or nonfiduciaries
named in a governing instrument may designate 1 of such fiduciaries or nonfiduciaries to perform ministerial functions on behalf of all
such fiduciaries or nonfiduciaries. A fiduciary or nonfiduciary who dissents from the action of the majority is not liable to anyone having
an interest in the fiduciary fund, or to the other fiduciaries or nonfiduciaries, if such dissent is evidenced by a writing delivered to the
majority of the fiduciaries or nonfiduciaries.
(b) This section does not excuse a cofiduciary or co-nonfiduciary from liability for failure to participate in the administration of the
fiduciary fund or for failure to attempt to prevent a breach of trust, or for failure to seek advice and guidance from the court in a recurring
situation, unless otherwise expressly provided by the governing instrument.
(65 Del. Laws, c. 422, § 6; 74 Del. Laws, c. 82, § 7; 81 Del. Laws, c. 320, § 4.)
§ 3324 General powers of trustee.
(a) A trustee, without authorization by the court, may exercise:
(1) Powers conferred by the terms of the trust; and
(2) Except as limited by the terms of the trust, any other powers conferred by this chapter.
(b) Except as modified by the terms of a trust, the exercise of a power is subject to the fiduciary duties otherwise prescribed by law.
(72 Del. Laws, c. 388, § 4; 74 Del. Laws, c. 82, § 7.)
§ 3325 Specific powers of trustee [For application of this section, see 79 Del. Laws, c. 172, § 6; 80 Del. Laws,
c. 153, § 5].
Without limiting the authority conferred by § 3324 of this title, a trustee may:
(1) Collect trust property and accept or decline additions to the trust property from a trustor or any other person;
(2) Acquire or sell property, for cash or on credit, at public or private sale;
(3) Exchange, partition or otherwise change the character of trust property;
(4) Deposit trust funds in an account in a regulated financial services institution, including an institution operated by or affiliated
with the trustee;
(5) Borrow money, with or without security, and mortgage or pledge trust property for a period within or extending beyond the
duration of the trust and, in connection with any such borrowing, mortgaging or pledging, indemnify the lender against liability incurred
with respect to, or in connection with, the borrowing and entering into any related mortgage or pledge or security agreement;
(6) Advance money for the protection of the trust, where the trustee has a lien on the trust property as against a beneficiary for
reimbursement of those advances, with reasonable interest;
(7) With respect to an interest in a proprietorship, partnership, limited liability company, statutory trust, business trust, corporation
or other form of business or enterprise, continue the business or other enterprise and take any action that may be taken by shareholders,
members or property owners, including merging, dissolving or otherwise changing the form of business organization or contributing
additional capital;
(8) With respect to stocks or other securities, to exercise the rights of an absolute owner, including the right to:
a. Vote, or give proxies to vote, with or without power of substitution, or enter into or continue a voting trust agreement;
b. Hold a security in the name of a nominee or in other form without disclosure of the trust so that title may pass by delivery;
c. Pay calls, assessments and other sums chargeable or accruing against the securities, and sell or exercise stock subscription or
conversion rights; and
d. Deposit the securities with a securities depository or other regulated financial services institution;
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(9) With respect to an interest in real property, construct, make ordinary or extraordinary repairs, alterations or improvements in
buildings or other structures, demolish improvements, raze existing or erect new party walls or buildings, subdivide or develop land,
dedicate land to public use or grant public or private easements, and make or vacate plats and adjust boundaries;
(10) Enter into a lease for any purpose as lessor or lessee, including a lease or other arrangement for exploration and removal of
natural resources, with or without the option to purchase or renew, for a period within the duration of the trust;
(11) Grant an option involving a sale, lease or other disposition of trust property or take an option for the acquisition of property,
excluding an option exercisable beyond the duration of the trust, and exercise an option so acquired;
(12) Insure the property of the trust against damage or loss and insure the trustee, the trustee’s agents and beneficiaries against
liability arising from the administration of the trust;
(13) Abandon or decline to administer property of no value or of insufficient value to justify its collection or continued administration;
(14) With respect to possible liability for environmental conditions:
a. Inspect or investigate property the trustee holds or has been asked to hold, or property owned or operated by an entity in which
the trustee holds or has been asked to hold an interest, for the purpose of determining the application of environmental law with
respect to the property;
b. Take action to prevent, abate or otherwise remedy any actual or potential violation of any environmental law affecting property
held directly or indirectly by the trustee, whether taken before or after the initiation of a claim or governmental enforcement action;
c. Decline to accept property into trust or to disclaim any power with respect to property that has or may have environmental
liability attached;
d. Compromise claims against the trust which may be asserted for an alleged violation of environmental law; and
e. Pay the expense of any inspection, review, abatement or remedial action to comply with environmental law;
(15) Pay or contest any claim, settle a claim by or against the trust, and release, in whole or in part, a claim belonging to the trust:
(16) Pay taxes, assessments and compensation of the trustee and of employees and agents of the trust, and other expenses incurred
in the administration of the trust;
(17) Exercise elections with respect to federal, state and local taxes;
(18) Select a mode of payment under any employee benefit or retirement plan, annuity or life insurance payable to the trustee,
exercise rights thereunder, and take appropriate action to collect the proceeds, including exercise of the right to indemnification against
expenses and liabilities;
(19) Make loans out of or guarantees based on trust property and, in connection with any such guarantee of a loan, indemnify the
lender against liability incurred with respect to, or in connection with, the loan and any related mortgage, pledge or security agreement,
including loans to or guarantees for the benefit of a beneficiary on terms and conditions the trustee considers to be fair and reasonable
under the circumstances, and subject to § 3536 of this title, the trustee has a lien on future distributions for repayment of those loans
and for the repayment of an amount equal to any payment made or that might be made on account of such guarantee; provided further
that any such loans or guarantees shall only be permitted to the extent the same are either:
a. Made for investment purposes;
b. Made in lieu of a distribution amount that could have been made currently to or for such beneficiary under the terms of the
governing instrument, not made in excess of such amount, and the fiduciary creates a reserve for the potential liability; or
c. Made to or for the benefit of another trust of which such beneficiary is also a beneficiary, provided the requirements of paragraph
(19)b. of this section are satisfied.
(20) Appoint a trustee to act in another state or country as to trust property located in the other jurisdiction, confer upon the appointed
trustee all of the powers and duties of the appointing trustee, require that the appointed trustee furnish security, and remove any trustee
so appointed;
(21) Pay an amount distributable to a beneficiary who is under a legal disability or who the trustee reasonably believes is incapacitated
by paying it directly to the beneficiary or applying it for the beneficiary’s benefit, or by:
a. Paying it to the beneficiary’s guardian;
b. Paying it to the beneficiary’s custodian under the Uniform Transfers to Minors Act [Chapter 45 of this title], and for such
purpose, to create a custodianship;
c. If there is no custodian paying it to an adult relative or other person having legal or physical care or custody of the beneficiary,
to be expended on the beneficiary’s behalf;
d. Depositing it in a regulated financial services institution in an interest bearing account or certificate in the sole name of the
beneficiary and by giving notice of the deposit to the beneficiary; or
e. The trustee managing it as a separate fund on the beneficiary’s behalf, subject to the beneficiary’s continuing right to withdraw
the distribution.
(22) On distribution of trust property or the division or termination of a trust, make distributions in divided or undivided interests,
allocate particular assets in proportionate or disproportionate shares, value the trust property for those purposes, and adjust for resulting
differences in valuation;
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(23) Decide, in accordance with § 61-103(b) of this title, how and in what proportions any receipts or disbursements are credited,
charged or apportioned as between principal and income, including the ability to create reserves out of income for depreciation,
depletion, amortization or obsolescence;
(24) If all interested beneficiaries also consent, consent to the resolution of a dispute concerning the interpretation of the trust or its
administration by mediation, arbitration or other procedure for alternative dispute resolution;
(25) Prosecute or defend an action, claim or judicial proceeding in any jurisdiction to protect trust property and the trustee in the
performance of the trustee’s duties;
(26) Sign and deliver contracts and other instruments that are useful to achieve or facilitate the exercise of the trustee’s powers;
(27) On termination of the trust, exercise the powers appropriate to wind up the administration of the trust and distribute the trust
property to the persons entitled to it;
(28) Sever any trust estate on a fractional basis into 2 or more separate trusts for any reason; and segregate by allocation to a
separate account or trust a specific amount or specific assets included in the trust property or gift made from any trust to reflect a
partial disclaimer, to reflect or result in differences in federal tax attributes, to satisfy any federal tax requirement or election, to reduce
potential generation-skipping transfer tax liability, to accomplish a division along family lines, or for any other reason, in a manner
consistent with the rules governing disclaimers, such federal tax attributes, such requirements or elections, or any applicable tax rules
or regulations, and income earned on a segregated amount, specific assets, or gift after segregation occurs shall pass to the designated
taker of such amount, specific assets, or gift. In managing, investing, administering, and distributing the trust property of any separate
account or trust and in making applicable tax elections, the trustee may consider the differences in federal tax attributes and all other
factors the trustee believes pertinent and may make disproportionate distributions from the separate trusts created. A separate account
or trust created by severance or segregation shall be treated as a separate trust for all purposes from and after the date on which the
severance or segregation is effective, and shall be held on terms and conditions that are substantially equivalent to the terms of the
trust from which it was severed or segregated so that the aggregate interests of each beneficiary in the several trusts are substantially
equivalent to the beneficiary’s interests in the trust before severance or segregation; provided, however, that any terms of the trust
before severance or segregation that, if altered, would adversely affect qualification of the trust for any federal tax deduction, exclusion,
election, exemption, or other special federal tax status must remain identical in each of the separate trusts created;
(29) Declare 1 or more new trusts for the purpose of merging all, or a portion, of the trust with or into the new trust or trusts and merge
all or a portion of the trust with or into any other trust or trusts, including statutory trusts and foreign statutory trusts as defined in §
3801 of this title, whether or not created by the same trustor and whether or not funded prior to the merger, to be held and administered
as a single trust if such a merger would not result in a material change in the dispositive terms of the trust defining the nature and extent
of any trust beneficiary’s interest in the principal or income of the trust;
(30) Take such actions as are necessary to cause gains from the sale or exchange of trust assets, as determined for federal income-tax
purposes, to be taxed for federal income-tax purposes as part of a distribution of income (including income which has been increased
by an adjustment from principal to income under § 61-104 of this title), a unitrust distribution, or a distribution of principal to a
beneficiary; and
(31) Exercise all rights and powers granted to a fiduciary under the Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets and Accounts Act, Chapter
50 of this title.
(72 Del. Laws, c. 388, § 5; 73 Del. Laws, c. 329, § 55; 74 Del. Laws, c. 82, § 7; 75 Del. Laws, c. 97, § 4; 76 Del. Laws, c. 90, §
13; 77 Del. Laws, c. 98, § 6; 77 Del. Laws, c. 330, §§ 7, 8; 79 Del. Laws, c. 172, § 2; 79 Del. Laws, c. 416, § 4; 80 Del. Laws, c.
153, § 3; 81 Del. Laws, c. 149, § 1; 82 Del. Laws, c. 52, § 1.)
§ 3326 Resignation of trustee.
(a) A trustee may resign:
(1) If the trust instrument expressly permits the trustee to resign, in accordance with the terms of the trust instrument;
(2) If the trust instrument neither expressly permits nor prohibits the trustee’s resignation, but establishes a procedure for the
appointment of a successor trustee who shall be willing and able to serve as such, upon 30 days written notice to the beneficiaries
and any co-trustees; or
(3) In all other cases, with the approval of the Court of Chancery.
(b) A beneficiary or co-trustee may waive the notice otherwise required by this section.
(c) In approving a resignation, the Court of Chancery may impose orders and conditions reasonably necessary for the protection of the
trust property, including the appointment of a special fiduciary.
(d) Any liability of a resigning trustee or of any sureties on the trustee’s bond, if any, for acts or omissions of a resigning trustee is
not discharged or affected by the trustee’s resignation.
(72 Del. Laws, c. 388, § 6; 74 Del. Laws, c. 82, § 7.)
§ 3327 Removal of trustee.
A trustee may be removed by the Court of Chancery on its own initiative or on petition of a trustor, co-trustee, or beneficiary if:
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(1) The trustee has committed a breach of trust; or
(2) A lack of cooperation among co-trustees substantially impairs the administration of the trust; or
(3) The court, having due regard for the expressed intention of the trustor and the best interests of the beneficiaries, determines that
notwithstanding the absence of a breach of trust, there exists:
a. A substantial change in circumstances;
b. Unfitness, unwillingness or inability of the trustee to administer the trust properly; or
c. Hostility between the trustee and beneficiaries that threatens the efficient administration of the trust.
(72 Del. Laws, c. 388, § 6; 74 Del. Laws, c. 82, § 7.)
§ 3328 Limitation on personal liability of fiduciary.
(a) Except as otherwise provided in the contract, a fiduciary is not personally liable on a contract properly entered into in a fiduciary
capacity if the fiduciary in the contract discloses the fiduciary capacity.
(b) The debts, obligations and liabilities incurred by a fiduciary by reason of the ownership or control of property held in a fiduciary
capacity, including but not limited to liability incurred as a general or limited partner or for violation of environmental law, shall be
enforceable solely against the fiduciary fund and no fiduciary shall be obligated personally for any such debt, obligation or liability solely
by reason of owning or controlling the fiduciary fund.
(c) A fiduciary is personally liable for torts committed in the course of administering a fiduciary fund only if the fiduciary is personally
at fault on account of the fiduciary’s own wilful misconduct proven by clear and convincing evidence in the court then having primary
jurisdiction over the fiduciary.
(d) A claim based on a contract entered into by a fiduciary in the fiduciary’s fiduciary capacity on an obligation arising from ownership
or control of the fiduciary fund or on a tort committed in the course of administering a fiduciary fund may be asserted in a judicial
proceeding against the fiduciary in the fiduciary’s fiduciary capacity whether or not the fiduciary is personally liable on the claim.
(e) This section shall have no application to any action brought by or on behalf of a beneficiary for violation of a fiduciary’s fiduciary
duties.
(f) Notwithstanding the provisions of this chapter or any other Delaware law, the term “fiduciary” shall mean a fiduciary as defined
in § 3301 of this title and an adviser, including but not limited to an investment adviser or distribution adviser serving in conjunction
with such a fiduciary.
(73 Del. Laws, c. 409, § 1; 74 Del. Laws, c. 82, § 7; 77 Del. Laws, c. 98, § 7.)
§ 3329 Effect of no-contest provision.
(a) A provision of a will or trust that if given effect would reduce or eliminate the interest of any beneficiary of such will or trust
who initiates or participates in an action to contest the validity of such will or trust or to set aside or vary the terms of such will or trust
shall be enforceable.
(b) The provisions of subsection (a) of this section shall have no application to:
(1) Any action brought by the trustee of a trust or the personal representative under a will;
(2) Any action in which the beneficiary is determined by the court to have prevailed substantially;
(3) Any agreement among beneficiaries of the will or trust in settlement of a dispute relating to such will or trust;
(4) Any action to determine whether a proposed or pending motion, petition, or other proceeding constitutes a contest within the
meaning of a no-contest provision described in subsection (a) of this section; or
(5) Any action brought by a beneficiary under a will or trust instrument for a construction or interpretation of such will or trust
instrument.”
(74 Del. Laws, c. 82, §§ 4, 7.)
§ 3330 Construction or interpretation affecting validity under rule against perpetuities, applicability of
later-enacted laws, and class determination; effect of survivorship requirement [For application of this
section, see 81 Del. Laws, c. 320, § 8].
(a) In the construction or interpretation of any governing instrument, the following rules shall apply in the absence of any contrary
expression of intent in such governing instrument:
(1) The period of time during which an interest in trust is revocable pursuant to the uncontrolled volition of the person having such
a power of revocation shall not be included in determining whether the trust is invalid under the rule against perpetuities.
(2) There shall be no presumption that a testator or trustor did or did not intend that any law apply to a governing instrument which
was not in effect on the date of execution of such governing instrument.
(3) Except where the governing instrument expressly provides to the contrary, the determination of a class shall be governed by the
law in effect on the date the governing instrument becomes irrevocable.
(b) If, in the construction or interpretation of any governing instrument, the vesting in ownership, possession, or enjoyment of an interest
in property of any person is dependent, whether as a matter of expression, implication or inference, in whole or in part upon:
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(1) That person's survival of or for a period of time after the life of some other person, including but not limited to the testator or
trustor, who has interest in such property, whether vested or contingent, and
(2) That person fails to so survive the life of such other person or for a period of time thereafter,
Then the probable or perceived intention of the transferor with respect to any person who would otherwise be entitled to the interest
because of a gift, bequest, or devise made by the person who failed to so survive shall not be considered and shall not be admissible in
any proceeding involving the construction or interpretation of such governing instrument.
(c) Notwithstanding 81 Del. Laws, c. 320, § 8, subsection (a) of this section applies as follows:
(1) To wills of decedents dying on or after August 1, 1984.
(2) To trusts becoming irrevocable, whether by the terms of the trust instrument, the death of a person having a power of revocation,
or otherwise, on or after August 1, 1984.
(3) To any other governing instruments whenever created.
(d) Subsection (b) of this section applies to governing instruments whenever created.
(74 Del. Laws, c. 82, §§ 5, 7; 81 Del. Laws, c. 320, § 4; 82 Del. Laws, c. 278, § 1.)
§ 3331 Preference for early vesting.
In the construction or interpretation of any will or trust instrument, if a determination is to be made whether the beneficiaries entitled
to receive a distribution from an estate or trust are to be determined at an earlier or later time, such beneficiaries are to be determined at
the earlier time unless the will or trust instrument expressly provides that the determination shall be made at the later time.
(74 Del. Laws, c. 82, §§ 6, 7.)
§ 3332 Governing law; change of situs [For application of this section, see 80 Del. Laws, c. 153, § 5].
(a) The duration of a trust and time of vesting of interests in the trust property shall not change merely because the place of administration
of the trust is changed from some other jurisdiction to this State.
(b) Except as otherwise provided by the terms of a court order and notwithstanding a general choice of law provision in the governing
instrument of a trust, such as a provision to the effect that the laws of a jurisdiction other than this State shall govern the trust or the
administration of the trust, the laws of this State shall govern the administration of the trust while the trust is administered in this State
unless the governing instrument expressly provides that the laws of another jurisdiction govern the administration of the trust and further
provides that the laws governing the administration of the trust shall not change on account of a change in the place of administration
of the trust.
(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a fiduciary takes or fails to take any action, based upon a good faith belief that the laws of a foreign
jurisdiction govern the administration of a trust while the trust is administered in this State, the fiduciary’s liability under the governing
instrument for the action or inaction shall be determined in accordance with the laws of the foreign jurisdiction.
(75 Del. Laws, c. 300, § 3; 80 Del. Laws, c. 153, § 3; 81 Del. Laws, c. 149, § 1.)
§ 3333 Retention of counsel by fiduciary [For application of this section, see 79 Del. Laws, c. 172, § 6; 80 Del.
Laws, c. 153, § 5].
(a) In the case of a fiduciary that retains counsel in connection with any matter whether or not related to any claim that has been or
might be asserted against the fiduciary and pays such counsel’s fees and related expenses entirely from such fiduciary’s own funds, any
communications with such counsel shall be deemed to be within the attorney-client privilege.
(b) Except as otherwise provided in the governing instrument, a fiduciary may retain counsel in connection with any matter that is or
that might reasonably be believed to be one that will become the subject of or related to a claim against the fiduciary, and the payment of
counsel fees and related expenses from the fund with respect to which the fiduciary acts as such shall not cause the fiduciary to waive or
to be deemed to have waived any right or privilege including, without limitation, the attorney-client privilege even if the communications
with counsel had the effect of guiding the fiduciary in the performance of fiduciary duties. However, in the event that the fiduciary is
determined by a court to have breached a fiduciary duty related to such matter, the court may, in its discretion, deny such fiduciary the
right to have all or some part of the fiduciary’s counsel fees paid from such fund and may require the fiduciary to reimburse any such
fees and expenses that have been previously paid.
(76 Del. Laws, c. 90, § 19; 79 Del. Laws, c. 172, § 2; 80 Del. Laws, c. 153, § 3; 81 Del. Laws, c. 149, § 1.)
§ 3334 Contributions to revocable trusts [For application of this section, see 79 Del. Laws, c. 172, § 6].
Where spouses make a contribution of property to 1 or more trusts, each of which is revocable by either or both of them, and, immediately
before such contribution, such property or any part thereof or any accumulation thereto was, pursuant to applicable law, owned by them
as tenants by the entireties, in any action concerning whether a creditor of either or both spouses may recover the debt from the trust,
the sole remedy available to the creditor with respect to such trust property shall be an order directing the trustee to transfer the property
to both spouses as tenants by the entireties.
(77 Del. Laws, c. 330, § 9; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1; 78 Del. Laws, c. 117, § 4; 79 Del. Laws, c. 172, § 2.)
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§ 3335 Effect of formula clauses in certain wills and trusts.
(a) A governing instrument, such as a will or trust of a decedent, who dies after December 31, 2009, and before January 1, 2011, that
contains a formula referring to the “unified credit,” “estate tax exemption,” “applicable exemption amount,” “applicable credit amount,”
“applicable exclusion amount,” “generation-skipping transfer tax exemption,” “GST exemption,” “marital deduction,” “maximum marital
deduction,” or “unlimited marital deduction,” or that measures a share of an estate or trust based on the amount that can pass free of federal
estate taxes or the amount that can pass free of federal generation-skipping transfer taxes, or that is otherwise based on a similar provision
of federal estate tax or generation-skipping transfer tax law, shall be presumed to refer to the federal estate tax and generation-skipping
transfer tax laws as they applied to estates of decedents dying on December 31, 2009. This provision shall not apply to a will or trust that is
executed or amended after December 31, 2009, or that manifests an intent that a contrary rule shall apply. Furthermore, this provision shall
not apply in cases where the application of this provision would cause: (i) a decrease in the amount passing to 1 trust and a substantially
equal increase in the amount passing to another trust if the terms of both trusts concerning beneficial interests are substantially similar;
(ii) a decrease in the amount passing to a trust and a substantially equal increase in the amount passing to an individual if the individual
is eligible to receive unlimited discretionary principal distributions from the trust or (iii) a decrease in the amount passing to 1 trust and
a substantially equal combined total increase in the amount passing to another trust or trusts and individuals described in clauses (i) and
(ii). For purposes of determining whether the terms of 2 trusts concerning beneficial interests are substantially the same:
(1) Any provision of the will or trust requiring, or expressing a preference for, distributions from 1 trust rather than from the other
trust shall be disregarded;
(2) a. A trust intended to be a general power of appointment marital trust under § 2056(b)(5) of the Internal Revenue Code [26
U.S.C. § 2056(b)(5)]; or
b. Which, would, if an election could have been made under § 2056(b)(7) of the Internal Revenue Code [26 U.S.C. § 2056(b)
(7)] as in effect for decedents dying on December 31, 2009, qualify as qualified terminable interest property under § 2056(b)(7)
[26 U.S.C. § 2056(b)(7)],
shall be considered to be substantially the same as any other trust which requires that all income be distributed currently to the
surviving spouse, regardless of whether the other trust may have current beneficiaries of principal who are persons other than the
surviving spouse; and
(3) Any provision of the will or trust which may have different provisions concerning the identity, selection or nomination of current
or future trustees shall be disregarded.
(b) This section shall apply only to a governing instrument of a decedent whose executor elects to apply the Internal Revenue Code as
though subtitle A and E of title V of the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 [P.L. 107-16] applies with respect
to Chapter 11 of the Internal Revenue Code [26 U.S.C. Chapter 11].
(c) Any person interested under a will or trust may bring a proceeding under § 6504 of Title 10 to determine whether the decedent
intended that the references under subsection (a) of this section be construed with respect to the law as it existed after December 31, 2009.
Such a proceeding must be commenced prior to January 1, 2012.
(d) The presumption described in subsection (a) of this section shall not apply if fiduciaries such as personal representatives or trustees
serving under the governing instrument, who are not interested fiduciaries, elect to opt out of the application of subsection (a) of this
section as to all or any part of the governing instrument and no beneficiary under the governing instrument objects to the election within
30 days following receipt of written notice of the election. A fiduciary is interested if: (i) the fiduciary is a beneficiary under the governing
instrument whose beneficial interest would or might change in value by reason of the election; (ii) the fiduciary may be removed and
replaced by a beneficiary described in clause (i) of this subsection above; or (iii) the fiduciary is an individual legally obligated to support a
beneficiary described in clause (i) of this subsection above. If all of the fiduciaries are interested, this subsection shall have no application.
(e) Whenever the term “pass” or “passing” is used in this section, the term shall relate to an amount distributable or allocable under
the governing instrument as result of the decedent’s death.
(77 Del. Laws, c. 379, § 1; 78 Del. Laws, c. 117, § 5.)
§ 3336 Appointment of successor trustee [For application of this section, see 79 Del. Laws, c. 172, § 6].
If a trust has no serving trustee for any reason, including the death, incapacity, removal or resignation of the last serving trustee of
the trust, or due to the renunciation or declination of the last named successor trustee of the trust of its appointment as such, and if the
provisions of the governing instrument do not include any provisions which can be effectively used to appoint a successor trustee, and if the
only remaining dispositive provisions of the trust then require distribution of the remaining property of the trust to 1 or more beneficiaries
(whether outright, or to 1 or more other trusts which do have a serving trustee), then the taking beneficiaries of the trust, by unanimous
vote, may name a successor trustee of the trust without the approval of the Court of Chancery. For purposes of the preceding sentence, the
person entitled to vote with respect to a beneficiary which is another trust which has a serving trustee is the trustee or trustees of such trust.
(79 Del. Laws, c. 172, § 2; 81 Del. Laws, c. 149, § 1.)
§ 3337 Claims against revocable trusts [For application of this section, see 79 Del. Laws, c. 172, § 6].
Following the death of the trustor of a trust that was revocable immediately prior to the trustor’s death, all claims against the trust that,
but for any applicable period of limitations, could have been brought against the trustor’s estate, whether due or to become due, absolute
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or contingent, liquidated or unliquidated, founded on contract, tort or other legal basis, if not barred earlier by other statute of limitations,
are barred against the trust when and to the same extent barred against the trustor’s estate by any applicable statute of limitations or statute
of repose on claims against the estate including any such statute of limitations or repose enacted by jurisdictions other than this State.
(79 Del. Laws, c. 172, § 2.)
§ 3338 Nonjudicial settlement agreements [For application of this section, see 79 Del. Laws, c. 172, § 6; 80
Del. Laws, c. 153, § 5].
(a) For purposes of this section, “interested persons” means persons whose consent would be required in order to achieve a binding
settlement were the settlement to be approved by the Court of Chancery. With respect to any nonjudicial settlement agreement regarding
a trust, the term “interested persons” means all whose interest in the trust would be affected by the proposed nonjudicial settlement
agreement, which may include:
(1) Trustees and other fiduciaries;
(2) Trust beneficiaries, who will generally be those with a present interest in the trust and those whose interest in the trust would
vest, without regard to the exercise or nonexercise of any power of appointment, if the present interests in the trust terminated on the
date of the nonjudicial settlement agreement; provided, however, that if the trustor is a party to the nonjudicial settlement agreement,
and if the nonjudicial settlement agreement alters any beneficial interest in the trust, then the trust beneficiaries are all beneficiaries
having an interest in the trust;
(3) The trustor of the trust, if living; and
(4) All other persons having an interest in the trust according to the express terms of the governing instrument (such as, but not
limited to, holders of powers of appointment over trust property, holders of powers to remove or appoint fiduciaries or nonfiduciaries
with respect to the trust, and persons having other rights, held in a nonfiduciary capacity, relating to trust property).
(b) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (c) of this section, interested persons may enter into a binding nonjudicial settlement
agreement with respect to any matter involving a trust.
(c) A nonjudicial settlement agreement is valid only to the extent it does not violate a material purpose of the trust, and if applicable,
does not change the trust’s purpose in a manner that would violate § 3303(b) of this title if the change was effected by court order;
provided, however, that this subsection shall not apply in cases where the trustor is a party to the nonjudicial settlement agreement.
(d) If the trustor is a party to the nonjudicial settlement agreement, then unless the trustor, or a person acting on behalf of the trustor,
confirms in writing that the transfer in trust is an incomplete gift for federal gift tax purposes, the trustor may not represent and bind any
beneficiary (other than the trustor) with respect to the nonjudicial settlement agreement, notwithstanding any provision in the governing
instrument, or applicable law, that provides that the trustor may represent or bind 1 or more beneficiaries.
(e) Matters that may be resolved by a nonjudicial settlement agreement include:
(1) The interpretation or construction of the terms of the trust;
(2) The approval of a trustee’s report or accounting;
(3) The direction to a trustee to refrain from performing a particular act or the grant to a trustee of any necessary or desirable power;
(4) The resignation, removal, or appointment of a trustee and the determination of a trustee’s compensation;
(5) The transfer of a trust’s principal place of administration; and
(6) The liability of a trustee for an action relating to the trust.
(f) Any interested person may bring a proceeding in the Court of Chancery to interpret, apply, enforce, or determine the validity of
a nonjudicial settlement agreement adopted under this section, including but not limited to determining whether the representation as
provided in § 3547 of this title was adequate.
(79 Del. Laws, c. 172, § 2; 80 Del. Laws, c. 153, § 3; 80 Del. Laws, c. 340, § 1; 81 Del. Laws, c. 149, § 1; 81 Del. Laws, c. 320, §
4; 82 Del. Laws, c. 52, § 1; 82 Del. Laws, c. 278, § 1.)
§ 3339 Designated representatives of trusts.
(a) For purposes of this title, the term “designated representative” means a person who is authorized to act as a designated representative
in the manner described in at least 1 of the following paragraphs of this subsection (a) and who delivers to the trustee such person’s
written acceptance of the office of designated representative. A person who is authorized to act as a designated representative in the
manner described in this subsection:
(1) Is expressly appointed under the terms of a governing instrument as a designated representative or by reference to this section;
(2) Is authorized or directed under the terms of a governing instrument to represent or bind 1 or more beneficiaries in connection
with a judicial proceeding or nonjudicial matter, as those terms are defined in § 3303(e) of this title;
(3) Is a person appointed by 1 or more persons who are expressly authorized under a governing instrument to appoint a person who
is described in paragraph (a)(1) or (2) of this section;
(4) Is a person appointed by a beneficiary to act as a designated representative of such beneficiary; and/or
(5) Is a person appointed by the trustor to act as designated representative for 1 or more beneficiaries.
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(b) A designated representative shall be presumed to be a fiduciary.
(80 Del. Laws, c. 89, § 1.)
§ 3340 Place of administration [For application of this section, see 80 Del. Laws, c. 153, § 5].
For purposes of this title, a trust shall be deemed to be administered in this State if:
(1) The sole trustee is an individual residing in this State or a corporation or other entity having an office for the conduct of trust
business in this State;
(2) The trust has more than 1 trustee only 1 of which is a corporation or other entity and that corporation or other entity has an office
for the conduct of trust business in this State; or
(3) The trust has more than 1 trustee all of whom are individuals and 1/2 or more of whom reside in this State.
(80 Del. Laws, c. 153, § 3.)
§ 3341 Consequences of trust merger and similar transactions [For application of this section, see 80 Del.
Laws, c. 153, § 5].
Whenever any trust (a “transferor trust”) is merged with and into another trust (the “transferee trust”):
(1) The separate existence of the transferor trust shall cease and the transferee trust shall possess all of the rights and privileges, and
shall be subject to all of the obligations of, the transferor trust;
(2) All of the property (including title to any real property vested by deed or otherwise) and other interests of the transferor trust
shall be thereafter treated as effectively the property and interests of the transferee trust as they were the property and interests of the
transferor trust prior to the merger;
(3) No such property or interests shall revert or be in any way impaired by reason of the merger;
(4) In cases where the initial funding of the transferee trust occurs by reason of the merger, unless the governing instrument of the
transferee trust expressly states that 1 or more powers of appointment exercisable over the property of the transferor trust shall not
be exercisable over the property of the transferee trust: (i) any power of appointment exercisable over property of the transferor trust
shall be exercisable, in accordance with the terms of the governing instrument of the transferor trust, over property of the transferee
trust, and (ii) any instrument in writing, executed prior to the merger, purporting to exercise a power of appointment over property
of the transferor trust shall be treated as a valid exercise of a power of appointment over property of the transferee trust to the same
extent that the appointment purportedly made pursuant to the instrument would have been a valid exercise of the power of appointment
granted over property of the transferor trust; and
(5) In cases where the initial funding of the transferee trust occurs prior to the merger, any power of appointment exercisable over
property of either trust participating in the merger shall, following the merger, be exercisable over property of the transferee trust only
to the extent expressly provided by the terms of the instrument of merger or other written documents effecting the merger; provided,
however, that if any person holds substantially identical powers of appointment over all of the property of each trust participating in
the merger, such person's power of appointment over the property of the transferee trust shall be exercisable over all of the property
of the transferee trust following the merger unless the instrument of merger or other written document effecting the merger expressly
provides otherwise.
Furthermore, all rights of creditors and all liens upon the property of the transferor trust shall be preserved unimpaired and all debts,
liabilities, and duties of the transferor trust shall thenceforth attach to the transferee trust and may be enforced against the transferee trust
to the same extent as if the transferor trust’s debts, liabilities, and duties had been incurred or contracted by the transferee trust. Except
to the extent provided in paragraph (5) of this section, the terms of the governing instrument of the transferee trust shall, following the
merger, control the administration and disposition of the property of the transferee trust, including any such property obtained by the
transferee trust by reason of the merger. Furthermore, any transaction in which all of the property of a trust is appointed or otherwise
transferred to another trust or to the same trust as modified after such appointment, whether pursuant to § 3528 of this title, the terms of
a governing instrument or otherwise, shall be treated as a merger within the meaning of this section with the appointing or transferring
trust and the recipient trust treated as a transferor trust and transferee trust, respectively, for purposes of applying the provisions of this
section to the transaction. This section is not intended, nor shall it be construed, to grant to any trustee a right or power to merge trusts
but rather this section is intended only to describe certain consequences of a trust merger in cases where the merger is authorized by other
applicable law. Except as expressly provided in clause (ii) of paragraph (4) of this section, this section is not intended, nor shall it be
construed, to address the validity or effect of any instrument in writing, executed prior to a trust merger, purporting to exercise a power
of appointment over property of any trust participating in a trust merger.
(80 Del. Laws, c. 153, § 3; 81 Del. Laws, c. 149, § 1; 81 Del. Laws, c. 320, § 4; 82 Del. Laws, c. 52, § 1.)
§ 3342 Modification of trust by consent while trustor is living.
(a) Notwithstanding any provision of law or the trust’s governing instrument limiting or prohibiting amendment of the trust, an
irrevocable trust may be modified by the addition of a new provision or the modification of any existing provision—so long as such
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provision could have been included in the governing instrument of a trust were such trust created upon the date of the modification—by
written consent or written nonobjection of all of the trust’s trustors, all then serving fiduciaries and all beneficiaries having an interest in
the trust, regardless of whether the modification may violate a material purpose of the trust; provided, however, that unless the trustor,
or a person acting on behalf of the trustor, confirms in writing that the transfer in trust is an incomplete gift for federal gift tax purposes,
neither a trustor nor, on behalf of a trustor, a guardian or an agent under a power of attorney, may represent and bind any beneficiary
(other than the trustor) with respect to the modification, notwithstanding any provision in the governing instrument, or applicable law,
that provides that the trustor may represent or bind 1 or more beneficiaries. A trustor’s power to provide a written consent or written
nonobjection to a trust’s modification may be exercised: (i) by an agent under a power of attorney only to the extent expressly authorized
by the power of attorney or the terms of the trust’s governing instrument; or (ii) if an agent under a power of attorney is not so authorized,
by the guardian of the trustor’s property (or similar court-appointed representative) with the approval of the court supervising the guardian
(or similar representative).
(b) No fiduciary shall have a duty to consent to any proposed modification nor, absent wilful misconduct, have any liability to any
person having an interest in the trust for failure to consent to any proposed modification.
(c) Any interested person, including the trustor, may bring a proceeding in the Court of Chancery to interpret, apply, enforce, or
determine the validity of a modification adopted under this section, including but not limited to determining whether the representation
as provided in § 3547 of this title was adequate; provided, however, that any such person may waive the right to contest the modification.
(d) This section shall apply to any trust administered under the laws of this State.
(80 Del. Laws, c. 340, § 1; 81 Del. Laws, c. 149, § 1; 81 Del. Laws, c. 320, § 4; 82 Del. Laws, c. 52, § 1; 82 Del. Laws, c. 278, § 1.)
§ 3343 Authority to allocate trustee duties among multiple trustees.
(a) The power to appoint a successor trustee under a governing instrument shall be deemed to include the power to appoint multiple
successor trustees. A presently exercisable power to remove and replace a trustee under a governing instrument shall be deemed to include
the power to appoint additional trustees to serve with the current trustee. The power to appoint multiple successor trustees and the power
to appoint additional trustees shall be deemed to include the power to allocate various trustee powers (which trustee powers may include
the power to direct or prevent certain actions of the trustees) exclusively to 1 or some of the trustees serving from time to time.
(b) All of the provisions of a governing instrument generally applicable to the trustees (including, but not limited to, the provisions
regarding trustee qualifications, resignation, removal, standard of care, indemnification, compensation, and the scope and nature of the
restrictions, limitations, and immunities applicable when exercising powers and authority) shall apply to trustees appointed under this
section so that, for example (but not by way of limitation):
(1) Provisions waiving certain duties when exercising certain investment powers shall apply equally to trustees appointed under
this section;
(2) Provisions permitting the removal and replacement of a trustee subject to various limitations and conditions shall apply equally
to trustees appointed under this section; and
(3) Provisions proscribing the trustor and trust beneficiaries and persons or entities related or subordinate to the trustor and any
trust beneficiary from being eligible to serve as a trustee shall apply equally to proscribe all of those persons from serving as trustees
appointed under this section.
(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (b) of this section, if an appointment under this section confers upon a cotrustee, to
the exclusion of another cotrustee, the power to take certain actions with respect to the trust, including the power to direct or prevent
certain actions of the trustees, then:
(1) The duty and liability of the excluded trustee and the cotrustee holding the power, whether that be the powers of an excluded
trustee or cotrustee described under § 3313A(a)(1) or § 3313A(a)(2) of this title, shall be as set forth under § 3313A of this title; and
(2) The excluded trustee shall have the rights of a trustee that has been removed as trustee of the trust under applicable law and the
terms of the governing instrument, to seek, with respect to the power and authority so excluded as a result of an appointment under this
section, a judicial proceeding or nonjudicial matter, as defined in § 3303(e) of this title.
(d) Any powers granted in subsection (a) of this section to appoint additional trustees, which are exercised in such a manner as to
modify the duties of an existing trustee, shall not become effective until 30 days after the receipt by the existing trustee of a written notice
—from the person or persons authorized to appoint additional trustees—detailing such changes. The 30-day notice requirement may be
waived by the existing trustee.
(e) Except as otherwise expressly provided by the terms of a governing instrument, this section shall be available to any trust that is
administered in this State or otherwise governed by the laws of this State.
(82 Del. Laws, c. 52, § 1; 82 Del. Laws, c. 278, § 1.)
§ 3344 Income tax reimbursement or payment.
(a) Unless the terms of the governing instrument expressly provide otherwise, if the trustor of a trust is treated under 26 U.S.C. § 671 et
seq. as the owner of all or part of the trust, the trustee (other than a trustee who is the trustor or a person who is a “related or subordinate
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Title 12 - Decedents’ Estates and Fiduciary Relations
party” with respect to the trustor within the meaning of 26 U.S.C. § 672(c)) may, in the trustee’s sole discretion, or at the direction or with
the consent of an adviser (who is not the trustor or a person who is a “related or subordinate party” with respect to the trustor within the
meaning of 26 U.S.C. § 672(c)), reimburse the trustor for any amount of the trustor’s personal federal or state income tax liability that is
attributable to the inclusion of the trust’s income, capital gains, deductions, and credits in the calculation of the trustor’s taxable income.
The trustee may pay such amount to the trustor directly or may pay such amount to an appropriate taxing authority on the trustor’s behalf,
as the trustee determines in the trustee’s sole discretion. No policy of insurance on the trustor’s life held in the trust nor the cash value
of any such policy nor the proceeds of any loan secured by an interest in the policy may be used to reimburse the trustor or to pay an
appropriate taxing authority on the trustor’s behalf. Neither the trustee’s power to make payments to, or for the benefit of, the trustor under
this section, nor the trustee’s decision to exercise such power in favor of the trustor, shall cause the trustor to be treated as a beneficiary
of the trust for purposes of § 3536(c) of this title or for other purposes of Delaware law.
(b) If the application of this section to a trust would reduce a charitable deduction otherwise available to any person for state or federal
income, gift, or estate tax purposes, the provisions of this section shall not apply to the trust.
(82 Del. Laws, c. 52, § 1.)
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Part V
Fiduciary Relations
Chapter 34
Administrative Provisions
§§ 3401-3411 Applicability of chapter; definitions; fiduciary agency contracts; cofiduciaries; general powers
of trustee; specific powers of trustee; resignation of trustee; removal of trustee; limitation on personal
liability of fiduciary; effect of no-contest provision; effect of survivorship requirement; preference for early
vesting [Transferred].
Transferred to §§ 3321 through 3331 of this title by 74 Del. Laws, c. 82, § 7, effective June 30, 2003.
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Title 12 - Decedents’ Estates and Fiduciary Relations
Part V
Fiduciary Relations
Chapter 35
Trusts
Subchapter I
Appointment of Trustee by Court; Title of Appointee to Trust Property
§ 3501 Appointment authorized; effect of execution of power by appointee.
When any person or persons or any of such persons as may be the donee or donees of any power or powers under any trust are out
of the jurisdiction of or not amenable to the process of the Court of Chancery or are mentally ill or it is uncertain whether such person
or persons or any of such persons are living or dead, the Court of Chancery may, when in its discretion it may deem the objects and
purposes of any such trust are in danger of not being performed or effectuated, appoint a person or persons to execute the power or powers
under any such trust and such execution shall be made, by such person or persons so appointed, in the same manner and by the same
method as shall be pointed out by the trust, whereby such power or powers were created. Such execution of any such power or powers
by any person or persons so appointed shall be as effectual, to all intents and purposes, and with the same force and effect as if the same
had been executed by such donee or donees. The Court of Chancery shall be satisfied that the beneficial interests of the donees or other
beneficiaries under such trust are not by such action impaired.
(21 Del. Laws, c. 122, § 1; Code 1915, § 3863; Code 1935, § 4387; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 3501; 49 Del. Laws, c. 57, § 1.)
§ 3502 Procedure for appointment of trustee.
The Court of Chancery may make any appointment or direction under § 3501 of this title, by an order made in any cause pending in
that Court or upon petition of 1 or more of those interested in the trust or by the remaining or surviving donee or donees of any such power
or powers. The Court of Chancery may, upon presentation of any such petition, take such testimony as it deems necessary to satisfy the
Court that the granting of such petition will not impair the beneficial interest of any of the donees and other beneficiaries under such trust.
Such testimony may be taken orally, at the bar of the Court, or by depositions.
(21 Del. Laws, c. 122, § 2; Code 1915, § 3864; Code 1935, § 4388; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 3502.)
§ 3503 Appointment of trustee to convey realty; effect of conveyance by appointee.
When any person seised of lands, tenements or hereditaments upon any trust is out of the jurisdiction of or not amenable to the process
of the Court of Chancery or is mentally ill or it is uncertain where there were several trustees which of them was the survivor or it is
uncertain whether the trustee last known to have been seised as aforesaid is living or dead or, if known to be dead, it is not known who
are the trustee’s heirs at law or if any trustee seised as aforesaid or the heirs at law of any such trustee neglect or refuse to convey such
lands, tenements or hereditaments to the person entitled to receive such conveyance, for 20 days next after a proper deed for making such
conveyance has been tendered for such person or their execution, by the person so entitled or the person’s agent or attorney, the Court of
Chancery for the county wherein such lands, tenements or hereditaments are situated may appoint a person to convey the same to such
person and in such manner as the Court directs. Any conveyance so made shall be as effectual, to all intents and purposes, as if the same
had been executed by the trustee or the trustee’s heirs at law.
(11 Del. Laws, c. 90, § 1; Code 1915, § 3865; Code 1935, § 4389; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 3503; 49 Del. Laws, c. 57, § 1; 70 Del
Laws, c. 186, § 1.)
§ 3504 Appointment of trustee to assign term of years; effect of assignment by appointee.
When any person possessed of lands, tenements or hereditaments for a term of years upon trust is out of the jurisdiction or not amenable
to the process of the Court of Chancery or it is uncertain whether the trustee last known to have possessed as aforesaid is living or dead or
if any trustee or the executor of any such trustee neglects or refuses to assign such term to the person entitled to receive such assignment,
for 20 days next after a proper legal instrument for making such assignment has been tendered for such person’s execution by the person
so entitled or such person’s agent or attorney, the Court of Chancery for the county wherein such lands, tenements or hereditaments are
situated may appoint a person to make such assignment to such person and in such manner as the Court directs. Any assignment so made
shall be as effectual to all intents and purposes as if the same had been made by the trustee or the trustee’s executor.
(11 Del. Laws, c. 90, § 2; Code 1915, § 3866; Code 1935, § 4390; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 3504; 70 Del Laws, c. 186, § 1.)
§ 3505 Appointment of trustee to transfer stock or collect and pay over dividends; effect of appointee’s acts.
When any person in whose name as trustee or executor (either alone or together with the name of any other person) or in the name of
whose testator (whether as trustee or beneficiary) any stock shall be standing or any other person who otherwise has power to transfer or
join with any person in transferring any stock to which some other person is beneficially entitled is out of the jurisdiction or not amenable
to the process of the Court of Chancery or it is uncertain whether such person is living or dead or if any such trustee or executor or other
person neglects or refuses to transfer such stock or receive and pay over the dividends thereof to the person entitled to such stock or
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dividends, for 20 days next after request in writing by such person so entitled, the Court of Chancery may appoint a person to transfer
such stock or to receive and pay over such dividends to the person entitled to the same. Such transfer, receipt or payment shall be as
effectual to all intents and purposes as if made by such trustee, executor or other person.
(11 Del. Laws, c. 90, § 3; Code 1915, § 3867; Code 1935, § 4391; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 3505.)
§ 3506 Appointment of trustee to convey, assign or transfer trust property from discharged or removed
trustee to successor.
When any person who, having been discharged or removed from any trust by an order or decree of the Court of Chancery, neglects or
refuses to convey, assign or transfer the subject matter of such trust to the person who has been appointed by such Court to be the trustee
in lieu of the person so discharged or removed, the Court may, upon petition of the person appointed, order a conveyance, assignment or
transfer of the subject matter of such trust to be made by a person by such order appointed for that purpose. Any conveyance, assignment
or transfer so made shall be as effectual, to all intents and purposes, as if the same were made by the trustee so discharged or the trustee’s
heirs or executors.
(11 Del. Laws, c. 90, § 5; Code 1915, § 3869; Code 1935, § 4393; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 3506; 70 Del Laws, c. 186, § 1.)
§ 3507 Order of appointment.
The Court of Chancery shall make any appointment or direction under §§ 3503-3506 of this title by an order made in any case pending
in that Court or upon petition of the person entitled to such conveyance, assignment, transfer or payment. When the title of the person
claiming such conveyance, assignment, transfer or payment may require investigation or it otherwise appears improper to make an order
for the same on petition, the Court may direct a complaint to be filed to establish the right.
(11 Del. Laws, c. 90, § 4; Code 1915, § 3868; Code 1935, § 4392; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 3507.)
§ 3508 Appointment of fiduciary to receive benefits payable by the United States.
(a) Whenever any military or administrative body or agency of the government of the United States of America is authorized or directed
to pay monetary benefits to any person and the said body or agency requires that a trustee or guardian be appointed by a court to receive
such benefits, the Court of Chancery, upon the presentation of a petition drawn and executed in conformity with the rules of the Court,
upon evidence satisfactory to the Court, shall appoint a trustee or guardian with authority to receive said moneys and all other property,
and to disburse and account for the same in accordance with the rules and orders of the Court.
(b) There shall be no charge made by any public officer nor any costs taxed or allowed by the Court in any proceeding brought under
this section or in subsequent proceedings brought by a fiduciary appointed under this section.
(c) A trustee or guardian appointed under this section shall be entitled to such reasonable expenses and compensation as the Court allows.
(Code 1915, § 3869A; 31 Del. Laws, c. 64, § 1; 34 Del. Laws, c. 217, § 1; Code 1935, § 4394; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 3508; 54 Del.
Laws, c. 245.)
§ 3509 Vesting of title to trust property in successor trustee.
Whenever the sole or surviving trustee dies or is removed or a trustee renounces a trust or a trust is created and no person is appointed
by name or description to execute the same and whenever in such or any case a trustee shall be appointed by the Court of Chancery,
then upon the giving by said trustee of the security required to be given by the trustee, all the trust property, estate and effects, of every
kind whatsoever and wheresoever situate and being, shall forthwith and without any act or deed pass to and be vested in such new or
succeeding trustee.
(23 Del. Laws, c. 197, § 1; Code 1915, § 3870; Code 1935, § 4395; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 3509; 70 Del Laws, c. 186, § 1.)
§ 3510 Vesting of title to trust realty in successor trustee appointed pursuant to trust instrument; deed of
appointment.
Whenever any trust of real estate has been or shall hereafter be created by deed or will duly recorded or proved within this State and
such deed or will contains provisions for the appointment by deed or instrument of writing of new trustees, either by a surviving trustee
or trustees or by any other person or persons designated in and by such deed or will, upon the due execution and acknowledgment of
a deed of appointment by the proper party or parties, and its being filed for record in the office of the recorder of deeds in and for the
county in which the land which is the subject of the trust is situated, the legal title to the lands so held in trust shall thereupon vest in such
new trustee or trustees in the same manner and with the same effect, to all intents and purposes, as if such trustees had been originally
appointed by the deed or will creating the trust and no conveyance shall be necessary to vest such title.
(19 Del. Laws, c. 250, § 1; Code 1915, § 3871; Code 1935, § 4396; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 3510.)
Subchapter II
Accounting and Distribution of Trust Funds
§ 3521 Trustees’ accounts in general.
Except as otherwise provided in §§ 3522-3524 of this title, trustees (which term, as used in this subchapter, includes successor trustees)
shall not be required to file any accounts or inventories with respect to a trust. Trustees required, under §§ 3522-3524 of this title, to file
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accounts or inventories with respect to a trust shall do so as described in § 3525 of this title, unless later released from such obligation
under § 3526 of this title.
(79 Del. Laws, c. 352, § 4.)
§ 3522 Trustees’ accounts for inter vivos trusts.
Trustees of an inter vivos trust (whether or not property was bequeathed or devised to such trust by a testamentary disposition) shall
not be required to file any accounts or inventories with respect to such trust, except:
(1) To the extent provided in the governing instrument;
(2) Upon an order of the Court of Chancery, for cause shown, expressly requiring an accounting by such trustees; or
(3) If such trustees were appointed by the Court of Chancery, then as may be otherwise provided in the order of appointment.
(79 Del. Laws, c. 352, § 4.)
§ 3523 Trustees’ accounts in wills probated prior to April 5, 1909.
Trustees named in wills probated prior to April 5, 1909, may file and submit accounts of their trusts at such times as they deem necessary
and they shall be required to file and submit accounts only upon a rule of the Register in Chancery issued upon them pursuant to the
written request of any one beneficially interested in their trusts or upon the order of the Court of Chancery.
(25 Del. Laws, c. 226, § 2; 26 Del. Laws, c. 258, § 1; Code 1915, § 3874; 40 Del. Laws, c. 232, § 1; Code 1935, § 4400; 12 Del.
C. 1953, § 3523; 79 Del. Laws, c. 352, § 4.)
§ 3524 Trustees’ accounts for other testamentary trusts [For application of this section, see 80 Del. Laws, c.
153, § 5].
(a) Trustees of a testamentary trust shall be required to file accounts as described in § 3525 of this title, except that:
(1) Trustees subject to § 3523 of this title shall file accounts only in accordance with such section.
(2) Trustees of a testamentary trust established under a will probated on or after April 5, 1909, but of a decedent dying on or before
July 31, 2005, shall be required to file accounts as described in § 3525 of this title unless waived by express provision in such will,
in which case such trustees shall be required to file such accounts only in accordance with the express terms, if any, of such will or
upon order of the Court of Chancery with respect to any such trust.
(3) Trustees of a testamentary trust established under the will of a decedent dying after July 31, 2005, shall be required to file accounts
as described in § 3525 of this title only in accordance with the express terms, if any, of any such trust or upon order of the Court of
Chancery with respect to any such trust.
(b) [Repealed.]
(79 Del. Laws, c. 352, § 4; 80 Del. Laws, c. 153, § 4; 81 Del. Laws, c. 320, § 5.)
§ 3525 Filing of trustees’ accounts; contents; approval.
(a) Trustees required to file accounts as provided in the governing instrument, or in an order of the Court of Chancery, shall file accounts
as described in subsection (c) of this section only in accordance with the express terms, if any, of such governing instrument or order.
(b) Trustees otherwise required to file accounts under §§ 3523 and 3524 of this title shall file accounts as described in subsection
(c) of this section.
(c) To the extent required in subsections (a) and (b) of this section above, trustees required to file accounts shall file with the Register
in Chancery, in the county in which a will creating the trust was probated or in which such appointments were made, and submit for the
approval of the Court of Chancery just and true accounts, showing all receipts and disbursements of their trusts, as the Court requires,
but not oftener than once in 2 years, unless there is special occasion. Such accounts shall also show the manner in which the principal of
the trust is invested. Upon the request of the trustee or of any party in interest the Court shall, and upon its own motion may, proceed to
approve or disapprove the investments, but otherwise the Court shall approve or disapprove the remainder of the account without passing
upon the manner in which the principal of the trust is invested.
(25 Del. Laws, c. 226, § 2; 26 Del. Laws, c. 258, § 1; Code 1915, § 3874; 40 Del. Laws, c. 232, § 1; Code 1935, § 4400; 12 Del.
C. 1953, § 3521; 51 Del. Laws, c. 326; 79 Del. Laws, c. 197, § 2; 79 Del. Laws, c. 352, § 4.)
§ 3526 Release of obligation to file accounts.
(a) Without the approval of the Court of Chancery, a trustee or trustees (in either case hereafter referred to as “trustee”) who would
otherwise be required under §§ 3521-3524 of this title to file with the Register in Chancery just and true accounts for the approval of
the Court of Chancery may be released from such obligation by the interested parties of the trust if the trustee sends a written notice and
request for waiver and consent or nonobjection to the interested parties, which notice shall:
(1) Describe the obligation of the trustee under §§ 3521-3524 of this title and identify the alternative means by which the trustee
will provide the beneficiaries with the information formerly set forth in the account;
(2) Request the interested person waive the obligations under §§ 3521-3524 of this title with respect to the trust and consent, or
signify such person’s nonobjection, to the alternative means described in the notice for the dissemination of trust information; and
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(3) Request that a waiver and consent or nonobjection be executed by:
a. The interested party personally;
b. The interested party’s attorney ad litem;
c. A person authorized to represent the interested party under § 3547 of this title or any successor statute; or
d. A person authorized by applicable law to represent the interested party in transactions involving the trust (such as, but not
limited to, the interested party’s attorney-in-fact or the Attorney General in the case of certain charitable beneficiaries).
In addition, such waiver and consent or nonobjection shall: (i) be acknowledged by a person authorized to notarize documents (or a
similar official if a document is signed in a foreign jurisdiction) or witnessed by a person who is not an interested party; and (ii) affirm
that the party executing the waiver and consent or nonobjection has read, understood, and been provided with an opportunity to consult
with counsel regarding the waiver and consent or nonobjection and the information provided therein.
(b) For purposes of subsection (a) of this section, the “interested parties” means:
(1) The trustor of the trust, if living;
(2) All living persons who are currently receiving or eligible to receive distributions of income of the trust;
(3) Without regard to the exercise of any power of appointment, all living persons who would receive principal of the trust if the trust
were to terminate at the time of the giving of such notice and all living persons who would receive or be eligible to receive distributions
of income or principal of the trust if the interests of all of the beneficiaries currently eligible to receive income under paragraph (b)(2)
of this section were to terminate at the time of the giving of such notice; and
(4) All persons acting as adviser or protector of the trust.
(c) Any release of the obligations under §§ 3521-3524 of this title obtained in accordance with the provisions of subsection (a) of
this section shall release the trustee from the reporting obligations of §§ 3521-3524 of this title for the duration of the trust, unless a
shorter period of time is specified in the written notice provided to the interested parties or an order of a court of competent jurisdiction
provides otherwise.
(d) Upon being released from the obligations under §§ 3521-3524 of this title in accordance with provisions of subsection (a) of this
section, the trustee shall provide notice of such release to the Register in Chancery in the county in which the trustee would otherwise have
filed the accountings required under §§ 3521-3524 of this title, which notice shall include as exhibits copies of the requisite executed
notices and requests for waiver and consent or nonobjection of the interested parties.
(25 Del. Laws, c. 226, § 2; 26 Del. Laws, c. 258, § 1; Code 1915, § 3874; 40 Del. Laws, c. 232, § 1; Code 1935, § 4400; 12 Del.
C. 1953, § 3521; 51 Del. Laws, c. 326; 79 Del. Laws, c. 197, § 2; 79 Del. Laws, c. 352, § 4; 80 Del. Laws, c. 153, § 4.)
§§ 3527, 3527A Total return unitrusts; express total return unitrusts.
Transferred by 77 Del. Laws, c. 330, § 10, effective Aug. 1, 2010, to §§ 61-106 and 61-107 of this title.
§ 3528 Trustee’s authority to invade principal or income in trust [For application of this section, see 80 Del.
Laws, c. 153, § 5].
(a) Unless the terms of the instrument expressly provide otherwise, a trustee who has authority (whether acting at such trustee’s
discretion or at the direction or with the consent of an adviser), under the terms of a testamentary instrument or irrevocable inter vivos
trust agreement (including a trust that, by its terms, is revocable but was created by a settlor who presently lacks the capacity to revoke the
trust), to invade the principal or income or both of a trust (the “first trust”) to make distributions to, or for the benefit of, 1 or more proper
objects of the exercise of the power, may instead exercise such authority (whether acting at such trustee’s discretion or at the direction or
with the consent of an adviser, as the case may be) by appointing all or part of such principal or income or both as is subject to the power
in favor of a trustee of a second trust, which may be a separate trust or the first trust as modified after appointment under this section (the
“second trust”) under an instrument other than that under which the power to invade is created or under the same instrument, provided,
however, that, except as otherwise provided in this subsection (a):
(1) The exercise of such authority is in favor of a second trust having only beneficiaries who are proper objects of the exercise
of the power except that the governing instrument of the second trust may provide that, at a time or upon an event specified in the
governing instrument, the remaining trust assets shall thereafter be held for the benefit of the beneficiaries of the first trust upon terms
and conditions concerning the nature and extent of each such beneficiary’s interest that are substantially identical to the first trust’s
terms and conditions concerning such beneficial interests;
(2) In the case of any trust, contributions to which have been treated as gifts qualifying for the exclusion from gift tax described in
§ 2503(b) (26 U.S.C. § 2503(b)) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. § 1 et seq.) (hereinafter referred to in this section
as the “I.R.C.”), by reason of the application of I.R.C. § 2503(c) (26 U.S.C. § 2503(c)), the governing instrument for the second trust
shall provide that the beneficiary’s remainder interest shall vest and become distributable no later than the date upon which such interest
would have vested and become distributable under the terms of the governing instrument for the first trust;
(3) The exercise of such authority does not reduce any income or unitrust interest of any beneficiary of a trust for which a marital
deduction has been taken for federal tax purposes under I.R.C. § 2056 or § 2523 (26 U.S.C. § 2056 or § 2523) or for state tax purposes
under any comparable provision of applicable state law; and
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(4) The exercise of such authority does not apply to trust property subject to a presently exercisable power of withdrawal held by a
trust beneficiary who is the only trust beneficiary to whom, or for the benefit of whom, the trustee has authority to make distributions.
Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this subsection (a), the governing instrument for the second trust may grant a power of
appointment (including a power to appoint trust property to the powerholder, the powerholder’s creditors, the powerholder’s estate, the
creditors of the powerholder’s estate or any other person, whether or not such person is a trust beneficiary) to 1 or more of the trust
beneficiaries who are proper objects of the exercise of the power in the first trust. The exercise of a trustee’s authority granted under this
subsection (a) shall in all respects comply with any standard that limits the trustee’s authority to make distributions from the first trust but
may be exercised whether or not the trustee would have been permitted to exercise the power to make a current outright distribution of all
of the trust assets in compliance with any such standard. For purposes of this subsection (a), an open class of beneficiaries identified in
the governing instrument for the first trust (such as, but not limited to, a class comprised of the descendants of a person who is living or
who has living descendants) is a proper object of the exercise of a power to make distributions and the exercise of such a power in favor
of a second trust having only beneficiaries, including unborn future beneficiaries, who are among the members of the open class satisfies
the requirement of paragraph (a)(1) of this section even if, pursuant to the terms of the governing instrument for the second trust, the class
remains, or might remain, open beyond the time when the class would have closed pursuant to the terms of the governing instrument for
the first trust; provided, however, that the governing instrument for the second trust shall not permit distributions to or among members of
the open class sooner than when or in excess of the amounts permitted by the governing instrument for the first trust. A trustee’s power,
pursuant to this subsection (a), to appoint principal in favor of the trustee of a second trust shall include the power to create the second trust.
(b) The exercise of the power to invade the principal or income or both of a trust under subsection (a) of this section shall be by an
instrument in writing, signed by the trustee.
(c) The exercise of the power to invade the principal of the trust under subsection (a) of this section shall be considered the exercise
of a power of appointment (other than a power to appoint to the trustee, the trustee’s creditors, the trustee’s estate, or the creditors of
the trustee’s estate) and shall be subject to the provisions of Chapter 5 of Title 25 covering the time at which the permissible period of
the rule against perpetuities begins and the law which determines the permissible period of the rule against perpetuities. Consequently, a
second trust may have a term that is longer than the term set forth in the governing instrument for the first trust, including, but not limited
to, a term measured by the lifetime of a current beneficiary.
(d) The provisions of this section shall not be construed to abridge the right of any trustee who has a power of invasion to appoint
property in further trust which arises under any other section of this chapter or under another statute or under common law.
(e) When exercising the authority granted under subsection (a) of this section, the trustee and any adviser directing or consenting to
the trustee’s exercise of such authority shall be held to the standard of care and the standard of liability applicable to the trustee and any
such adviser when making outright distributions, free from trust, to or for the benefit of 1 or more permissible distributees. No trustee or
adviser shall have a duty to exercise such authority nor, absent wilful misconduct, any liability to any person for failure to exercise such
authority or failure to consider whether to exercise such authority.
(f) This section shall be available to any trust that is administered in this State. Except as otherwise expressly prohibited in the governing
instrument for the first trust which granted the trustee the authority to invade the principal or income or both of the first trust to make
distributions to, or for the benefit of, 1 or more proper objects of the exercise of the power, the terms of the governing instrument for
the first trust are deemed to include the decanting power.
(g) The standard applicable to a trustee’s exercise of discretion under § 3315 of this title shall apply to a trustee’s authority under
this section.
(74 Del. Laws, c. 81, § 3; 74 Del. Laws, c. 271, § 2; 75 Del. Laws, c. 300, § 2; 76 Del. Laws, c. 90, § 3; 77 Del. Laws, c. 98, § 13;
78 Del. Laws, c. 117, §§ 6, 7; 79 Del. Laws, c. 172, § 3; 79 Del. Laws, c. 352, § 4; 80 Del. Laws, c. 153, § 4; 81 Del. Laws, c. 149,
§ 2; 81 Del. Laws, c. 320, § 5; 82 Del. Laws, c. 52, § 2; 82 Del. Laws, c. 278, § 2.)
Subchapter III
General Provisions
§ 3531 Renunciation by trustee named in trust instrument; filing and recording.
Whenever, by any will, deed or other instrument, a trustee is named and before the acceptance of the trust the person named as such
trustee renounces and declines to perform the duties imposed thereby, the trustee may make and file in the office of the Register in Chancery
of the county where such will, deed or instrument may be probated or recorded a written renunciation setting forth in general terms the
instrument of appointment and that trustee has not accepted the trust or exercised any powers or performed any duties thereunder and
trustee declines to act under such appointment. The Register in Chancery shall record and index such renunciation in the Chancery docket.
(Code 1915, § 3871; 33 Del. Laws, c. 230, § 1; Code 1935, § 4397; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 3531; 70 Del Laws, c. 186, § 1; 77 Del.
Laws, c. 98, § 14.)
§ 3532 Transfer of stocks, bonds or other corporate securities by trustee; certificate of Register in Chancery.
Upon the transfer by trustees of the stocks, bonds or other securities of any corporation, the certificate of the Register of the Court
of Chancery in which such trustee was appointed or other proper public official, according to the form and provisions of § 1572 of this
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title, shall be sufficient authority to the officers of such corporation to transfer or reissue such stocks, bonds or other securities to such
person as such trustee in writing directs.
(20 Del. Laws, c. 115, § 5; Code 1915, § 3878; Code 1935, § 4402; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 3532.)
§ 3533 Sale of trust property free from trust; procedure.
Upon petition of any trustee having the legal title to any property, real, personal or mixed, setting forth that the sale and conversion
thereof would be for the best interests of the trust estate and the persons beneficially interested in the trust, the Court of Chancery may,
by order made thereon in its discretion, except where such sale or conversion has been prohibited by the instrument creating the trust,
authorize and direct such trustee to sell the whole or so much as may be proper of such trust property and to transfer and convey the
same to the purchaser thereof, absolutely and in fee simple, freed from any trust and without liability on the part of such purchaser as to
the application of the purchase money. In cases where the sale or conversion of trust property has not been expressly prohibited by the
instrument creating the trust, but the instrument provides that the trustee shall sell or convert only with the consent of 1 or more persons
or makes the trustee’s power of sale contingent on 1 or more persons joining in its exercise, the Court of Chancery may confer upon the
trustee power to make the sale or conversion without such consent or without any 1 or more of such persons joining in the exercise of
such power of sale if any 1 or more of the persons required to consent or to join in such exercise of the trustee’s power of sale shall be
a minor, non compos mentis, have died, unreasonably withhold consent or be absent and unheard of and in the opinion of the Court the
sale or conversion is for the best interests of the trust estate and the persons beneficially interested therein. The proceeds of all sales made
under the authority of this section shall be held under and subject to the same trusts as those to which the property sold was subject and,
in cases where real property is to be sold, the trustee thereof shall first give sufficient bond, with surety to be approved by the Court,
for the preservation and protection of the proceeds of such sales for the purposes of the trust and subject to the orders and decrees of
the Court in the premises.
(20 Del. Laws, c. 115, § 4; Code 1915, § 3879; Code 1935, § 4403; 47 Del. Laws, c. 382, § 1; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 3533.)
§ 3534 Notice procedure.
Except as may be expressly provided in the trust instrument to the contrary, the following shall apply to any trust the administration
of which is governed by this title:
(1) Except for service or notice pursuant to a judicial proceeding whereby such matters are covered by an applicable court rule, any
notice of, or communication pertaining to, a trust by a fiduciary of such trust to a beneficiary, other fiduciary or other person having an
interest in the trust pursuant to the express terms of the trust instrument or by any such person to a fiduciary, including without limitation
notice required under § 3312 of this title, may be given to such person or such person’s representative under § 3547 of this title:
a. By regular U.S. mail or commercial carrier to the mailing address reasonably determined to be such person’s address;
b. By facsimile telecommunication to a number at which such person last consented to receive notice;
c. By electronic mail to an electronic mail address at which such person last consented to receive notice;
d. By a posting on an electronic network, provided notice of such posting is delivered to such person;
e. By any other form of electronic transmission as to which such person last consented to receive notice;
f. By regular U.S. mail or commercial carrier to the address at which such person last consented to receive notice; or
g. By such other manner reasonably suitable under the circumstances and likely to result in receipt.
(2) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code or other law, a trustee shall have no duty to confirm the reliability of an
approved address, and, without creating such a duty, a trustee may withhold notice, including to an approved address, while it exercises
reasonable diligence to obtain confirmation that it has a reliable address for such person.
(3) Any person may waive in writing the right to receive notice of a trust or other communications pertaining to a trust, and may
thereafter rescind such waiver in writing delivered to the trustee. A trustee without actual notice to the contrary may rely on the
representation of a predecessor trustee or a co-trustee pertaining to a waiver or rescission.
(4) For purposes of this section:
a. A “commercial carrier” shall mean a carrier authorized by the United States Department of the Treasury to deliver notices or
returns for purposes of satisfying delivery under the Internal Revenue Code.
b. The term “electronic transmission” shall mean any form of communication, not directly involving the physical transmission of
paper, that creates a record that may be retained, retrieved and reviewed by a recipient thereof, and that may be directly reproduced
in paper form by such a recipient through an automated process.
(78 Del. Laws, c. 117, § 8.)
§ 3535 Powers of appointment, rule against perpetuities and restraints on alienation.
The validity of an estate or interest in property created through the exercise of a power of appointment shall, for the purposes of any
rule or law against perpetuities, remoteness of vesting, restraint upon the power of alienation or accumulations, be governed by Chapter
5 of Title 25.
(12 Del. C. 1953, § 3535; 77 Del. Laws, c. 330, § 11.)
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§ 3536 Rights of creditors and assignees of beneficiary of trust [For application of this section, see 79 Del.
Laws, c. 172, § 6].
(a) Except as expressly provided in subsections (c) and (d) of this section, a creditor of a beneficiary of a trust shall have only such rights
against or with respect to such beneficiary’s interest in the trust or the property of the trust as shall be expressly granted to such creditor by
the terms of the instrument that creates or defines the trust or by the laws of this State. The provisions of this subsection shall be effective
regardless of the nature or extent of the beneficiary’s interest, whether or not such interest is subject to an exercise of discretion by the
trustee or other fiduciary, and shall be effective regardless of any action taken or that might be taken by the beneficiary. Every interest
in a trust or in trust property or the income therefrom that shall not be subject to the rights of creditors of such beneficiary as expressly
provided in this section shall be exempt from execution, attachment, distress for rent, foreclosure, garnishment and from all other legal or
equitable process or remedies instituted by or on behalf of any creditor, including, without limitation, actions at law or in equity against
a trustee or beneficiary that seeks a remedy that directly or indirectly affects a beneficiary’s interest such as, by way of illustration and
not of limitation, an order, whether such order be at the request of a creditor or on the court’s own motion or other action, that would:
(1) Compel the trustee or any other fiduciary or any beneficiary to notify the creditor of a distribution made or to be made from
the trust;
(2) Compel the trustee or beneficiary to make a distribution from the trust whether or not distributions from the trust are subject to
the exercise of discretion by a trustee or other fiduciary;
(3) Prohibit a trustee from making a distribution from the trust to or for the benefit of the beneficiary whether or not distributions
from the trust are subject to the exercise of discretion by a trustee or other fiduciary; or
(4) Compel the beneficiary to exercise a power of appointment or power of revocation over the trust.
Every direct or indirect assignment, or act having the effect of an assignment, whether voluntary or involuntary, by a beneficiary of
a trust of the beneficiary’s interest in the trust or the trust property or the income or other distribution therefrom that is unassignable
by the terms of the instrument that creates or defines the trust is void. No beneficiary may waive the application of this subsection (a).
For purposes of this subsection (a), the creditors of a beneficiary shall include, but not be limited to, any person that has a claim against
the beneficiary, the beneficiary’s estate, or the beneficiary’s property by reason of any forced heirship, legitime, marital elective share,
or similar rights. The provisions of this subsection shall apply to the interest of a trust beneficiary until the actual distribution of trust
property to the beneficiary. Regardless of whether a beneficiary has any outstanding creditor, a trustee may make direct payment of any
expense on behalf of such beneficiary to the extent permitted by the instrument that creates or defines the trust and may exhaust the
income and principal of the trust for the benefit of such beneficiary. A trustee shall not be liable to any creditor of a beneficiary for paying
the expenses of a beneficiary.
(b) Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this section, a beneficiary entitled to receive all or a part of the income of a trust shall have
the right to assign gratuitously in writing, at any time or from time to time, a stated fraction or percentage of the beneficiary’s entire
remaining income interest in such trust to the State or to any corporation, church, community chest, fund, or foundation authorized as
a deduction pursuant to §§ 1107, 1108, and 1109 of Title 30 and such assignment shall be valid and binding on all parties irrespective
of any restrictions on assignment contained in the instrument creating or defining the trust; provided, however, that this subsection shall
not authorize a beneficiary of such a trust to reduce any part of the beneficiary’s income interest which is subject to such restrictions on
assignment below 50% of what such interest would be if no assignments were made under this subsection. Any interest assigned under
this subsection, together with a corresponding portion of the corpus of the trust, shall be treated as a separate share and thereafter no
provision of the trust permitting invasion of corpus for the benefit of the assignor shall be exercisable with respect to such share.
(c) Except as provided in subchapter VI of this Chapter 35, if the trustor is also a beneficiary of a trust, a provision that restrains
the voluntary or involuntary transfer of the trustor’s beneficial interest shall not prevent such trustor’s creditors from satisfying their
respective claims from the trustor’s interest in the trust to the extent that such interest is attributable to the trustor’s contributions to the
trust. The trustor shall not be considered a beneficiary for purposes of this section, and a trustor’s creditors may not satisfy their respective
claims from the trust, merely because:
(1) The trustor may be named as an additional trust beneficiary;
(2) The trustee, under the governing instrument or § 3344 of this title, may, in its discretion (or at the direction of or with the consent
of an adviser other than the trustor), reimburse the trustor for any income tax liability attributable to the trust;
(3) The trustor is a proper object of the exercise of a power of appointment over trust property held by someone other than the
trustor; or
(4) The trustor has retained a beneficial interest that is contingent upon surviving the trustor’s spouse (or surviving until the release
of an interest by such a spouse under subsection (e) of this section) such as, but not limited to, an interest in an inter vivos marital
deduction trust in which the interest of the trustor’s spouse is treated as qualified terminable interest property under § 2523(f) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. § 2523(f)), as amended, an interest in an inter vivos marital deduction trust that is treated as
a general power of appointment trust for which a marital deduction would be allowed under § 2523(a) and (e) of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. § 2523(a) and (e)), as amended, and an interest in an inter vivos trust commonly known as a “credit shelter
trust’' that used all or a portion of the trustor’s unified credit under § 2505 of the Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C. § 2505), as amended.
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Further, a beneficiary of a trust shall not be considered a trustor of the trust merely because of a lapse, waiver, or release of the
beneficiary’s right to withdraw all or a part of the trust property.
(d) For purposes of subsection (a) of this section, a creditor shall have no right against the interest of a beneficiary of a trust or against
the beneficiary or trustee of the trust with respect to such interest unless:
(1) The beneficiary has a power to appoint all or part of the trust property to the beneficiary, the beneficiary’s estate, the beneficiary’s
creditors, or the creditors of the beneficiary’s estate by will or other instrument such that the appointment would take effect only upon
the beneficiary’s death and the beneficiary actually exercises such power in favor of the beneficiary, the beneficiary’s creditors, the
beneficiary’s estate, or the creditors of the beneficiary’s estate but then only to the extent of such exercise.
(2) The beneficiary has a power to appoint all or part of the trust property to the beneficiary, the beneficiary’s creditors, the
beneficiary’s estate, or the creditors of the beneficiary’s estate during the beneficiary’s lifetime and the beneficiary actually exercises
such power in favor of the beneficiary, the beneficiary’s creditors, the beneficiary’s estate, or the creditors of the beneficiary’s estate
but then only to the extent of such exercise.
(3) The beneficiary has the power to revoke the trust in whole or in part during the beneficiary’s lifetime and, upon such revocation,
the trust or the part thereof so revoked would be possessed by the beneficiary. This paragraph shall have no application to any part of
the trust that may not be so revoked by the beneficiary.
(e) Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this section, a beneficiary of a charitable remainder unitrust or charitable-remainder annuity trust
as such terms are defined in § 664 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. § 664) and any successor provision thereto, shall have
the right, at any time and from time to time, by written instrument delivered to trustee, to release such beneficiary’s retained interest in
such a trust, in whole or in part, to a charitable organization that has or charitable organizations that have a succeeding beneficial interest in
such trust. Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this section, a beneficiary may also disclaim an interest in a trust pursuant to Chapter 6 of this
title. In addition, notwithstanding subsection (a) of this section, a trustor’s spouse holding an interest in a trust described in subsection (c)
of this section shall have the right, at any time and from time to time, by written instrument delivered to the trustee, to release such spouse’s
interest in such trust, in whole or in part, to the beneficiary or beneficiaries having the next succeeding beneficial interest in such trust.
(Code 1915, § 3907(b); 38 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1; Code 1935, § 4415; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 3536; 52 Del. Laws, c. 199, § 1; 70 Del
Laws, c. 186, § 1; 73 Del. Laws, c. 71, § 1; 74 Del. Laws, c. 81, § 4; 75 Del. Laws, c. 97, § 6; 75 Del. Laws, c. 301, § 7; 76 Del.
Laws, c. 90, §§ 4, 5; 76 Del. Laws, c. 254, § 9; 77 Del. Laws, c. 98, §§ 15, 16; 77 Del. Laws, c. 330, § 12; 79 Del. Laws, c. 172, §
3; 79 Del. Laws, c. 352, § 4; 81 Del. Laws, c. 320, § 5; 82 Del. Laws, c. 52, § 2.)
§ 3537 Conveyance of realty by infant trustee.
Any person under the age of 18 years, having real estate in trust for others, may, by direction of the Court of Chancery given upon
hearing all parties concerned on the petition of those for whom such infant is trustee or of the guardian of such infant, convey and assure
such real estate, in such manner as the Court directs, to any other person. Such conveyance shall be as good and effectual in law as if
the infant was of full age. Such infant may be compelled to execute such order, in like manner as trustees of full age are compellable
to convey or assure trust estates.
(Code 1852, § 1947; Code 1915, § 3862; Code 1935, § 4386; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 3537; 58 Del. Laws, c. 511, § 16.)
§ 3538 Testamentary trusts; certification of by Register of Wills to Register in Chancery; record.
(a) When a will that has been probated before the Register of Wills for any of the counties of the State contains a bequest or devise in
trust to pay the income arising from any part of the estate of the testator to or for the benefit of a person other than the person named as
trustee and the will requires the filing of accounts with 1 of the Registers in Chancery, the Register of Wills before whom the probate is
made shall, within 10 days after the closing of the estate, deliver to the Register in Chancery for that county a certificate setting forth the
name and last address of the testator, the date of the probate of the testator’s will, the name and address of the trustee appointed thereby
and the provisions of the will relating to said trust or trusts. This section shall apply only in those instances:
(1) Where the documents closing the estate show a balance in the hands of the personal representative that can be distributed to
the trust in order to fund it; and
(2) That terms exist, as stated in the will, for the creation of the trust.
In those instances where it is clear that no notice of the trust need be given to the Register in Chancery, the Register of Wills shall note
on its files that no notice of the trust was given to it and state why.
(b) The Register in Chancery for the several counties shall keep a record in which shall be entered the names of the testators, the names
and post-office addresses of the trustees, the dates of their appointment or the dates upon which their trusts become operative and the
dates on which their accounts are passed and shall file the certificates delivered to them by the Register of Wills among the records of
their offices.
(25 Del. Laws, c. 226, § 1; Code 1915, § 3873; Code 1935, § 4399; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 3538; 70 Del Laws, c. 186, § 1; 75 Del.
Laws, c. 189, § 3; 77 Del. Laws, c. 98, § 17.)
§ 3539 Charitable trust; sale of timber on lands; application of proceeds.
The Court of Chancery may, when in its judgment the exercise thereof will promote the interests of the charity, direct wood or timber
growing on land conveyed or devised for charitable uses to be cut and sold and the proceeds applied to repairs or the purchase of lime
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or other manures and making other improvements of such real estate. This section shall apply only to cases where the whole interest in
the land is the subject of charitable uses.
(Code 1852, § 1948; Code 1915, § 3881; Code 1935, § 4405; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 3539.)
§ 3540 Powers and duties of certain trustees.
All trustees of any trust governed by the laws of this State whose governing instrument or instruments do not expressly provide that
this section shall not apply to such trust are required to act or to refrain from acting so as not to subject the trust to the taxes imposed
by §§ 4941 (relating to taxes on self-dealing), 4942 (relating to taxes on failure to distribute income), 4943 (relating to taxes on excess
business holdings), 4944 (relating to taxes on investments which jeopardize charitable purpose) or 4945 (relating to taxable expenditures)
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 [26 U.S.C. §§ 4941-4945], or corresponding provisions of any subsequent United States internal
revenue law.
(12 Del. C. 1953, § 3540; 58 Del. Laws, c. 88.)
§ 3541 Administration of charitable trusts or noncharitable purpose trusts; cy pres rule.
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code or other law, a trust having any religious, charitable, scientific, literary or
educational purpose (collectively, hereinafter referred to as a “charitable purpose”) or a noncharitable purpose shall not be modified to
alter or eliminate such purpose except pursuant to § 3342 of this title or pursuant to this section. Subject to subsection (b) of this section,
if a particular charitable purpose or noncharitable purpose becomes unlawful under the Constitution of this State or the United States or
the trust would otherwise no longer serve any charitable or noncharitable purpose:
(1) The trust does not fail in whole or in part;
(2) The trust property does not revert to the trustor or the trustor’s successors in interest; and
(3) The Court of Chancery shall modify or terminate the trust and direct that the trust property be applied or distributed, in whole or in
part, in a manner consistent with the trustor’s charitable or noncharitable purposes, whether or not such purposes be specific or general.
(b) The power of the Court of Chancery to modify or terminate a charitable or noncharitable purpose trust, as provided in subsection (a)
of this section, is in all cases subject to a contrary provision in the terms of the trust instrument, whether such contrary provision directs
that the trust property be distributed to a charitable or noncharitable beneficiary.
(c) For purposes of this section, a “noncharitable purpose” is a purpose within the meaning of § 3555 or § 3556 of this title.
(62 Del. Laws, c. 131, § 1; 70 Del Laws, c. 186, § 1; 72 Del. Laws, c. 388, § 8; 76 Del. Laws, c. 90, § 6; 76 Del. Laws, c. 254, §
10; 81 Del. Laws, c. 149, § 2.)
§ 3542 Termination of small trusts [For application of this section, see 80 Del. Laws, c. 153, § 5].
(a) Unless otherwise provided by the terms of the trust instrument, and subject to the other subsections of this section, a trustee of a
trust (other than a trustee who is a settlor or beneficiary of the trust or who may be removed as trustee, by action of 1 or more settlors
or beneficiaries and replaced as trustee, by action of the person or persons exercising the removal power, with a successor trustee who
is either among the persons exercising the removal and replacement power or who is related or subordinate, within the meaning of §
672(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. 672(c)), as amended, to any such person exercising the removal and replacement
power), who finds that the costs of administration thereof are such that the continuance of the trust would defeat or substantially impair
the purpose of the trust, may, after written notice to all interested persons, or their legal or natural guardians, terminate the trust and
distribute the trust property to 1 or more of the beneficiaries in the trustee’s discretion. No court proceedings or approval is required to
effect such a termination.
(b) Any interested person shall have 30 days after receiving written notice in accordance with this section to object to the termination
or plan of distribution in writing to such trustee. If the trustee has received no written objection to the proposed termination or plan of
distribution within such 30-day period, it may proceed to terminate the trust.
(c) A trustee which receives a written objection to the proposed plan of distribution of a trust within 30 days of the last day on which
any interested person received written notice may reformulate the proposed plan of distribution and renotify all interested persons of its
intentions. Such renotification shall begin again the 30-day period referred to in subsection (b) of this section.
(d) A trustee which receives a written objection to the termination or plan of distribution of a trust within 30 days of the last day on
which any interested person received written notice may proceed to terminate the trust in accordance with the plan of distribution, without
court proceeding or approval, notwithstanding the objection, provided that all interested persons have been further notified in writing of
such objection, of the trustee’s intention to proceed to terminate such trust notwithstanding such objection, and of their right to petition the
Court to prevent the termination or modify the plan of distribution within 6 months from the mailing of such further notice, and provided
that at least 6 months have elapsed since such further notice was sent by the trustee, or the trustee has received a written waiver of the
right to petition the Court from all interested persons.
(e) Any interested person, within 6 months of the mailing of such further notice of the trustee’s intention to proceed with termination,
notwithstanding an objection, may petition the Court to prevent such termination or modify the plan of distribution, or may send to the
trustee a written waiver of such right to petition.
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(f) The written notice required by this section shall state:
(1) That the trustee intends to terminate the trust in accordance with this section;
(2) The plan of distribution;
(3) That any interested person may object to such termination or plan of distribution in a writing received by the trustee within 30
days of receipt of such notice by such interested person; and
(4) That the trustee may proceed to terminate the trust, notwithstanding any objection to such termination or plan of distribution,
6 months after the trustee further notifies all interested persons of such objection and its intention to proceed with the termination
notwithstanding such objection;
provided, that such notice shall inform interested persons that application may be made to the Court of Chancery to prevent the proposed
termination.
(g) For purposes of this section, the term “interested person” means any living person or existing organization who is a current income
beneficiary, or who would be a vested remainderman of the trust if the trust were to terminate at the time of the notification, and the
Delaware Attorney General in the case of a charitable trust.
(h) The existence of spendthrift or similar protective provisions in a trust shall not make this section inapplicable.
(65 Del. Laws, c. 422, § 7; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1; 80 Del. Laws, c. 153, § 4.)
§ 3543 Distribution of estate or trust assets without creation of trust.
If the terms of a will or a writing creating a trust, including, but not limited to an inter vivos trust agreement, provide for the establishment
of a trust all the assets of which, due to the circumstances existing at the time the trust is to be established, are required to be distributed
to the trust’s beneficiary or beneficiaries immediately, the executor, trustee, or other party having possession of the property with which
such trust will be established, is authorized to make direct distribution to the beneficiary or beneficiaries of the trust, rather than to the
trustee, without the necessity of a Court petition. The receipts of such beneficiaries shall protect the executor, trustee, or other party having
possession of the property with which such trust would be established, to the same extent as the receipt of the trustee.
(65 Del. Laws, c. 422, § 7; 76 Del. Laws, c. 90, § 7.)
§ 3544 Successor trustee.
Unless provided otherwise by the terms of the governing instrument or by order of court, in the absence of actual knowledge of a
breach of trust, or information concerning a possible breach of trust that would cause a reasonable person to inquire, a successor trustee
appointed in accordance with the terms of the governing instrument, by the court, or by nonjudicial settlement agreement, is under no
duty to examine the accounts and records of a predecessor trustee, is under no duty to inquire into or confirm the validity of a governing
instrument or actions by a predecessor trustee altering or modifying a governing instrument or to inquire into the acts or omissions of
its predecessor, is not liable for any failure to seek redress for any act or omission of any predecessor trustee, shall have responsibility
only for property which is actually delivered to it by its predecessor, and shall have all of the powers and discretions conferred in the
governing instrument upon the original trustee.
(65 Del. Laws, c. 422, § 7; 66 Del. Laws, c. 376, § 1; 79 Del. Laws, c. 352, § 4; 82 Del. Laws, c. 52, § 2.)
§ 3545 Limitations on oral trusts; execution requirements for written trusts [For application of this section,
see 81 Del. Laws, c. 320, § 8].
(a) Except as otherwise required by this Code, the creation, modification or revocation of a trust whereby a person other than the trustor
acquires or is divested of an interest in the trust the possession or enjoyment of which is contingent upon surviving the trustor shall be
void unless such creation, modification or revocation be:
(1) In a writing executed by the trustor (or by some person subscribing the trustor’s name in the trustor’s presence and by the trustor’s
express direction) and witnessed in writing in the trustor’s presence by at least 1 disinterested person or 2 credible persons; or
(2) In a writing executed by a trustee who is a disinterested person without regard to whether any other person, including the trustor,
has executed the writing.
For purposes of this section, a disinterested person is one who has no beneficial interest in the trust that would be materially increased
or decreased as a result of the creation, modification or revocation of the trust and a notary public or similar official may serve as a witness
in cases where such official is a disinterested or credible person without regard to whether such notary public or similar official signs
the writing as a witness or solely in a notarial capacity. Unless otherwise expressly prohibited by the terms of a writing described in this
subsection, then—subject to the foregoing requirements regarding witnesses—such writing may be executed in counterparts.
(b) A trust created by a writing shall not be void merely because of the application of subsection (a) of this section if such writing was
validly executed in compliance with the law, at the time of execution, of the place which serves as the initial place of administration of
the trust, or, if the trust is not yet actively administered, the initial situs of the trust.
(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (a) and (b) of this section, a trust instrument that by its express terms is revocable
by the trustor during the trustor’s lifetime may refer to a written statement or list to dispose of items of tangible personal property not
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otherwise specifically disposed of by the trust instrument, other than money, evidences of indebtedness, documents of title, and securities,
and property used in trade or business. To be enforceable under this section, as though part of the trust, the writing:
(1) Must either be in the handwriting of the trustor or be signed by the trustor and must identify the items and the legatees with
reasonable certainty;
(2) Must not be inconsistent with the terms of the trust instrument; and
(3) Must not be inconsistent with any other writing permitted by this subsection unless the writing is dated in which case the writing
with the latest date will control.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of a writing that includes both provisions for dispositions that are consistent with the terms
of the trust or any other writing permitted by this section and provisions for dispositions that are inconsistent with the terms of the trust or
any other writing permitted by this section, such writing shall be admissible under this section as evidence of the intended disposition of
those items of tangible personal property that would be disposed of by the provisions of the writing that are not inconsistent with the terms
of the trust or any other writing permitted by this section. The writing may be referred to as one in existence at the time of the trustor’s
death; it may be prepared before or after the execution of the trust instrument; it may be altered by the trustor after its preparation; and it
may be a writing which has no significance apart from its effect upon the dispositions made by the trust instrument. This subsection (c)
shall apply only with respect to dispositions intended to take effect upon the death of the trustor, although such a writing may direct that
an item or items of tangible personal property shall be administered as part of a trust or trusts created under the trust pursuant to terms of
the trust instrument that were executed pursuant to the provisions of subsections (a) and (b) of this section.
(72 Del. Laws, c. 388, § 1; 74 Del. Laws, c. 271, § 3; 77 Del. Laws, c. 98, § 18; 81 Del. Laws, c. 149, § 2; 81 Del. Laws, c. 320, §
5; 82 Del. Laws, c. 52, § 2.)
§ 3546 Limitation on action contesting validity of trusts [For application of this section, see 80 Del. Laws, c.
153, § 5].
(a) A judicial proceeding to contest whether a revocable trust or any amendment thereto, or an irrevocable trust was validly created
may not be initiated later than the first to occur of:
(1) One hundred twenty days after the date that the trustee notified in writing the person who is contesting the trust of the trust’s
existence, of the trustee’s name and address, of whether such person is a beneficiary, and of the time allowed under this section for
initiating a judicial proceeding to contest the trust provided, however, that no trustee shall have any liability under the governing
instrument or to any third party or otherwise for failure to provide any such written notice. For purposes of this paragraph, notice shall
have been given when received by the person to whom the notice was given and, absent evidence to the contrary, it shall be presumed
that notice mailed or delivered to the last known address of such person constitutes receipt by such person.
(2) Two years after the trustor’s death;
(3) If the trust was revocable at the trustor’s death and the trust was specifically referred to in the trustor’s last will, the time in which
a petition for review of a will could be filed under this title; or
(4) The date the person’s right to contest was precluded by adjudication, consent or other limitation.
(b) Upon the death of the trustor of a trust that was revocable at the time of the trustor’s death, the trustee may proceed to distribute
the trust property in accordance with the terms of the trust. This distribution may be made without liability unless the trustee has actual
knowledge of a pending judicial proceeding to contest the validity of the trust, or is notified by a potential contestant of a possible contest,
followed by its initiation within 30 days of such notice.
(c) Until a contest is barred under subsection (a) of this section, a beneficiary of what later turns out to have been an invalid trust is
liable to return any distribution received.
(d) For purposes of paragraph (a)(1) of this section, a person is deemed to have been given any notice that has been given to any other
person who under § 3547 of this title may represent and bind such person.
(72 Del. Laws, c. 388, § 2; 74 Del. Laws, c. 81, § 5; 75 Del. Laws, c. 97, § 7; 78 Del. Laws, c. 117, § 9; 79 Del. Laws, c. 197, § 2;
80 Del. Laws, c. 153, § 4; 81 Del. Laws, c. 149, § 2.)
§ 3547 Representation by person with a substantially identical interest [For application of this section, see 79
Del. Laws, c. 172, § 6].
(a) Unless otherwise represented, a minor, person who is incapacitated, or unborn person, or a person whose identity or location is
unknown and not reasonably ascertainable (hereinafter referred to as an “unascertainable person”), may for all purposes be represented
by and bound by another who has a substantially identical interest with respect to the particular question or dispute but only to the extent
that there is no material conflict of interest between the representative and the person represented with respect to the particular question
or dispute.
(b) A presumptive remainder beneficiary or the person or persons authorized to represent the presumptive remainder beneficiary under
any other subsection of this section may represent and bind contingent successor remainder beneficiaries for the same purposes, in the
same circumstances, and to the same extent as an ascertainable competent beneficiary may represent and bind a minor or person who is
incapacitated, unborn or unascertainable. In addition, a contingent successor remainder beneficiary or the person or persons authorized
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to represent the contingent successor remainder beneficiary under any other subsection of this section may represent and bind more
remote contingent successor remainder beneficiaries for the same purposes, in the same circumstances, and to the same extent as an
ascertainable competent beneficiary may represent and bind a minor or person who is incapacitated, unborn or unascertainable. As used
in this subsection (b):
(1) A "presumptive remainder beneficiary" means as of any date, a beneficiary who, as of any date and but for the exercise of any
power of appointment, would receive income or principal of the trust if the trust were to terminate as of that date (without regard to
the exercise of any power of appointment) or, if the trust does not provide for its termination, a beneficiary who would receive or be
eligible to receive distributions of income or principal of the trust if all of the beneficiaries currently receiving or eligible to receive
distributions of income or principal were deceased;
(2) A "contingent successor remainder beneficiary" means a beneficiary who would succeed to the interest of a presumptive remainder
beneficiary in the circumstances described in paragraph (b)(1) of this section above if the presumptive remainder beneficiary and all
of the trust's other beneficiaries, if any, failed to take such interest; and
(3) A contingent successor remainder beneficiary shall be considered "more remote" than any other beneficiary whose interest must
fail in order for such contingent successor remainder beneficiary to take the interest.
(c) The holder of a general testamentary or inter vivos power of appointment—or a nongeneral testamentary or inter vivos power of
appointment that is expressly exercisable in favor of any person or persons, excepting such holder, his or her estate, his or her creditors,
or the creditors of his or her estate—may, with the consent of any person whose consent would be required for the valid exercise of the
power, represent and bind persons whose interests, as takers in default, are subject to the power, but, in the case of any such nongeneral
power of appointment, only to the extent that there is no material conflict of interest between the holder and the persons represented with
respect to the particular question or dispute.
(d) In the case of a trust having a beneficiary who is a minor or incapacitated who may not be represented by another pursuant to
subsection (a) or subsection (b) of this section, the surviving and competent parent or parents or custodial parent (in cases where 1 parent
has sole custody of the beneficiary), or guardian of the property of the beneficiary may represent and bind the beneficiary for purposes of
any judicial proceeding or nonjudicial matter pertaining to the trust; provided that, in the case of a beneficiary represented by 1 or both
parents, there is no material conflict of interest between the beneficiary who is a minor or incapacitated and either of such beneficiary's
parents with respect to the particular question or dispute. In the case of a trust having a potential beneficiary who is unborn who may not
be represented by another pursuant to subsection (a) of this section or subsection (b) of this section, the parent of such unborn beneficiary
may represent and bind such unborn beneficiary for purposes of any judicial proceeding or nonjudicial matter pertaining to the trust;
provided that there is no material conflict of interest between such unborn beneficiary and such unborn beneficiary's parent with respect
to the particular question or dispute. Furthermore, a representative under either of the preceding sentences may, for all purposes, represent
and bind another minor, incapacitated, unborn, or unascertainable person who has an interest, with respect to the particular question
or dispute, that is substantially identical to the interest of the beneficiary who is a minor or incapacitated or unborn represented by the
representative, but only to the extent that there is no material conflict of interest between the beneficiary who is a minor or incapacitated
or unborn represented by the representative and the minor, incapacitated, unborn, or unascertainable person with respect to the particular
question or dispute.
(e) Unless otherwise provided in the governing instrument, the provisions of this section shall apply for purposes of any judicial
proceeding and for purposes of any nonjudicial matter. For purposes of this section, judicial proceedings shall include any proceeding
before a court or administrative tribunal of this State, including a proceeding that involves a trust whether or not the administration of
the trust is governed by the laws of this State, and nonjudicial matters include, but are not limited to, the grant of consents, releases or
ratifications pursuant to § 3588 of this title and the measurement of the limitation period described in § 3585 of this title.
(f) For purposes of this section, there is a presumption that a material conflict of interest exists between the representative and each
trust beneficiary in any judicial proceeding or nonjudicial matter:
(1) In which the representative would, as a result of the judicial proceeding or nonjudicial matter, be appointed to a fiduciary or
nonfiduciary office or role relating to the trust unless the representative presently serves in a fiduciary or nonfiduciary office or role
relating to the trust and will not receive greater authority, broader discretion, or increased protection by reason of the new appointment;
(2) In which the representative currently holds a fiduciary or nonfiduciary office or role relating to the trust and, as a result of the
judicial proceeding or nonjudicial matter, will receive greater authority, broader discretion, or increased protection, including but not
limited to any limitation on exculpation from, or indemnification for any existing or potential future liability; or
(3) In which the representative has any other actual or potential conflict of interest with the represented beneficiaries with respect
to the particular question or dispute, including but not limited to a conflict resulting from a differing investment horizon or an interest
in present income over capital growth.
(g) For purposes of this section, when a trust (the "beneficiary trust") is a beneficiary of another trust, the beneficiary trust shall be
represented by its trustee or, if the beneficiary trust is not in existence, the beneficiary trust shall be represented by those persons who
would be beneficiaries of the beneficiary trust if the beneficiary trust were then in existence.
(70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 3; 72 Del. Laws, c. 388, § 3; 76 Del. Laws, c. 90, § 8; 77 Del. Laws, c. 98, § 19; 78 Del. Laws, c. 117, §
10; 78 Del. Laws, c. 179, §§ 80-82; 79 Del. Laws, c. 172, § 3; 81 Del. Laws, c. 320, § 5; 82 Del. Laws, c. 52, § 2.)
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§ 3548 Limited purpose trust companies; general powers of appointment.
(a) Any power conferred upon a limited purpose trust company formed under Chapter 7 of Title 5 in its capacity as a fiduciary which
would, except for this section, constitute in whole or in part a general power of appointment if such power were held by any officer,
director or shareholder of the limited purpose trust company may only be exercised in the manner provided in subsection (b) of this section.
(b) A power described in subsection (a) of this section may, to the extent permissible under such power, be exercised as follows:
(1) The limited purpose trust company may exercise the power in favor of a person other than any officer, director or shareholder
of the limited purpose trust company.
(2) The limited purpose trust company may only exercise the power in favor of, or for the benefit of (including in discharge of
a support obligation), an officer, director or shareholder of the limited purpose trust company to provide for that person’s health,
education, support or maintenance as described under Internal Revenue Code §§ 2041 and 2514 [26 U.S.C. § 2041 or § 2514].
(3) If the power described in subsection (a) of this section is conferred upon 2 or more fiduciaries, it may be exercised by the fiduciary
or fiduciaries who are not disqualified from exercising the power as if such fiduciary or fiduciaries were the only fiduciary or fiduciaries.
(4) If all of the serving fiduciaries are disqualified from exercising a power, the court that would have jurisdiction to appoint a
fiduciary under the instrument if there were no fiduciary currently serving may appoint a special fiduciary whose only power is to
exercise the power that cannot be exercised by the other fiduciaries by reason of subsection (a) of this section.
(5) Subsection (a) of this section shall not apply to any power to the extent that it is exercisable in favor of:
a. The settlor of a trust that is revocable or amendable by the settlor;
b. A decedent’s or settlor’s spouse who is a beneficiary of a trust for which a marital deduction has been allowed; or
c. The settlor of a trust holding property that is the subject of a qualified disposition within the meaning of § 3570(7) of this title,
unless the settlor has retained a special power of appointment described in § 3570(11)b.2. of this title.
(c) Any power conferred upon a limited purpose trust company in its capacity as a fiduciary to allocate receipts and expenses as between
income and principal in favor of an officer, director or shareholder of the limited purpose trust company must be exercised in accordance
with Chapter 61 of this title.
(d) “General power of appointment” means any power that would cause income to be taxed to a taxpayer in that taxpayer’s individual
capacity under § 678 [26 U.S.C. § 678] of the Internal Revenue Code, and any power that would be a general power of appointment, in
whole or in part, under § 2041(b)(1) or § 2514(c) of the Internal Revenue Code [26 U.S.C. § 2041(b)(1) or § 2514(c)].
(e) “Internal Revenue Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 [26 U.S.C. § 1, et seq.], as amended.
(f) “Fiduciary” has the meaning set forth in § 3301 of Title 12.
(g) This section applies to all fiduciary relationships in existence on May 14, 2001 and to all other fiduciary relationships that come into
existence after that date. The provisions of this section are declaratory of existing law, and neither modify nor amend existing fiduciary
relationships.
(73 Del. Laws, c. 37, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1.)
§ 3549 Marital deduction gift; compliance with Internal Revenue Code; fiduciary powers.
(a) If a governing instrument contains a marital deduction gift, the governing instrument shall be construed to comply with the marital
deduction provisions of the Internal Revenue Code in every respect.
(b) If a governing instrument contains a marital deduction gift, any fiduciary operating under the governing instrument has all the
powers, duties, and discretionary authority necessary to comply with the marital deduction provisions of the Internal Revenue Code. The
fiduciary shall not take any action or have any power that may impair that deduction, but this does not require the fiduciary to make the
election under § 2056(b)(7) or § 2523(f) of the Internal Revenue Code [26 U.S.C. § 2056(b)(7) or § 2523(f)].
(c) For purposes of this section, “marital deduction gift” means a gift intended to qualify for the marital deduction as indicated by
a preponderance of the evidence including the governing instrument and extrinsic evidence whether or not the governing instrument is
found to be ambiguous.
(d) For purposes of this section, “Internal Revenue Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. § 1 et seq.), as amended,
or any corresponding federal tax statute enacted hereafter.
(76 Del. Laws, c. 90, § 9.)
Subchapter IV
Trusts for Cemeteries and Other Noncharitable Purposes
§ 3551 Burial lots; perpetuities.
(a) Any owner of any burial lot or plot in any cemetery in this State, whether or not there shall then have been an interment in the lot
or plot, may convey it in trust to the corporation owning or maintaining the cemetery or to any trust company, bank or banking company
of this State or to any bank or banking company organized under the laws of the United States and doing business in this State and such
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corporation, trust company, bank or banking company may hold the title thereto in perpetuity or for any shorter time for the use and
benefit of the owner of the lot or plot and for the protection of the bodies theretofore interred therein or which may thereafter be interred
therein, pursuant to the terms of the deed of trust. Before any such conveyance shall be made the corporation owning or conducting the
cemetery in which the lot or plot is located shall, by a resolution of its board of directors or managers passed at a regular meeting of
the board, authorize the conveyance.
(b) A trust for the care and maintenance of any burial lot or cemetery plot, or for the construction or maintenance of any monument,
marker or other additions thereto, is valid.
(40 Del. Laws, c. 223, § 1; Code 1935, § 3964; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 3551; 75 Del. Laws, c. 301, § 2.)
§ 3552 Powers of cemetery corporation as to trust funds.
Any corporation created and existing under the laws of this State and owning 1 or more cemeteries in this State may take and hold, in
perpetuity or for any shorter time, any real or personal property which shall be given, granted, devised or bequeathed to the corporation
upon the trust to invest and reinvest the property and to use and apply the income thereof for:
(1) The care, improvement or embellishment of such cemetery or cemeteries or of any 1 or more lot or lots therein; or
(2) The erection or preservation of any buildings, structures or fences erected or to be erected upon any 1 or more of the lot or lots
in the cemetery or cemeteries; or
(3) The erection, repair, preservation or renewal of any tomb, tombstone, monument, gravestone, mausoleum, fence, railing or other
erection in, on or around any lot or lots; or
(4) Planting and cultivating trees, shrubs, flowers or plants in, on or around any such lot or lots; or
(5) Any and all of such purposes, in accordance with the terms and provisions of such gift, grant, devise or bequest, which terms
and provisions may restrict the use and application of the income of the trust fund to any 1 lot whether owned by the donor of the
trust fund or by any other person or persons.
(40 Del. Laws, c. 222, § 1; Code 1935, § 3964; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 3552.)
§ 3553 Sale of real estate and proceeds.
Any real estate given, granted or devised to a cemetery corporation in trust, in accordance with § 3552 of this title, other than a lot
or lots in the cemetery or cemeteries, may be sold and conveyed by the cemetery corporation at its discretion and the proceeds thereof
shall be held under the same uses and trusts and subject to the same limitations as applied to the real estate before the sale thereof, but
the donor of the real estate may provide otherwise in the trust instrument.
(40 Del. Laws, c. 222, § 2; Code 1935, § 3964; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 3553.)
§ 3554 Perpetual care burial lots.
(a) Whenever a person, partnership or corporation engaged in the business of selling burial lots with perpetual care for profit shall sell
any burial lot with perpetual care, it shall deposit in a bank and trust company, trust company or national banking association having
fiduciary powers, a sum equal to at least one tenth of the gross sales price of such lot as a permanent lot care fund for the maintenance
of burial lots sold with perpetual care and shall designate such banking institution as trustee of such fund. The permanent lot care fund
so established shall be invested in compliance with Chapter 33 of this title and the trustee shall pay at least semiannually the net income
from the fund to the person, partnership or corporation for the perpetual care and preservation of the burial lots sold with perpetual care.
(b) Any person, partnership or corporation engaged in the business of selling burial lots shall keep a record of all sales of burial lots
showing the name of the purchaser or lessee, whether such lot was sold with perpetual care and the gross sales price. Such records shall
be made available to the Attorney General of this State for inspection.
(12 Del. C. 1953, § 3554; 55 Del. Laws, c. 397; 65 Del. Laws, c. 341, § 1.)
§ 3555 Trust for care of an animal.
(a) A trust for the care of 1 or more specific animals living at the trustor’s death is valid. The trust terminates upon the death of all
animals living at the trustor’s death and covered by the terms of the trust.
(b) A trust authorized by subsection (a) of this section shall not be invalid because it lacks an identifiable person as beneficiary.
(c) A trust authorized by subsection (a) of this section may be enforced by a person appointed in the terms of the trust or, if there is no
such person or if the last such person no longer is willing and able to serve, by a person appointed by the Court of Chancery. A person
who has an interest in the welfare of the animal or animals other than a general public interest may petition the Court of Chancery for an
order that appoints a person to enforce the terms of the trust or to remove that person.
(d) Property of a trust authorized by this section may be applied only to its intended use. Upon the termination of the trust, any property
of the trust remaining shall be distributed in accordance with the terms of the trust or, in the absence of such terms, as provided in §
3592 of this title.
(e) In the case of a trust created in accordance with subsection (a) of this section, a trustor or other owner of an animal for whose
benefit the trust was created may transfer ownership of the animal to the trustee at or subsequent to the creation of the trust. Subject to
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any contrary provision in the trust or other instrument by which ownership of the animal is given or bequeathed, if the person to whom
ownership of the animal is given or bequeathed disclaims or releases such ownership, ownership of the animal shall pass to the trustee
upon such disclaimer or release.
(f) The trustee of a trust created in accordance with subsection (a) of this section shall provide care for the benefit of the animal in
accordance with the terms of the trust or, in the absence of any such terms, shall provide care that is reasonable under the circumstances.
The trustee may employ agents or contractors to provide any such care and pay for such care from the assets of the trust.
(g) For purposes of this section, the term “animal” shall include any nonhuman member of the animal kingdom but shall exclude plants
and inanimate objects.
(75 Del. Laws, c. 301, § 3; 76 Del. Laws, c. 254, § 11.)
§ 3556 Trust for other noncharitable purposes.
(a) In addition to the provisions of § 3555 of this title, a trust for a declared purpose that is not impossible of attainment is valid
notwithstanding that the trust might not be deemed to be for charitable purposes.
(b) A trust authorized by subsection (a) of this section shall not be invalid because it lacks an identifiable person as beneficiary.
(c) A trust authorized by subsection (a) of this section may be enforced by a person appointed in the terms of the trust or, if there is no
such person or if the last such person no longer is willing and able to serve, by a person appointed by the Court of Chancery. A person
who has an interest in the declared purpose of the trust other than a general public interest may petition the Court of Chancery for an order
that appoints a person to enforce the terms of the trust or to remove that person.
(d) Property of a trust authorized by this section may be applied only to its intended use. Upon the termination of the trust, any property
of the trust remaining shall be distributed in accordance with the terms of the trust or, in the absence of such terms, as provided in §
3592 of this title.
(76 Del. Laws, c. 254, § 12.)
Subchapter V
Compensation of Trustees
§ 3560 Trustees entitled to compensation in accordance with instrument.
(a) Trustees under wills, trustees under inter vivos deeds of trust, both revocable and irrevocable, and successors to such trustees, are
entitled to reasonable compensation for their services in accordance with the instrument creating the trust. Subject to other provisions of
this subsection, if a trust instrument fixes the reasonable compensation of a trustee, the trustee is entitled to compensation as so determined.
Upon proper showing, the Court of Chancery may fix or allow greater or lesser compensation than could be allowed under the terms of
such trust in any of the following circumstances:
(1) Where the duties of the trustee are substantially different from those contemplated when the trust was created;
(2) Where the compensation in accordance with the terms of the trust would be unreasonably low or high;
(3) In extraordinary circumstances calling for equitable relief.
(b) An order under this section allowing greater or lesser compensation applies to such actions taken in the administration of a trust
as the order shall specify.
(67 Del. Laws, c. 56, § 2.)
§ 3561 Reasonable compensation when trust instrument does not determine.
(a) As used in this section, the term “qualified trustee” means any person authorized by the law of this State or of the United States to act
as a trustee whose activities are subject to supervision by the Bank Commissioner of the State, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
or the Comptroller of the Currency of the United States.
(b) Unless a trust instrument specifically provides that the trustee shall serve without compensation, when a trust instrument does not
fix the compensation of the trustee, reasonable compensation shall be allowed. Subject to the provisions of § 3562 of this title, such
compensation shall be determined as follows:
(1) For qualified trustees:
a. Each qualified trustee shall file with the Register in Chancery for every county in this State, a copy of a schedule or formula by
which its allowance as compensation shall be computed. Such schedule or formula may be based upon or reflect the following factors:
1. The time spent or likely to be spent in administering a trust of the type contemplated;
2. The risks and responsibilities involved;
3. The novelty and difficulty of the tasks required of the trustee;
4. The skill and experience of the trustee;
5. Comparable charges for similar services;
6. The character of the trust assets;
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7. The time constraints imposed upon the trustee in administering the trust;
b. Each qualified trustee shall provide a copy of its current trustee fee schedule or formula as filed upon any filing pursuant to
paragraph (b)(1)a. of this section to the settlor of any revocable trust and to each current income beneficiary of every other trust from
which it will seek to be allowed compensation to be calculated in accordance with such schedule or formula;
c. Each qualified trustee shall be allowed as reasonable compensation for services with respect to each trust from which it is
entitled to compensation under this section, an amount determined by application of the schedule or formula so filed to trusts of
that size and type.
(2) For other trustees, the Court of Chancery shall from time to time promulgate a rule fixing the method by which trustees other
than qualified trustees may be allowed compensation for their services.
(3) There shall be no presumption that a fee schedule filed under paragraph (b)(1) of this section is any more or less reasonable than
the schedule promulgated under paragraph (b)(2) of this section.
(67 Del. Laws, c. 56, § 2.)
§ 3562 Judicial review of trustees’ allowances.
(a) The provisions of § 3561(b)(1)c. of this title notwithstanding, the settlor or any current income beneficiary of a trust, or any other
person having an equitable interest in a trust from which a fee for trustee compensation is taken or is proposed to be taken pursuant to
§ 3561(b) of this title, who objects to a schedule or formula filed thereunder as being unreasonable, or who objects to the fee fixed by
such schedule or formula as being unreasonable in the particular circumstances, may petition the Court of Chancery for judicial review
of the reasonableness of the schedule or formula, or of its application, as the case may be.
(b) Upon the filing of any such petition, the Court of Chancery may appoint a disinterested third person to act as master to hear and
determine the matters raised by such petition and any answer thereto. Proceedings before such master shall be in conformance with the
Rules of the Court of Chancery. The final report of the master shall be in the form of findings of fact, conclusions of law and recommended
decree, and shall be filed with the Register in Chancery. Findings of fact made by the master, if supported by substantial evidence, shall
be conclusive. The Court of Chancery shall thereafter enter its decree determining the matter in issue. Costs of the proceeding, including
the reasonable fee of the master, shall be assessed against the trust in question if the petition is denied in its entirety and shall be assessed
against the trustee in its individual capacity if it is granted in whole. In other instances, costs shall be apportioned equitably.
(67 Del. Laws, c. 56, § 2.)
Subchapter VI
Qualified Dispositions in Trust
§ 3570 Definitions [For application of this section, see 80 Del. Laws, c. 153, § 5].
As used in this subchapter:
(1) “Claim” means a right to payment, whether or not the right is reduced to judgment, liquidated, unliquidated, fixed, contingent,
matured, unmatured, disputed, undisputed, legal, equitable, secured or unsecured.
(2) “Creditor” means, with respect to a transferor, a person who has a claim.
(3) “Debt” means liability on a claim.
(4) “Disposition” means a transfer, conveyance or assignment of property (including a change in the legal ownership of property
occurring upon the substitution of 1 trustee for another or the addition of 1 or more new trustees), or the exercise of a power so as to
cause a transfer of property, to a trustee or trustees, but shall not include the release or relinquishment of an interest in property that
theretofore was the subject of a qualified disposition and shall not include a sale or exchange for full and adequate consideration.
(5) “Person” has the meaning ascribed to it in § 302(15) of Title 1.
(6) “Property” includes real property, personal property, and interests in real or personal property.
(7) “Qualified disposition” means a disposition by or from a transferor (or multiple transferors in the case of property in which each
such transferor owns an undivided interest) to 1 or more trustees, at least 1 of which is a qualified trustee, with or without consideration,
by means of a trust instrument.
(8) “Qualified trustee” means a person who meets the requirements of the following paragraphs (8)a. and b. of this section:
a. In the case of a natural person, is a resident of this State other than the transferor or, in all other cases, is authorized by the law
of this State to act as a trustee and whose activities are subject to supervision by the Bank Commissioner of the State, the Federal
Deposit Insurance Corporation, or the Comptroller of the Currency and
b. Maintains or arranges for custody in this State of some or all of the property that is the subject of the qualified disposition,
maintains records for the trust on an exclusive or nonexclusive basis, prepares or arranges for the preparation of fiduciary income
tax returns for the trust, or otherwise materially participates in the administration of the trust.
c. For purposes of this subchapter, neither the transferor nor any other natural person who is a nonresident of this State nor an
entity that is not authorized by the law of this State to act as a trustee or whose activities are not subject to supervision as provided in
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paragraph (8)a. of this section shall be considered a qualified trustee; however, nothing in this subchapter shall preclude a transferor
from appointing one or more advisers, including but not limited to:
1. Advisers who have authority under the terms of the trust instrument to remove and appoint qualified trustees or trust advisers;
2. Advisers who have authority under the terms of the trust instrument to direct, consent to or disapprove distributions from
the trust; and
3. Advisers described in § 3313 of this title, whether or not such advisers would meet the requirements imposed by paragraphs
a. and b. of this subsection.
For purposes of this subsection, the term “adviser” includes a trust “protector” or any other person who, in addition to a qualified
trustee, holds 1 or more trust powers.
d. A person may serve as an investment adviser described in § 3313 of this title, notwithstanding that such person is the transferor
of the qualified disposition, but such a person may not serve as trustee or otherwise serve as adviser of a trust that is a qualified
disposition although such person may retain any of the powers and rights described in paragraph (11)b. of this section.
e. In the event that a qualified trustee of a trust ceases to meet the requirements of paragraph (8)a. of this section, and there remains
no trustee that meets such requirements, such qualified trustee shall be deemed to have resigned as of the time of such cessation,
and thereupon the successor qualified trustee provided for in the trust instrument shall become a qualified trustee of the trust, or in
the absence of any successor qualified trustee provided for in the trust instrument, the Court of Chancery shall, upon application of
any interested party, appoint a successor qualified trustee.
f. In the case of a disposition to more than 1 trustee, a disposition that is otherwise a qualified disposition shall not be treated as
other than a qualified disposition solely because not all of the trustees are qualified trustees.
(9) “Spouse” and “former spouse” means only persons to whom the transferor was married at, or before, the time the qualified
disposition is made.
(10) “Transferor” means a person who, as an owner of property, as a holder of a power of appointment which authorizes the holder
to appoint in favor of the holder, the holder’s creditors, the holder’s estate or the creditors of the holder’s estate, or as a trustee, directly
or indirectly makes a disposition or causes a disposition to be made.
(11) “Trust instrument” means an instrument appointing a qualified trustee or qualified trustees for the property that is the subject
of a disposition, which instrument:
a. Expressly incorporates the law of this State to govern the validity, construction and administration of the trust;
b. Is irrevocable, but a trust instrument shall not be deemed revocable on account of its inclusion of 1 or more of the following:
1. A transferor’s power to veto a distribution from the trust;
2. Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (11)b.9. or 10. of this section, a lifetime or testamentary power of appointment
(other than a lifetime or testamentary power to appoint to the transferor, the transferor’s creditors, the transferor’s estate or the
creditors of the transferor’s estate) exercisable by will or other written instrument of the transferor;
3. The transferor’s potential or actual receipt of income, including rights to such income retained in the trust instrument;
4. The transferor’s potential or actual receipt of income or principal from a charitable remainder unitrust or charitable remainder
annuity trust as such terms are defined in § 664 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 [26 U.S.C. § 664] and any successor
provision thereto; and the transferor’s right, at any time and from time to time by written instrument delivered to the trustee,
to release such transferor’s retained interest in such a trust, in whole or in part, in favor of a charitable organization that has or
charitable organizations that have a succeeding beneficial interest in such trust;
5. The transferor’s potential or actual receipt of income or principal from a grantor-retained annuity trust or grantor-retained
unitrust as such terms are defined in § 2702 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. § 2702) and any successor provision
thereto or the transferor’s receipt each year of a percentage (not to exceed 5 percent) specified in the governing instrument of the
initial value of the trust assets (which may be described either as a percentage or a fixed amount) or their value determined from
time to time pursuant to the governing instrument.
6. The transferor’s potential or actual receipt or use of principal (including real property or tangible personal property) if such
potential or actual receipt or use of principal would be the result of a trustee acting:
A. In such trustee’s discretion;
B. Pursuant to a standard that governs the distribution of principal and does not confer upon the transferor a substantially
unfettered right to the receipt or use of the principal; or
C. At the direction of an adviser described in paragraph (8)c. of this section who is acting:
I. In such adviser’s discretion; or
II. Pursuant to a standard that governs the distribution of principal and does not confer upon the transferor a substantially
unfettered right to the receipt of or use of principal;
For purposes of this paragraph, a trustee is presumed to have discretion with respect to the distribution of principal unless such
discretion is expressly denied to such trustee by the terms of the trust instrument.
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7. The transferor’s right to remove a trustee or adviser and to appoint a new or additional trustee or adviser;
8. The transferor’s possession and enjoyment of an interest in a qualified personal residence trust within the meaning of such
term as described in Treasury Regulation § 25.2702-5(c) (26 C.F.R. 25.2702-5(c)) and any successor provision thereto or the
transferor’s possession and enjoyment of power to reacquire the trust corpus by substituting other property of an equivalent value
within the meaning of § 675(4)(C) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. § 675(4)(C)), as amended;
9. The transferor’s potential or actual receipt of income or principal to pay, in whole or in part, income taxes due on income of
the trust if such potential or actual receipt of income or principal is pursuant to a provision in the trust instrument that expressly
provides for the payment of such taxes and if such potential or actual receipt of income or principal would be the result of a
qualified trustee’s or qualified trustees’ acting:
A. In such qualified trustee’s or qualified trustees’ discretion or pursuant to a mandatory direction in the trust instrument; or
B. Pursuant to the transferor’s exercise of a lifetime power of appointment or at the direction of an adviser described in
paragraph (8)c. of this section who is acting in such adviser’s discretion;
10. The ability, whether pursuant to discretion, direction or the grantor’s exercise of a testamentary power of appointment, of
a qualified trustee to pay, after the death of the transferor, all or any part of the debts of the transferor outstanding at the time of
the transferor’s death, the expenses of administering the transferor’s estate, or any estate or inheritance tax imposed on or with
respect to the transferor’s estate; and
11. The transferor’s ability, whether under § 3339 of this title or the trust instrument, to appoint a designated representative
within the meaning of § 3339 and to serve as such designated representative; and
c. Provides that the interest of the transferor or other beneficiary in the trust property or the income therefrom may not be
transferred, assigned, pledged or mortgaged, whether voluntarily or involuntarily, before the trustee or trustees actually distribute
the property or income therefrom to the beneficiary, and such provision of the trust instrument shall be deemed to be a restriction
on the transfer of the transferor’s beneficial interest in the trust that is enforceable under applicable nonbankruptcy law within the
meaning of § 541(c)(2) of the Bankruptcy Code (11 U.S.C. § 541(c)(2)) or any successor provision thereto.
d. [Repealed.]
A disposition by a trustee that is not a qualified trustee to a trustee that is a qualified trustee shall not be treated as other than a qualified
disposition solely because the trust instrument fails to meet the requirements of paragraph (11)a. of this section. Distributions to pay
income taxes made under a discretionary or mandatory provision included in a governing instrument pursuant to paragraph (11)b.3.,
paragraph (11)b.6., or paragraph (11)b.9. of this section may be made by direct payment to the taxing authorities.
(71 Del. Laws, c. 159, § 1; 71 Del. Laws, c. 343, §§ 1-5; 72 Del. Laws, c. 59, §§ 1, 2; 72 Del. Laws, c. 341, §§ 1-4; 73 Del. Laws,
c. 378, §§ 1-3; 74 Del. Laws, c. 100, §§ 2, 4; 75 Del. Laws, c. 97, §§ 10-12; 75 Del. Laws, c. 301, § 6; 76 Del. Laws, c. 90, § 14;
76 Del. Laws, c. 254, §§ 13, 14; 77 Del. Laws, c. 98, § 20; 77 Del. Laws, c. 330, §§ 13-16; 78 Del. Laws, c. 117, § 11; 78 Del.
Laws, c. 179, § 1; 79 Del. Laws, c. 198, § 1; 80 Del. Laws, c. 153, § 4; 81 Del. Laws, c. 149, § 2; 82 Del. Laws, c. 52, § 2.)
§ 3571 Retained interests of transferor.
A qualified disposition shall be subject to § 3572 of this title notwithstanding a transferor’s retention of any or all of the powers
and rights described in § 3570(11)b. of this title and the transferor’s service as investment adviser pursuant to § 3570(8)d. of this title.
The transferor shall have only such powers and rights as are conferred by the trust instrument. Except as permitted by §§ 3570(8)d.
and 3570(11)b. of this title, a transferor shall have no rights or authority with respect to the property that is the subject of a qualified
disposition or the income therefrom, and any agreement or understanding purporting to grant or permit the retention of any greater rights
or authority shall be void.
(71 Del. Laws, c. 159, § 1; 71 Del. Laws, c. 343, § 6; 72 Del. Laws, c. 59, § 2; 72 Del. Laws, c. 341, § 5.)
§ 3572 Avoidance of qualified dispositions.
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code, no action of any kind, including, without limitation, an action to enforce a
judgment entered by a court or other body having adjudicative authority, shall be brought at law or in equity for an attachment or other
provisional remedy against property that is the subject of a qualified disposition or for avoidance of a qualified disposition unless such
action shall be brought pursuant to the provisions of § 1304 or § 1305 of Title 6 and, in the case of a creditor whose claim arose after a
qualified disposition, unless the qualified disposition was made with actual intent to defraud such creditor. The Court of Chancery shall
have exclusive jurisdiction over any action brought with respect to a qualified disposition.
(b) A creditor’s claim under subsection (a) of this section shall be extinguished unless:
(1) The creditor’s claim arose before the qualified disposition was made, and the action is brought within the limitations of § 1309
of Title 6 in effect on the later of the date of the qualified disposition or August 1, 2000; or
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of § 1309 of Title 6, the creditor’s claim arose concurrent with or subsequent to the qualified
disposition and the action is brought within 4 years after the qualified disposition is made.
In any action described in subsection (a) of this section, the burden to prove the matter by clear and convincing evidence shall be
upon the creditor.
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(c) For purposes of this subchapter, a qualified disposition that is made by means of a disposition by a transferor who is a trustee shall
be deemed to have been made as of the time (whether before, on or after July 1, 1997) the property that is the subject of the qualified
disposition was originally transferred to the transferor (or any predecessor trustee) making the qualified disposition in a form that meets
the requirements of § 3570(11)b. and c. of this title. If a trustee of an existing trust proposes to make a qualified disposition pursuant to
the provisions of this subsection (c) of this section but the trust would not conform to the requirements of § 3570(11)b.2. of this title as
a result of the original transferor’s nonconforming powers of appointment, then, upon the trustee’s delivery to the qualified trustee of an
irrevocable written election to have this subsection apply to the trust, the nonconforming powers of appointment shall be deemed modified
to the extent necessary to conform with § 3570(11)b.2. of this title. For purposes of this subchapter, the irrevocable written election shall
include a description of the original transferor’s powers of appointment as modified together with the original transferor’s written consent
thereto, but no such consent of the original transferor shall be considered a disposition within the meaning of § 3570(4) of this title.
(d) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, a creditor, including a creditor whose claim arose before or after a qualified disposition, or
any other person shall have only such rights with respect to a qualified disposition as are provided in this section and §§ 3573 and 3574
of this title, and no such creditor nor any other person shall have any claim or cause of action against the trustee, or advisor described in
§ 3570(8)c. of this title, of a trust that is the subject of a qualified disposition, or against any person involved in the counseling, drafting,
preparation, execution or funding of a trust that is the subject of a qualified disposition.
(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no action of any kind, including, without limitation, an action to enforce a judgment
entered by a court or other body having adjudicative authority, shall be brought at law or in equity against the trustee, or advisor described
in § 3570(8)c. of this title, of a trust that is the subject of a qualified disposition, or against any person involved in the counseling, drafting,
preparation, execution or funding of a trust that is the subject of a qualified disposition, if, as of the date such action is brought, an action
by a creditor with respect to such qualified disposition would be barred under this section.
(f) In circumstances where more than 1 qualified disposition is made by means of the same trust instrument, then:
(1) The making of a subsequent qualified disposition shall be disregarded in determining whether a creditor’s claim with respect to
a prior qualified disposition is extinguished as provided in subsection (b) of this section; and
(2) Any distribution to a beneficiary shall be deemed to have been made from the latest such qualified disposition.
(g) If, in any action brought against a trustee of a trust that is the result of a qualified disposition, a court takes any action whereby
such court declines to apply the law of this State in determining the validity, construction or administration of such trust, or the effect of a
spendthrift provision thereof, such trustee shall immediately upon such court’s action and without the further order of any court, cease in
all respects to be trustee of such trust and a successor trustee shall thereupon succeed as trustee in accordance with the terms of the trust
instrument or, if the trust instrument does not provide for a successor trustee and the trust would otherwise be without a trustee, the Court
of Chancery, upon the application of any beneficiary of such trust, shall appoint a successor trustee upon such terms and conditions as it
determines to be consistent with the purposes of such trust and this statute. Upon such trustee’s ceasing to be trustee, such trustee shall
have no power or authority other than to convey the trust property to the successor trustee named in the trust instrument or appointed by
the Court of Chancery in accordance with this section.
(71 Del. Laws, c. 159, § 1; 71 Del. Laws, c. 343, § 7; 72 Del. Laws, c. 59, § 2; 72 Del. Laws, c. 195, § 1; 72 Del. Laws, c. 341, §§
6-8; 73 Del. Laws, c. 378, § 4; 74 Del. Laws, c. 100, §§ 3, 5; 75 Del. Laws, c. 97, §§ 13, 14; 76 Del. Laws, c. 90, § 10.)
§ 3573 Limitations on qualified dispositions.
With respect to the limitations imposed by § 3572 of this title, those limitations on actions by creditors to avoid a qualified disposition
shall not apply:
(1) To any person to whom the transferor is indebted on account of an agreement or order of court for the payment of support
or alimony in favor of such transferor’s spouse, former spouse or children, or for a division or distribution of property incident to a
judicial proceeding with respect to a separation or divorce in favor of such transferor’s spouse or former spouse, but only to the extent
of such debt; or
(2) To any person who suffers death, personal injury or property damage on or before the date of a qualified disposition by a transferor,
which death, personal injury or property damage is at any time determined to have been caused in whole or in part by the tortious act
or omission of either such transferor or by another person for whom such transferor is or was vicariously liable but only to the extent
of such claim against such transferor or other person for whom such transferor is or was vicariously liable.
Paragraph (1) of this section shall not apply to any claim for forced heirship, legitime or elective share.
(71 Del. Laws, c. 159, § 1; 71 Del. Laws, c. 254, § 36; 71 Del. Laws, c. 343, § 8; 72 Del. Laws, c. 341, § 9; 74 Del. Laws, c. 100,
§ 1; 75 Del. Laws, c. 97, § 15; 78 Del. Laws, c. 117, § 12; 79 Del. Laws, c. 198, § 1.)
§ 3574 Effect of avoidance of qualified dispositions.
(a) After making any payments from the trust required under subsection (b) of this section, a qualified disposition shall be avoided
only to the extent necessary to satisfy the transferor’s debt to the creditor at whose instance the disposition had been avoided, together
with such costs, including attorneys’ fees, as the court may allow.
(b) In the event any qualified disposition shall be avoided as provided in subsection (a) of this section, then:
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(1) If the court is satisfied that a trustee has not acted in bad faith in accepting or administering the property that is the subject of
the qualified disposition:
a. Such trustee shall have a first and paramount lien against the property that is the subject of the qualified disposition in an amount
equal to the entire cost, including attorneys’ fees, properly incurred by such trustee in the defense of the action or proceedings to
avoid the qualified disposition;
b. The qualified disposition shall be avoided subject to the proper fees, costs, preexisting rights, claims and interests of such trustee
(and of any predecessor trustee that has not acted in bad faith); and
c. For purposes of this paragraph (1) of this subsection, it shall be presumed that such trustee did not act in bad faith merely by
accepting such property; and
(2) If the court is satisfied that a beneficiary of a trust has not acted in bad faith, the avoidance of the qualified disposition shall
be subject to the right of such beneficiary to retain any distribution made prior to the creditor’s commencement of an action to avoid
the qualified disposition. For purposes of this subdivision, it shall be presumed that the beneficiary, including a beneficiary who is
also a transferor of the trust, did not act in bad faith merely by creating the trust or by accepting a distribution made in accordance
with the terms of the trust.
(c) A creditor shall have the burden of proving that a trustee or beneficiary acted in bad faith as required under subsection (b) of this
section by clear and convincing evidence except that, in the case of a beneficiary who is also the transferor, the burden on the creditor
shall be to prove that the transferor-beneficiary acted in bad faith by a preponderance of the evidence. The preceding sentence provides
substantive not procedural rights under Delaware law.
(d) For purposes of this subchapter, attachment, garnishment, sequestration, or other legal or equitable process shall be permitted only
in those circumstances permitted by the express terms of this subchapter.
(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of this subchapter, a creditor shall have no right against the interest of a beneficiary in a trust
solely because such beneficiary has the right to authorize or direct the trustee to pay all or part of the trust property in satisfaction of
estate or inheritance taxes imposed upon or with respect to the beneficiary’s estate, or the debts of the beneficiary’s estate, or the expenses
of administering the beneficiary’s estate unless such beneficiary actually directs the payment of such taxes, debts or expenses and then
only to the extent of such direction.
(f) Where spouses make a qualified disposition of property to 1 or more trusts and, immediately before such qualified disposition, such
property or any part thereof or any accumulation thereto was, pursuant to applicable law, owned by them as tenants by the entireties, in
any action concerning whether a creditor of either or both spouses may recover the debt from the trust, upon avoidance of the qualified
disposition, the sole remedy available to the creditor with respect to such trust property shall be an order directing the trustee to transfer
the property to both spouses as tenants by the entireties.
(g) Subject to all of the foregoing provisions of this section, and except as otherwise expressly provided in subsection (f) of this section,
upon avoidance of a qualified disposition to the extent permitted under subsection (a) of this section, the sole remedy available to the
creditor shall be an order directing the trustee to transfer to the transferor such amount as is necessary to satisfy the transferor’s debt to
the creditor at whose instance the disposition has been avoided.
(71 Del. Laws, c. 159, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1; 71 Del. Laws, c. 343, § 9; 72 Del. Laws, c. 195, § 2; 75 Del. Laws, c. 97, §
16; 76 Del. Laws, c. 90, § 15; 77 Del. Laws, c. 330, § 17; 78 Del. Laws, c. 117, § 13; 79 Del. Laws, c. 198, § 1.)
§ 3575 Application of subchapter.
This subchapter shall apply to qualified dispositions and dispositions by transferors who are trustees made on or after July 1, 1997.
(71 Del. Laws, c. 159, § 1; 71 Del. Laws, c. 343, § 10.)
§ 3576 Short title.
This subchapter may be cited as the “Qualified Dispositions in Trust Act.”
(71 Del. Laws, c. 159, § 1.)
Subchapter VII
Liability of Trustees and Rights of Persons Dealing With Trustee
§ 3580 Definition [For application of this section, see 79 Del. Laws, c. 172, § 6].
In this subchapter, the term "trustee" includes fiduciaries and other persons exercising, or directing or consenting to the exercise of,
or who are required to be consulted before the exercise of, powers or duties under a trust's governing instrument or under this title, as
well as designated representatives under § 3339 of this title.
(72 Del. Laws, c. 388, § 7; 79 Del. Laws, c. 172, § 3; 79 Del. Laws, c. 352, § 4; 81 Del. Laws, c. 320, § 5.)
§ 3581 Breach of trust; equitable remedies.
(a) A violation by a trustee of a duty the trustee owes to a beneficiary is a breach of trust.
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(b) To remedy a breach of trust that has occurred or may occur, the court may order any equitable remedy, including:
(1) Compelling the trustee to perform the trustee’s duties;
(2) Enjoining the trustee from committing a breach of trust;
(3) Compelling the trustee to redress a breach of trust by paying money, restoring property, or other means;
(4) Ordering a trustee to account;
(5) Appointing a special fiduciary to take possession of the trust property and administer the trust;
(6) Suspending or removing the trustee;
(7) Reducing or denying compensation to the trustee;
(8) Subject to § 3590 of this title, voiding an act of the trustee, imposing a lien or a constructive trust on trust property or tracing
trust property wrongfully disposed of and recover the property or its proceeds; or
(9) Granting any other appropriate relief.
(72 Del. Laws, c. 388, § 7; 73 Del. Laws, c. 409, § 4.)
§ 3582 Damages against trustee for breach of trust [For application of this section, see 80 Del. Laws, c. 153, §
5].
A beneficiary may charge a trustee who commits a breach of trust with:
(1) The amount required to restore the value of the trust property and trust distributions to what they would have been had the breach
not occurred;
(2) The profit that the trustee made by reason of the breach; or
(3) Such other amount as may be determined by the court.
(72 Del. Laws, c. 388, § 7; 80 Del. Laws, c. 153, § 4.)
§ 3583 Liability of trustee in absence of breach.
(a) Except to the extent a trustee realizes a profit from conduct expressly permitted by law or the terms of the trust, a trustee is accountable
to a beneficiary for any profit made by the trustee arising from the administration of the trust, even absent a breach of trust.
(b) Absent a breach of trust, a trustee is not liable to a beneficiary for a loss or depreciation in the value of trust property or for the
failure to make a profit.
(72 Del. Laws, c. 388, § 7; 77 Del. Laws, c. 330, § 18.)
§ 3584 Attorneys’ fees and costs.
In a judicial proceeding involving a trust, the court, as justice and equity may require, may award costs and expenses, including
reasonable attorneys’ fees, to any party, to be paid by another party or from the trust that is the subject of the controversy.
(72 Del. Laws, c. 388, § 7.)
§ 3585 Limitation of action against trustee following trustee's report [For application of this section, see 81
Del. Laws, c. 320, § 8].
(a) A person may initiate a proceeding against a trustee for breach of trust or other claim until the first to occur of:
(1) One year after the date the person was sent a report that adequately disclosed the facts constituting a claim provided, however,
that if the governing instrument provides that claims shall survive for a period longer than 1 year after such date, then claims shall
survive for the period specified in the governing instrument;
(2) In the case of any trustee who is resigning, has resigned, is being removed, has been removed, is ceasing to serve, or has ceased
to serve as trustee for any other reason (including on account of the termination of the trust by reason of liquidation or by reason of a
merger or similar transaction described in § 3341 of this title), 120 days after the date the beneficiary was sent a report that:
a. Notifies the beneficiary that the trustee is resigning, has resigned, is being removed, has been removed, is ceasing to serve,
or has ceased to serve;
b. Adequately discloses the facts constituting a claim; and
c. Adequately discloses the time allowed under this section for initiating proceedings against the former trustee;
provided that the trustee transfers the trust property to the appropriate successors in interest within a reasonable period of time
following the expiration of the 120-day period; or
(3) The date the proceeding was otherwise precluded by adjudication, release, consent, limitation or pursuant to the terms of the
governing instrument.
(b) A report adequately discloses the facts constituting a claim if it provides sufficient information so that the person knows of the
claim or reasonably should have inquired into its existence.
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(c) For the purpose of subsection (a) of this section, a person is deemed to have been sent a report if:
(1) In the case of a person having capacity, it is sent to the person;
(2) In the case of a person who is a beneficiary and who under § 3547 of this title may be represented and bound by another person,
it is sent to the other person; or
(3) In the case of a person who is a beneficiary and who under § 3303(d) of this title is represented and bound by a designated
representative, it is sent to the designated representative.
(d) If subsection (a) of this section does not apply, a judicial proceeding by a person against a trustee for breach of trust or other claim
must be commenced within 5 years after the first to occur of:
(1) The removal, resignation, or death of the trustee;
(2) The termination of the person’s interest in the trust; or
(3) The termination of the trust.
(e) This section does not preclude an action to recover for fraud or misrepresentation related to the report or an action related to a
trustee’s administration of assets during or following expiration of any period provided in this section.
(72 Del. Laws, c. 388, § 7; 76 Del. Laws, c. 254, § 15; 81 Del. Laws, c. 149, § 2; 81 Del. Laws, c. 320, § 5; 82 Del. Laws, c. 278, §
2.)
§ 3586 Reliance on governing instrument.
A trustee who acted in good faith reliance on the terms of a written governing instrument is not liable to a beneficiary for a breach of
trust to the extent the breach resulted from the reliance.
(72 Del. Laws, c. 388, § 7; 82 Del. Laws, c. 52, § 2.)
§ 3587 Events affecting administration or distribution.
Whenever the happening of an event, including marriage, divorce, performance of education requirements or death, affects the
administration or distribution of a trust, a trustee who has exercised reasonable care to ascertain the happening of the event is not liable
for a loss resulting from the trustee’s lack of knowledge.
(72 Del. Laws, c. 388, § 7.)
§ 3588 Consent, release, ratification, or indemnification in favor of a trustee [For application of this section,
see 81 Del. Laws, c. 320, § 8].
(a) A person may not hold a trustee liable for a breach of trust or other claim if the person consented to the conduct constituting the
breach or other claim, released the trustee from liability for the breach or other claim, or ratified the transaction constituting the breach
or other claim, unless:
(1) The consent, release or ratification of the person was induced by improper conduct of the trustee; or
(2) At the time of the consent, release or ratification, the person did not know of:
a. The person's rights; or
b. Material facts the trustee knew or should have known with the exercise of reasonable inquiry.
(b) A consent, release, ratification, or indemnification in favor of a trustee need not be supported by consideration.
(72 Del. Laws, c. 388, § 7; 75 Del. Laws, c. 300, § 4; 78 Del. Laws, c. 117, § 14; 81 Del. Laws, c. 320, § 5.)
§ 3589 Limitation on personal liability of trustee [Repealed].
Repealed by 73 Del. Laws, c. 409, § 3, effective July 10, 2002.
§ 3590 Protection of person dealing with trustee.
(a) A person other than a beneficiary who in good faith assists a trustee or who in good faith and for value deals with a trustee without
knowledge that the trustee is exceeding or improperly exercising the trustee’s powers is protected from liability as if the trustee properly
exercised the power.
(b) A person other than a beneficiary who in good faith deals with another person knowing that the other person is a trustee is not
required to inquire into the extent of the trustee’s powers or the propriety of their exercise.
(c) A person who in good faith delivers assets to a trustee need not ensure their proper application.
(d) A person other than a beneficiary who in good faith assists a former trustee or who for value and in good faith deals with a former
trustee without knowledge that the trusteeship has terminated is protected from liability as if the former trustee were still a trustee.
(e) The protection provided by this section to persons assisting or dealing with a trustee is superseded by comparable protective
provisions of other laws relating to commercial transactions or to the transfer of securities by fiduciaries.
(72 Del. Laws, c. 388, § 7; 73 Del. Laws, c. 409, § 3.)
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§ 3591 Certification of trust.
(a) Instead of providing a person other than a beneficiary with a copy of the trust instrument, a trustee may provide the person with a
certification of trust containing statements concerning, but not limited to, the following matters:
(1) The existence of the trust and the date of execution of the trust instrument;
(2) The identity of the trustor or trustors and of the currently acting trustee or trustees of the trust;
(3) The powers of the trustee;
(4) The revocability or irrevocability of the trust and the identity of any person holding a power to revoke the trust;
(5) The authority of co-trustees to sign and whether all or less than all are required to sign in order to exercise powers of the trustee;
(6) The trust’s taxpayer identification number; and
(7) The manner in which title to trust property may be taken.
(b) A certification of trust must be in the form of an acknowledged writing and may be signed by any trustee.
(c) A certification of trust must contain a statement that the trust has not been revoked, modified or amended in any manner that would
cause the representations contained in the certification of trust to be incorrect.
(d) A certification of trust need not contain the dispositive terms of a trust.
(e) A recipient of a certification of trust may require the trustee to provide copies of those excerpts from the original trust instrument
and later amendments which designate the trustee and confer upon the trustee the power to act in the pending transaction.
(f) A person who acts in reliance upon a certification of trust without knowledge that the representations contained therein are incorrect
is not liable to any person for so acting and may assume without inquiry the existence of the facts contained in the certification. Knowledge
of the terms of the trust may not be inferred solely from the fact that a copy of all or part of the trust instrument is held by the person
relying upon the certification.
(g) A person who in good faith enters into a transaction in reliance upon a certification of trust may enforce the transaction against the
trust property as if the representations contained in the certification were correct.
(h) A person making a demand for the trust instrument in addition to a certification of trust or excerpts is liable for damages, including
attorney’s fees, if the court determines that the person did not act in good faith in requesting the trust instrument.
(i) This section does not limit the right of a person to obtain a copy of the trust instrument in a judicial proceeding concerning the trust.
(72 Del. Laws, c. 388, § 7; 73 Del. Laws, c. 409, § 3.)
§ 3592 Failure of trust to dispose of all assets.
In the event that the terms of an inter vivos trust do not effectively dispose of a portion of or all of the principal and income of such
inter vivos trust:
(1) If such failure occurs simultaneously with the death of the trustor, the trust principal not effectively disposed of shall be treated
as though it were an additional part of the trustor’s estate, and shall be disposed of in accordance with the provisions of the trustor’s
will, or if the trustor has no valid will, then the provisions of § 501 et seq. of this title shall govern the disposition of such principal;
provided, however, that if any disposition to the trust would be treated as a qualified disposition, within the meaning of § 3570(7) of
this title, if paragraph (2) of this section, rather than this paragraph (1), were applicable to the trust, then the principal of the trust shall
be disposed of in accordance with paragraph (2) of this section.
(2) If such failure occurs at any time other than simultaneously with the death of the trustor, the trust income and principal not
effectively disposed of shall be distributed as though the trustor had died on the date on which such failure occurred, a resident of the
state of Delaware, owning the property so distributable, as though the provisions of § 501 et seq. of this title applied, but provided that
if the provisions of § 502(2) or (3) of this title would apply for purposes of determining the share of a surviving spouse, the share of
such surviving spouse shall be half of the personal property of the trust plus a life estate in the real estate of the trust.
(75 Del. Laws, c. 299, § 1; 76 Del. Laws, c. 90, § 17; 79 Del. Laws, c. 198, § 1.)
§ 3593 Interest on pecuniary gifts in trust [For application of this section, see 79 Del. Laws, c. 172, § 6].
Except where circumstances justify a longer period, pecuniary gifts from an inter vivos trust which are payable as of the death of the
trustor or another person, shall bear interest at the rate of 4 percent per annum payable from the trust beginning 13 months after such
death, or, if there is a change of trustee as a result of such death, 13 months after the trustee first takes office as trustee following such
death, until payment, unless a contrary intent is indicated by the governing instrument.
(75 Del. Laws, c. 299, § 2; 79 Del. Laws, c. 172, § 3.)
§ 3594 Legacy to creditor of trustor.
A gift to a beneficiary of an inter vivos trust which is made effective as of the death of the trustor shall not be deemed to be in satisfaction
of a debt due from the trustor to the donee, unless the intention of the trustor that it shall be so accepted shall appear in the trust expressly
or by manifest implication.
(75 Del. Laws, c. 299, § 3.)
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§ 3595 Abatement of gifts in trust.
(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, shares of distributees of an inter vivos trust, who are entitled to distributions
from the trust as of the date of the death of the trustor, abate, with personal property to be abated prior to real property within each class,
in the following order:
(1) Property owned by the trust not disposed of by the trust instrument.
(2) Residuary gifts under the trust instrument.
(3) General gifts under the trust instrument.
(4) Specific gifts under the trust instrument.
For purposes of abatement, a general gift charged on any specific property or fund is a specific gift to the extent of the value of the
property on which it is charged, and upon the failure or insufficiency of the property on which it is charged, a general gift to the extent of
the failure or insufficiency. Abatement within each classification is in proportion to the amounts of property that each of the beneficiaries
would have received if full distribution of the property had been made in accordance with the terms of the trust instrument.
(b) If the trust instrument expresses an order of abatement, or if the overall plan of distribution at the trustor’s death or the express
or implied purpose of the gift would be defeated by the order of abatement stated in subsection (a) of this section, the shares of the
distributees abate as may be found necessary to give effect to the intention of the trustor.
(c) If the subject of a preferred gift is sold or used incident to administration of the trust, abatement shall be achieved by appropriate
adjustments in, or contributions from, other interests in the remaining assets.
(75 Del. Laws, c. 299, § 4.)
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Title 12 - Decedents’ Estates and Fiduciary Relations
Part V
Fiduciary Relations
Chapter 37
[Reserved.]
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Title 12 - Decedents’ Estates and Fiduciary Relations
Part V
Fiduciary Relations
Chapter 38
Treatment of Delaware Statutory Trusts
Subchapter I
Domestic Statutory Trusts
§ 3801 Definitions.
(a) “Beneficial owner” means any owner of a beneficial interest in a statutory trust, the fact of ownership to be determined and
evidenced (whether by means of registration (including on, by means of, or in the form of any information storage device, method, or 1
or more electronic networks or databases (including 1 or more distributed electronic networks or databases)), the issuance of certificates
or otherwise) in conformity to the applicable provisions of the governing instrument of the statutory trust.
(b) “Document” means:
(1) Any tangible medium on which information is inscribed, and includes handwritten, typed, printed or similar instruments, and
copies of such instruments; and
(2) An electronic transmission.
(c) “Electronic transmission” means any form of communication not directly involving the physical transmission of paper, including the
use of, or participation in, 1 or more electronic networks or databases (including 1 or more distributed electronic networks or databases),
that creates a record that may be retained, retrieved and reviewed by a recipient thereof and that may be directly reproduced in paper
form by such a recipient through an automated process.
(d) “Foreign statutory trust” means a business trust or statutory trust formed under the laws of any state or under the laws of any foreign
country or other foreign jurisdiction and denominated as such under the laws of such state or foreign country or other foreign jurisdiction.
(e) “Governing instrument” means any written instrument (whether referred to as a trust agreement, declaration of trust or otherwise)
which creates a statutory trust or provides for the governance of the affairs of the statutory trust and the conduct of its business. A
governing instrument:
(1) May provide that a person shall become a beneficial owner or a trustee if such person (or, in the case of a beneficial owner, a
representative authorized by such person orally, in writing or by other action such as payment for a beneficial interest) complies with
the conditions for becoming a beneficial owner or a trustee set forth in the governing instrument or any other writing and, in the case
of a beneficial owner, acquires a beneficial interest;
(2) May consist of 1 or more agreements, instruments or other writings and may include or incorporate bylaws containing provisions
relating to the business of the statutory trust, the conduct of its affairs and its rights or powers or the rights or powers of its trustees,
beneficial owners, agents or employees; and
(3) May contain any provision that is not inconsistent with law or with the information contained in the certificate of trust.
A statutory trust is not required to execute its governing instrument. A statutory trust is bound by its governing instrument whether or
not the statutory trust executes the governing instrument. A beneficial owner or a trustee is bound by the governing instrument whether
or not such beneficial owner or trustee executes the governing instrument. A governing instrument is not subject to any statute of frauds
(including § 2714 of Title 6).
(f) “Independent trustee” means, solely with respect to a statutory trust that is registered as an investment company under the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended (15 U.S.C. § 80a-1 et seq.), or any successor statute thereto (the “1940 Act”), any trustee who is
not an “interested person” (as such term is defined below) of the statutory trust; provided that the receipt of compensation for service
as an independent trustee of the statutory trust and also for service as an independent trustee of 1 or more other investment companies
managed by a single investment adviser (or an “affiliated person” (as such term is defined below) of such investment adviser) shall not
affect the status of a trustee as an independent trustee under this chapter. An independent trustee as defined hereunder shall be deemed
to be independent and disinterested for all purposes. For purposes of this definition, the terms “affiliated person” and “interested person”
have the meanings set forth in the 1940 Act or any rule adopted thereunder.
(g) “Other business entity” means a corporation, a partnership (whether general or limited), a limited liability company, a commonlaw trust, a foreign statutory trust or any other unincorporated business or entity, excluding a statutory trust.
(h) “Person” means a natural person, partnership (whether general or limited), limited liability company, trust, (including a common
law trust, business trust, statutory trust, voting trust or any other form of trust) estate, association (including any group, organization,
co-tenancy, plan, board, council or committee), corporation, government (including a country, state, county or any other governmental
subdivision, agency or instrumentality), custodian, nominee or any other individual or entity (or series thereof) in its own or any
representative capacity, in each case, whether domestic or foreign, and a statutory trust or foreign statutory trust.
(i) “Statutory trust” means an unincorporated association which:
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(1) Is created by a governing instrument under which property is or will be held, managed, administered, controlled, invested,
reinvested and/or operated, or business or professional activities for profit are carried on or will be carried on, by a trustee or trustees or
as otherwise provided in the governing instrument for the benefit of such person or persons as are or may become beneficial owners or
as otherwise provided in the governing instrument, including but not limited to a trust of the type known at common law as a “business
trust,” or “Massachusetts trust,” or a trust qualifying as a real estate investment trust under § 856 et seq. of the United States Internal
Revenue Code of 1986 [26 U.S.C. § 856 et seq.], as amended, or under any successor provision, or a trust qualifying as a real estate
mortgage investment conduit under § 860D of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986 [26 U.S.C. § 860D], as amended,
or under any successor provision; and
(2) Files a certificate of trust pursuant to § 3810 of this title.
Any such association heretofore or hereafter organized shall be a statutory trust and, unless otherwise provided in its certificate of trust
and in its governing instrument, a separate legal entity. The term “statutory trust” shall be deemed to include each trust formed under
this chapter prior to September 1, 2002, as a “business trust” (as such term was then defined in this subsection). A statutory trust may
be organized to carry on any lawful business or activity, whether or not conducted for profit, and/or for any of the purposes referred to
in paragraph (i)(1) of this section (including, without limitation, for the purpose of holding or otherwise taking title to property, whether
in an active or custodial capacity). Unless otherwise provided in a governing instrument, a statutory trust has the power and authority to
grant, hold or exercise a power of attorney, including an irrevocable power of attorney. Neither use of the designation “business trust”
nor a statement in a certificate of trust or governing instrument executed prior to September 1, 2002, to the effect that the trust formed
thereby is or will qualify as a Delaware business trust within the meaning of or pursuant to this chapter, shall create a presumption or an
inference that the trust so formed is a “business trust” for purposes of Title 11 of the United States Code.
(j) “Trustee” means the person or persons appointed as a trustee in accordance with the governing instrument of a statutory trust, and
may include the beneficial owners or any of them.
(66 Del. Laws, c. 279, § 1; 67 Del. Laws, c. 297, §§ 3, 9, 16; 68 Del. Laws, c. 106, § 1; 68 Del. Laws, c. 404, §§ 2, 3; 70 Del.
Laws, c. 548, §§ 1, 2; 71 Del. Laws, c. 335, § 1; 72 Del. Laws, c. 387, §§ 1-3; 73 Del. Laws, c. 328, §§ 1, 2, 3, 4, 5; 73 Del. Laws,
c. 329, §§ 1, 2; 75 Del. Laws, c. 418, §§ 1-3; 77 Del. Laws, c. 403, §§ 1, 2; 78 Del. Laws, c. 280, §§ 1, 2; 80 Del. Laws, c. 304, §
1; 81 Del. Laws, c. 352, § 1; 82 Del. Laws, c. 264, § 1.)
§ 3802 Contributions by beneficial owners.
(a) A contribution of a beneficial owner to the statutory trust may be in cash, property or services rendered, or a promissory note or
other obligation to contribute cash or property or to perform services; provided however, that a person may become a beneficial owner
of a statutory trust and may receive a beneficial interest in a statutory trust without making a contribution or being obligated to make
a contribution to the statutory trust.
(b) Except as provided in the governing instrument, a beneficial owner is obligated to the statutory trust to perform any promise to
contribute cash, property or to perform services, even if the beneficial owner is unable to perform because of death, disability or any
other reason. If a beneficial owner does not make the required contribution of property or services the beneficial owner is obligated at the
option of the statutory trust to contribute cash equal to that portion of the agreed value (as stated in the records of the statutory trust) of the
contribution that has not been made. The foregoing option shall be in addition to, and not in lieu of, any other rights, including the right to
specific performance, that the statutory trust may have against such beneficial owner under the governing instrument or applicable law.
(c) A governing instrument may provide that the interest of any beneficial owner who fails to make any contribution that the beneficial
owner is obligated to make shall be subject to specific penalties for, or specified consequences of, such failure. Such penalty or
consequence may take the form of reducing or eliminating the defaulting beneficial owner’s proportionate interest in the statutory trust,
subordinating the beneficial interest to that of nondefaulting beneficial owners, a forced sale of the beneficial interest, forfeiture of the
beneficial interest, the lending by other beneficial owners of the amount necessary to meet the beneficiary’s commitment, a fixing of the
value of the defaulting beneficial owner’s beneficial interest by appraisal or by formula and redemption or sale of the beneficial interest
at such value, or any other penalty or consequence.
(68 Del. Laws, c. 404, § 4; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1; 73 Del. Laws, c. 329, § 1; 81 Del. Laws, c. 352, § 2.)
§ 3803 Liability of beneficial owners and trustees.
(a) Except to the extent otherwise provided in the governing instrument of the statutory trust, the beneficial owners shall be entitled to
the same limitation of personal liability extended to stockholders of private corporations for profit organized under the general corporation
law of the State.
(b) Except to the extent otherwise provided in the governing instrument of a statutory trust, a trustee, when acting in such capacity,
shall not be personally liable to any person other than the statutory trust or a beneficial owner for any act, omission or obligation of the
statutory trust or any trustee thereof.
(c) Except to the extent otherwise provided in the governing instrument of a statutory trust, an officer, employee, manager or other
person acting pursuant to § 3806(b)(7) or (i) of this title, when acting in such capacity, shall not be personally liable to any person other
than the statutory trust or a trustee or a beneficial owner for any act, omission or obligation of the statutory trust or any trustee thereof.
(d) No obligation of a beneficial owner or trustee of a statutory trust to the statutory trust, or to a beneficial owner or trustee of
the statutory trust, arising under the governing instrument or a separate agreement in writing, and no note, instrument or other writing
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evidencing any such obligation of a beneficial owner or trustee, shall be subject to the defense of usury, and no beneficial owner or trustee
shall interpose the defense of usury with respect to any such obligation in any action.
(66 Del. Laws, c. 279, § 1; 67 Del. Laws, c. 297, §§ 1, 2; 68 Del. Laws, c. 404, § 5; 69 Del. Laws, c. 265, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c.
548, § 3; 73 Del. Laws, c. 329, § 1; 79 Del. Laws, c. 355, § 1; 81 Del. Laws, c. 352, § 3.)
§ 3804 Legal proceedings.
(a) A statutory trust may sue and be sued, and service of process upon 1 of the trustees shall be sufficient. In furtherance of the foregoing,
a statutory trust may be sued for debts and other obligations or liabilities contracted or incurred by the trustees or other authorized persons,
or by the duly authorized agents of such trustees or other authorized persons, in the performance of their respective duties under the
governing instrument of the statutory trust. The property of a statutory trust shall be subject to attachment and execution as if it were
a corporation, subject to § 3502 of Title 10. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this section, in the event that the governing
instrument of a statutory trust, including a statutory trust which is a registered investment company under the Investment Company Act
of 1940, as amended (15 U.S.C. § 80a-1 et seq.), creates 1 or more series as provided in § 3806(b)(2) of this title, and to the extent
separate and distinct records are maintained for any such series and the assets associated with any such series are held in such separate
and distinct records (directly or indirectly, including through a nominee or otherwise) and accounted for in such separate and distinct
records separately from the other assets of the statutory trust, or any other series thereof, and if the governing instrument so provides, and
notice of the limitation on liabilities of a series as referenced in this sentence is set forth in the certificate of trust of the statutory trust,
then the debts, liabilities, obligations and expenses incurred, contracted for or otherwise existing with respect to a particular series shall
be enforceable against the assets of such series only, and not against the assets of the statutory trust generally or any other series thereof,
and, unless otherwise provided in the governing instrument, none of the debts, liabilities, obligations and expenses incurred, contracted
for or otherwise existing with respect to the statutory trust generally or any other series thereof shall be enforceable against the assets of
such series. Neither the preceding sentence nor any provision pursuant thereto in a governing instrument or certificate of trust shall:
(1) Restrict a statutory trust on behalf of a series from agreeing in the governing instrument or otherwise that any or all of the debts,
liabilities, obligations and expenses incurred, contracted for or otherwise existing with respect to the statutory trust generally or any
other series thereof shall be enforceable against the assets of such series; or
(2) Restrict a statutory trust from agreeing in the governing instrument or otherwise that any or all of the debts, liabilities, obligations
and expenses incurred, contracted for or otherwise existing with respect to a series shall be enforceable against the assets of the statutory
trust generally.
As used in this chapter, a reference to assets of a series includes assets associated with a series and a reference to assets associated with
a series includes assets of a series. Except to the extent otherwise provided in the governing instrument of a statutory trust, a statutory trust
that has established series in accordance with this subsection may: (i) contract, hold title to assets (including real, personal and intangible
property), grant liens and security interests, and sue and be sued, in each case, in the name of a series, and (ii) enter into an enforceable
contract on behalf of 1 series of the statutory trust with and on behalf of another series of the statutory trust or with the statutory trust
generally. Solely with respect to any liens or security interests granted in any assets of a series or any assets associated with a series of a
statutory trust, only the statutory trust shall be the “debtor” within the meaning of Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code [§ 9-101
et seq. of Title 6] as the person having the power to transfer rights in such assets.
(b) A trustee of a statutory trust may be served with process in the manner prescribed in subsection (c) of this section in all civil actions
or proceedings brought in the State involving or relating to the activities of the statutory trust or a violation by a trustee of a duty to the
statutory trust, or any beneficial owner, whether or not the trustee is a trustee at the time suit is commenced. Every resident or nonresident
of the State who accepts election or appointment or serves as a trustee of a statutory trust shall, by such acceptance or service, be deemed
thereby to have consented to the appointment of the Delaware trustee or registered agent of such statutory trust required by § 3807 of
this title (or, if there is none, the Secretary of State) as such person’s agent upon whom service of process may be made as provided in
this section. Such acceptance or service shall signify the consent of such trustee that any process when so served shall be of the same
legal force and validity as if served upon such trustee within the State and such appointment of such Delaware trustee or registered agent
(or, if there is none, the Secretary of State) shall be irrevocable.
(c) Service of process shall be effected by serving the Delaware trustee or registered agent of such statutory trust required by § 3807
of this title (or, if there is none, the Secretary of State) with 1 copy of such process in the manner provided by law for service of writs of
summons. In the event service is made under this subsection upon the Secretary of State, the plaintiff shall pay to the Secretary of State
the sum of $50 for the use of the State, which sum shall be taxed as part of the costs of the proceeding if the plaintiff shall prevail therein.
In addition, the Prothonotary or the Register in Chancery of the court in which the civil action or proceeding is pending shall, within
7 days of such service, deposit in the United States mails, by registered mail, postage prepaid, true and attested copies of the process,
together with a statement that service is being made pursuant to this section, addressed to the defendant at the defendant’s address last
known to and furnished by the party desiring to make such service.
(d) In any action in which any such trustee has been served with process as hereinafter provided, the time in which a defendant shall
be required to appear and file a responsive pleading shall be computed from the date of mailing by the Prothonotary or the Register in
Chancery as provided in subsection (c) of this section; provided however, the court in which such action has been commenced may order
such continuance or continuances as may be necessary to afford such trustee reasonable opportunity to defend the action.
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(e) In the governing instrument of the statutory trust or other writing, a trustee or beneficial owner or other person may consent to be
subject to the nonexclusive jurisdiction of the courts of, or arbitration in, a specified jurisdiction, or the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts
of the State, or the exclusivity of arbitration in a specified jurisdiction or the State, and to be served with legal process in the manner
prescribed in such governing instrument of the statutory trust or other writing. Except by agreeing to arbitrate any arbitrable matter in a
specified jurisdiction or in the State, a beneficial owner who is not a trustee may not waive its right to maintain a legal action or proceeding
in the courts of the State with respect to matters relating to the organization or internal affairs of a statutory trust.
(f) Nothing herein contained limits or affects the right to serve process in any other manner now or hereafter provided by law. This
section is an extension of and not a limitation upon the right otherwise existing of service of legal process upon nonresidents.
(g) The Court of Chancery and the Superior Court may make all necessary rules respecting the form of process, the manner of issuance
and return thereof and such other rules which may be necessary to implement this section and are not inconsistent with this section. The
Court of Chancery shall have jurisdiction over statutory trusts to the same extent as it has jurisdiction over common law trusts formed
under the laws of the State.
(h) [Repealed.]
(66 Del. Laws, c. 279, § 1; 67 Del. Laws, c. 297, § 18; 68 Del. Laws, c. 106, § 2; 68 Del. Laws, c. 404, § 6; 69 Del. Laws, c. 265,
§ 2; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 548, § 4; 71 Del. Laws, c. 335, §§ 2, 3; 73 Del. Laws, c. 328, § 6; 73 Del. Laws, c.
329, § 1; 74 Del. Laws, c. 353, § 1; 75 Del. Laws, c. 418, § 4; 78 Del. Laws, c. 280, § 3; 80 Del. Laws, c. 304, § 2; 81 Del. Laws,
c. 352, § 4; 82 Del. Laws, c. 264, § 2.)
§ 3805 Rights of beneficial owners and trustees in trust property.
(a) Except to the extent otherwise provided in the governing instrument of the statutory trust, a beneficial owner shall have an undivided
beneficial interest in the property of the statutory trust and shall share in the profits and losses of the statutory trust in the proportion
(expressed as a percentage) of the entire undivided beneficial interest in the statutory trust owned by such beneficial owner. The governing
instrument of a statutory trust may provide that the statutory trust or the trustees, acting for and on behalf of the statutory trust, shall be
deemed to hold beneficial ownership of any income earned on securities of the statutory trust issued by any business entities formed,
organized, or existing under the laws of any jurisdiction, including the laws of any foreign country.
(b) No creditor of the beneficial owner shall have any right to obtain possession of, or otherwise exercise legal or equitable remedies
with respect to, the property of the statutory trust.
(c) A beneficial owner’s beneficial interest in the statutory trust is personal property notwithstanding the nature of the property of
the trust. Except to the extent otherwise provided in the governing instrument of a statutory trust, a beneficial owner has no interest in
specific statutory trust property.
(d) A beneficial owner’s beneficial interest in the statutory trust is freely transferable except to the extent otherwise provided in the
governing instrument of the statutory trust.
(e) Except to the extent otherwise provided in the governing instrument of a statutory trust, at the time a beneficial owner becomes
entitled to receive a distribution, the beneficial owner has the status of, and is entitled to all remedies available to, a creditor of the statutory
trust with respect to the distribution. A governing instrument may provide for the establishment of record dates with respect to allocations
and distributions by a statutory trust.
(f) Except to the extent otherwise provided in the governing instrument of the statutory trust, legal title to the property of the statutory
trust or any part thereof may be held in the name of any trustee of the statutory trust, in its capacity as such, with the same effect as if such
property were held in the name of the statutory trust. The holding of legal title to any statutory trust property by a trustee shall not require
such trustee to be a party to any contract or other instrument (including a security agreement) to which the statutory trust is a party.
(g) No creditor of the trustee shall have any right to obtain possession of, or otherwise exercise legal or equitable remedies with respect
to, the property of the statutory trust with respect to any claim against, or obligation of, such trustee in its individual capacity and not
related to the statutory trust.
(h) Except to the extent otherwise provided in the governing instrument of the statutory trust, where the statutory trust is a registered
investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (15 U.S.C. § 80a-1 et seq.), any class, group or series of
beneficial interests established by the governing instrument with respect to such statutory trust shall be a class, group or series preferred
as to distribution of assets or payment of dividends over all other classes, groups or series in respect to assets specifically allocated to the
class, group or series as contemplated by § 18 (or any amendment or successor provision) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 [15
U.S.C. § 80a-18], as amended, and any regulations issued thereunder, provided that this section is not intended to affect in any respect
the provisions of § 3804(a) of this title.
(i) Unless otherwise provided in the governing instrument of a statutory trust or another agreement, a beneficial owner shall have no
preemptive right to subscribe to any additional issue of beneficial interests or another interest in a statutory trust.
(66 Del. Laws, c. 279, § 1; 67 Del. Laws, c. 297, §§ 6, 10, 17; 68 Del. Laws, c. 404, §§ 7, 8; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1; 72 Del.
Laws, c. 387, § 4; 73 Del. Laws, c. 328, §§ 7, 8; 73 Del. Laws, c. 329, § 1; 82 Del. Laws, c. 264, § 3.)
§ 3806 Management of statutory trust.
(a) Except to the extent otherwise provided in the governing instrument of a statutory trust, the business and affairs of a statutory trust
shall be managed by or under the direction of its trustees. To the extent provided in the governing instrument of a statutory trust, any
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person (including a beneficial owner) shall be entitled to direct the trustees or other persons in the management of the statutory trust.
Except to the extent otherwise provided in the governing instrument of a statutory trust, neither the power to give direction to a trustee or
other persons nor the exercise thereof by any person (including a beneficial owner) shall cause such person to be a trustee. To the extent
provided in the governing instrument of a statutory trust, neither the power to give direction to a trustee or other persons nor the exercise
thereof by any person (including a beneficial owner) shall cause such person to have duties (including fiduciary duties) or liabilities
relating thereto to the statutory trust or to a beneficial owner thereof.
(b) A governing instrument may contain any provision relating to the management of the business and affairs of the statutory trust, and
the rights, duties and obligations of the trustees, beneficial owners and other persons, which is not contrary to any provision or requirement
of this subchapter and, without limitation:
(1) May provide for classes, groups or series of trustees or beneficial owners, or classes, groups or series of beneficial interests,
having such relative rights, powers and duties as the governing instrument may provide, and may make provision for the future creation
in the manner provided in the governing instrument of additional classes, groups or series of trustees, beneficial owners or beneficial
interests, having such relative rights, powers and duties as may from time to time be established, including rights, powers and duties
senior or subordinate to existing classes, groups or series of trustees, beneficial owners or beneficial interests;
(2) May establish or provide for the establishment of designated series of trustees, beneficial owners, assets or beneficial interests
having separate rights, powers or duties with respect to specified property or obligations of the statutory trust or profits and losses
associated with specified property or obligations, and, to the extent provided in the governing instrument, any such series may have
a separate business purpose or investment objective;
(3) May provide for the taking of any action, including the amendment of the governing instrument, the accomplishment of a merger,
conversion or consolidation, the appointment of one or more trustees, the sale, lease, exchange, transfer, pledge or other disposition of
all or any part of the assets of the statutory trust or the assets of any series, or the dissolution of the statutory trust, or may provide for
the taking of any action to create under the provisions of the governing instrument a class, group or series of beneficial interests that
was not previously outstanding, in any such case without the vote or approval of any particular trustee or beneficial owner, or class,
group or series of trustees or beneficial owners;
(4) May grant to (or withhold from) all or certain trustees or beneficial owners, or a specified class, group or series of trustees or
beneficial owners, the right to vote, separately or with any or all other classes, groups or series of the trustees or beneficial owners, on
any matter, such voting being on a per capita, number, financial interest, class, group, series or any other basis;
(5) May, if and to the extent that voting rights are granted under the governing instrument, set forth provisions relating to notice of
the time, place or purpose of any meeting at which any matter is to be voted on, waiver of any such notice, action by consent without
a meeting, the establishment of record dates, quorum requirements, voting in person, by proxy or in any other manner, or any other
matter with respect to the exercise of any such right to vote;
(6) May provide for the present or future creation of more than 1 statutory trust, including the creation of a future statutory trust to
which all or any part of the assets, liabilities, profits or losses of any existing statutory trust will be transferred, and for the conversion of
beneficial interests in an existing statutory trust, or series thereof, into beneficial interests in the separate statutory trust, or series thereof;
(7) May provide for the appointment, election or engagement, either as agents or independent contractors of the statutory trust or as
delegates of the trustees, of officers, employees, managers or other persons who may manage the business and affairs of the statutory
trust and may have such titles and such relative rights, powers and duties as the governing instrument shall provide.
(8) May provide rights to any person, including a person who is not a party to the governing instrument, to the extent set forth therein;
(9) May provide for the manner in which it may be amended, including by requiring the approval of a person who is not a party
to the governing instrument or the satisfaction of conditions, and to the extent the governing instrument provides for the manner in
which it may be amended such governing instrument may be amended only in that manner or as otherwise permitted by law, including
as permitted by § 3815(f) of this title (provided that the approval of any person may be waived by such person and that any such
conditions may be waived by all persons for whose benefit such conditions were intended). Unless otherwise provided in a governing
instrument, a supermajority amendment provision shall only apply to provisions of the governing instrument that are expressly included
in the governing instrument. As used in this section, “supermajority amendment provision” means any amendment provision set forth
in a governing instrument requiring that an amendment to a provision of the governing instrument be adopted by no less than the vote
or consent required to take action under such latter provision. If a governing instrument does not provide for the manner in which it may
be amended, the governing instrument may be amended with the approval of all of the beneficial owners and trustees or as otherwise
permitted by law, including as permitted by § 3815(f) of this title; or
(10) May provide for specific trustees, a certain number of trustees or a threshold percentage of trustees required to vote in favor of
any action in order for such action to be considered approved by the trustees; except that, if the governing instrument is silent as to the
specific trustees, number of trustees or threshold percentage of trustees so required, then unless otherwise provided in this chapter or
in the governing instrument, the vote of a majority of the trustees (or, in the event that such action requires the approval of a particular
class, group, or series of trustees, then a majority of such class, group, or series) shall be sufficient to approve such action.
(c) To the extent that, at law or in equity, a trustee or beneficial owner or other person has duties (including fiduciary duties) to a statutory
trust or to another trustee or beneficial owner or to another person that is a party to or is otherwise bound by a governing instrument,
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Title 12 - Decedents’ Estates and Fiduciary Relations
the trustee’s or beneficial owner’s or other person’s duties may be expanded or restricted or eliminated by provisions in the governing
instrument; provided, that the governing instrument may not eliminate the implied contractual covenant of good faith and fair dealing.
(d) Unless otherwise provided in a governing instrument, a trustee or beneficial owner or other person shall not be liable to a statutory
trust or to another trustee or beneficial owner or to another person that is a party to or is otherwise bound by a governing instrument for
breach of fiduciary duty for the trustee’s or beneficial owner’s or other person’s good faith reliance on the provisions of the governing
instrument.
(e) A governing instrument may provide for the limitation or elimination of any and all liabilities for breach of contract and breach
of duties (including fiduciary duties) of a trustee, beneficial owner or other person to a statutory trust or to another trustee or beneficial
owner or to another person that is a party to or is otherwise bound by a governing instrument; provided, that a governing instrument
may not limit or eliminate liability for any act or omission that constitutes a bad faith violation of the implied contractual covenant of
good faith and fair dealing.
(f) Unless otherwise provided in the governing instrument of a statutory trust, meetings of beneficial owners may be held by means of
conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other,
and participation in a meeting pursuant to this subsection shall constitute presence in person at the meeting. Unless otherwise provided
in the governing instrument of a statutory trust, on any matter that is to be voted on by the beneficial owners:
(1) The beneficial owners may take such action without a meeting, without a prior notice and without a vote if consented to, in writing,
or by electronic transmission by beneficial owners having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to
authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all interests in the statutory trust entitled to vote thereon were present and voted; and
(2) The beneficial owners may vote in person or by proxy, and such proxy may be granted in writing, by means of electronic
transmission; or as otherwise permitted by applicable law.
Unless otherwise provided in a governing instrument, a consent transmitted by electronic transmission by a beneficial owner or by a
person or persons authorized to act for a beneficial owner shall be deemed to be written and signed for purposes of this subsection. Unless
otherwise provided in a governing instrument, if a person (whether or not then a beneficial owner) consenting as a beneficial owner to
any matter provides that such consent will be effective at a future time (including a time determined upon the happening of an event), then
such person shall be deemed to have consented as a beneficial owner at such future time so long as such person is then a beneficial owner.
(g) Unless otherwise provided in the governing instrument of a statutory trust, meetings of trustees may be held by means of conference
telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and
participation in a meeting pursuant to this subsection shall constitute presence in person at the meeting. Unless otherwise provided in the
governing instrument of a statutory trust, on any matter that is to be voted on by the trustees:
(1) The trustees may take such action without a meeting, without a prior notice and without a vote if consented to, in writing, or by
electronic transmission, by trustees having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take
such action at a meeting at which all trustees entitled to vote thereon were present and voted; and
(2) The trustee may vote in person or by proxy, and such proxy may be granted in writing, by means of electronic transmission, or
as otherwise permitted by applicable law.
Unless otherwise provided in a governing instrument, a consent transmitted by electronic transmission by a trustee or by a person or
persons authorized to act for a trustee shall be deemed to be written and signed for purposes of this subsection. Unless otherwise provided
in a governing instrument, if a person (whether or not then a trustee) consenting as a trustee to any matter provides that such consent will
be effective at a future time (including a time determined upon the happening of an event), then such person shall be deemed to have
consented as a trustee at such future time so long as such person is then a trustee.
(h) Except to the extent otherwise provided in the governing instrument of a statutory trust, a beneficial owner, trustee, officer, employee
or manager may lend money to, borrow money from, act as a surety, guarantor or endorser for, guarantee or assume 1 or more obligations
of, provide collateral for, and transact other business with a statutory trust and, subject to other applicable law, has the same rights and
obligations with respect to any such matter as a person who is not a beneficial owner, trustee, officer, employee or manager.
(i) Except to the extent otherwise provided in the governing instrument of a statutory trust, a trustee of a statutory trust has the power and
authority to delegate to 1 or more other persons the trustee’s rights, powers or duties to manage and control the business and affairs of the
statutory trust, including to delegate to agents, officers and employees of the trustee or the statutory trust, and to delegate by management
agreement or other agreement with, or otherwise to, other persons. Unless otherwise provided in the governing instrument of a statutory
trust, such delegation by a trustee of a statutory trust shall be irrevocable if it states that it is irrevocable. Except to the extent otherwise
provided in the governing instrument of a statutory trust, such delegation by a trustee of a statutory trust shall not cause the trustee to
cease to be a trustee of the statutory trust or cause the person to whom any such rights, powers or duties have been delegated to be a
trustee of the statutory trust.
(j) The governing instrument of a statutory trust may provide that:
(1) A beneficial owner who fails to perform in accordance with, or to comply with the terms and conditions of, the governing
instrument shall be subject to specified penalties or specified consequences;
(2) At the time or upon the happening of events specified in the governing instrument, a beneficial owner shall be subject to specified
penalties or specified consequences; and
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(3) The specified penalties or specified consequences under paragraphs (j)(1) and (j)(2) of this section may include and take the form
of any penalty or consequence set forth in § 3802(c) of this title.
(k) A trustee, beneficial owner or an officer, employee, manager or other person designated in accordance with paragraph (b)(7) or
subsection (i) of this section shall be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the records of the statutory trust and upon information,
opinions, reports or statements presented by another trustee, beneficial owner or officer, employee, manager or other person designated
in accordance with paragraph (b)(7) or subsection (i) of this section, or by any other person as to matters the trustee, beneficial owner or
officer, employee, manager or other person designated in accordance with paragraph (b)(7) or subsection (i) of this section reasonably
believes are within such other person’s professional or expert competence, including information, opinions, reports or statements as to the
value and amount of the assets, liabilities, profits or losses of the statutory trust, or the value and amount of assets or reserves or contracts,
agreements or other undertakings that would be sufficient to pay claims and obligations, or any other facts pertinent to the existence and
amount of assets from which distributions to beneficial owners or creditors might properly be paid.
(l) Except to the extent otherwise provided in the governing instrument of a statutory trust, trustees of a statutory trust that is registered
as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940 [15 U.S.C. § 80a-1 et seq.] shall have the same fiduciary duties
as directors of private corporations for profit organized under the general corporation law of the State.
(m) Except to the extent otherwise provided in the governing instrument of a statutory trust, a trustee shall have no duties or liabilities
with respect to the selection, supervision, removal, decisions or actions of, or to exercise or perform the rights, powers or duties of, an
officer, employee, manager or other person acting pursuant to paragraph (b)(7) of this section or a delegate acting pursuant to subsection
(i) of this section:
(1) To the extent such person is appointed, elected, engaged or made a delegate by an express provision of the governing instrument
or another agreement contemplated thereby;
(2) To the extent the trustee is required to appoint, elect or engage, or delegate to, such person by an express provision of the governing
instrument or another agreement contemplated thereby and not pursuant to the discretionary authority of the trustee;
(3) To the extent a trustee makes an irrevocable delegation pursuant to subsection (i) of this section and pursuant to the discretionary
authority of the trustee, except to exercise the standard of care required of the trustee under the governing instrument or this subchapter
in making such decisions when selecting such person and when establishing the scope and terms of the delegation; or
(4) In all other cases, except to exercise the standard of care required of the trustee under the governing instrument or this subchapter
in making such decisions when selecting such person, when establishing the scope and terms of the delegation and when reviewing
such person’s actions in order to monitor such person’s performance and compliance with the scope and terms of the delegation.
(n) Any officer, employee, manager or other person acting pursuant to paragraph (b)(7) of this section or any delegate acting pursuant
to subsection (i) of this section shall comply with the scope and terms of the appointment, election, engagement or delegation and, except
to the extent otherwise provided in the governing instrument of a statutory trust or the terms of such appointment, election, engagement
or delegation, shall:
(1) Exercise the rights, powers and duties subject to the standard of care required of the trustee under the governing instrument or
this subchapter; and
(2) Be liable for failure to do so.
(66 Del. Laws, c. 279, § 1; 67 Del. Laws, c. 297, § 4; 68 Del. Laws, c. 404, § 9; 69 Del. Laws, c. 265, §§ 3-5; 71 Del. Laws, c.
335, § 5; 72 Del. Laws, c. 387, § 5; 73 Del. Laws, c. 328, §§ 9-12; 73 Del. Laws, c. 329, § 1; 74 Del. Laws, c. 353, §§ 2-4; 75
Del. Laws, c. 418, §§ 5-10; 77 Del. Laws, c. 403, §§ 3, 4; 78 Del. Laws, c. 280, §§ 4-6; 79 Del. Laws, c. 355, §§ 2-4; 80 Del.
Laws, c. 304, §§ 3, 4; 81 Del. Laws, c. 352, §§ 5-10; 82 Del. Laws, c. 264, § 4.)
§ 3807 Trustee in State; registered agent.
(a) Every statutory trust shall at all times have at least 1 trustee which, in the case of a natural person, shall be a person who is a resident
of this State or which, in all other cases, has its principal place of business in this State.
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, if a statutory trust is, becomes, or will become prior to or within
180 days following the first issuance of beneficial interests, a registered investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940,
as amended (15 U.S.C. § 80a-1 et seq.), such statutory trust shall not be required to have a trustee who is a resident of this State or who
has a principal place of business in this State if notice that the statutory trust is or will become an investment company as referenced
in this sentence is set forth in the certificate of trust of the statutory trust and if and for so long as such statutory trust shall have and
maintain in this State:
(1) A registered office, which may but need not be a place of business in this State; and
(2) A registered agent for service of process on the statutory trust, which agent may be either an individual resident in this State
whose business office is identical with such statutory trust’s registered office, or a domestic corporation, limited partnership, limited
liability company or statutory trust, or a foreign corporation, limited partnership, limited liability company or statutory trust authorized
to transact business in this State, having a business office identical with such registered office.
(c) Any statutory trust maintaining a registered office and registered agent in this State under subsection (b) of this section may change
the location of its registered office in this State to any other place in this State, or may change the registered agent to any other person
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or corporation (meeting the requirements contained in subsection (b) of this section), by filing an amendment to its certificate of trust in
accordance with the applicable provisions of this subchapter. If a statutory trust which is an investment company registered as aforesaid
maintains a registered office and a registered agent in this State as herein provided, then the reference in § 3810(a)(1)b. of this title to the
“name and address in this State of at least 1 of the trustees meeting the requirements of § 3807 of this title” shall be deemed a reference
to the name and address in this State of the registered agent and registered office maintained under this section, and the certificate of trust
filed under § 3810 of this title shall reflect such information in lieu of the information otherwise required by § 3810(a)(1)b. of this title.
(d) Service of process upon a registered agent maintained by a statutory trust pursuant to subsection (b) of this section shall be as
effective as if served upon one of the trustees of the statutory trust pursuant to § 3804 of this title.
(e) A trustee or registered agent of a statutory trust whose address, as set forth in a certificate of trust pursuant to § 3810(a)(1)b. of this
title, has changed may change such address in the certificates of trust of all statutory trusts for which such trustee or registered agent is
appointed to another address in the State by paying a fee as set forth in § 3813(a)(5) of this title and filing with the Secretary of State a
certificate, executed by such trustee or registered agent, setting forth the address of such trustee or registered agent before it was changed,
and further certifying as to the new address of such trustee or registered agent for each of the statutory trusts for which it is trustee or
registered agent. Upon the filing of such certificate, or until further change of address, as authorized by law, the address of such trustee
or registered agent in the State for each of the statutory trusts for which it is trustee or registered agent shall be located at the new address
of the trustee or registered agent thereof as given in the certificate. A trustee or registered agent of a statutory trust whose name, as set
forth in a certificate of trust pursuant to § 3810(a)(1)b. of this title, has changed may change such name in the certificates of trust of all
statutory trusts for which such trustee or registered agent is appointed to its new name by paying a fee as set forth in § 3813(a)(5) of this
title and filing with the Secretary of State a certificate, executed by such trustee or registered agent, setting forth the name of such trustee
or registered agent before it was changed and further certifying as to the new name of such trustee or registered agent for each of the
statutory trusts for which it is a trustee or registered agent. A change of name of any person acting as a trustee or registered agent of a
statutory trust as a result of (i) a merger or consolidation of the trustee or registered agent with another person who succeeds to its assets
and liabilities by operation of law (ii) the conversion of the registered agent into another person, or (iii) a division of the registered agent
in which an identified resulting person succeeds to all of the assets and liabilities of the registered agent related to its registered agent
business pursuant to the plan of division, as set forth in the certificate of division, shall each be deemed a change of name for purposes
of this section. Filing a certificate under this section shall be deemed to be an amendment of the certificate of trust of each statutory trust
affected thereby, and no further action with respect thereto to amend its certificate of trust under § 3810 of this title shall be required. Any
trustee or registered agent filing a certificate under this section shall promptly, upon such filing, deliver a copy of any such certificate
to each statutory trust affected thereby.
(f) The registered agent of 1 or more statutory trusts may resign and appoint a successor registered agent by paying a fee as set forth in
§ 3813(a)(5) of this title and filing a certificate with the Secretary of State stating that it resigns and providing the name and address of the
successor registered agent. There shall be attached to such certificate a statement of each affected statutory trust ratifying and approving
such change of registered agent. Upon such filing, or upon the future effective date or time of such certificate if it is not to be effective
upon filing, the successor registered agent shall become the registered agent of such statutory trusts as have ratified and approved such
succession, and the successor registered agent’s address, as stated in such certificate, shall become the address of each such statutory
trust’s registered office in the State of Delaware. Filing of such certificate of resignation shall be deemed to be an amendment to the
certificate of trust of each statutory trust affected thereby, and no further action with respect thereto to amend its certificate of trust under
§ 3810 of this title shall be required.
(g) The registered agent of a statutory trust may resign without appointing a successor registered agent by paying a fee as set forth in
§ 3813(a)(5) of this title and filing a certificate of resignation with the Secretary of State, but such resignation shall not become effective
until 30 days after the certificate is filed. The certificate shall contain a statement that written notice of resignation was given to the
statutory trust at least 30 days prior to the filing of the certificate by mailing or delivering such notice to each statutory trust at its address
last known to the registered agent and shall set forth the date of such notice. The certificate shall include such information last provided
to the registered agent pursuant to subsection (k) of this section for a communications contact for the statutory trust. Such information
regarding the communications contact shall not be deemed public. A certificate filed pursuant to this subsection must be on the form
prescribed by the Secretary of State. After receipt of the notice of the resignation of its registered agent, each statutory trust for which such
registered agent was maintaining a registered office and registered agent in this State under subsection (b) of this section shall obtain and
designate a new registered agent, to take the place of the registered agent so resigning, or shall appoint a trustee meeting the requirements
of subsection (a) of this section. After the resignation of the registered agent shall have become effective as provided in this section and
if no new registered agent shall have been obtained and designated in the time and manner aforesaid, service of legal process against
each statutory trust for which the resigned registered agent had been acting shall thereafter be upon the Secretary of State in accordance
with § 3804 of this title.
(h) As contained in any certificate of trust, application for registration as a foreign statutory trust, or other document filed in the office
of the Secretary of State under this chapter, the address of a trustee and a registered agent or registered office shall include the street,
number, city and postal code.
(i) Every registered agent shall:
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(1) If an entity, maintain a business office in the State of Delaware which is generally open, or if an individual, be generally present
at a designated location in the State of Delaware, at sufficiently frequent times to accept service of process and otherwise perform the
functions of a registered agent;
(2) If a foreign entity, be authorized to transact business in the State of Delaware;
(3) Accept service of process and other communications directed to the statutory trusts and foreign statutory trusts for which it
serves as registered agent and forward same to the statutory trust or foreign statutory trust to which the service or communication is
directed; and
(4) Satisfy and adhere to regulations established by the Secretary regarding the verification of both the identity of the entity’s contacts
and individuals for which the registered agent maintains a record for the reduction of risk of unlawful business purposes.
(j) Any registered agent, who at any time serves as registered agent for more than 50 entities (a “commercial registered agent”), whether
domestic or foreign, shall satisfy and comply with the following qualifications.
(1) A natural person serving as a commercial registered agent shall:
a. Maintain a principal residence or a principal place of business in the State of Delaware;
b. Maintain a Delaware business license;
c. Be generally present at a designated location within the State of Delaware during normal business hours to accept service of
process and otherwise perform the functions of a registered agent as specified in subsection (i) of this section;
d. Provide the Secretary of State upon request with such information identifying and enabling communication with such
commercial registered agent as the Secretary of State shall require; and
e. Satisfy and adhere to regulations established by the Secretary regarding the verification of both the identity of the entity’s
contacts and individuals for which the natural person maintains a record for the reduction of risk of unlawful business purposes.
(2) A domestic or foreign corporation, a domestic partnership (whether general (including a limited liability partnership) or limited
(including a limited liability limited partnership)), a foreign limited liability partnership, a domestic or foreign limited liability company,
or a statutory trust or foreign statutory trust serving as a commercial registered agent shall:
a. Have a business office within the State of Delaware which is generally open during normal business hours to accept service of
process and otherwise perform the functions of a registered agent as specified in subsection (i) of this section;
b. Maintain a Delaware business license;
c. Have generally present at such office during normal business hours an officer, director or managing agent who is a natural person;
d. Provide the Secretary of State upon request with such information identifying and enabling communication with such
commercial registered agent as the Secretary of State shall require; and
e. Satisfy and adhere to regulations established by the Secretary regarding the verification of both the identity of the entity’s
contacts and individuals for which it maintains a record for the reduction of risk of unlawful business purposes.
(3) For purposes of this subsection and paragraph (m)(2)a. of this section, a “commercial registered agent” shall also include any
registered agent which has an officer, director or managing agent in common with any other registered agent or agents if such registered
agents at any time during such common service as officer, director or managing agent collectively served as registered agents for more
than 50 entities, whether domestic or foreign.
(k) Every statutory trust that has a registered agent pursuant to subsection (b) of this section and every foreign statutory trust qualified
to do business in the State of Delaware shall provide to its registered agent and update from time to time as necessary the name, business
address and business telephone number of a natural person who is a trustee, beneficial owner, officer, employee or designated agent of
the statutory trust or foreign statutory trust who is then authorized to receive communications from the registered agent. Such person shall
be deemed the communications contact for the statutory trust or foreign statutory trust. A statutory trust, upon receipt of a request by
the communications contact delivered in writing or by electronic transmission, shall provide the communications contact with the name,
business address, and business telephone number of a natural person who has access to the record required to be maintained pursuant to
§ 3819(a)(2) of this title. Every registered agent shall retain (in paper or electronic form) the above information concerning the current
communications contact for each statutory trust and each foreign statutory trust for which that registered agent serves as registered agent.
If the statutory trust or foreign statutory trust fails to provide the registered agent with a current communications contact, the registered
agent may resign as the registered agent for such statutory trust or foreign statutory trust pursuant to this section.
(l) The Secretary of State is fully authorized to issue such regulations as may be necessary or appropriate to carry out the enforcement
of subsections (i), (j) and (k) of this section, and to take actions reasonable and necessary to assure registered agents’ compliance with
subsections (i), (j) and (k) of this section. Such actions may include refusal to file documents submitted by a registered agent, including
the refusal to file any documents regarding an entity’s formation.
(m) Upon application of the Secretary of State, the Court of Chancery may enjoin any person or entity from serving as a registered
agent or as an officer, director or managing agent of a registered agent.
(1) Upon the filing of a complaint by the Secretary of State pursuant to this section, the court may make such orders respecting such
proceeding as it deems appropriate, and may enter such orders granting interim or final relief as it deems proper under the circumstances.
(2) Any 1 or more of the following grounds shall be a sufficient basis to grant an injunction pursuant to this section:
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a. With respect to any registered agent who at any time within 1 year immediately prior to the filing of the Secretary of State’s
complaint is a commercial registered agent, failure after notice and warning to comply with the qualifications set forth in subsection
(i) of this section and/or the requirements of subsection (j) or (k) of this section above;
b. The person serving as a registered agent, or any person who is an officer, director or managing agent of an entity registered
agent, has been convicted of a felony or any crime which includes an element of dishonesty or fraud or involves moral turpitude; or
c. The registered agent has engaged in conduct in connection with acting as a registered agent that is intended to or likely to
deceive or defraud the public.
(3) With respect to any order the court enters pursuant to this section with respect to an entity that has acted as a registered agent,
the court may also direct such order to any person who has served as an officer, director or managing agent of such registered agent.
Any person who, on or after January 1, 2021, serves as an officer, director or managing agent of an entity acting as a registered agent
in the State of Delaware shall be deemed thereby to have consented to the appointment of such registered agent as agent upon whom
service of process may be made in any action brought pursuant to this section, and service as an officer, director or managing agent
of an entity acting as a registered agent in the State of Delaware shall be a signification of the consent of such person that any process
when so served shall be of the same legal force and validity as if served upon such person within the State of Delaware, and such
appointment of the registered agent shall be irrevocable.
(4) Upon the entry of an order by the court enjoining any person or entity from acting as a registered agent, the Secretary of State
shall mail or deliver notice of such order to each affected statutory trust that has a registered agent pursuant to subsection (b) of this
section or foreign statutory trust:
a. That has specified the address of a place of business in a record of the Secretary of State, to the address specified, or
b. An address of which the Secretary of State has obtained from the statutory trust or foreign statutory trust ‘s former registered
agent, to the address obtained.
If such a statutory trust fails to obtain and designate a new registered agent within 30 days after such notice is given, the certificate
of trust of such statutory trust shall be canceled. If such a foreign statutory trust fails to obtain and designate a new registered agent
within 30 days after such notice is given, such foreign statutory trust shall not be permitted to do business in the State of Delaware and its
registration shall be canceled. If any other affected statutory trust fails to obtain and designate a new registered agent within 60 days after
entry of an order by the court enjoining such statutory trust’s registered agent from acting as a registered agent, the certificate of trust
of such statutory trust shall be canceled. If any other affected foreign statutory trust fails to obtain and designate a new registered agent
within 60 days after entry of an order by the court enjoining such foreign statutory trust’s registered agent from acting as a registered
agent, such foreign statutory trust shall not be permitted to do business in the State of Delaware and its registration shall be canceled. If
the court enjoins a person or entity from acting as a registered agent as provided in this section and no new registered agent shall have
been obtained and designated in the time and manner aforesaid, service of legal process against the statutory trust or foreign statutory
trust for which the registered agent had been acting shall thereafter be upon the Secretary of State in accordance with § 3804 or § 3861
of this title. The Court of Chancery may, upon application of the Secretary of State on notice to the former registered agent, enter such
orders as it deems appropriate to give the Secretary of State access to information in the former registered agent’s possession in order to
facilitate communication with the statutory trusts and foreign statutory trusts the former registered agent served.
(66 Del. Laws, c. 279, § 1; 67 Del. Laws, c. 297, § 5; 68 Del. Laws, c. 106, § 3; 68 Del. Laws, c. 404, § 10; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186,
§ 1; 71 Del. Laws, c. 335, § 6; 72 Del. Laws, c. 387, § 6; 73 Del. Laws, c. 328, § 13; 73 Del. Laws, c. 329, § 1; 75 Del. Laws, c.
418, § 11; 78 Del. Laws, c. 114, § 1; 79 Del. Laws, c. 355, § 5; 82 Del. Laws, c. 264, § 5.)
§ 3808 Existence of statutory trust.
(a) Except to the extent otherwise provided in the governing instrument of the statutory trust, a statutory trust shall have perpetual
existence, and a statutory trust may not be terminated or revoked by a beneficial owner or other person except in accordance with the
terms of its governing instrument.
(b) Except to the extent otherwise provided in the governing instrument of a statutory trust, the death, incapacity, dissolution, termination
or bankruptcy of a beneficial owner or a trustee shall not result in the termination or dissolution of a statutory trust.
(c) In the event that a statutory trust does not have perpetual existence, a statutory trust is dissolved and its affairs shall be wound up at
the time or upon the happening of events specified in the governing instrument. If a governing instrument provides the manner in which a
dissolution may be revoked, it may be revoked in that manner and, unless a governing instrument prohibits revocation of dissolution, then
notwithstanding the happening of events specified in the governing instrument, the statutory trust shall not be dissolved and its affairs
shall not be wound up if, prior to the filing of a certificate of cancellation as provided in § 3810 of this title, the statutory trust is continued,
effective as of the happening of such event:
(1) In the case of dissolution effected by the approval of the beneficial owners or other persons, pursuant to such approval (and the
approval of any beneficial owners or other persons whose approval is required under the governing instrument to revoke a dissolution
contemplated by this clause); and
(2) In the case of dissolution at the time or upon the happening of events specified in a governing instrument (other than a dissolution
effected by the approval of the beneficial owners or other persons), pursuant to such approval that, pursuant to the terms of the governing
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instrument, is required to amend the provision of the governing instrument effecting such dissolution (and the approval of any beneficial
owners or other persons whose approval is required under the governing instrument to revoke a dissolution contemplated by this clause).
The provisions of this section shall not be construed to limit the accomplishment of a revocation of dissolution by other means permitted
by law.
(d) Upon dissolution of a statutory trust and until the filing of a certificate of cancellation as provided in § 3810 of this title, the persons
who, under the governing instrument of the statutory trust, are responsible for winding up the statutory trust’s affairs may, in the name of
and for and on behalf of the statutory trust, prosecute and defend suits, whether civil, criminal or administrative, gradually settle and close
the statutory trust business, dispose of and convey the statutory trust property, discharge or make reasonable provision for the statutory
trust liabilities and distribute to the beneficial owners any remaining assets of the statutory trust.
(e) A statutory trust which has dissolved shall pay or make reasonable provision to pay all claims and obligations, including all
contingent, conditional or unmatured claims and obligations, known to the statutory trust and all claims and obligations which are known
to the statutory trust but for which the identity of the claimant is unknown and claims and obligations that have not been made known
to the statutory trust or that have not arisen but that, based on the facts known to the statutory trust, are likely to arise or to become
known to the statutory trust within 10 years after the date of dissolution. If there are sufficient assets, such claims and obligations shall
be paid in full and any such provision for payment shall be made in full. If there are insufficient assets, such claims and obligations shall
be paid or provided for according to their priority and, among claims and obligations of equal priority, ratably to the extent of assets
available therefor. Unless otherwise provided in the governing instrument of a statutory trust, any remaining assets shall be distributed
to the beneficial owners. Any person, including any trustee, who under the governing instrument of the statutory trust is responsible for
winding up a statutory trust’s affairs who has complied with this subsection shall not be personally liable to the claimants of the dissolved
statutory trust by reason of such person’s actions in winding up the statutory trust.
(f) Except to the extent otherwise provided in the governing instrument of the statutory trust, a series established in accordance with §
3804(a) of this title may be dissolved and its affairs wound up without causing the dissolution of the statutory trust or any other series
thereof. Unless otherwise provided in the governing instrument of the statutory trust, the dissolution, winding up, liquidation or termination
of the statutory trust or any series thereof shall not affect the limitation of liability with respect to a series established in accordance with
§ 3804(a) of this title. A series established in accordance with § 3804(a) of this title is dissolved and its affairs shall be wound up at the
time or upon the happening of events specified in the governing instrument of the statutory trust. Except to the extent otherwise provided
in the governing instrument of a statutory trust, the death, incapacity, dissolution, termination or bankruptcy of a beneficial owner or a
trustee of such series shall not result in the termination or dissolution of such series and such series may not be terminated or revoked by
a beneficial owner of such series or other person except in accordance with the terms of the governing instrument of the statutory trust.
(g) Upon dissolution of a series of a statutory trust established in accordance with § 3804(a) of this title, the persons who under the
governing instrument of the statutory trust are responsible for winding up such series’ affairs may, in the name of the statutory trust
and for and on behalf of the statutory trust and such series, take all actions with respect to the series as are permitted under subsection
(d) of this section and shall provide for the claims and obligations of the series and distribute the assets of the series as provided under
subsection (e) of this section. Any person, including any trustee, who under the governing instrument is responsible for winding up such
series’ affairs who has complied with subsection (e) of this section shall not be personally liable to the claimants of the dissolved series
by reason of such person’s actions in winding up the series.
(66 Del. Laws, c. 279, § 1; 67 Del. Laws, c. 297, § 7; 69 Del. Laws, c. 265, § 6; 70 Del. Laws, c. 548, § 5; 71 Del. Laws, c. 335, §
7; 73 Del. Laws, c. 329, § 1; 75 Del. Laws, c. 418, §§ 12, 13; 77 Del. Laws, c. 403, § 5; 78 Del. Laws, c. 280, § 7; 80 Del. Laws,
c. 304, § 5; 81 Del. Laws, c. 352, §§ 11, 12.)
§ 3809 Applicability of trust law.
Except to the extent otherwise provided in the governing instrument of a statutory trust or in this subchapter, the laws of this State
pertaining to trusts are hereby made applicable to statutory trusts; provided however, that for purposes of any tax imposed by this State
or any instrumentality, agency or political subdivision of this State a statutory trust shall be classified as a corporation, an association,
a partnership, a trust or otherwise, as shall be determined under the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986 [26 U.S. Code § 1 et
seq.], as amended, or under any successor provision.
(66 Del. Laws, c. 279, § 1; 67 Del. Laws, c. 297, § 11; 70 Del. Laws, c. 548, § 7; 73 Del. Laws, c. 329, § 1.)
§ 3810 Certificate of trust; amendment; restatement; cancellation.
(a) (1) Every statutory trust shall file a certificate of trust in the office of the Secretary of State. The certificate of trust shall set forth:
a. The name of the statutory trust;
b. The name and address in this State of at least 1 of the trustees meeting the requirements of § 3807 of this title;
c. The future effective date or time (which shall be a date or time certain) of effectiveness of the certificate if it is not to be effective
upon the filing of the certificate; and
d. Any other information the trustees determine to include therein.
(2) A statutory trust is formed at the time of the filing of the initial certificate of trust in the Office of the Secretary of State or at
any later date or time specified in the certificate of trust if, in either case, there has been substantial compliance with the requirements
of this section. A statutory trust formed under this chapter, unless otherwise provided in its certificate of trust and in its governing
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instrument, shall be a separate legal entity. A statutory trust as to which a certificate of trust has been filed and a governing instrument
has been adopted, regardless of the sequence of such acts, shall be duly formed, and the existence of the statutory trust shall continue
until cancellation of the statutory trust’s certificate of trust.
(3) The filing of a certificate of trust in the office of the Secretary of State shall make it unnecessary to file any other documents
under Chapter 31 of Title 6.
(b) (1) A certificate of trust may be amended by filing a certificate of amendment thereto in the office of the Secretary of State. The
certificate of amendment shall set forth:
a. The name of the statutory trust;
b. The amendment to the certificate; and
c. The future effective date or time (which shall be a date or time certain) of effectiveness of the certificate if it is not to be effective
upon the filing of the certificate.
(2) Except to the extent otherwise provided in the certificate of trust or in the governing instrument of a statutory trust, a certificate
of trust may be amended at any time for any purpose as the trustees may determine. A trustee who becomes aware that any statement in
a certificate of trust was false when made or that any matter described has changed making the certificate false in any material respect
shall promptly file a certificate of amendment.
(c) (1) A certificate of trust may be restated by integrating into a single instrument all of the provisions of the certificate of trust which
are then in effect and operative as a result of there having been theretofore filed 1 or more certificates of amendment pursuant to subsection
(b) of this section, and the certificate of trust may be amended or further amended by the filing of a restated certificate of trust. The restated
certificate of trust shall be specifically designated as such in its heading and shall set forth:
a. The present name of the statutory trust, and if it has been changed, the name under which the statutory trust was originally
formed;
b. The date of filing of the original certificate of trust with the Secretary of State;
c. The information required to be included pursuant to subsection (a) of this section; and
d. Any other information the trustees determine to include therein.
(2) A certificate of trust may be restated at any time for any purpose as the trustees may determine. A trustee who becomes aware
that any statement in a restated certificate of trust was false when made or that any matter described has changed making the restated
certificate false in any material respect shall promptly file a certificate of amendment or a restated certificate of trust.
(d) A certificate of trust shall be cancelled upon the dissolution and the completion of winding up of a statutory trust, or upon the filing
of a certificate of merger or consolidation if the statutory trust is not the surviving or resulting person in a merger or consolidation, or upon
the future effective date or time of a certificate of merger or consolidation if the trust is not the surviving or resulting person in a merger
or consolidation, or upon the filing of a certificate of transfer, or upon the future effective date or time of a certificate of transfer, or upon
the filing of a certificate of conversion to non-Delaware other business entity or upon the future effective date or time of a certificate of
conversion to non-Delaware entity or upon the filing of a certificate of division if the statutory trust is a dividing statutory trust that is not
a surviving statutory trust or upon the future effective date or time of a certificate of division if the statutory trust is a dividing statutory
trust that is not a surviving statutory trust. A certificate of cancellation shall be filed in the office of the Secretary of State and set forth:
(1) The name of the statutory trust;
(2) The date of filing of its certificate of trust;
(3) The future effective date or time (which shall be a date or time certain) of cancellation if it is not to be effective upon the filing
of the certificate; and
(4) Any other information the trustee determines to include therein.
A certificate of cancellation that is filed in the office of the Secretary of State prior to the dissolution or the completion of winding up
of a statutory trust may be corrected as an erroneously executed certificate of cancellation by filing with the office of the Secretary of
State a certificate of correction of such certificate of cancellation in accordance with subsection (e) of this section. The Secretary of State
shall not issue a certificate of good standing with respect to a statutory trust if its certificate of trust is cancelled.
(e) Whenever any certificate authorized to be filed with the office of the Secretary of State under this subchapter has been so filed
and is an inaccurate record of the action therein referred to or was defectively or erroneously executed, such certificate may be corrected
by filing with the office of the Secretary of State a certificate of correction of such certificate. The certificate of correction shall specify
the inaccuracy or defect to be corrected, shall set forth the portion of the certificate in corrected form and shall be executed and filed as
required by this subchapter. The certificate of correction shall be effective as of the date the original certificate was filed, except as to
those persons who are substantially and adversely affected by the correction, and as to those persons the certificate of correction shall be
effective from the filing date. In lieu of filing a certificate of correction, the certificate may be corrected by filing with the office of the
Secretary of State a corrected certificate which shall be executed and filed in accordance with this subchapter. The corrected certificate
shall be specifically designated as such in its heading, shall specify the inaccuracy or defect to be corrected and shall set forth the entire
certificate in corrected form. The corrected certificate shall be effective as of the date the original certificate was filed, except as to those
persons who are substantially and adversely affected by the corrections, and as to those persons the corrected certificate shall be effective
from the filing date.
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(f) If any certificate filed in accordance with this subchapter provides for a future effective date or time and if the transaction is terminated
or amended to change the future effective date or time prior to the future effective date or time, the certificate shall be terminated or
amended by the filing, prior to the future effective date or time set forth in such original certificate, of a certificate of termination or
amendment of the original certificate, executed and filed in accordance with this subchapter, which shall identify the original certificate
which has been terminated or amended and shall state that the original certificate has been terminated or amended.
(g) When the certificate of trust of any statutory trust formed under this chapter shall be cancelled by the filing of a certificate of
cancellation pursuant to this section, the Court of Chancery, on application of any creditor, beneficial owner or trustee of the statutory
trust, or any other person who shows good cause therefor, at any time, may either appoint 1 or more persons to be trustees, or appoint 1
or more persons to be receivers, of and for the statutory trust, to take charge of the statutory trust’s property, and to collect the debts and
property due and belonging to the statutory trust, with the power to prosecute and defend, in the name of the statutory trust, or otherwise,
all such suits as may be necessary or proper for the purposes aforesaid, and to appoint an agent or agents under them, and to do all other
acts which might be done by the statutory trust, if in being, that may be necessary for the final settlement of the unfinished business of
the statutory trust. The powers of the trustees or receivers may be continued as long as the Court of Chancery shall think necessary for
the purposes aforesaid.
(66 Del. Laws, c. 279, § 1; 67 Del. Laws, c. 297, § 12; 69 Del. Laws, c. 265, §§ 7, 8; 70 Del. Laws, c. 548, §§ 6, 8, 9; 73 Del.
Laws, c. 329, § 1; 74 Del. Laws, c. 353, § 5; 75 Del. Laws, c. 418, § 14; 77 Del. Laws, c. 403, §§ 6-8; 78 Del. Laws, c. 280, §§ 8,
9; 80 Del. Laws, c. 304, § 6; 81 Del. Laws, c. 352, § 13; 82 Del. Laws, c. 264, § 6.)
§ 3811 Execution.
(a) Each certificate required by this subchapter to be filed in the office of the Secretary of State shall be executed in the following manner:
(1) A certificate of trust must be signed by all of the trustees;
(2) A certificate of amendment, a certificate of correction, a corrected certificate, a certificate of termination or amendment, and a
restated certificate of trust must be signed by at least one of the trustees;
(3) A certificate of cancellation must be signed by all of the trustees or as otherwise provided in the governing instrument of the
statutory trust; and
(4) If a statutory trust is filing a certificate of merger or consolidation, certificate of conversion, certificate of transfer, certificate of
transfer and continuance, certificate of statutory trust domestication, certificate of division or certificate of termination or amendment
to any such certificate, the certificate of merger or consolidation, certificate of conversion, certificate of transfer, certificate of transfer
and continuance, certificate of statutory trust domestication, certificate of division or certificate of termination or amendment to any
such certificate must be signed by all of the trustees or as otherwise provided in the governing instrument of the statutory trust, or if the
certificate of merger or consolidation, certificate of conversion, certificate of statutory trust domestication or certificate of termination
or amendment to any such certificate is being filed by an other business entity or non-United States entity (as such term is defined in §
3822 of this title thereof), the certificate of merger or consolidation, certificate of conversion, certificate of statutory trust domestication
or certificate of termination or amendment to any such certificate must be signed by a person authorized to execute the certificate on
behalf of the other business entity or non-United States entity (as such term is defined in § 3822 of this title hereof).
(b) Unless otherwise provided in the governing instrument, any person may sign any certificate or amendment thereof or enter into a
governing instrument or amendment thereof by any agent, including any attorney-in-fact. An authorization, including a power of attorney,
to sign any certificate or amendment thereof or to enter into a governing instrument or amendment thereof need not be in writing, need
not be sworn to, verified or acknowledged and need not be filed in the office of the Secretary of State, but if in writing, must be retained
by the statutory trust or a trustee or other person authorized to manage the business and affairs of the statutory trust.
(c) The execution of a certificate by a trustee, or other person authorized pursuant to subsection (a) of this section above, constitutes an
oath or affirmation, under the penalties of perjury in the third degree, that, to the best of the trustee’s, or other person authorized pursuant
to subsection (a) of this section above, knowledge and belief, the facts stated therein are true.
(d) For all purposes of the laws of the State of Delaware, unless otherwise provided in a governing instrument of a statutory trust, a
power of attorney or proxy with respect to a statutory trust granted to any person shall be irrevocable if it states that it is irrevocable and
it is coupled with an interest sufficient in law to support an irrevocable power of attorney or proxy. Such irrevocable power of attorney
or proxy, unless otherwise provided therein or in a governing instrument of a statutory trust, shall not be affected by subsequent death,
disability, incapacity, dissolution, termination of existence or bankruptcy of, or any other event concerning, the principal. A power of
attorney or proxy with respect to matters relating to the organization, internal affairs or termination of a statutory trust or granted by a
person as a beneficial owner or by a person seeking to become a beneficial owner and, in either case, granted to the statutory trust, a trustee
or beneficial owner thereof, or any of their respective officers, directors, managers, members, partners, trustees, employees or agents shall
be deemed coupled with an interest sufficient in law to support an irrevocable power of attorney or proxy. The provisions of this subsection
shall not be construed to limit the enforceability of a power of attorney or proxy that is part of a governing instrument of a statutory trust.
(66 Del. Laws, c. 279, § 1; 67 Del. Laws, c. 297, § 13; 70 Del. Laws, c. 548, §§ 10-12; 71 Del. Laws, c. 335, § 8; 73 Del. Laws, c.
329, § 1; 74 Del. Laws, c. 353, §§ 6-8; 77 Del. Laws, c. 403, §§ 9, 10; 78 Del. Laws, c. 280, §§ 10, 11; 80 Del. Laws, c. 304, § 7;
82 Del. Laws, c. 264, § 7.)
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§ 3812 Filing of certificate.
(a) Any certificate authorized to be filed with the office of the Secretary of State under this subchapter (or any judicial decree of
amendment or cancellation) shall be delivered to the office of the Secretary of State for filing. A person who executes a certificate as an
agent or fiduciary need not exhibit evidence of the person’s authority as a prerequisite to filing. Unless the Secretary of State finds that
any certificate does not conform to law, upon receipt of all filing fees required by law the Secretary of State shall:
(1) Certify that the certificate (or any judicial decree of amendment or cancellation) has been filed in the Secretary of State’s office
by endorsing upon the filed certificate (or judicial decree) the word “filed,” and the date and hour of the filing. This endorsement is
conclusive of the date and time of its filing in the absence of actual fraud;
(2) File and index the endorsed certificate (or judicial decree);
(3) Prepare and return to the person who filed it or the person’s representative a copy of the filed certificate (or judicial decree),
similarly endorsed, and shall certify such copy as a true copy of the filed certificate (or judicial decree); and
(4) Enter such information from the certificate as the Secretary of State deems appropriate into the Delaware Corporation Information
System or any system which is a successor thereto in the office of the Secretary of State, and such information shall be permanently
maintained as a public record. A copy of each certificate shall be permanently maintained on optical disk or by other suitable medium.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, any certificate filed in the office of the Secretary of State under this chapter
shall be effective at the time of its filing with the Secretary of State or at any later date or time (not later than a time on the one hundred
and eightieth day after the date of its filing if such date of filing is on or after January 1, 2012) specified in the certificate. Upon the
effective time of a certificate of amendment (or judicial decree of amendment), certificate of correction, corrected certificate, or restated
certificate, the certificate of trust shall be amended or restated as set forth therein. Upon the effective time of a certificate of cancellation
(or a judicial decree thereof) or a certificate of merger or consolidation or a certificate of division which acts as a certificate of cancellation
or a certificate of transfer or a certificate of conversion to a non-Delaware entity, as provided for therein, the certificate of trust shall
be canceled. Upon the effective time of a certificate of termination or amendment, the original certificate identified in the certificate of
termination or amendment shall be terminated or amended, as the case may be.
(c) A fee as set forth in § 3813(a)(2) of this title shall be paid at the time of the filing of a certificate of trust, a certificate of amendment,
a certificate of correction, a corrected certificate, a certificate of termination or amendment, a certificate of cancellation, a certificate
of merger or consolidation, a certificate of conversion, a certificate of transfer, a certificate of transfer and continuance, a certificate of
statutory trust domestication, a certificate of division or a restated certificate.
(d) A fee as set forth in § 3813(a)(3) of this title shall be paid for a certified copy of any certificate on file as provided for by this
subchapter and a fee as set forth in § 3813(a)(4) of this title shall be paid for each page copied.
(e) Any signature on any certificate authorized to be filed with the Secretary of State under any provision of this subchapter may be a
facsimile, a conformed signature or an electronically transmitted signature. Any such certificate may be filed by telecopy, fax or similar
electronic transmission; provided, however, that the Secretary of State shall have no obligation to accept such filing if such certificate
is illegible or otherwise unsuitable for processing.
(f) The fact that a certificate of trust is on file in the Office of the Secretary of State is notice that the person formed in connection with
the filing of the certificate of trust is a statutory trust formed under the laws of the State and is notice of all other facts set forth therein
which are required to be set forth in a certificate of trust by § 3810(a)(1) and (2) of this title and is notice of the limitation on liability of
a series of a statutory trust which is permitted to be set forth in a certificate of trust by § 3804(a) of this title.
(g) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, it shall not be necessary for any statutory trust or foreign statutory trust to
amend its certificate of trust, its application for registration as a foreign statutory trust, or any other document that has been filed in
the office of the Secretary of State prior to August 1, 2011, to comply with § 3807(h) of this title; notwithstanding the foregoing, any
certificate or other document filed under this chapter on or after August 1, 2011, and changing the address of a trustee or registered agent
or registered office shall comply with § 3807(h) of this title.
(66 Del. Laws, c. 279, § 1; 67 Del. Laws, c. 297, § 14; 68 Del. Laws, c. 404, § 11; 70 Del Laws, c. 186, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 548,
§ 13; 73 Del. Laws, c. 328, § 14; 73 Del. Laws, c. 329, § 1; 74 Del. Laws, c. 353, §§ 9, 10; 78 Del. Laws, c. 114, §§ 2, 3; 81 Del.
Laws, c. 352, § 14; 82 Del. Laws, c. 264, § 8.)
§ 3813 Fees.
(a) No documents required to be filed under this subchapter shall be effective until the applicable fee required by this section is paid.
The following fees shall be paid to and collected by the Secretary of State for the use of this State:
(1) Upon the receipt for filing of an application for reservation of name, and application for renewal of reservation, or notice of
transfer or cancellation of reservation pursuant to § 3814 of this title, a fee in the amount of $75.
(2) Upon the receipt for filing of a certificate of trust, a certificate of amendment, a certificate of cancellation or a certificate of merger
or consolidation, a certificate of correction, a corrected certificate, a certificate of conversion, a certificate of transfer, a certificate of
transfer and continuance, a certificate of statutory trust domestication, a certificate of division, a certificate of termination or amendment
or a restated certificate, a fee in the amount of up to $ 500.
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(3) For certifying copies of any paper on file as provided for by this subchapter, a fee in the amount of $50 for each copy certified.
(4) For issuing further copies of instruments on file, whether certified or not, a fee in the amount of $10 for the first page and $2
for each additional page.
(5) Upon the receipt for filing of a certificate under § 3807(e) of this title, a fee in the amount of $200, upon the receipt for filing of
a certificate under § 3807(f) of this title, a fee in the amount of $200, and upon the receipt for filing of a certificate under § 3807(g)
of this title, a fee in the amount of $2.00 for each statutory trust whose registered agent has resigned by such certificate.
(6) For issuing any certificate of the Secretary of State, including but not limited to a certificate of good standing, other than a
certification of a copy under paragraph (a)(3) of this section, a fee in the amount of $50, except that for issuing any certificate of the
Secretary of State that recites all of a statutory trust’s filings with the Secretary of State, a fee of $175 shall be paid for each such
certificate. For issuing any certificate via the Secretary of State’s online services, a fee of up to $175 shall be paid for each certificate.
(7) For preparing and providing a written report of a record search, a fee in the amount of up to $100.
(b) In addition to those fees charged under subsection (a) of this section, there shall be collected by and paid to the Secretary of State
the following:
(1) For all services described in subsection (a) of this section that are requested to be completed within 30 minutes on the same
day as the day of the request, an additional sum of up to $7,500 and for all services described in subsection (a) of this section that are
requested to completed within 1 hour on the same day as the day of the request, an additional sum of up to $1,000 and for all services
described in subsection (a) of this section that are requested to be completed within 2 hours on the same day as the day of the request,
an additional sum of up to $500; and
(2) For all services described in subsection (a) of this section that are requested to be completed within the same day as the day of
the request, an additional sum of up to $300; and
(3) For all services described in subsection (a) of this section that are requested to be completed within a 24-hour period from the
time of the request, an additional sum of up to $150.
The Secretary of State shall establish (and may from time to time alter or amend) a schedule of specific fees payable pursuant to this
subsection.
(c) Notwithstanding Delaware’s Freedom of Information Act (Chapter 100 of Title 29) or other provision of law granting access to
public records, the Secretary of State upon request shall issue only photocopies or electronic image copies of public records in exchange
for the fees described in this section, and in no case shall the Secretary of State be required to provide copies (or access to copies) of
such public records (including without limitation bulk data, digital copies of instruments, documents and other papers, databases or other
information) in an electronic medium or in any form other than photocopies or electronic image copies of such public records in exchange,
as applicable, for the fees described in this section or § 2318 of Title 29 for each such record associated with a file number.
(d) Except as provided by this section, all other fees for the Secretary of State shall be as provided for in § 2315 of Title 29.
(66 Del. Laws, c. 279, § 1; 67 Del. Laws, c. 297, § 15; 68 Del. Laws, c. 246, § 6; 70 Del. Laws, c. 548, § 14; 72 Del. Laws, c. 387,
§ 7; 74 Del. Laws, c. 52, §§ 32-37; 74 Del. Laws, c. 353, § 11; 75 Del. Laws, c. 218, § 2; 77 Del. Laws, c. 78, §§ 59-64; 78 Del.
Laws, c. 114, § 4; 80 Del. Laws, c. 304, § 8; 81 Del. Laws, c. 53, § 5; 82 Del. Laws, c. 264, § 9.)
§ 3814 Use of names regulated.
(a) The name of each statutory trust as set forth in its certificate of trust must be such as to distinguish it upon the records of the office
of the Secretary of State from the name of any corporation, partnership, limited partnership, statutory trust, limited liability company,
registered series of a limited liability company or registered series of a limited partnership reserved, registered, formed or organized under
the laws of this State or qualified to do business or registered as a foreign corporation, foreign partnership, foreign limited partnership,
foreign statutory trust or foreign limited liability company in this State; provided, however, that a statutory trust may register under any
name which is not such as to distinguish it upon the records of the office of the Secretary of State from the name of any domestic or
foreign corporation, partnership, limited partnership, or foreign statutory trust or limited liability company, registered series of a limited
liability company or registered series of a limited partnership reserved, registered, formed or organized under the laws of this State with
the written consent of the other corporation, partnership, limited partnership, foreign statutory trust, limited liability company, registered
series of a limited liability company or registered series of a limited partnership, which written consent shall be filed with the Secretary
of State, provided further, that, if on July 31, 2011, a statutory trust is registered (with the consent of another statutory trust) under a name
which is not such as to distinguish it upon the records in the office of the Secretary of State from the name on such records of such other
domestic statutory trust, it shall not be necessary for any such statutory trust to amend its certificate of trust to comply with this subsection.
(b) The name of each statutory trust as set forth in its certificate of trust may contain the name of a beneficial owner, a trustee or any
other person.
(c) The name of each statutory trust, as set forth in its certificate of trust, may contain the following words: “company,” “association,”
“club,” “foundation,” “fund,” “institute,” “society,” “union,” “syndicate,” “limited,” or “trust” (or abbreviations of like import) but shall
not contain the word “bank,” or any variation thereof, except for the name of a bank reporting to and under the supervision of the State
Bank Commissioner of this State or a subsidiary of a bank or savings association (as those terms are defined in the Federal Deposit
Insurance Act, as amended, at 12 U.S.C. § 1813), or a statutory trust regulated under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended,
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Title 12 - Decedents’ Estates and Fiduciary Relations
12 U.S.C. § 1841 et seq., or the Home Owners’ Loan Act, as amended, 12 U.S.C. § 1461 et seq.; provided, however, that this section
shall not be construed to prevent the use of the word “bank,” or any variation thereof, in a context clearly not purporting to refer to a
banking business or otherwise likely to mislead the public about the nature of the business of the statutory trust or to lead to a pattern
and practice of abuse that might cause harm to the interests of the public or the State as determined by the Division of Corporations in
the Department of State.
(d) The exclusive right to the use of a name may be reserved by:
(1) Any person intending to form a statutory trust and to adopt that name; and
(2) Any statutory trust registered in this State which proposes to change its name.
(e) The reservation of a specified name shall be made by filing with the Secretary of State an application, executed by the applicant,
together with a duplicate copy, which may either be a signed or conformed copy, specifying the name to be reserved and the name and
address of the applicant. If the Secretary of State finds that the name is available for use by a statutory trust, the Secretary shall reserve
the name for the exclusive use of the applicant for a period of 120 days. Once having so reserved a name, the same applicant may again
reserve the same name for successive 120-day periods. The right to the exclusive use of a reserved name may be transferred to any other
person by filing in the office of the Secretary of State a notice of the transfer, executed by the applicant for whom the name was reserved,
together with a duplicate copy, which may be either a signed or conformed copy, specifying the name to be transferred and the name
and address of the transferee. The reservation of a specified name may be cancelled by filing with the Secretary of State a notice of
cancellation, executed by the applicant or transferee, together with a duplicate copy, which may be either a signed or conformed copy,
specifying the name reservation to be cancelled and the name and address of the applicant or transferee. Any duplicate copy filed with
the Secretary of State, as required by this subsection, shall be returned by the Secretary of State to the person who filed it or that person’s
representative with a notation thereon of the action taken with respect to the original copy thereof by the Secretary of State.
(f) Fees as set forth in § 3813 of this title shall be paid at the time of the initial reservation of any name, at the time of the renewal of
any such reservation and at the time of the filing of a notice of the transfer or cancellation of any such reservation.
(66 Del. Laws, c. 279, § 1; 69 Del. Laws, c. 265, § 9; 70 Del Laws, c. 186, § 1; 71 Del. Laws, c. 335, § 9; 73 Del. Laws, c. 328, §
15; 73 Del. Laws, c. 329, § 1; 78 Del. Laws, c. 114, § 5; 79 Del. Laws, c. 355, § 6; 81 Del. Laws, c. 352, § 15; 82 Del. Laws, c.
264, § 10.)
§ 3815 Merger and consolidation.
(a) Pursuant to an agreement of merger or consolidation, a statutory trust may merge or consolidate with or into 1 or more statutory trusts
or other business entities formed or organized or existing under the laws of the State of Delaware or any other state or the United States
or any foreign country or other foreign jurisdiction, with such statutory trust or other business entity as the agreement shall provide being
the surviving or resulting statutory trust or other business entity. Unless otherwise provided in the governing instrument of a statutory
trust that is not registered as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (15 U.S.C. §§ 809-1 et
seq.), an agreement of merger or consolidation shall be approved by each such statutory trust which is to merge or consolidate by all of
the beneficial owners and all of the trustees. Unless otherwise provided in the governing instrument of a statutory trust that is registered
as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (15 U.S.C. §§ 809-1 et seq.), an agreement of merger
or consolidation shall be approved by each such statutory trust which is to merge or consolidate by all of the trustees and by the beneficial
owners who own more than 50% of the then current percentage or other interest in the profits of such statutory trust owned by all of
the beneficial owners. In connection with a merger or consolidation hereunder, rights or securities of, or interests in, a statutory trust or
other business entity which is a constituent party to the merger or consolidation may be exchanged for or converted into cash, property,
rights or securities of, or interests in, the surviving or resulting statutory trust or other business entity or, in addition to or in lieu thereof,
may be exchanged for or converted into cash, property, rights or securities of, or interests in, a statutory trust or other business entity
which is not the surviving or resulting statutory trust or other business entity in the merger or consolidation, may remain outstanding
or may be cancelled. Notwithstanding prior approval, an agreement of merger or consolidation may be terminated or amended pursuant
to a provision for such termination or amendment contained in the agreement of merger or consolidation. Unless otherwise provided in
the governing instrument of a statutory trust, a statutory trust whose original certificate of trust was filed with the Secretary of State and
effective on or prior to July 31, 2020, shall continue to be governed by § 3815(a) of this title as in effect on July 31, 2020.
(b) If a statutory trust is merging or consolidating under this section, the statutory trust or other business entity surviving or resulting in
or from the merger or consolidation shall file a certificate of merger or consolidation in the office of the Secretary of State. The certificate
of merger or consolidation shall state:
(1) The name, jurisdiction of formation or organization and type of person of each of the statutory trusts or other business entities
which is to merge or consolidate;
(2) That an agreement of merger or consolidation has been approved and executed by each of the statutory trusts or other business
entities which is to merge or consolidate;
(3) The name of the surviving or resulting statutory trust or other business entity;
(4) In the case of a merger in which a statutory trust is the surviving person, such amendments, if any, to the certificate of trust of
the surviving statutory trust to change its name, registered office or registered agent as are desired to be effected by the merger;
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(5) The future effective date or time (which shall be a date or time certain) of the merger or consolidation if it is not to be effective
upon the filing of the certificate of merger or consolidation;
(6) That the executed agreement of merger or consolidation is on file at the principal place of business of the surviving or resulting
statutory trust or other business entity, and shall state the address thereof;
(7) That a copy of the agreement of merger or consolidation will be furnished by the surviving or resulting statutory trust or other
business entity, on request and without cost, to any beneficial owner of any statutory trust or any person holding an interest in any
other business entity which is to merge or consolidate; and
(8) If the surviving or resulting person is not a statutory trust or other business entity formed or organized or existing under the laws
of the State, a statement that such surviving or resulting other business entity agrees that it may be served with process in the State in
any action, suit or proceeding for the enforcement of any obligation of any statutory trust which is to merge or consolidate, irrevocably
appointing the Secretary of State as its agent to accept service of process in any such action, suit or proceeding and specifying the
address to which a copy of such process shall be mailed to it by the Secretary of State. Process may be served upon the Secretary of
State under this subsection by means of electronic transmission but only as prescribed by the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State
is authorized to issue such rules and regulations with respect to such service as the Secretary of State deems necessary or appropriate. In
the event of service hereunder upon the Secretary of State, the plaintiff in any such action, suit or proceeding shall furnish the Secretary
of State with the address specified in the certificate of merger or consolidation provided for in this section and any other address which
the plaintiff may elect to furnish, together with copies of such process as required by the Secretary of State, and the Secretary of State
shall notify such surviving or resulting other business entity thereof at all such addresses furnished by the plaintiff by letter. Such letter
shall be sent by a mail or courier service that includes a record of mailing or deposit with the courier and a record of delivery evidenced
by the signature of the recipient. Such letter shall enclose a copy of the process and any other papers served upon the Secretary of
State. It shall be the duty of the plaintiff in the event of such service to serve process and any other papers in duplicate, to notify the
Secretary of State that service is being made pursuant to this subsection, and to pay the Secretary of State the sum of $ 50 for use of
the State, which sum shall be taxed as part of the costs in the proceeding, if the plaintiff shall prevail therein. The Secretary of State
shall maintain an alphabetical record of any such process setting forth the name of the plaintiff and defendant, the title, docket number
and nature of the proceedings in which process has been served upon the Secretary, the return date thereof, and the day and hour when
the service was made. The Secretary of State shall not be required to retain such information for a period longer than 5 years from
the Secretary's receipt of the service of process.
(c) Any failure to file a certificate of merger or consolidation in connection with a merger or consolidation which was effective prior
to July 5, 1990, shall not affect the validity or effectiveness of any such merger or consolidation.
(d) Unless a future effective date or time is provided in a certificate of merger or consolidation, in which event a merger or consolidation
shall be effective at any such future effective date or time, a merger or consolidation shall be effective upon the filing in the office of the
Secretary of State of a certificate of merger or consolidation.
(e) A certificate of merger or consolidation shall act as a certificate of cancellation for a statutory trust which is not the surviving or
resulting person in the merger or consolidation. A certificate of merger that sets forth any amendment in accordance with paragraph (b)
(4) of this section shall be deemed to be an amendment to the certificate of trust of the statutory trust, and the statutory trust shall not be
required to take any further action to amend its certificate of trust under § 3810 of this title with respect to such amendments set forth
in the certificate of merger. Whenever this section requires the filing of a certificate of merger or consolidation, such requirement shall
be deemed satisfied by the filing of an agreement of merger or consolidation containing the information required by this section to be
set forth in the certificate of merger or consolidation.
(f) An agreement of merger or consolidation approved in accordance with subsection (a) of this section may:
(1) Effect any amendment to the governing instrument of the statutory trust; or
(2) Effect the adoption of a new governing instrument of the statutory trust if it is the surviving or resulting statutory trust in the
merger or consolidation.
Any amendment to the governing instrument of a statutory trust or adoption of a new governing instrument of the statutory trust made
pursuant to the foregoing sentence shall be effective at the effective time or date of the merger or consolidation and shall be effective
notwithstanding any provision of the governing instrument relating to amendment or adoption of a new governing instrument, other than
a provision that by its terms applies to an amendment to the governing instrument or the adoption of a new governing instrument, in either
case, in connection with a merger or consolidation. The provisions of this subsection shall not be construed to limit the accomplishment
of a merger or consolidation or of any of the matters referred to herein by any other means provided for in the governing instrument of a
statutory trust or other agreement or as otherwise permitted by law, including that the governing instrument of any constituent statutory
trust to the merger or consolidation (including a statutory trust formed for the purpose of consummating a merger or consolidation) shall
be the governing instrument of the surviving or resulting statutory trust. Unless otherwise provided in a governing instrument, a statutory
trust whose original certificate of trust was filed with the Secretary of State and effective on or prior to July 31, 2010, shall continue to
be governed by this subsection as in effect on July 31, 2010.
(g) When any merger or consolidation shall have become effective under this section, for all purposes of the laws of the State, all of the
rights, privileges and powers of each of the statutory trusts and other business entities that have merged or consolidated, and all property,
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real, personal and mixed, and all debts due to any of said statutory trusts and other business entities, as well as all other things and causes
of action belonging to each of such statutory trusts and other business entities, shall be vested in the surviving or resulting statutory trust
or other business entity, and shall thereafter be the property of the surviving or resulting statutory trust or other business entity as they
were of each of the statutory trusts and other business entities that have merged or consolidated, and the title to any real property vested
by deed or otherwise, under the laws of the State, in any of such statutory trusts and other business entities, shall not revert or be in any
way impaired by reason of this chapter; but all rights of creditors and all liens upon any property of any of said statutory trusts and other
business entities shall be preserved unimpaired, and all debts, liabilities and duties of each of the said statutory trusts and other business
entities that have merged or consolidated shall thenceforth attach to the surviving or resulting statutory trust or other business entity, and
may be enforced against it to the same extent as if said debts, liabilities and duties had been incurred or contracted by it. Unless otherwise
agreed, a merger or consolidation of a statutory trust, including a statutory trust which is not the surviving or resulting person in the merger
or consolidation, shall not require such statutory trust to wind up its affairs under § 3808(d) of this title or pay any of its liabilities and
distribute its assets under § 3808(e) of this title, and the merger or consolidation shall not constitute the dissolution of such statutory trust.
(h) Unless otherwise provided in a governing instrument or an agreement of merger or consolidation or a plan of division, no appraisal
rights shall be available with respect to a beneficial interest or another interest in a statutory trust, including in connection with any
amendment of a governing instrument, any merger or consolidation in which the statutory trust is a constituent party to the merger or
consolidation, any division of the statutory trust or the sale of all or substantially all of the statutory trust’s assets. The Court of Chancery
shall have jurisdiction to hear and determine any matter relating to any appraisal provided in a governing instrument or an agreement of
merger or consolidation or a plan of division.
(i) A governing instrument may provide that a statutory trust shall not have the power to merge or consolidate as set forth in this section.
(67 Del. Laws, c. 297, § 8; 70 Del Laws, c. 186, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 548, § 15; 73 Del. Laws, c. 329, § 1; 74 Del. Laws, c. 353,
§§ 12-14; 77 Del. Laws, c. 403, §§ 11-16; 78 Del. Laws, c. 114, § 6; 78 Del. Laws, c. 280, §§ 12-14; 79 Del. Laws, c. 355, § 7; 81
Del. Laws, c. 352, §§ 16-18; 82 Del. Laws, c. 264, § 11.)
§ 3816 Derivative actions.
(a) A beneficial owner may bring an action in the Court of Chancery in the right of a statutory trust to recover a judgment in its favor
if persons with authority to do so have refused to bring the action or if an effort to cause those persons to bring the action is not likely
to succeed.
(b) In a derivative action, the plaintiff must be a beneficial owner at the time of bringing the action and:
(1) At the time of the transaction of which the plaintiff complains; or
(2) Plaintiff’s status as a beneficial owner had devolved upon plaintiff by operation of law or pursuant to the terms of the governing
instrument of the statutory trust from a person who was a beneficial owner at the time of the transaction.
(c) In a derivative action, the complaint shall set forth with particularity the effort, if any, of the plaintiff to secure initiation of the
action by the persons with authority to do so, or the reasons for not making the effort.
(d) If a derivative action is successful, in whole or in part, or if anything is received by a statutory trust as a result of a judgment,
compromise or settlement of any such action, the Court may award the plaintiff reasonable expenses, including reasonable attorney’s
fees. If anything is so received by the plaintiff, the Court shall make such award of plaintiff’s expenses payable out of those proceeds and
direct plaintiff to remit to the statutory trust the remainder thereof, and if those proceeds are insufficient to reimburse plaintiff’s reasonable
expenses, the Court may direct that any such award of plaintiff’s expenses or a portion thereof be paid by the statutory trust.
(e) A beneficial owner’s right to bring a derivative action may be subject to such additional standards and restrictions, if any, as are
set forth in the governing instrument of the statutory trust, including, without limitation, the requirement that beneficial owners owning
a specified beneficial interest in the statutory trust join in the bringing of the derivative action.
(67 Del. Laws, c. 297, § 8; 68 Del. Laws, c. 404, §§ 12, 13, 14; 70 Del Laws, c. 186, § 1; 73 Del. Laws, c. 329, § 1; 78 Del. Laws,
c. 280, §§ 15, 16.)
§ 3817 Indemnification.
(a) Subject to such standards and restrictions, if any, as are set forth in the governing instrument of a statutory trust, a statutory trust
shall have the power to indemnify and hold harmless any trustee or beneficial owner or other person from and against any and all claims
and demands whatsoever.
(b) The absence of a provision for indemnity in the governing instrument of a statutory trust shall not be construed to deprive any trustee
or beneficial owner or other person of any right to indemnity which is otherwise available to such person under the laws of this State.
(67 Del. Laws, c. 297, § 8; 73 Del. Laws, c. 329, § 1.)
§ 3818 Treasury interests.
Except to the extent otherwise provided in the governing instrument of a statutory trust, a statutory trust may acquire, by purchase,
redemption or otherwise, any beneficial interest in the statutory trust held by a beneficial owner of the statutory trust. Except to the extent
otherwise provided in the governing instrument of a statutory trust, any such interest so acquired by a statutory trust shall be deemed
canceled.
(70 Del. Laws, c. 548, § 16; 73 Del. Laws, c. 329, § 1.)
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§ 3819 Access to and confidentiality of information; records.
(a) Except to the extent otherwise provided in the governing instrument of a statutory trust, each beneficial owner of a statutory trust, in
person or by attorney or other agent, has the right, subject to such reasonable standards (including standards governing what information
and documents are to be furnished at what time and location and at whose expense) as may be established by the trustees or other persons
who have authority to manage the business and affairs of the statutory trust, to obtain from the statutory trust from time to time upon
reasonable demand for any purpose reasonably related to the beneficial owner’s interest as a beneficial owner of the statutory trust:
(1) A copy of the governing instrument and certificate of trust and all amendments thereto, together with copies of any written powers
of attorney pursuant to which the governing instrument and any certificate and any amendments thereto have been executed;
(2) A current list of the name and last known business, residence or mailing address of each beneficial owner and trustee;
(3) Information regarding the business and financial condition of the statutory trust; and
(4) Other information regarding the affairs of the statutory trust as is just and reasonable.
(b) Except to the extent otherwise provided in the governing instrument of a statutory trust, each trustee, in person or by attorney or
other agent, shall have the right to examine all the information described in subsection (a) of this section for any purpose reasonably
related to his position as a trustee.
(c) Except to the extent otherwise provided in the governing instrument of a statutory trust, the trustees or other persons who have
authority to manage the business and affairs of the statutory trust shall have the right to keep confidential from the beneficial owners,
for such period of time as such persons deem reasonable, any information that such persons reasonably believe to be in the nature of
trade secrets or other information the disclosure of which such persons in good faith believe is not in the best interest of the statutory
trust or could damage the statutory trust or its business or which the statutory trust is required by law or by agreement with a third party
to keep confidential.
(d) A statutory trust may maintain its records in other than paper form, including on, by means of, or in the form of any information
storage device, method, or 1 or more electronic networks or databases (including 1 or more distributed electronic networks or databases),
if such form is capable of conversion into paper form within a reasonable time.
(e) Any demand under this section shall be in writing and shall state the purpose of such demand. In every instance where an attorney
or other agent shall be the person who seeks the right to obtain the information described in subsection (a) of this section, the demand
shall be accompanied by a power of attorney or such other writing which authorizes the attorney or other agent to so act on behalf of
the beneficial owner or trustee.
(70 Del. Laws, c. 548, § 16; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1; 73 Del. Laws, c. 329, § 1; 78 Del. Laws, c. 280, §§ 17, 18; 80 Del. Laws, c.
304, § 9; 81 Del. Laws, c. 352, § 19; 82 Del. Laws, c. 264, § 12.)
§ 3820 Conversion of other business entities to a statutory trust.
(a) Any other business entity formed or organized or existing under the laws of the State or any other state or the United States or any
foreign country or other foreign jurisdiction may convert to a statutory trust by complying with subsection (g) of this section and filing
in the Office of the Secretary of State in accordance with § 3812 of this title:
(1) A certificate of conversion to statutory trust that has been executed in accordance with § 3811 of this title; and
(2) A certificate of trust that complies with § 3810 of this title and has been executed by the trustees in accordance with § 3811
of this title.
Each of the certificates required by this subsection (a) shall be filed simultaneously in the office of the Secretary of State and, if such
certificates are not to become effective upon their filing as permitted by § 3812(b) of this title, then each such certificate shall provide
for the same effective date or time in accordance with § 3812(b) of this title.
(b) The certificate of conversion to statutory trust shall state:
(1) The date on which and jurisdiction where the other business entity was first formed or organized or otherwise came into being
and, if it has changed, its jurisdiction immediately prior to its conversion to a statutory trust;
(2) The name and type of entity of the other business entity immediately prior to the filing of the certificate of conversion to statutory
trust;
(3) The name of the statutory trust as set forth in its certificate of trust filed in accordance with subsection (a) of this section; and
(4) The future effective date or time (which shall be a date or time certain) of the conversion to a statutory trust if it is not to be
effective upon the filing of the certificate of conversion to statutory trust and the certificate of trust.
(c) Upon the filing in the Office of the Secretary of State of the certificate of conversion to statutory trust and the certificate of trust
or upon the future effective date or time of the certificate of conversion to statutory trust and the certificate of trust, the other business
entity shall be converted into a statutory trust and the statutory trust shall thereafter be subject to all of the provisions of this chapter,
except that notwithstanding § 3810(a)(2) of this title, the existence of the statutory trust shall be deemed to have commenced on the date
the other business entity commenced its existence in the jurisdiction in which the other business entity was first formed or organized or
otherwise came into being.
(d) The conversion of any other business entity into a statutory trust shall not be deemed to affect any obligations or liabilities of the other
business entity incurred prior to its conversion to a statutory trust, or the personal liability of any person incurred prior to such conversion.
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(e) When any conversion shall have become effective under this section, for all purposes of the laws of the State, all of the rights,
privileges and powers of the other business entity that has converted, and all property, real, personal and mixed, and all debts due to such
other business entity, as well as all other things and causes of action belonging to such other business entity, shall remain vested in the
statutory trust to which such other business entity has converted and shall be the property of such statutory trust, and the title to any real
property vested by deed or otherwise in such other business entity shall not revert or be in any way impaired by reason of this chapter; but
all rights of creditors and all liens upon any property of such other business entity shall be preserved unimpaired, and all debts, liabilities
and duties of the other business entity that has converted shall remain attached to the statutory trust to which such other business entity
has converted, and may be enforced against it to the same extent as if said debts, liabilities and duties had been incurred or contracted
by it in its capacity as a statutory trust. The rights, privileges, powers and interests in property of the other business entity, as well as the
debts, liabilities and duties of the other business entity, shall not be deemed, as a consequence of the conversion, to have been transferred
to the statutory trust to which such other business entity has converted for any purpose of the laws of the State.
(f) Unless otherwise agreed, for all purposes of the laws of the State, the converting other business entity shall not be required to wind
up its affairs or pay its liabilities and distribute its assets, and the conversion shall not be deemed to constitute a dissolution of such other
business entity and shall constitute a continuation of the existence of the converting other business entity in the form of a statutory trust.
When the other business entity has been converted to a statutory trust pursuant to this section, the statutory trust shall, for all purposes of
the laws of the State, be deemed to be the same person as the converting other business entity.
(g) Prior to filing a certificate of conversion to statutory trust with the Office of the Secretary of State, the conversion shall be approved
in the manner provided for by the document, instrument, agreement or other writing, as the case may be, governing the internal affairs of
the other business entity and the conduct of its business or by applicable law, as appropriate, and a governing instrument shall be approved
by the same authorization required to approve the conversion.
(h) This section shall not be construed to limit the accomplishment of a change in the law governing, or the domicile of, any other
business entity to the State by any other means provided for in an agreement governing the internal affairs of the other business entity or
as otherwise permitted by law, including by the amendment of an agreement governing the internal affairs of the other business entity.
(i) In connection with a conversion hereunder, rights or securities of or interests in the other business entity which is to be converted
to a statutory trust may be exchanged for or converted into cash, property, rights or securities of, or interests in, such statutory trust or,
in addition to or in lieu thereof, may be exchanged for or converted into cash, property, rights or securities of, or interests in, another
statutory trust or other business entity, may remain outstanding or may be cancelled.
(71 Del. Laws, c. 335, § 10; 72 Del. Laws, c. 387, § 8; 73 Del. Laws, c. 329, § 1; 74 Del. Laws, c. 353, § 15; 75 Del. Laws, c. 418,
§§ 15, 16; 77 Del. Laws, c. 403, § 17; 78 Del. Laws, c. 114, § 7; 78 Del. Laws, c. 280, § 19; 79 Del. Laws, c. 355, § 8; 81 Del.
Laws, c. 352, § 20.)
§ 3821 Conversion of a statutory trust.
(a) Upon compliance with this section, a statutory trust may convert to an other business entity.
(b) If the governing instrument specifies the manner of authorizing a conversion of the statutory trust, the conversion shall be authorized
as specified in the governing instrument. If the governing instrument does not specify the manner of authorizing a conversion of the
statutory trust and does not prohibit a conversion of the statutory trust, the conversion shall be authorized in the same manner as is specified
in the governing instrument for authorizing a merger or consolidation that involves the statutory trust as a constituent party to the merger
or consolidation. If the governing instrument of a statutory trust that is not registered as an investment company under the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended (15 U.S.C. §§ 809-1 et seq.), does not specify the manner of authorizing a conversion of the statutory
trust or a merger or consolidation that involves the statutory trust as a constituent party and does not prohibit a conversion of the statutory
trust, the conversion shall be authorized by the approval by all of the beneficial owners and all of the trustees. If the governing instrument
of a statutory trust that is registered as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (15 U.S.C. §§
809-1 et seq.), does not specify the manner of authorizing a conversion of such statutory trust or a merger or consolidation that involves
the statutory trust as a constituent party and does not prohibit a conversion of such statutory trust, the conversion shall be authorized by
the approval of all of the trustees and by the beneficial owners who own more than 50% of the then current percentage or other interest
in the profits of such statutory trust owned by all of the beneficial owners. Unless otherwise provided in the governing instrument of a
statutory trust, a statutory trust whose original certificate of trust was filed with the Secretary of State and effective on or prior to July 31,
2020, shall continue to be governed by § 3821(b) of this title as in effect on July 31, 2020.
(c) Unless otherwise agreed, the conversion of a statutory trust to an other business entity pursuant to this section shall not require such
statutory trust to wind up its affairs under § 3808 of this title or pay its liabilities and distribute its assets under § 3808 of this title.
(d) In connection with a conversion of a statutory trust to an other business entity pursuant to this section, rights or securities of, or
interests in, the statutory trust which is to be converted may be exchanged for or converted into cash, property, rights or securities of, or
interests in, the other business entity into which the statutory trust is being converted or, in addition to or in lieu thereof, may be exchanged
for or converted into cash, property, rights or securities of, or interests in, another statutory trust or other business entity, may remain
outstanding or may be cancelled.
(e) If a statutory trust shall convert in accordance with this section to an other business entity organized, formed or created under the
laws of a jurisdiction other than the State of Delaware, a certificate of conversion to a non-Delaware entity executed in accordance with §
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3811 of this title, shall be filed in the Office of the Secretary of State in accordance with § 3812 of this title. The certificate of conversion
to a non-Delaware entity shall state:
(1) The name of the statutory trust and, if it has been changed, the name under which its certificate of trust was originally filed;
(2) The date of filing of its original certificate of trust with the Secretary of State;
(3) The jurisdiction in which the other business entity, to which the statutory trust shall be converted, is organized, formed or created;
(4) The future effective date or time (which shall be a date or time certain) of the conversion if it is not to be effective upon the filing
of the certificate of conversion to a non-Delaware entity;
(5) That the conversion has been approved in accordance with this section;
(6) The agreement of the statutory trust that it may be served with process in the State of Delaware in any action, suit or proceeding for
enforcement of any obligation of the statutory trust arising while it was a statutory trust of the State of Delaware, and that it irrevocably
appoints the Secretary of State as its agent to accept service of process in any such action, suit or proceeding;
(7) The address to which a copy of the process referred to in subsection (e)(6) of this section shall be mailed to it by the Secretary of
State. Process may be served upon the Secretary of State under paragraph (e)(6) of this section by means of electronic transmission but
only as prescribed by the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State is authorized to issue such rules and regulations with respect to such
service as the Secretary of State deems necessary or appropriate. In the event of service under this section upon the Secretary of State,
the procedures set forth in § 3861(c) of this title shall be applicable, except that the plaintiff in any such action, suit or proceeding
shall furnish the Secretary of State with the address specified in this subsection and any other address that the plaintiff may elect to
furnish, together with copies of such process as required by the Secretary of State, and the Secretary of State shall notify the statutory
trust that has converted out of the State of Delaware at all such addresses furnished by the plaintiff in accordance with the procedures
set forth in § 3861(c) of this title.
(f) Upon the filing in the Office of the Secretary of State of the certificate of conversion to a non-Delaware entity or upon the future
effective date or time of the certificate of conversion to a non-Delaware entity and payment to the Secretary of State of all fees prescribed
in this chapter, the statutory trust shall cease to exist as a statutory trust of the State of Delaware. A copy of the certificate of conversion
to a non-Delaware entity certified by the Secretary of State shall be prima facie evidence of the conversion by such statutory trust out
of the State of Delaware.
(g) The conversion of a statutory trust out of the State of Delaware in accordance with this section and the resulting cessation of its
existence as a statutory trust of the State of Delaware pursuant to a certificate of conversion to a non-Delaware entity shall not be deemed
to affect any obligations or liabilities of the statutory trust incurred prior to such conversion or the personal liability of any person incurred
prior to such conversion, nor shall it be deemed to affect the choice of law applicable to the statutory trust with respect to matters arising
prior to such conversion.
(h) When a statutory trust has been converted to an other business entity pursuant to this section, the other business entity shall, for all
purposes of the laws of the State, be deemed to be the same person as the statutory trust. When any conversion becomes effective under
this section, for all purposes of the laws of the State, all of the rights, privileges and powers of the statutory trust that has converted, and
all property, real, personal and mixed, and all debts due to such statutory trust, as well as all other things and causes of action belonging to
such statutory trust, shall remain vested in the other business entity to which such statutory trust has converted and shall be the property
of such other business entity, and the title to any real property vested by deed or otherwise in such statutory trust shall not revert or be
in any way impaired by reason of this chapter; but all rights of creditors and all liens upon any property of such statutory trust shall
be preserved unimpaired, and all debts, liabilities and duties of the statutory trust that has converted shall remain attached to the other
business entity to which such statutory trust has converted, and may be enforced against it to the same extent as if said debts, liabilities
and duties had originally been incurred or contracted by it in its capacity as such other business entity. The rights, privileges, powers and
interests in property of the statutory trust that has converted, as well as the debts, liabilities and duties of such statutory trust, shall not
be deemed, as a consequence of the conversion, to have been transferred to the other business entity to which such statutory trust has
converted for any purpose of the laws of the State.
(i) A governing instrument may provide that a statutory trust shall not have the power to convert as set forth in this section.
(71 Del. Laws, c. 335, § 10; 72 Del. Laws, c. 387, § 9; 73 Del. Laws, c. 328, § 16; 73 Del. Laws, c. 329, § 1; 74 Del. Laws, c. 353,
§ 16; 77 Del. Laws, c. 403, §§ 18, 19; 79 Del. Laws, c. 355, § 9; 81 Del. Laws, c. 352, §§ 21, 22; 82 Del. Laws, c. 264, § 13.)
§ 3822 Domestication of non-United States entities.
(a) As used in this section, “non-United States entity” means a foreign statutory trust (other than one formed under the laws of a state),
or a corporation, a limited liability company, a business trust or association, a real estate investment trust, a common-law trust, or any
other unincorporated business, including a partnership (whether general (including a limited liability partnership) or limited (including
a limited liability limited partnership)), formed, incorporated, created or that otherwise came into being under the laws of any foreign
country or other foreign jurisdiction (other than any state).
(b) Any non-United States entity may become domesticated as a statutory trust in the State of Delaware by complying with subsection
(g) of this section and filing in the Office of the Secretary of State in accordance with § 3812 of this title:
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(1) A certificate of statutory trust domestication that has been executed in accordance with § 3811 of this title; and
(2) A certificate of trust that complies with § 3810 of this title and has been executed in accordance with § 3811 of this title.
Each of the certificates required by this subsection (b) shall be filed simultaneously in the office of the Secretary of State and, if such
certificates are not to become effective upon their filing as permitted by § 3812(b) of this title, then each such certificate shall provide
for the same effective date or time in accordance with § 3812(b) of this title.
(c) The certificate of statutory trust domestication shall state:
(1) The date on which and jurisdiction where the non-United States entity was first formed, incorporated, created or otherwise came
into being;
(2) The name of the non-United States entity immediately prior to the filing of the certificate of statutory trust domestication;
(3) The name of the statutory trust as set forth in the certificate of trust filed in accordance with subsection (b) of this section;
(4) The future effective date or time (which shall be a date or time certain) of the domestication as a statutory trust if it is not to be
effective upon the filing of the certificate of statutory trust domestication and the certificate of trust; and
(5) The jurisdiction that constituted the seat, siege social, or principal place of business or central administration of the non-United
States entity, or any other equivalent thereto under applicable law, immediately prior to the filing of the certificate of statutory trust
domestication.
(d) Upon the filing in the Office of the Secretary of State of the certificate of statutory trust domestication and the certificate of trust or
upon the future effective date or time of the certificate of statutory trust domestication and the certificate of trust, the non-United States
entity shall be domesticated as a statutory trust in the State of Delaware and the statutory trust shall thereafter be subject to all of the
provisions of this chapter, except that notwithstanding § 3810(a)(2) of this title, the existence of the statutory trust shall be deemed to
have commenced on the date the non-United States entity commenced its existence in the jurisdiction in which the non-United States
entity was first formed, incorporated, created or otherwise came into being.
(e) The domestication of any non-United States entity as a statutory trust in the State of Delaware shall not be deemed to affect any
obligations or liabilities of the non-United States entity incurred prior to its domestication as a statutory trust in the State of Delaware,
or the personal liability of any person therefor.
(f) The filing of a certificate of statutory trust domestication shall not affect the choice of law applicable to the non-United States
entity, except that from the effective date or time of the domestication, the law of the State of Delaware, including the provisions of this
chapter, shall apply to the non-United States entity to the same extent as if the non-United States entity had been formed as a statutory
trust on that date.
(g) Prior to filing a certificate of statutory trust domestication with the Office of the Secretary of State, the domestication shall be
approved in the manner provided for by the document, instrument, agreement or other writing, as the case may be, governing the internal
affairs of the non-United States entity and the conduct of its business or by applicable non-Delaware law, as appropriate, and a governing
instrument shall be approved by the same authorization required to approve the domestication.
(h) When any domestication shall have become effective under this section, for all purposes of the laws of the State of Delaware, all of
the rights, privileges and powers of the non-United States entity that has been domesticated, and all property, real, personal and mixed,
and all debts due to such non-United States entity, as well as all other things and causes of action belonging to such non-United States
entity, shall remain vested in the domestic statutory trust to which such non-United States entity has been domesticated and shall be the
property of such domestic statutory trust, and the title to any real property vested by deed or otherwise in such non-United States entity
shall not revert or be in any way impaired by reason of this chapter; but all rights of creditors and all liens upon any property of such
non-United States entity shall be preserved unimpaired, and all debts, liabilities and duties of the non-United States entity that has been
domesticated shall remain attached to the domestic statutory trust to which such non-United States entity has been domesticated, and
may be enforced against it to the same extent as if said debts, liabilities and duties had originally been incurred or contracted by it in
its capacity as a domestic statutory trust. The rights, privileges, powers and interests in property of the non-United States entity, as well
as the debts, liabilities and duties of the non-United States entity, shall not be deemed, as a consequence of the domestication, to have
been transferred to the domestic statutory trust to which such non-United States entity has domesticated for any purpose of the laws of
the State of Delaware.
(i) When a non-United States entity has become domesticated as a statutory trust pursuant to this section, the statutory trust shall, for
all purposes of the laws of the State, be deemed to be the same person as the domesticating non-United States entity. Unless otherwise
agreed, for all purposes of the laws of the State, the domesticating non-United States entity shall not be required to wind up its affairs
or pay its liabilities and distribute its assets, and the domestication shall not be deemed to constitute a dissolution of such non-United
States entity and shall constitute a continuation of the existence of the domesticating non-United States entity in the form of a domestic
statutory trust. If, following domestication, a non-United States entity that has become domesticated as a statutory trust continues its
existence in the foreign country or other foreign jurisdiction in which it was existing immediately prior to domestication, the statutory
trust and such non-United States entity shall, for all purposes of the laws of the State, constitute a single person formed, incorporated,
created or otherwise having come into being, as applicable, and existing under the laws of the State and the laws of such foreign country
or other foreign jurisdiction.
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(j) In connection with a domestication hereunder, rights or securities of, or interests in, the non-United States entity that is to be
domesticated as a domestic statutory trust may be exchanged for or converted into cash, property, rights or securities of, or interests in,
such domestic statutory trust or, in addition to or in lieu thereof, may be exchanged for or converted into cash, property, rights or securities
of, or interests in, another domestic statutory trust or other person, may remain outstanding or may be cancelled.
(74 Del. Laws, c. 353, § 17; 75 Del. Laws, c. 418, § 17; 78 Del. Laws, c. 114, § 8; 79 Del. Laws, c. 355, § 10; 81 Del. Laws, c.
352, §§ 23, 24.)
§ 3823 Transfer or continuance of domestic statutory trusts.
(a) Upon compliance with the provisions of this section, any statutory trust may transfer to or domesticate in any jurisdiction, other
than any state, and, in connection therewith, may elect to continue its existence as a statutory trust in the State of Delaware.
(b) If the governing instrument specifies the manner of authorizing a transfer or domestication or continuance described in subsection (a)
of this section, the transfer or domestication or continuance shall be authorized as specified in the governing instrument. If the governing
instrument does not specify the manner of authorizing a transfer or domestication or continuance described in subsection (a) of this section
and does not prohibit such a transfer or domestication or continuance, the transfer or domestication or continuance shall be authorized
in the same manner as is specified in the governing instrument for authorizing a merger or consolidation that involves the statutory
trust as a constituent party to the merger or consolidation. If the governing instrument of a statutory trust that is not registered as an
investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (15 U.S.C. §§ 809-1 et seq.), does not specify the manner
of authorizing a transfer or domestication or continuance described in subsection (a) of this section or a merger or consolidation that
involves the statutory trust as a constituent party and does not prohibit such a transfer or domestication or continuance, the transfer or
domestication or continuance shall be authorized by the approval by all of the beneficial owners and all of the trustees. If the governing
instrument of a statutory trust that is registered as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended
(15 U.S.C. §§ 809-1 et seq.), does not specify the manner of authorizing a transfer or domestication or continuance described in (a) of
this section or a merger or consolidation that involves such statutory trust as a constituent party and does not prohibit such a transfer or
domestication or continuance, the transfer or domestication or continuance shall be authorized by the approval of all of the trustees and
by the beneficial owners who own more than 50% of the then current percentage or other interest in the profits of such statutory trust
owned by all of the beneficial owners. If a transfer or domestication or continuance described in subsection (a) of this section shall be
approved as provided in this subsection (b) of this section, a certificate of transfer if the statutory trust’s existence as a statutory trust of
the State of Delaware is to cease, or a certificate of transfer and continuance if the statutory trust’s existence as a statutory trust in the
State of Delaware is to continue, executed in accordance with § 3811 of this title, shall be filed in the Office of the Secretary of State in
accordance with § 3812 of this title. Unless otherwise provided in the governing instrument of a statutory trust, a statutory trust whose
original certificate of trust was filed with the Secretary of State and effective on or prior to July 31, 2020, shall continue to be governed
by § 3823(b) of this title as in effect on July 31, 2020. The certificate of transfer or the certificate of transfer and continuance shall state:
(1) The name of the statutory trust and, if it has been changed, the name under which its certificate of trust was originally filed;
(2) The date of the filing of its original certificate of trust with the Secretary of State;
(3) The jurisdiction to which the statutory trust shall be transferred or in which it shall be domesticated;
(4) The future effective date or time (which shall be a date or time certain) of the transfer or domestication to the jurisdiction specified
in paragraph (b)(3) of this section if it is not to be effective upon the filing of the certificate of transfer or the certificate of transfer
and continuance;
(5) That the transfer or domestication or continuance of the statutory trust has been approved in accordance with the provisions of
this section;
(6) In the case of a certificate of transfer:
a. That the existence of the statutory trust as a statutory trust of the State of Delaware shall cease when the certificate of transfer
becomes effective; and
b. The agreement of the statutory trust that it may be served with process in the State of Delaware in any action, suit or proceeding
for enforcement of any obligation of the statutory trust arising while it was a statutory trust of the State of Delaware, and that it
irrevocably appoints the Secretary of State as its agent to accept service of process in any such action, suit or proceeding;
(7) The address (which may not be that of the statutory trust’s registered agent, as applicable, without the written consent of the
statutory trust’s registered agent, such consent to be filed with the certificate of transfer) to which a copy of the process referred to in
paragraph (b)(6) of this section shall be mailed to it by the Secretary of State. Process may be served upon the Secretary of State under
paragraph (b)(6) of this section by means of electronic transmission but only as prescribed by the Secretary of State. The Secretary
of State is authorized to issue such rules and regulations with respect to such service as the Secretary of State deems necessary or
appropriate. In the event of service under this section upon the Secretary of State, the procedures set forth in § 3861(c) of this title
shall be applicable, except that the plaintiff in any such action, suit or proceeding shall furnish the Secretary of State with the address
specified in this subsection and any other address that the plaintiff may elect to furnish, together with copies of such process as required
by the Secretary of State, and the Secretary of State shall notify the statutory trust that has transferred or domesticated out of the State
of Delaware at all such addresses furnished by the plaintiff in accordance with the procedures set forth in § 3861(c) of this title; and
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(8) In the case of a certificate of transfer and continuance, that the statutory trust will continue to exist as a statutory trust of the State
of Delaware after the certificate of transfer and continuance becomes effective.
(c) Upon the filing in the Office of the Secretary of State of the certificate of transfer or upon the future effective date or time of the
certificate of transfer and payment to the Secretary of State of all fees prescribed in this chapter, the statutory trust shall cease to exist
as a statutory trust of the State of Delaware. A copy of the certificate of transfer certified by the Secretary of State shall be prima facie
evidence of the transfer by such statutory trust out of the State of Delaware. A copy of the certificate of transfer and domestic continuance
certified by the Secretary of State shall be prima facie evidence of the domestication or continuance by such statutory trust in another
jurisdiction and its continuance as a statutory trust in the State of Delaware.
(d) The transfer or domestication of a statutory trust out of the State of Delaware in accordance with this section and the resulting
cessation of its existence as a statutory trust of the State of Delaware pursuant to a certificate of transfer shall not be deemed to affect
any obligations or liabilities of the statutory trust incurred prior to such transfer or domestication or the personal liability of any person
incurred prior to such transfer or domestication, nor shall it be deemed to affect the choice of law applicable to the statutory trust with
respect to matters arising prior to such transfer or domestication. Unless otherwise agreed, the transfer or domestication of a statutory
trust out of the State of Delaware in accordance with this section shall not require such statutory trust to wind up its affairs or pay its
liabilities and distribute its assets under § 3808 of this title.
(e) If a statutory trust files a certificate of transfer and continuance, after the time the certificate of transfer and continuance becomes
effective, the statutory trust shall continue to exist as a statutory trust of the State of Delaware, and the laws of the State of Delaware,
including the provisions of this chapter, shall apply to the statutory trust, to the same extent as prior to such time. So long as a statutory
trust continues to exist as a statutory trust of the State of Delaware following the filing of a certificate of transfer and continuance, the
continuing statutory trust and the other business entity formed, incorporated, created or that otherwise came into being as a consequence
of the transfer of the statutory trust to, or its domestication in, a foreign country or other foreign jurisdiction shall, for all purposes of the
laws of the State of Delaware, constitute a single person formed, incorporated, created or otherwise having come into being, as applicable,
and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware and the laws of such foreign country or other foreign jurisdiction.
(f) In connection with a transfer or domestication of a statutory trust to or in another jurisdiction pursuant to subsection (a) of this
section, rights or securities of, or interests in, such statutory trust may be exchanged for or converted into cash, property, rights or securities
of, or interests in, the other business entity in which the statutory trust will exist in such other jurisdiction as a consequence of the transfer
or domestication or, in addition to or in lieu thereof, may be exchanged for or converted into cash, property, rights or securities of, or
interests in, any other person, may remain outstanding or may be cancelled.
(g) When a statutory trust has transferred or domesticated out of the State of Delaware pursuant to this section, the transferred or
domesticated other business entity shall, for all purposes of the laws of the State of Delaware, be deemed to be the same person as the
statutory trust. When any transfer or domestication of a statutory trust out of the State of Delaware shall have become effective under
this section, for all purposes of the laws of the State of Delaware, all of the rights, privileges and powers of the statutory trust that has
transferred or domesticated, and all property, real, personal and mixed, and all debts due to such statutory trust, as well as all other
things and causes of action belonging to such statutory trust, shall remain vested in the transferred or domesticated other business entity
and shall be the property of such transferred or domesticated other business entity, and the title to any real property vested by deed or
otherwise in such statutory trust shall not revert or be in any way impaired by reason of this chapter; but all rights of creditors and all
liens upon any property of such statutory trust shall be preserved unimpaired, and all debts, liabilities and duties of the statutory trust
that has transferred or domesticated shall remain attached to the transferred or domesticated other business entity, and may be enforced
against it to the same extent as if said debts, liabilities and duties had originally been incurred or contracted by it in its capacity as the
transferred or domesticated other business entity. The rights, privileges, powers and interests in property of the statutory trust that has
transferred or domesticated, as well as the debts, liabilities and duties of such statutory trust, shall not be deemed, as a consequence of the
transfer or domestication out of the State of Delaware, to have been transferred to the transferred or domesticated other business entity
for any purpose of the laws of the State of Delaware.
(h) A governing instrument may provide that a statutory trust shall not have the power to transfer, domesticate or continue as set forth
in this section.
(74 Del. Laws, c. 353, § 17; 75 Del. Laws, c. 418, § 18; 77 Del. Laws, c. 403, §§ 20, 21; 78 Del. Laws, c. 280, § 20; 79 Del. Laws,
c. 355, § 11; 81 Del. Laws, c. 352, §§ 25-27; 82 Del. Laws, c. 264, § 14.)
§ 3824 Judicial cancellation of certificate of trust; proceedings.
(a) Upon motion by the Attorney General, the Court of Chancery shall have jurisdiction to cancel the certificate of trust of any statutory
trust for abuse or misuse of its statutory trust powers, privileges or existence. The Attorney General shall proceed for this purpose in
the Court of Chancery.
(b) The Court of Chancery shall have power, by appointment of trustees, receivers or otherwise, to administer and wind up the affairs
of any statutory trust whose certificate of trust shall be canceled by the Court of Chancery under this section, and to make such orders
and decrees with respect thereto as shall be just and equitable respecting its affairs and assets and the rights of its beneficial owners,
trustees and creditors.
(82 Del. Laws, c. 264, § 15.)
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§ 3825 Division of a statutory trust.
(a) As used in this section and § 3810 of this title:
(1) “Dividing trust” means the statutory trust that is effecting a division in the manner provided in this section.
(2) “Division” means the division of a dividing trust into 2 or more statutory trusts in accordance with this section.
(3) “Division contact” means, in connection with any division, a natural person who is a Delaware resident, any division trust in
such division or any other statutory trust or other business entity formed or organized under the laws of the State of Delaware, which
division contact shall maintain a copy of the plan of division for a period of 6 years from the effective date of the division and shall
comply with paragraph (g)(3) of this section.
(4) “Division trust” means a surviving trust, if any, and each resulting trust.
(5) “Resulting trust” means a statutory trust formed as a consequence of a division
(6) “Surviving trust” means a dividing trust that survives the division.
(b) Pursuant to a plan of division, any statutory trust may, in the manner provided in this section, be divided into 2 or more statutory
trusts. The division of a statutory trust in accordance with this section and, if applicable, the resulting cessation of the existence of the
dividing trust pursuant to a certificate of division shall not be deemed to affect the personal liability of any person incurred prior to
such division with respect to matters arising prior to such division, nor shall it be deemed to affect the validity or enforceability of any
obligations or liabilities of the dividing trust incurred prior to such division; provided, that the obligations and liabilities of the dividing
trust shall be allocated to and vested in, and valid and enforceable obligations of, such division trust or trusts to which such obligations
and liabilities have been allocated pursuant to the plan of division, as provided in subsection (l) of this section. Each resulting trust in a
division shall be formed in compliance with the requirements of this chapter and subsection (i) of this section.
(c) If the governing instrument of the dividing trust specifies the manner of adopting a plan of division, the plan of division shall be
adopted as specified in the governing instrument. If the governing instrument of the dividing trust does not specify the manner of adopting
a plan of division and does not prohibit a division of the statutory trust, the plan of division shall be adopted in the same manner as is
specified in the governing instrument for authorizing a merger or consolidation that involves the statutory trust as a constituent party to
the merger or consolidation. If the governing instrument of a dividing trust that is not registered as an investment company under the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (15 U.S.C. §§ 809-1 et seq.), does not specify the manner of adopting a plan of division
or authorizing a merger or consolidation that involves such statutory trust as a constituent party and does not prohibit a division of such
statutory trust, the adoption of a plan of division shall be authorized by the approval by of all of the trustees and the beneficial owners
of such statutory trust. If the governing instrument of a dividing trust that is registered as an investment company under the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended (15 U.S.C. §§ 809-1 et seq.), does not specify the manner of adopting a plan of division or authorizing
a merger or consolidation that involves such statutory trust as a constituent party and does not prohibit a division of such statutory trust, the
adoption of a plan of division shall be authorized by the approval by all of the trustees and the beneficial owners who own more than 50%
of the then current percentage or other interest in the profits of such dividing trust owned by all of the beneficial owners. Notwithstanding
prior approval, a plan of division may be terminated or amended pursuant to a provision for such termination or amendment contained
in the plan of division.
(d) Unless otherwise provided in a plan of division, the division of a statutory trust pursuant to this section shall not require such
statutory trust to wind up its affairs or pay its liabilities and distribute its assets under § 3808 of this title, and the division shall not
constitute a dissolution of such statutory trust.
(e) In connection with a division under this section, rights or securities of, or interests in, the dividing trust may be exchanged for or
converted into cash, property, rights or securities of, or interests in, the surviving trust or any resulting trust or, in addition to or in lieu
thereof, may be exchanged for or converted into cash, property, rights or securities of, or interests in, a statutory trust or any other business
entity which is not a division trust or may be canceled or remain outstanding (if the dividing trust is a surviving trust).
(f) A plan of division adopted in accordance with subsection (c) of this section:
(1) May effect any amendment to the governing instrument of the dividing trust if it is a surviving trust in the division; or
(2) May effect the adoption of a new governing instrument for the dividing trust if it is a surviving trust in the division; and
(3) Shall effect the adoption of a governing instrument for each resulting trust.
Any amendment to a governing instrument or adoption of a new governing instrument for the dividing trust, if it is a surviving trust
in the division, or adoption of a governing instrument for each resulting trust made pursuant to the foregoing sentence shall be effective
at the effective time or date of the division. Any amendment to a governing instrument or adoption of a governing instrument for the
dividing trust, if it is a surviving trust in the division, shall be effective notwithstanding any provision in the governing instrument of
the dividing trust relating to amendment or adoption of a new governing instrument, other than a provision that by its terms applies to
an amendment to the governing instrument or the adoption of a new governing instrument, in either case, in connection with a division,
merger or consolidation.
(g) If a statutory trust is dividing under this section, the dividing trust shall adopt a plan of division which shall set forth:
(1) The terms and conditions of the division, including:
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a. Any conversion or exchange of the beneficial interests of the dividing trust into or for beneficial interests or other securities
or obligations of any division trust or cash, property or rights or securities or obligations of or interests in any other business entity
or statutory trust which is not a division trust, or that the beneficial interests of the dividing trust shall remain outstanding or be
canceled, or any combination of the foregoing; and
b. The allocation of assets, property, rights, series, debts, liabilities and duties of the dividing trust among the division trusts;
(2) The name of each resulting trust and, if the dividing trust will survive the division, the name of the surviving trust;
(3) The name and business address of a division contact which shall have custody of a copy of the plan of division. The division
contact, or any successor division contact, shall serve for a period of 6 years following the effective date of the division. During such 6year period the division contact shall provide, without cost, to any creditor of the dividing trust, within 30 days following the division
contact’s receipt of a written request from any creditor of the dividing trust, the name and business address of the division trust to which
the claim of such creditor was allocated pursuant to the plan of division; and
(4) Any other matters that the dividing trust determines to include therein.
(h) If a statutory trust divides under this section, the dividing trust shall file a certificate of division executed by at least one trustee
of the dividing trust on behalf of such dividing trust in the office of the Secretary of State in accordance with § 3811 of this title and a
certificate of trust that complies with § 3810 of this title for each resulting trust executed by all of the trustees of each resulting trust in
accordance with § 3811 of this title. The certificate of division shall state:
(1) The name of the dividing trust and, if it has been changed, the name under which its certificate of trust was originally filed and
whether the dividing trust is a surviving trust;
(2) The date of filing of the dividing trust’s original certificate of trust with the Secretary of State;
(3) The name of each division trust;
(4) The name and business address of the division contact required by paragraph (g)(3) of this section;
(5) The future effective date or time (which shall be a date or time certain) of the division if it is not to be effective upon the filing
of the certificate of division;
(6) That the division has been approved in accordance with this section;
(7) That the plan of division is on file at a place of business of such division trust as is specified therein, and shall state the address
thereof;
(8) That a copy of the plan of division will be furnished by such division trust as is specified therein, on request and without cost,
to any beneficial owner of the dividing trust; and
(9) Any other information the dividing trust determines to include therein.
(i) The certificate of division and each certificate of formation for each resulting trust required by subsection (h) of this section shall be
filed simultaneously in the office of the Secretary of State and, if such certificates are not to become effective upon their filing as permitted
by § 3812(b) of this title, then each such certificate shall provide for the same effective date or time in accordance with § 3812(b) of this
title. Concurrently with the effective date or time of a division, the governing instrument of each resulting trust shall become effective.
(j) A certificate of division shall act as a certificate of cancellation for a dividing trust which is not a surviving trust.
(k) A governing instrument may provide that a statutory trust shall not have the power to divide as set forth in this section.
(l) Upon the division of a statutory trust becoming effective:
(1) The dividing trust shall be divided into the distinct and independent resulting trusts named in the plan of division, and, if the
dividing trust is not a surviving trust, the existence of the dividing trust shall cease.
(2) For all purposes of the laws of the State of Delaware, all of the rights, privileges and powers, and all the property, real, personal
and mixed, of the dividing trust and all debts due on whatever account to it, as well as all other things and other causes of action
belonging to it, shall without further action be allocated to and vested in the applicable division trust in such a manner and basis and
with such effect as is specified in the plan of division, and the title to any real property or interest therein allocated to and vested in any
division trust shall not revert or be in any way impaired by reason of the division.
(3) Each division trust shall, from and after effectiveness of the certificate of division, be liable as a separate and distinct statutory
trust for such debts, liabilities and duties of the dividing trust as are allocated to such division trust pursuant to the plan of division in
the manner and on the basis provided in paragraph (g)(1)b. of this section.
(4) Each of the debts, liabilities and duties of the dividing trust shall without further action be allocated to and be the debts, liabilities
and duties of such division trust as is specified in the plan of division as having such debts, liabilities and duties allocated to it, in such a
manner and basis and with such effect as is specified in the plan of division, and no other division trust shall be liable therefor, so long
as the plan of division does not constitute a fraudulent transfer under applicable law, and all liens upon any property of the dividing
trust shall be preserved unimpaired, and all debts, liabilities and duties of the dividing trust shall remain attached to the division trust to
which such debts, liabilities and duties have been allocated in the plan of division, and may be enforced against such division trust to
the same extent as if said debts, liabilities and duties had originally been incurred or contracted by it in its capacity as a statutory trust.
(5) In the event that any allocation of assets, debts, liabilities and duties to division trusts in accordance with a plan of division is
determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to constitute a fraudulent transfer, each division trust shall be jointly and severally liable
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on account of such fraudulent transfer notwithstanding the allocations made in the plan of division; provided, however, the validity
and effectiveness of the division are not otherwise affected thereby.
(6) Debts and liabilities of the dividing trust that are not allocated by the plan of division shall be the joint and several debts and
liabilities of all of the division trusts.
(7) It shall not be necessary for a plan of division to list each individual asset, property, right, series, debt, liability or duty of the
dividing trust to be allocated to a division trust so long as the assets, property, rights, series, debts, liabilities or duties so allocated are
reasonably identified by any method where the identity of such assets, property, rights, series, debts, liabilities or duties is objectively
determinable.
(8) The rights, privileges, powers and interests in property of the dividing trust that have been allocated to a division trust, as well as
the debts, liabilities and duties of the dividing trust that have been allocated to such division trust pursuant to a plan of division, shall
remain vested in each such division trust and shall not be deemed, as a result of the division, to have been assigned or transferred to
such division trust for any purpose of the laws of the State of Delaware.
(9) Any action or proceeding pending against a dividing trust may be continued against the surviving trust as if the division did not
occur, but subject to paragraph (l)(4) of this section, and against any resulting trust to which the asset, property, right, series, debt,
liability or duty associated with such action or proceeding was allocated pursuant to the plan of division by adding or substituting such
resulting trust as a party in the action or proceeding.
(m) In applying the provisions of this chapter on distributions, a direct or indirect allocation of property or liabilities in a division is
not deemed a distribution for purposes of this chapter.
(n) The provisions of this section shall not be construed to limit the means of accomplishing a division by any other means provided
for in a governing instrument or other agreement or as otherwise permitted by this chapter or as otherwise permitted by law.
(o) All statutory trusts formed on or after August 1, 2020, shall be governed by this section. All statutory trusts formed prior to August 1,
2020, shall be governed by this section; provided, that if the dividing trust is a party to any written contract, indenture or other agreement
entered into prior to August 1, 2020, that, by its terms, restricts, conditions or prohibits the consummation of a merger or consolidation by
the dividing trust with or into another party, or the transfer of assets by the dividing trust to another party, then such restriction, condition
or prohibition shall be deemed to apply to a division as if it were a merger, consolidation or transfer of assets, as applicable.
(82 Del. Laws, c. 264, § 16.)
§ 3826 Document form, signature and delivery.
(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, without limiting the manner in which any act or transaction may be documented,
or the manner in which a document may be signed or delivered:
(1) Any act or transaction contemplated or governed by this subchapter or the governing instrument may be provided for in a
document, and an electronic transmission is the equivalent of a written document.
(2) Whenever this subchapter or the governing instrument requires or permits a signature, the signature may be a manual, facsimile,
conformed or electronic signature. “Electronic signature” means an electronic symbol or process that is attached to, or logically
associated with, a document and executed or adopted by a person with an intent to execute, authenticate or adopt the document. A
person may execute a document with such person’s signature.
(3) Unless otherwise provided in the governing instrument or agreed between the sender and recipient, an electronic transmission
is delivered to a person for purposes of this subchapter and the governing instrument when it enters an information processing system
that the person has designated for the purpose of receiving electronic transmissions of the type delivered, so long as the electronic
transmission is in a form capable of being processed by that system and such person is able to retrieve the electronic transmission.
Whether a person has so designated an information processing system is determined by the governing instrument or from the context
and surrounding circumstances, including the parties’ conduct. An electronic transmission is delivered under this section even if no
person is aware of its receipt. Receipt of an electronic acknowledgement from an information processing system establishes that an
electronic transmission was received but, by itself, does not establish that the content sent corresponds to the content received.
This subchapter shall not prohibit 1 or more persons from conducting a transaction in accordance with Chapter 12A of Title 6 [§
12A-101 et seq. of Title 6] so long as the part or parts of the transaction that are governed by this subchapter are documented, signed
and delivered in accordance with this subsection or otherwise in accordance with this subchapter. This subsection shall apply solely
for purposes of determining whether an act or transaction has been documented, and the document has been signed and delivered, in
accordance with this subchapter and the governing instrument.
(b) Subsection (a) of this section shall not apply to:
(1) A document filed with or submitted to the Secretary of State, the Prothonotary, the Register in Chancery, or a court or other
judicial or governmental body of this State;
(2) A certificate of beneficial interest; and
(3) An act or transaction effected pursuant to § 3804(c), § 3807(c)-(g), or subchapter II of this chapter [§ 3851 et seq. of this title].
The foregoing shall not create any presumption about the lawful means to document a matter addressed by this subsection, or the lawful
means to sign or deliver a document addressed by this subsection. A provision of the governing instrument shall not limit the application
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of subsection (a) of this section unless the provision expressly restricts 1 or more of the means of documenting an act or transaction, or
of signing or delivering a document, permitted by subsection (a) of this section.
(c) In the event that any provision of this subchapter is deemed to modify, limit or supersede the Electronic Signatures in Global and
National Commerce Act, 15 U.S.C. § 7001 et. seq., the provisions of this subchapter shall control to the fullest extent permitted by §
7002(a)(2) of such Act [15 U.S.C. § 7002(a)(c)].
(82 Del. Laws, c. 264, § 17.)
§ 3827 Reserved power of State to amend or repeal chapter.
All provisions of this subchapter may be altered from time to time or repealed and all rights of statutory trusts, trustees, beneficial
owners and other persons are subject to this reservation. Unless expressly stated to the contrary in this chapter, all amendments of this
chapter shall apply to statutory trusts, trustees, beneficial owners and other persons whether or not existing as at the time of the enactment
of any such amendment.
(67 Del. Laws, c. 297, § 8; 70 Del. Laws, c. 548, § 16; 71 Del. Laws, c. 335, § 10; 73 Del. Laws, c. 328, § 17; 73 Del. Laws, c.
329, § 1; 74 Del. Laws, c. 353, § 17; 82 Del. Laws, c. 264, § 15.)
§ 3828 Construction and application of chapter and governing instrument.
(a) The rule that statutes in derogation of the common law are to be strictly construed shall have no application to this subchapter.
(b) It is the policy of this subchapter to give maximum effect to the principle of freedom of contract and to the enforceability of
governing instruments.
(c) Action validly taken pursuant to 1 provision of this chapter shall not be deemed invalid solely because it is identical or similar in
substance to an action that could have been taken pursuant to some other provision of this chapter but fails to satisfy 1 or more requirements
prescribed by such other provision.
(d) A governing instrument that provides for the application of Delaware law shall be governed by and construed under the laws of
the State of Delaware in accordance with its terms.
(68 Del. Laws, c. 404, § 15; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 548, § 16; 71 Del. Laws, c. 335, § 10; 74 Del. Laws, c.
353, § 17; 77 Del. Laws, c. 403, § 22; 78 Del. Laws, c. 280, § 21; 82 Del. Laws, c. 264, § 16.)
§ 3829 Short title.
This subchapter may be cited as the “Delaware Statutory Trust Act.”
(67 Del. Laws, c. 297, § 8; 68 Del. Laws, c. 404, § 15; 70 Del. Laws, c. 548, § 16; 71 Del. Laws, c. 335, § 10; 73 Del. Laws, c.
329, § 1; 74 Del. Laws, c. 353, § 17; 82 Del. Laws, c. 264, § 17.)
Subchapter II
Foreign Statutory Trusts
§ 3851 Law governing.
Subject to the Constitution of the State:
(1) The laws of the state, territory, possession or other jurisdiction or country under which a foreign statutory trust is organized
govern its organization and internal affairs and the liability of its beneficial owners and trustees; and
(2) A foreign statutory trust may not be denied registration by reason of any difference between those laws and the laws of the State.
(71 Del. Laws, c. 335, § 11; 73 Del. Laws, c. 329, § 1.)
§ 3852 Registration required; application.
(a) Before doing business in the State, a foreign statutory trust shall register with the Secretary of State. In order to register, a foreign
statutory trust shall submit to the Secretary of State:
(1) A copy executed by a trustee or other authorized person of an application for registration as a foreign statutory trust, setting forth:
a. The name of the foreign statutory trust and, if different, the name under which it proposes to register and do business in the State;
b. The state, territory, possession or other jurisdiction or country where formed, the date of its formation and a statement from
a trustee or other authorized person that, as of the date of filing, the foreign statutory trust validly exists as a statutory trust under
the laws of the jurisdiction of its formation;
c. The nature of the business or purposes to be conducted or promoted in the State;
d. The address of the registered office and the name and address of the registered agent for service of process required to be
maintained by § 3854(b) of this title;
e. A statement that the Secretary of State is appointed the agent of the trust for service of process under the circumstances set
forth in § 3860(b) of this title; and
f. The date on which the foreign statutory trust first did, or intends to do, business in the State.
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(2) A certificate, as of a date not earlier than 6 months prior to the filing date, issued by an authorized officer of the jurisdiction of
its formation evidencing its existence. If such certificate is in a foreign language, a translation thereof, under oath of the translator,
shall be attached thereto.
(3) A fee as set forth in § 3862 of this title shall be paid.
(b) If a foreign statutory trust that is registering to do business in the State of Delaware in accordance with subsection (a) of this section
is governed by a governing instrument that establishes or provides for the establishment of designated series of trustees, beneficial owners,
beneficial interests or assets having separate rights, powers or duties with respect to specified property or obligations of the foreign
statutory trust or profits and losses associated with specified property or obligations, that fact shall be so stated on the application for
registration as a foreign statutory trust. In addition, the foreign statutory trust shall state on such application whether the debts, liabilities
and obligations incurred, contracted for or otherwise existing with respect to a particular series, if any, shall be enforceable against the
assets of such series only, and not against the assets of the foreign statutory trust generally or any other series thereof, and whether any
of the debts, liabilities, obligations and expenses incurred, contracted for or otherwise existing with respect to the foreign statutory trust
generally or any series thereof shall be enforceable against the assets of such series.
(71 Del. Laws, c. 335, § 11; 73 Del. Laws, c. 329, § 1; 75 Del. Laws, c. 418, § 19; 77 Del. Laws, c. 403, §§ 23, 24.)
§ 3853 Issuance of registration.
(a) If the Secretary of State finds that an application for registration conforms to law and all requisite fees have been paid, the Secretary
of State shall:
(1) Certify that the application has been filed in the Secretary of State’s office by endorsing upon the original application the word
“Filed,” and the date and hour of the filing. This endorsement is conclusive of the date and time of its filing in the absence of actual fraud;
(2) File and index the endorsed application.
(b) The Secretary of State shall prepare and return to the person who filed the application or the person’s representative a copy of the
original signed application, similarly endorsed, and shall certify such copy as a true copy of the original signed application.
(c) The filing of the application with the Secretary of State shall make it unnecessary to file any other documents under Chapter 31
of Title 6.
(71 Del. Laws, c. 335, § 11; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1.)
§ 3854 Name; registered office; registered agent.
(a) A foreign statutory trust may register with the Secretary of State under any name (whether or not it is the name under which it
is registered in the jurisdiction of its formation) that could be registered by a domestic statutory trust; provided however, that a foreign
statutory trust may register under any name which is not such as to distinguish it upon the records in the Office of the Secretary of State
from the name on such records of any domestic or foreign corporation, partnership, statutory trust, limited liability company, limited
partnership, registered series of a limited liability company or registered series of a limited partnership reserved, registered, formed
or organized under the laws of the State with the written consent of the other corporation, partnership, statutory trust, limited liability
company, limited partnership, registered series of a limited liability company or registered series of a limited partnership, which written
consent shall be filed with the Secretary of State.
(b) Each foreign statutory trust shall have and maintain in the State:
(1) A registered office which may but need not be a place of its business in the State; and
(2) A registered agent for service of process on the foreign statutory trust, having a business office identical with such registered
office which agent may be any of:
a. An individual resident of the State of Delaware;
b. A domestic limited liability company, a domestic corporation, a domestic partnership (whether general (including a limited
liability partnership) or limited (including a limited liability limited partnership)), or a domestic statutory trust; or
c. A foreign corporation, a foreign limited liability partnership, a foreign limited partnership (including a foreign limited liability
limited partnership), a foreign limited liability company or a foreign statutory trust (other than the foreign statutory trust itself).
(c) A registered agent may change the address of the registered office of the foreign statutory trust or trusts for which the agent is
registered agent to another address in the State by paying a fee as set forth in § 3862 of this title and filing with the Secretary of State
a certificate, executed by such registered agent, setting forth the address at which such registered agent has maintained the registered
office for each of the foreign statutory trusts for which it is a registered agent and further certifying to the new address to which each such
registered office will be changed on a given day and at which new address such registered agent will thereafter maintain the registered
office for each of the foreign statutory trusts for which it is registered agent. Upon the filing of such certificate, until further change of
address, as authorized by law the registered offices in the State each of the foreign statutory trusts for which the agent is registered agent
shall be located at the new address of the registered agent thereof as given in the certificate. In the event of a change of name of any
person acting as a registered agent of a foreign statutory trust, such registered agent shall file with the Secretary of State a certificate,
executed by such registered agent, setting forth the new name of such registered agent, the name of such registered agent before it was
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changed, and the address at which such registered agent has maintained the registered office for each of the foreign statutory trusts for
which it is registered agent, and shall pay a fee as set forth in § 3862 of this title. A change of name of any person acting as a registered
agent of a foreign statutory trust as a result of:
(1) A merger or consolidation of the registered agent, with or into another person which succeeds to its assets and liabilities by
operation of law;
(2) The conversion of the registered agent into another person; or
(3) A division of the registered agent in which an identified resulting person succeeds to all of the assets and liabilities of the registered
agent related to its registered agent business pursuant to the plan of division, as set forth in the certificate of division,
shall each be deemed a change of name for purposes of this section. Filing a certificate under this section shall be deemed to be an
amendment of the application of each foreign statutory trust affected thereby, and each foreign statutory trust shall not be required to take
any further action with respect thereto to amend its application under § 3855 of this title. Any registered agent filing a certificate under
this section shall promptly, upon such filing, deliver a copy of any such certificate to each foreign statutory trust affected thereby.
(d) The registered agent of 1 or more foreign statutory trusts may resign and appoint a successor registered agent by paying a fee as set
forth in § 3862 of this title and filing a certificate with the Secretary of State stating that it resigns and the name and address of the successor
registered agent. There shall be attached to such certificate a statement of each affected foreign statutory trust ratifying and approving such
change of registered agent. Upon such filing, the successor registered agent shall become the registered agent of such foreign statutory
trust as has ratified and approved such substitution and the successor registered agent’s address, as stated in such certificate, shall become
the address of each such foreign statutory trust’s registered office in the State. Filing of such certificate of resignation shall be deemed
to be an amendment of the application of each foreign statutory trust affected thereby, and each such foreign statutory trust shall not be
required to take any further action with respect thereto to amend its application under § 3855 of this title.
(e) The registered agent of a foreign statutory trust may resign without appointing a successor registered agent by paying a fee as set
forth in § 3862 of this title and filing a certificate of resignation with the Secretary of State, but such resignation shall not become effective
until 30 days after the certificate is filed. The certificate shall contain a statement that written notice of resignation was given to the foreign
statutory trust at least 30 days prior to the filing of the certificate by mailing or delivering such notice to the foreign statutory trust at
its address last known to the registered agent and shall set forth the date of such notice. The certificate shall include such information
last provided to the registered agent pursuant to § 3807(k) of this title for a communications contact for the foreign statutory trust. Such
information regarding the communications contact shall not be deemed public. A certificate filed pursuant to this subsection must be on
the form prescribed by the Secretary of State. After receipt of the notice of the resignation of its registered agent, the foreign statutory
trust for which such registered agent was acting shall obtain and designate a new registered agent to take the place of the registered agent
so resigning. If such foreign statutory trust fails to obtain and designate a new registered agent as aforesaid prior to the expiration of the
period of 30 days after the filing by the registered agent of the certificate of resignation, such foreign statutory trust shall not be permitted
to do business in the State and its registration shall be canceled. After the resignation of the registered agent shall have become effective
as provided in this section and if no new registered agent shall have been obtained and designated in the time and manner aforesaid,
service of legal process against the foreign statutory trust for which the resigned registered agent had been acting shall thereafter be upon
the Secretary of State in accordance with § 3861 of this title.
(71 Del. Laws, c. 335, § 11; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1; 73 Del. Laws, c. 328, §§ 18, 19; 73 Del. Laws, c. 329, § 1; 77 Del. Laws, c.
403, §§ 25-27; 82 Del. Laws, c. 264, § 18.)
§ 3855 Amendments to application.
If any statement in the application for registration of a foreign statutory trust was false when made or any arrangements or other facts
described have changed, making the application false in any respect, the foreign statutory trust shall promptly file in the Office of the
Secretary of State a certificate, executed by a trustee or other authorized person, correcting such statement, together with a fee as set
forth in § 3862 of this title.
(71 Del. Laws, c. 335, § 11; 73 Del. Laws, c. 329, § 1.)
§ 3856 Cancellation of registration.
A foreign statutory trust may cancel its registration by filing with the Secretary of State a certificate of cancellation, executed by a
trustee or other authorized person, together with a fee as set forth in § 3862 of this title. A cancellation does not terminate the authority
of the Secretary of State to accept service of process on the foreign statutory trust with respect to causes of action arising out of the doing
of business in the State.
(71 Del. Laws, c. 335, § 11; 73 Del. Laws, c. 329, § 1.)
§ 3857 Doing business without registration.
(a) A foreign statutory trust doing business in the State may not maintain any action, suit or proceeding in the State until it has registered
in the State, and has paid to the State all fees and penalties for the years or parts thereof, during which it did business in the State without
having registered.
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(b) The failure of a foreign statutory trust to register in the State does not:
(1) Impair the validity of any contract or act of the foreign statutory trust;
(2) Impair the right of any other party to the contract to maintain any action, suit or proceeding on the contract; or
(3) Prevent the foreign statutory trust from defending any action, suit or proceeding in any court of the State.
(c) A beneficial owner or a trustee of a foreign statutory trust is not liable for the obligations of the foreign statutory trust solely by
reason of the statutory trust’s having done business in the State without registration.
(d) Any foreign statutory trust doing business in the State without first having registered shall be fined and shall pay to the Secretary
of State $200 for each year or part thereof during which the foreign statutory trust failed to register in the State.
(71 Del. Laws, c. 335, § 11; 73 Del. Laws, c. 329, § 1.)
§ 3858 Foreign statutory trusts doing business without having qualified; injunctions.
The Court of Chancery shall have jurisdiction to enjoin any foreign statutory trust, or any agent thereof, from doing any business in the
State if such foreign statutory trust has failed to register under this subchapter or if such foreign statutory trust has secured a certificate
of the Secretary of State under § 3853 of this title on the basis of false or misleading representations. The Attorney General shall, upon
the Attorney General’s own motion or upon the relation of proper parties, proceed for this purpose by complaint in any county in which
such foreign statutory trust is doing or has done business.
(71 Del. Laws, c. 335, § 11; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1; 73 Del. Laws, c. 329, § 1.)
§ 3859 Execution — Liability.
Section 3811(c) of this title shall be applicable to foreign statutory trusts as if they were domestic statutory trusts.
(71 Del. Laws, c. 335, § 11; 73 Del. Laws, c. 329, § 1.)
§ 3860 Service of process on registered foreign statutory trusts.
(a) Service of legal process upon any foreign statutory trust shall be made by delivering a copy personally to any trustee of the foreign
statutory trust in the State or the registered agent of the foreign statutory trust in the State, or by leaving it at the dwelling house or
usual place of abode in the State of any such trustee or registered agent (if the registered agent be an individual), or at the registered
office or other place of business of the foreign statutory trust in the State. If the registered agent be a corporation, service of process
upon it as such may be made by serving, in the State, a copy thereof on the president, vice-president, secretary, assistant secretary or any
director of the corporate registered agent. Service by copy left at the dwelling house or usual place of abode of any trustee or registered
agent, or at the registered office or other place of business of the foreign statutory trust in the State, to be effective must be delivered
thereat at least 6 days before the return date of the process, and in the presence of an adult person, and the officer serving the process
shall distinctly state the manner of service in the officer’s return thereto. Process returnable forthwith must be delivered personally to
the trustee or registered agent.
(b) In case the officer whose duty it is to serve legal process cannot by due diligence serve the process in any manner provided for by
subsection (a) of this section, it shall be lawful to serve the process against the foreign statutory trust upon the Secretary of State, and
such service shall be as effectual for all intents and purposes as if made in any of the ways provided for in subsection (a) of this section.
Process may be served upon the Secretary of State under this subsection by means of electronic transmission but only as prescribed by the
Secretary of State. The Secretary of State is authorized to issue such rules and regulations with respect to such service as the Secretary of
State deems necessary or appropriate. In the event that service is effected through the Secretary of State in accordance with this subsection,
the Secretary of State shall forthwith notify the foreign statutory trust by letter, directed to the foreign statutory trust at its last registered
office. Such letter shall be sent by a mail or courier service that includes a record of mailing or deposit with the courier and a record of
delivery evidenced by the signature of the recipient. Such letter shall enclose a copy of the process and any other papers served on the
Secretary of State pursuant to this subsection. It shall be the duty of the plaintiff in the event of such service to serve process and any other
papers in duplicate, to notify the Secretary of State that service is being effected pursuant to this subsection, and to pay to the Secretary
of State the sum of $50 for the use of the State, which sum shall be taxed as a part of the costs in the proceeding if the plaintiff shall
prevail therein. The Secretary of State shall maintain an alphabetical record of any such service setting forth the name of the plaintiff and
defendant, the title, docket number and nature of the proceeding in which process has been served upon the Secretary of State, the fact
that service has been effected pursuant to this subsection, the return date thereof and the day and hour when the service was made. The
Secretary of State shall not be required to retain such information for a period longer than 5 years from receipt of the service of process.
(71 Del. Laws, c. 335, § 11; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1; 73 Del. Laws, c. 329, § 1; 77 Del. Laws, c. 403, § 28.)
§ 3861 Service of process on unregistered foreign statutory trusts.
(a) Any foreign statutory trust which shall do business in the State without having registered under § 3852 of this title shall be deemed
to have thereby appointed and constituted the Secretary of State of the State its agent for the acceptance of legal process in any civil
action, suit or proceeding against it in any state or federal court in the State arising or growing out of any business done by it within the
State. The doing of business in the State by such foreign statutory trust shall be a signification of the agreement of such foreign statutory
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trust that any such process when so served shall be of the same legal force and validity as if served upon an authorized manager or agent
personally within the State. Process may be served upon the Secretary of State under this subsection by means of electronic transmission
but only as prescribed by the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State is authorized to issue such rules and regulations with respect to
such service as the Secretary of State deems necessary or appropriate.
(b) Whenever the words “doing business,” “the doing of business” or “business done in this State” by any such foreign statutory trust
are used in this section, they shall mean the course or practice of carrying on any business activities in the State, including, without limiting
the generality of the foregoing, the solicitation of business or orders in the State; provided, however such words shall be deemed to have
the same meaning as similar words of like import in § 371 of Title 8, but the requirement of such foreign statutory trust to register under
§ 3852 of this title shall be subject to the same exceptions as are set forth in § 373 of Title 8.
(c) In the event of service upon the Secretary of State in accordance with subsection (a) of this section, the Secretary of State shall
forthwith notify the foreign statutory trust thereof by letter, directed to the foreign statutory trust at the address furnished to the Secretary
of State by the plaintiff in such action, suit or proceeding. Such letter shall be sent by a mail or courier service that includes a record of
mailing or deposit with the courier and a record of delivery evidenced by the signature of the recipient. Such letter shall enclose a copy
of the process and any other papers served upon the Secretary of State. It shall be the duty of the plaintiff in the event of such service to
serve process and any other papers in duplicate, to notify the Secretary of State that service is being made pursuant to this subsection, and
to pay to the Secretary of State the sum of $50 for the use of the State, which sum shall be taxed as part of the costs in the proceeding, if
the plaintiff shall prevail therein. The Secretary of State shall maintain an alphabetical record of any such process setting forth the name
of the plaintiff and defendant, the title, docket number and nature of the proceeding in which process has been served upon the Secretary
of State, the return date thereof, and the day and hour when the service was made. The Secretary of State shall not be required to retain
such information for a period longer than 5 years from receipt of the service of process.
(71 Del. Laws, c. 335, § 11; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1; 73 Del. Laws, c. 329, § 1; 77 Del. Laws, c. 403, §§ 29, 30.)
§ 3862 Fees.
No document required to be filed under this subchapter shall be effective until the applicable fee required by this section is paid. The
following fees shall be paid to and collected by the Secretary of State for the use of the State:
(1) Upon receipt for filing of an application for registration as a foreign statutory trust under § 3852 of this title, a certificate under
§ 3855 of this title or a certificate of cancellation under § 3856 of this title, a fee in amount of up to $300 together with such fees for
services as may be authorized pursuant to § 3813(b) of this title.
(2) Upon the receipt for filing of a certificate under § 3854(c) of this title, a fee in the amount of $200, upon the receipt for filing of
a certificate under § 3854(d) of this title, a fee in the amount of $200, and upon the receipt for filing of a certificate under § 3854(e)
of this title, a fee in the amount of $2.00 for each statutory trust whose registered agent has resigned by such certificate.
(71 Del. Laws, c. 335, § 11; 73 Del. Laws, c. 329, § 1; 74 Del. Laws, c. 52, § 38; 75 Del. Laws, c. 218, § 3; 78 Del. Laws, c. 114,
§ 9.)
§ 3863 Activities not constituting doing business.
(a) Activities of a foreign statutory trust in the State of Delaware that do not constitute doing business for the purpose of this chapter
include:
(1) Maintaining, defending or settling an action or proceeding;
(2) Holding meetings of its beneficial owners or trustees or carrying on any other activity concerning its internal affairs;
(3) Maintaining bank accounts;
(4) Maintaining offices or agencies for the transfer, exchange or registration of the statutory trust’s own securities or maintaining
trustees or depositories with respect to those securities;
(5) Selling through independent contractors;
(6) Soliciting or obtaining orders, whether by mail or through employees or agents or otherwise, if the orders require acceptance
outside the State of Delaware before they become contracts;
(7) Selling, by contract consummated outside the State of Delaware, and agreeing, by the contract, to deliver into the State of
Delaware, machinery, plants or equipment, the construction, erection or installation of which within the State of Delaware requires the
supervision of technical engineers or skilled employees performing services not generally available, and as part of the contract of sale
agreeing to furnish such services, and such services only, to the vendee at the time of construction, erection or installation;
(8) Creating, as borrower or lender, or acquiring indebtedness with or without a mortgage or other security interest in property;
(9) Collecting debts or foreclosing mortgages or other security interests in property securing the debts, and holding, protecting and
maintaining property so acquired;
(10) Conducting an isolated transaction that is not one in the course of similar transactions;
(11) Doing business in interstate commerce; and
(12) Doing business in the State of Delaware as an insurance company.
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(b) A person shall not be deemed to be doing business in the State of Delaware solely by reason of being a beneficial owner or trustee
of a domestic statutory trust or a foreign statutory trust.
(c) This section does not apply in determining whether a foreign statutory trust is subject to service or process, taxation or regulation
under any other law of the State of Delaware.
(75 Del. Laws, c. 418, § 20.)
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Part V
Fiduciary Relations
Chapter 39
Guardianship
Subchapter I
Appointment, Bond and Tenure of Guardian
§ 3901 Appointment of guardians for persons with disabilities.
(a) The Court of Chancery shall have the power to appoint guardians for the person or property, or both, of any person with a disability
pursuant to this chapter and Chapter 39A of this title. “Person with a disability” means any person who:
(1) By reason of being under the age of 18 is legally unable to manage their own property or make decisions concerning the care
of their own person; or
(2) By reason of mental or physical incapacity is unable properly to manage or care for their own person or property, or both, and, in
consequence thereof, is in danger of dissipating or losing such property or of becoming the victim of designing persons or, in the case
where a guardian of the person is sought, such person is in danger of substantially endangering person’s own health, or of becoming
subject to abuse by other persons or of becoming the victim of designing persons; or
(3) By reason of § 5703(1) or (2) of Title 16 is deemed legally incapable of giving informed consent to sterilization.
(b) The Court of Chancery shall establish rules concerning the filing of petitions for appointment of guardians. The monetary thresholds
referenced in subsections (k) and (l) of this section shall be established by rule, with the concurrence of the Court of Chancery and the
Superior Court and the approval of the Supreme Court.
(c) Upon the filing of such petition, the Court shall enter an order fixing a time and place for a hearing thereon. The Court shall by
rule provide for reasonable notice to the person with an alleged disability and to such others, if any, as the Court may deem desirable;
provided that, in all cases where a guardian of the person or guardian of the property of an adult with a disability is sought, the person
with an alleged disability shall be entitled to representation by counsel.
(d) (1) If, upon the filing of a petition, the Court finds the person with an alleged disability is in danger of incurring imminent serious
physical harm or substantial economic loss or expense the Court may without notice and hearing appoint an interim guardian of the person
or property to serve for a period of up to 30 days; provided, that a hearing shall be held within 30 days of such appointment in accordance
with subsection (c) of this section.
(2) The Court shall specifically enumerate the powers and duties of the guardian appointed under this subsection, granting either
of the following:
a. All of the powers and duties in subchapter II of this chapter.
b. Limited powers based on the needs of the person with an alleged disability. A grant of limited guardianship may specify 1 or
more of the following:
1. The limitations upon the authority of the guardian.
2. The areas of decision-making retained by the person with an alleged disability.
3. The specific, limited purpose of the guardianship.
(e) After determining at a hearing (or, for a period of up to 30 days, after determining without a hearing in the case of a person with a
disability who is in danger of incurring imminent serious economic loss or expense) that an individual is a person with a disability within
the meaning of this section, the Court shall have the same powers of control over the estate of the person with a disability which the
person with a disability could exercise, if not incapacitated, except the power to make a will. In exercising these powers the Court shall
substitute its judgment for that of the person with a disability to order relief from the incapacity or incapacities which the Court has found.
In substituting its judgment, the Court shall act toward the property of the person with a disability as it believes to be in the best interest
of the person with a disability and the estate of the person with a disability. The powers of the Court over the property of the person with
a disability are plenary and include, but are not limited to, powers to make gifts and charitable contributions; to convey or release any
contingent or expectant interest in property including marital property rights and any right of survivorship incident to joint tenancy or
tenants by the entirety; to exercise or release the power of the person with a disability as trustee, personal representative, custodian for
minor, conservator or as donee of a power of appointment; to enter into contracts; to create revocable or irrevocable trusts of property of
the estate, which may extend beyond the incapacity or life of the person with a disability; to exercise or grant options of the person who
is incapacitated to purchase securities or other property; to exercise right of the person who is incapacitated to select options; to cause
estate of the person who is incapacitated to become the beneficiary under insurance and annuity policies or to surrender such policies for
their cash value; to exercise right of the person who is incapacitated to an elective share in the estate of deceased spouse of the person
who is incapacitated and to renounce or disclaim any interest receivable by testate or intestate succession or by inter vivos transfer.
(f) After hearing or, for a period of up to 30 days, after determining without a hearing in the case of a person with a disability who
is in danger of incurring imminent serious physical harm and upon determining that a basis for appointment of a guardian of the person
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exists, the Court shall have the same powers, rights and duties respecting the person with a disability that parents have respecting their
child, including the right to approve or reject medical treatment. In exercising these powers, the Court shall act in the best interest of
the person with a disability.
(g) The Court shall have the power to grant certificates of guardianship of the property and certified copies of orders terminating the
guardianship, both of which may be filed or recorded to give record notice of the authority of the guardian, subject to general statutory
requirements governing the filing or recording of documents of title to land or other property.
(h) From the time of the Court’s decree appointing a guardian of the property, the person with a disability shall be under disability to
contract with regard to the property forming the subject matter of the guardianship during the pendency thereof.
(i) Whenever there is no Chancellor or Vice Chancellor available to exercise the powers conferred by subsection (d) of this section,
any judge of the Superior Court may exercise such powers.
(j) Nothing in this section shall be construed to mean an adult is infirm or incapacitated or in need of a guardian for the sole reason an
adult relies upon, or is being furnished with, treatment by spiritual means through prayer alone in accordance with the tenets and practices
of a recognized church or religious denomination, nor shall anything in this section be construed to authorize or require any medical care
or treatment over the implied or express objections of said person.
(k) (1) The Superior Court or Court of Common Pleas shall have the power to appoint a guardian for the property and approve settlement
in connection with a single-transaction matter arising out of a tort claim of a person with a disability, except that no guardian need be
appointed for a person under the age of 18:
a. In matters involving settlement of a tort claim of an amount equal to or less than the monetary threshold established by rule
pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, provided that the net settlement funds are deposited in a Uniform Transfer to Minor Act
(“UTMA”) account for the benefit of the minor;
b. In matters involving settlement of a tort claim of a gross amount in excess of the monetary threshold established by rule pursuant
to subsection (b) of this section, provided that:
1. The net settlement funds are placed in a court-approved annuity or structured financial instrument for the benefit of the
minor; or
2. No greater than the monetary threshold established by rule pursuant to subsection (b) of this section of the net settlement
funds are deposited in a UTMA account, with the balance of the settlement funds placed in a court approved annuity or structured
financial instrument for the benefit of the minor.
(2) However, for good cause shown, the Court, in the best interests of the minor, may appoint a guardian and transfer the matter
to the Court of Chancery for the purpose of administering the estate of the minor so as to protect the estate and maximize benefits
available to the minor, including public benefits.
(l) (1) The Court of Chancery may appoint a guardian with limited authority in cases where a person under the age of 18 holds or
receives property and may establish rules regarding when such limited guardianship will terminate. In cases where the minor has or will
receive personal property with a value equal to or less than the monetary threshold established by rule pursuant to subsection (b) of this
section, a guardian need not be appointed if:
a. The funds are placed in an annuity or structured financial instrument for the benefit of the minor;
b. The funds are deposited into a UTMA account for the benefit of the minor; or
c. The personal property is registered or titled in the name of an adult followed in substance by the words “As custodian for [name
of minor] under the Delaware Uniform Transfers to Minors Act.”
(2) Nothing in paragraph (l)(1) of this section shall limit the Court’s power to appoint a guardian of the property of a minor if, for
good cause shown, the Court determines that a guardian is necessary to protect the minor’s estate and maximize benefits available to
the minor, including public benefits.
(Code 1852, §§ 1959, 1960; 15 Del. Laws, c. 470, § 1; 19 Del. Laws, c. 257, § 1; 22 Del. Laws, c. 451, § 1; Code 1915, §§ 3914,
3915; Code 1935, §§ 4422, 4423; 43 Del. Laws, c. 228, § 1; 48 Del. Laws, c. 234, § 1; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 3901; 57 Del. Laws, c.
402, § 3; 69 Del. Laws, c. 109, § 2; 70 Del. Laws, c. 83, § 1; 70 Del Laws, c. 186, § 1; 72 Del. Laws, c. 117, § 1; 76 Del. Laws, c.
380, §§ 1, 2; 78 Del. Laws, c. 179, §§ 83-91; 79 Del. Laws, c. 226, § 1; 82 Del. Laws, c. 90, § 1.)
§ 3902 Appointment of guardian; choice by minor over 14 years of age; guardian ad litem.
(a) Except in accordance with § 925(15) of Title 10 and § 3904 of this title, no person shall have any right or authority as guardian
of a person with a disability unless the person has been duly appointed by the Court of Chancery or admitted by a court of law or equity
to defend a suit as guardian ad litem.
(b) The sole surviving parent of a minor child may, by written declaration or last will, name a guardian of the person or property or
both of the parent’s child, who shall be appointed if there is no just cause to the contrary. Any parent may by written declaration or
will name a guardian as to the property which the parent’s child may inherit from any person, who shall be appointed if there is no just
cause to the contrary.
(c) When there is no designation of guardian by written declaration or last will of the minor’s sole surviving parent, or there is just
cause for not appointing the guardian so designated, a minor 14 years of age or over and resident in this State may choose a guardian and
the Court, if there is no just cause to the contrary, shall appoint the person chosen.
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(d) When there is no designation of guardian by written declaration or last will of the minor’s sole surviving parent, or there is just
cause for not appointing the guardian so designated, and a minor is under the age of 14 years, or is resident out of the State or neglects
to choose a proper guardian, the Court may appoint a guardian according to its discretion.
(e) When a guardian is appointed for a minor under 14 years of age, unless such appointment is according to a written declaration or
the last will of a minor’s sole surviving parent, if the minor, after arriving at the age of 14 years, chooses another person for a guardian,
the Court shall appoint the person so chosen, if there is no just cause to the contrary and the preceding guardianship shall be thereby
superseded.
(Code 1852, §§ 1489-1491, 1959-1963; 19 Del. Laws, c. 257, § 1; 22 Del. Laws, c. 452, § 1; Code 1915, §§ 3089, 3914, 3916; 33
Del. Laws, c. 231, § 1; Code 1935, §§ 3579, 4422, 4422B, 4424; 48 Del. Laws, c. 222, § 1; 48 Del. Laws, c. 365, § 1; 12 Del. C.
1953, §§ 3902, 3914; 50 Del. Laws, c. 191, § 1; 51 Del. Laws, c. 179, § 1; 57 Del. Laws, c. 402, § 3; 59 Del. Laws, c. 579, §§ 1-8;
60 Del. Laws, c. 570, §§ 1-8; 63 Del. Laws, c. 89, § 1; 64 Del. Laws, c. 245, § 1; 64 Del. Laws, c. 351, § 1; 66 Del. Laws, c. 112;
69 Del. Laws, c. 109, § 2; 70 Del Laws, c. 186, § 1; 78 Del. Laws, c. 179, § 92.)
§ 3903 Separate guardian of the person and property.
The Court of Chancery may appoint 2 or more persons as guardians of the person with a disability, 1 or more to have the care of the
person of the person with a disability and the other or others to have possession and management of the property of the person with a
disability with all the rights and powers and subject to all the duties respecting the property of the person with a disability, or the Court
may appoint 1 person guardian with all the rights and powers and subject to all the duties respecting both the person and property of
the person with a disability.
(Code 1852, §§ 1492-1494; Code 1915, § 3090; 30 Del. Laws, c. 202, § 1; Code 1935, § 3580; 43 Del. Laws, c. 208, § 1; 12 Del.
C. 1953, § 3903; 57 Del. Laws, c. 402, § 3; 69 Del. Laws, c. 109, § 2; 78 Del. Laws, c. 179, § 93.)
§ 3904 Foreign guardians of nonresidents.
(a) A guardian, conservator, committee or other similar fiduciary, appointed by an appropriate court of another jurisdiction to manage
the property of a person with a disability may, subject to the provisions of subsection (c) of this section, exercise in this State all powers
of office, including the power to sell, purchase or mortgage real estate in the State; collect, receipt for and take possession of money
due, tangible personal property or an instrument evidencing a debt, obligation, stock or chose in action located in this State and remove
it to the other jurisdiction.
(b) A guardian of the person, or other like fiduciary, appointed by an appropriate court of another jurisdiction to care for the person
of a person with a disability, whenever such person with a disability is brought into the State for care and maintenance, such foreign
fiduciary may, subject to the provisions of subsection (c) of this section, exercise all powers granted by the other jurisdiction for the care
and protection of the person of such nonresident person with a disability.
(c) A foreign guardian shall not be entitled to exercise the powers set forth in subsections (a) and (b) of this section until the foreign
guardian has filed for record in the Office of the Register in Chancery in any county of this State a certificate of the guardian’s appointment
from the other jurisdiction. Upon filing the certificate of appointment, the guardian will be authorized to petition the Court of Chancery
of this State pursuant to court Rule 178 to exercise powers not granted by subchapter II of this chapter upon the giving of such security
as the Court of Chancery of this State may order. Upon authorization, such foreign fiduciary shall account to the Court at such times as
would a fiduciary for a resident of this State appointed under this chapter, and in the case of guardians of the property shall be issued a
certificate in accordance with § 3901 of this title.
(d) Whenever it appears to the satisfaction of the Court of Chancery of this State that the person with a disability is then a nonresident
and the property in this State belonging to any such nonresident person with a disability has been removed to the state wherein such
fiduciary was duly appointed and has been accounted for by the fiduciary according to the laws of the state wherein such fiduciary was
duly appointed, the Court of Chancery may relieve such fiduciary from further accounting before the Court.
(Code 1852, §§ 1489-1491; Code 1915, § 3089; Code 1935, § 3579; 48 Del. Laws, c. 222, § 1; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 3912; 57 Del.
Laws, c. 402, §§ 3, 5; 69 Del. Laws, c. 109, § 2; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1; 76 Del. Laws, c. 380, §§ 3, 4; 78 Del. Laws, c. 179, §
94.)
§ 3905 Guardian’s bond; requirement; form and entry.
(a) Every person appointed guardian shall, unless bond and/or surety is dispensed with by the Court, become bound, with surety, to
the person with a disability in a penal sum to be fixed by the Court, by a joint and several obligation, to be, with the security, approved
by the Court, with condition that if the guardian or the guardian’s executors or administrators duly renders according to law just and true
accounts of the guardianship and if the guardian, or the guardian’s executors or administrators, upon the termination of the guardianship,
shall deliver and pay to the person with a disability, or the executors or administrators of the person with a disability all the property
belonging to the person with a disability in the possession of the guardian and all that shall be due to the person with a disability from
the guardian and, if the guardian shall have in all things faithfully performed and fulfilled the guardian’s duties as guardian, then the
obligation shall be void.
(b) Unless bond shall be dispensed with by the Court, no certificate of guardianship shall be issued by the Register in Chancery until
such bond conforming to the order of court is given and added to the guardianship docket.
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(c) The Court may, at any time for good cause, waive the requirements of bond and/or surety, or reduce surety in any case where
bond is required.
(d) In all cases where a public agency is the petitioner and where, in the opinion of the Court of Chancery, the resources and estate of
the person for whose property a guardian is sought are insufficient to warrant the payment of costs and fees, the Court of Chancery may
by order provide that the guardian so appointed need not give bond either with or without surety as otherwise required by law and may
further provide that in such cases all costs and fees shall be waived.
(Code 1852, §§ 1964, 1965; Code 1915, § 3917; Code 1935, § 4425; 43 Del. Laws, c. 228, § 2; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 3907; 57 Del.
Laws, c. 402, § 5; 69 Del. Laws, c. 109, § 2; 70 Del Laws, c. 186, § 1; 78 Del. Laws, c. 179, § 95.)
§ 3906 Guardian’s bond; additional security; removal for noncompliance.
If it appears in any case that the guardian’s bond is insufficient, the Court of Chancery shall order the guardian to give further security
and, if such order is not complied with, shall remove the guardian from office. Further security shall be taken in the same form as original
security.
(Code 1852, §§ 1966, 1967; Code 1915, § 3918; Code 1935, § 4426; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 3908; 57 Del. Laws, c. 402, § 3; 69 Del.
Laws, c. 109, § 2; 70 Del Laws, c. 186, § 1.)
§ 3907 Counter security upon petition of surety.
The Court of Chancery shall, on the petition of the surety of an executor, administrator or guardian, and proof that the executor,
administrator or guardian is in danger of suffering injury or loss from such suretyship, order such executor, administrator or guardian to
give the petitioner sufficient counter security to be approved by the Court and if neglecting to obey such order, the Court may remove
the executor, administrator or guardian from office and order the executor, administrator or guardian to pay and deliver all the money,
effects and estate in the executor’s, administrator’s, or guardian’s hands as such executor, administrator or guardian to another guardian
or to a receiver appointed by the Court and may enforce obedience to such order.
(Code 1852, § 1969; Code 1915, § 3920; Code 1935, § 4428; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 3909; 57 Del. Laws, c. 402, § 3; 69 Del. Laws, c.
109, § 2; 70 Del Laws, c. 186, § 1.)
§ 3908 Removal, resignation or death of guardian.
(a) The Court of Chancery may remove a guardian for any sufficient cause. A guardian may, on petition, be allowed to resign when
it appears to the Court proper to allow the same. On every such removal or resignation and also on the death of any guardian the Court
may appoint a successor guardian.
(b) The Court shall direct the guardian so resigning or removed to render a full account of the guardianship before the Court and may
order the guardian to pay and deliver all the money, effects and estate in the guardian’s hands as such guardian to the guardian’s successor
or to a receiver appointed by the Court, to the former person with a disability, or to the guardian’s personal representative and may enforce
such orders. The Court may also order suit to be brought on the guardian’s bond, which suit may be prosecuted in the name of the person
with a disability by next friend or guardian and it shall in no way affect or impair the right of excepting to the guardian’s accounts.
(Code 1852, § 1968; 22 Del. Laws, c. 451, § 2; Code 1915, § 3919; Code 1935, § 4427; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 3910; 57 Del. Laws, c.
402, § 3; 69 Del. Laws, c. 109, § 2; 78 Del. Laws, c. 179, §§ 96, 97.)
§ 3909 Term of guardianship.
(a) If the only allegation of disability in the petition for appointment of a guardian was that the person was a minor, unless terminated
earlier by the Court upon application of the guardian, the minor or other interested party, or by the death of the minor, the guardianship
of such minor shall terminate automatically when the minor attains the age of 18 years.
(b) The automatic termination of the guardianship of the property of any minor shall not relieve the guardian of any duty to account.
The guardian may be released by the Court of Chancery upon application of the guardian or the former minor.
(c) The guardianship of the person or property, or both, of any person with a disability for reasons other than minority shall continue
until 1 of the following occur:
(1) The death of the person with a disability.
(2) Termination by the Court of Chancery upon application of the guardian, the person with a disability, or another interested party.
(Code 1852, §§ 1959, 1960; 19 Del. Laws, c. 257, § 1; 22 Del. Laws, c. 451, § 1; Code 1915, § 3914; Code 1935, § 4422; 12 Del.
C. 1953, § 3911; 58 Del. Laws, c. 511, § 67; 64 Del. Laws, c. 185, § 1; 65 Del. Laws, c. 337, § 1; 69 Del. Laws, c. 109, § 2; 78
Del. Laws, c. 179, §§ 98, 99; 82 Del. Laws, c. 90, § 2.)
§ 3910 Receiver for property of minor; appointment, powers, accounting and bond.
(a) If a minor has real or personal property and no guardian, the Court of Chancery may appoint a receiver to take charge of such
property during its pleasure and may make such regulations touching this matter, as are deemed proper. The Court may enforce any order
made upon a receiver.
(b) The receiver shall be required to account annually or oftener and shall deposit any balance, appearing in the receiver’s hands, to
be invested or otherwise disposed of for the minor’s benefit.
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(c) A receiver, appointed under this section, shall become bound, with sufficient surety, to the State in a joint and several obligation,
to be approved by the Court, with condition, in substance, to account for all money, effects and estate which shall come to the receiver’s
hands pursuant to the receiver’s appointment and to pay and deliver the same as the Court orders and to well and faithfully execute the
trusts and duties of the office of receiver.
(Code 1852, §§ 1970, 1986, 1987; Code 1915, §§ 3921, 3933; Code 1935, §§ 4429, 4440; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 3913; 57 Del. Laws,
c. 402, § 3; 69 Del. Laws, c. 109, § 2; 70 Del Laws, c. 186, § 1.)
§§ 3911-3915 [Repealed].
Subchapter II
Powers and Duties of Guardian
§ 3921 Powers and duties of guardian; general.
(a) A guardian shall have either the care of the person or the possession and management of all the property of the person with a
disability or both the care of the person and the possession and management of the property, except to the extent the Court of Chancery
may otherwise direct.
(b) Every guardian of the property shall file with the Court within 30 days after appointment a verified inventory of the property of the
person with a disability with respect to which the guardian acts. Said inventory shall include the fair market value of all property of which
the guardian has knowledge after diligent inquiry. If, after filing an inventory, a guardian shall acquire or discover other such property
not described therein, except property received from the executor to be paid by a trustee pursuant to § 3525 [repealed] of this title, the
guardian shall file a verified supplemental inventory describing such property within 30 days after acquiring or discovering such property.
(c) The guardian of the property shall, in the name of the person with a disability, do whatever is necessary for the care, preservation
and increase of the property of the person with a disability, and shall invest the property in accordance with Chapter 33 of this title, unless
investments are restricted by the Court.
(d) The guardian may petition the Court for instructions concerning the guardian’s fiduciary responsibility.
(e) The guardian may employ, retain or consult accountants, investment counsel, attorneys-at-law and other professional advisers and
pay their reasonable fees and expenses.
(Code 1852, §§ 1492-1494; Code 1915, § 3090; 30 Del. Laws, c. 202, § 1; Code 1935, § 80; 43 Del. Laws, c. 208, § 1; 12 Del. C.
1953, § 3921; 56 Del. Laws, c. 321; 57 Del. Laws, c. 402, § 3; 69 Del. Laws, c. 109, § 2; 70 Del Laws, c. 186, § 1; 78 Del. Laws,
c. 179, § 100.)
§ 3922 General powers and duties of the guardian of the person.
(a) The Court shall grant to the guardian of the person such powers, rights and duties which are necessary to protect, manage and care
for the person with a disability. The Court may at any time change the powers of the guardian of the person.
(b) The guardian of the person may exercise the same powers, rights and duties respecting the care, maintenance and treatment of the
person with a disability that a parent has respecting the parent’s own unemancipated minor child, except that the guardian of the person
is not liable to third persons for acts of the person with a disability solely by reason of the guardianship relationship. Except as modified
by the order of guardianship and without qualifying the foregoing, a guardian of the person has the following powers and duties:
(1) To the extent that it is consistent with the terms of any order by a court of competent jurisdiction relating to detention or
commitment of the person with a disability, the guardian is entitled to custody of the person with a disability and may establish the
place of abode for the person with a disability within or without this State. The guardian may not waive any right of the person with a
disability respecting involuntary commitment to any facility for the treatment of mental illness or deficiency.
(2) If entitled to custody of the person with a disability, the guardian shall make provision for the care, comfort and maintenance of
the person with a disability and, if appropriate, arrange for the training and education of the person with the disability. Without regard
to custodial rights of the person with a disability, the guardian shall take reasonable care of the clothing, furniture, vehicle and other
personal effects in the immediate possession of the person with a disability and commence guardianship of the property proceedings
if other property of the person with a disability is in need of protection.
(3) The guardian may give such consent or approval as may be necessary to enable the person with a disability to receive medical
or other professional care, counsel, treatment or service and shall have power to authorize release of medical records. The guardian
shall not unreasonably withhold such consent or approval nor withhold such consent or approval on account of personal beliefs held
by the guardian or the person with a disability, but shall take such action as the guardian objectively believes to be in the best interest
of the person with a disability.
(c) A guardian of the person of a person with a disability for whom a guardian of the property also has been appointed shall control
the custody and care of the person with a disability and is entitled to receive reasonable compensation for the guardian’s services and
for room and board furnished to the person with a disability as approved by the Court. Compensation of the public guardian shall be
governed by § 3984 of this title. The guardian of the person may request the guardian of the property to make payment to third parties
or institutions for the care and maintenance of the person with a disability.
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(d) The guardian of the person shall not be required to expend the guardian’s own money for the support or care of the person with
a disability.
(69 Del. Laws, c. 109, § 2; 70 Del Laws, c. 186, § 1; 78 Del. Laws, c. 40, § 1; 79 Del. Laws, c. 371, § 11.)
§ 3923 Powers of the guardian of the property.
(a) The Court may limit the power of the guardian of the property as conferred on the guardian herein, or may confer any additional
power which the Court itself could exercise under § 3901 of this title.
(b) The Court may, at the time of the appointment of the guardian of the property, or later, transfer custodial control over all the estate
of the person with a disability to such guardian or the Court may transfer only certain specified assets of the estate of the person with a
disability to the guardian of the property for protection.
(c) Unless restricted by the Court, a guardian of the property has power without Court authority or confirmation to invest and reinvest
personal property of the estate as provided by Chapter 33 of this title governing fiduciary relationships.
(d) Except as modified by the order of guardianship, the guardian of the property may act without Court authorization or confirmation
to reasonably accomplish the purpose for which the guardian is appointed to:
(1) Collect, hold and retain assets in the estate until, in the guardian’s judgment, disposition of the assets should be made. Assets
may be retained even though they include an asset in which the guardian is personally interested;
(2) Receive additions to the estate;
(3) Invest and reinvest estate assets in accordance with subsection (c) of this section;
(4) Deposit estate funds in a bank, including a bank operated by the guardian of the property;
(5) Sell or exercise stock, subscription or conversion rights or consent directly or through a committee or other agent to the
reorganization, consolidation, merger, dissolution or liquidation of a corporation or other business enterprise;
(6) Vote directly or by proxy in any election or stockholder’s meeting any share of stock in the estate including power to vote shares
issued by the guardian of the property;
(7) Insure the assets of the estate against damage or loss and the guardian against liability with respect to third persons;
(8) Pay taxes, assessments, compensation of the guardian and other expenses incurred in the collection, care, administration and
protection of the estate;
(9) Make payment for ordinary repairs to a dwelling owned by the person with a disability and to the furniture and appliances therein;
(10) Allocate items of income or expenses to either estate income or principal as provided by law;
(11) Prosecute, defend, compromise or settle actions, claims or proceedings in any jurisdiction for the protection of estate assets;
(12) Execute and deliver all instruments which will accomplish or facilitate the exercise of powers vested in the guardian;
(13) Hold a security in the name of the nominee or other forms without disclosure of guardianships so that title to the security may
pass by delivery, but the guardian is liable for any acts of the nominee in connection with the stock so held; and
(14) Exercise all rights and powers granted to a fiduciary under the Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets and Accounts Act, Chapter
50 of this title.
(e) The guardian of the property may, without court authorization or confirmation, pay or apply income or principal from the estate
as needed for the clothing, support, care, protection, welfare and rehabilitation of the person with a disability, as requested by the person
with a disability or the guardian of the person, if any. In exercising this power, the guardian of the property shall consider the cost of
support and care of the person with a disability for the expected life of the person with a disability and the needs of any persons dependent
upon the person with a disability as may be reasonably anticipated.
(f) The guardian of the property shall not be required to expend the guardian’s own money for the support or care of the property
or person.
(Code 1852, §§ 1499, 1500, 1976, 1977; Code 1915, §§ 3099, 3100, 3925; Code 1935, §§ 3589, 3590, 4433; 45 Del. Laws, c. 243,
§ 1; 12 Del. C. 1953, §§ 3923, 3927, 3928; 56 Del. Laws, c. 320; 57 Del. Laws, c. 402, § 3; 69 Del. Laws, c. 109, § 2; 70 Del
Laws, c. 186, § 1; 78 Del. Laws, c. 179, § 101; 79 Del. Laws, c. 416, § 3.)
§ 3924 Estoppel to dispute the right to property of a person with a disability.
Neither a guardian nor the representatives of the guardian shall dispute the right to property of a person with a disability which comes to
the guardian’s possession, unless such property has been recovered from the guardian or there is a personal action pending on account of it.
(Code 1852, §§ 1492-1494; Code 1915, § 3090; 30 Del. Laws, c. 202, § 1; Code 1935, § 3580; 43 Del. Laws, c. 208, § 1; 12 Del.
C. 1953, § 3922; 69 Del. Laws, c. 109, § 2; 70 Del Laws, c. 186, § 1; 78 Del. Laws, c. 179, §§ 102, 103.)
§ 3925 Transfer by guardian of corporate securities.
Upon the transfer by a guardian of a person with a disability of the stocks, bonds or other securities of any corporation, the certificate of
the Register in Chancery in which such guardian was appointed, or other proper public official, shall be sufficient authority to the officers
of such corporation to transfer or reissue such stocks, bonds or other securities to such person as such guardian may in writing direct.
(20 Del. Laws, c. 115, § 5; Code 1915, § 3098; Code 1935, § 3588; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 3926; 57 Del. Laws, c. 402, § 5; 69 Del.
Laws, c. 109, § 2; 78 Del. Laws, c. 179, § 104.)
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§ 3926 Exercise of rights belonging to a person with a disability.
No person dealing with the receiver of a minor or with a guardian of a person with a disability shall be entitled to rely on the authority
of such receiver or guardian to:
(1) Release claims;
(2) Settle tort claims; or
(3) Convey title to real property without prior court approval of such act.
(69 Del. Laws, c. 109, § 2; 78 Del. Laws, c. 179, §§ 105, 106.)
§ 3927 Compensation of guardian of the property.
(a) As used in this section, the term “qualified guardian” means any person who is a “qualified trustee” as defined in § 3561 of this title.
(b) All persons who serve as guardian of the property of a person with a disability shall be entitled to reasonable compensation for
their services.
(c) Each qualified guardian shall file with the Register in Chancery for every county in this State, a copy of a schedule or a formula
by which its allowance as compensation for serving as guardian of the property of a person with a disability shall be computed. Such
schedule or formula may be based upon or reflect the following factors:
(1) The time spent or likely to be spent in administering a guardianship of the property.
(2) The risks and responsibilities involved.
(3) The novelty and difficulty of the tasks required of the guardian.
(4) The skill and experience of the guardian.
(5) Comparable charges for similar services.
(6) The character of the guardianship assets.
(7) The time constraints imposed upon the guardian in administering the trust.
The schedule or formula pursuant to this subsection (c) shall result in a fee no greater than that filed by the qualified guardian pursuant
to § 3561 of this title with respect to its fees as trustee, for a trust of comparable size.
(d) Each qualified guardian shall provide a copy of its current guardianship fee schedule or formula as filed or upon any filing pursuant
to subsection (c) of this section to such persons as the Court of Chancery may require by rule of the court or by the order of the Court
of Chancery appointing the qualified guardian.
(e) For other persons serving as guardian of the property of a person with a disability, the Court of Chancery shall from time to time
promulgate a rule fixing the method by which guardians of the property other than qualified guardians may be allowed compensation
for their services.
(f) Upon proper showing, the Court of Chancery may fix or allow greater compensation than that set forth in the fee schedule of a
qualified guardian or that allowed by rule of the Court of Chancery, whichever is applicable, where the compensation provided in the
fee schedule of a qualified guardian or that allowed by rule of the Court of Chancery, whichever is applicable, is inadequate because the
duties of the guardianship are substantially greater than those for a typical guardianship of its size or under extraordinary circumstances.
(76 Del. Laws, c. 90, § 11; 78 Del. Laws, c. 179, § 107.)
§ 3928 [Repealed].
Subchapter III
Accounting and Settlement
§ 3941 Guardian’s duty to account.
(a) A guardian of the property shall fully account, in accordance with this subchapter, for all the money, effects and property of the
person with a disability which the guardian has received, but a guardian of the person shall have no duty to account or otherwise report
to the Court, except as provided by order of the Court.
(b) The personal representative of a guardian who dies in office shall, upon appointment as personal representative, advise the Court
of Chancery and the next of kin of the person with a disability of the death of the guardian and thereafter assume the duties of the
guardian until a successor guardian is appointed. The personal representative shall file a petition for the appointment of an appropriate
successor guardian within 60 days of being appointed personal representative if no other interested party has filed such a petition. The
personal representative shall render to the Court an account of the decedent’s guardianship (including such period of time the personal
representative performed the duties of the guardian prior to appointment of a successor guardian) within 3 months of the grant of letters
testamentary or letters of administration.
(Code 1852, § 1496; 21 Del. Laws, c. 293, §§ 1-3; Code 1915, § 3092; Code 1935, § 3582; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 3941; 69 Del.
Laws, c. 109, § 2; 70 Del Laws, c. 186, § 1; 78 Del. Laws, c. 179, § 108.)
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§ 3942 Filing, adjusting and settling guardian’s accounts.
All guardians’ accounts shall be filed with and be adjusted and settled by the Court of Chancery by which such guardians were appointed.
(22 Del. Laws, c. 444, § 1; Code 1915, § 3091; Code 1935, § 3581; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 3942; 57 Del. Laws, c. 402, § 3; 69 Del.
Laws, c. 109, § 2.)
§ 3943 Time of filing guardian’s accounts.
Every guardian of the property shall render an account of the guardianship at the end of 1 year from the guardian’s appointment and
afterwards as the Court of Chancery in which such guardian was appointed requires, but not more often than once in 2 years, unless
there is a special occasion.
(Code 1852, § 1495; 21 Del. Laws, c. 293, §§ 1-3; Code 1915, § 3092; Code 1935, § 3582; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 3943; 57 Del.
Laws, c. 402, § 3; 69 Del. Laws, c. 109, § 2; 70 Del Laws, c. 186, § 1.)
§ 3944 Failure to file account; extension of time for filing.
(a) The Court may excuse the filing of an account or accounts required under § 3941 of this title for cause shown or if waived by:
(1) If the person with a disability has a will, all of those persons who would be entitled to the residue of the estate of the person with a
disability if the person with a disability died at the time any such accounting would otherwise be required or was required to be filed; or
(2) If the person with a disability has no will, all of those persons who would be entitled to the real and personal property of the
person with a disability if the person with a disability died at the time any such accounting would otherwise be required or was required
to be filed, intestate and a resident of the State.
The Court may also, for cause shown, extend the time for the guardian to file an account or accounts. If no account is required of the
guardian pursuant to this subsection, no inventory of the guardianship estate need be filed by the guardian.
(b) If a guardian fails to account when due, the Court shall cite such guardian therefore and may compel the filing of the account by
process of attachment or by imprisonment.
(Code 1852, §§ 1497, 1498; 21 Del. Laws, c. 293, §§ 1-3; Code 1915, § 3092; Code 1935, § 3582; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 3944; 69
Del. Laws, c. 109, § 2; 70 Del Laws, c. 186, § 1; 76 Del. Laws, c. 90, § 16; 78 Del. Laws, c. 179, § 109.)
§ 3945 Appeals from orders adjusting and settling guardian’s accounts.
Appeals from orders of the Court of Chancery adjusting or settling guardian’s accounts shall be received, heard and determined by
the Supreme Court.
(22 Del. Laws, c. 441, § 4; Code 1915, § 3095; Code 1935, § 3585; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 3945; 57 Del. Laws, c. 402, § 3; 69 Del.
Laws, c. 109, § 2.)
§ 3946 Settlement with ward at termination of guardianship.
The Court of Chancery may order that any property in the guardian’s possession, as such, at the close of the guardianship, shall be
delivered to the former person with a disability or the representatives of the person with a disability and enforce obedience to such order.
(Code 1852, § 1975; Code 1915, § 3924; Code 1935, § 4432; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 3946; 57 Del. Laws, c. 402, § 3; 69 Del. Laws, c.
109, § 2; 70 Del Laws, c. 186, § 1; 78 Del. Laws, c. 179, §§ 110-112.)
§ 3947 Absence of person with a disability from State; settlement of account.
(a) If in any case a guardian of the property shall not be able to settle with and pay to the person with a disability, on the termination
of the guardianship, the money due from the guardian to the person with a disability, in consequence of the absence of the person with
a disability from this State and the place of residence of the person with a disability being unknown to the guardian, the guardian may
settle and pay the money into the Court of Chancery for the county in which the guardian was appointed.
(b) The Court in which such settlement and payment shall be made shall invest the money for the use and benefit of the person with
a disability.
(c) Upon payment of the money into Court the guardian and the guardian’s surety or sureties shall be discharged from all liability for
or on account of the money so paid into Court and of any interest thereon from the date of the payment into Court.
(11 Del. Laws, c. 200, § 1; Code 1915, § 3927; Code 1935, § 4434; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 3947; 57 Del. Laws, c. 402, § 3; 69 Del.
Laws, c. 109, § 2; 70 Del Laws, c. 186, § 1; 78 Del. Laws, c. 179, § 113.)
Subchapter IV
Sale of Real Estate of Person with a Disability
§ 3951 Sale of real estate owned by a person with a disability.
(a) If the guardian of the property of a person with a disability wishes to sell real estate owned by the person with a disability, then the
guardian shall apply to the Court of Chancery for the authority to sell the property. For purposes of this section, the term “real estate”
shall encompass any ownership interest in real estate, including, but not limited to real estate held in fee simple, in severalty, as a joint
tenancy, as a tenant in common, as a tenant in possession, or as a reversionary or remainder interest.
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(b) The guardian shall give notice of the application to all potentially interested parties, including those identified in the Petition for the
Appointment of a Guardian. The notice shall inform the interested parties that they may appear and object to the application or otherwise
participate in the proceeding. Any party who does not appear or object within 20 days after the date of the notice will be deemed to have
waived any objection to the disposition of the application as determined by the Court.
(c) If there appears preliminarily to be good cause to sell the real estate, then the Court shall enter an order appointing an appraiser of
real estate, licensed and certified pursuant to Delaware law, to perform an appraisal of the real property to be sold. The appraiser shall be
independent of the parties to the sale and disinterested as to any proposed transaction.
(d) Based on the appraisal and all other relevant information, the Court shall determine in its discretion whether the requested sale is in
the best interest of the person with a disability. The appraised value shall be considered by the Court as a guideline and is not determinative
of the outcome of the application or the fairness of the price.
(e) If the Court approves a sale, then the guardian shall be authorized to make a deed for the benefit of the purchaser which may convey
as full a title to the land as the person with a disability had at the time of sale, unless the Court determines it is in the interest of the person
with a disability to convey a lesser estate.
(f) The Court may order that the real estate be sold free and clear of any lien or encumbrance existing at the time of sale created by
or against the person with a disability. Any such order may be entered only if reasonable notice of the application and the sale has been
given to the holder of the affected lien or encumbrance. The lien or encumbrance shall, without change of priority, be transferred to the
proceeds of sale.
(g) If the Court approves a sale, the guardian shall submit a return of sale within 30 days after the sale of the property or as otherwise
directed by the Court.
(h) The Court may appoint a trustee to conduct the sale in lieu of the guardian.
(i) The Court may rule on the application in whole or part after holding a hearing or based on the documents submitted.
(Code 1852, §§ 1988-1992; Code 1915, § 3934; Code 1935, § 4441; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 3951; 57 Del. Laws, c. 402, § 3; 69 Del.
Laws, c. 109, § 2; 74 Del. Laws, c. 410, § 1; 78 Del. Laws, c. 119, § 1; 78 Del. Laws, c. 179, §§ 115, 116; 80 Del. Laws, c. 54, §
1.)
§ 3952 Trustee’s bond.
If a trustee is appointed to sell real estate of the person with a disability, the trustee may be required to give security in such sum as
the Court directs.
(Code 1852, § 1995; Code 1915, § 3937; Code 1935, § 4444; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 3952; 69 Del. Laws, c. 109, § 2; 78 Del. Laws, c.
179, § 117.)
§ 3953 Sale on credit; security for purchase price.
In any order granted by the Court of Chancery for the sale of real estate owned by a person with a disability, the Court may direct such
sale to be made upon credit, either as to the whole or part of the purchase money, the payment of the purchase money to be at such time
or times and to be secured in such manner as the Court by the order of sale or otherwise prescribes. The Court may order and direct all
such acts and proceedings touching the premises as it deems necessary to better effectuate the object of this section.
(13 Del. Laws, c. 458, § 1; Code 1915, § 3935; Code 1935, § 4442; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 3953; 57 Del. Laws, c. 402, § 3; 69 Del.
Laws, c. 109, § 2; 78 Del. Laws, c. 179, § 118.)
§ 3954 Proceeds of sale; payment.
The proceeds of the sale shall be personal property. Such proceeds, after deducting all expenses allowed by the Court, may be ordered
to be paid to the guardian of the property to be accounted for as personal property of the person with a disability in the regular course of
the guardianship or such proceeds may be ordered to be deposited in a bank to the credit of the person with a disability, to be invested,
loaned or disposed of for the benefit of the person with a disability.
(Code 1852, §§ 1988-1992; Code 1915, § 3934; Code 1935, § 4441; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 3955; 69 Del. Laws, c. 109, § 2; 78 Del.
Laws, c. 179, § 119.)
§ 3955 Guardian’s bond.
(a) When the proceeds shall be ordered to be paid to or shall otherwise come to the hands of a guardian they shall be within the condition
of the guardian’s bond and the guardian and the guardian’s sureties, both in the original bond and in any additional bond which may be
taken, shall be liable for the proceeds in the same manner as for other property of the person with a disability.
(b) In every case of the sale of the real estate of a person with a disability and in every case where the guardian’s liability is or may be
increased, the Court of Chancery may require the guardian to give such additional security as may be deemed necessary, by obligation,
with surety or sureties, in the same manner and form as original security.
(Code 1852, §§ 1988-1993; Code 1915, §§ 3934-3936; Code 1935, §§ 4441, 4443; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 3956; 57 Del. Laws, c. 402,
§ 3; 69 Del. Laws, c. 109, § 2; 70 Del Laws, c. 186, § 1; 78 Del. Laws, c. 179, § 120.)
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§§ 3956, 3957 [Repealed].
Subchapter V
Investment by Court of Chancery of Fund of Minors
§ 3971 Investment power of Court of Chancery; general requirements.
(a) The Court of Chancery shall have control of money paid into the Court to the credit of any minor who cannot be located, and may
invest such money in bank deposits as the Court shall approve, and may change, renew, extend, call in or collect any such investment.
(b) The investment shall be in the name of the minor or minors entitled to the money, either personally or by designation as children,
legatees, heirs or representatives of another and the Court may, at any time, apportion and divide the same among them.
(c) At such time as the minor for whom money is held or invested under this subchapter is located, the Court may direct the evidence
of such investments to be delivered to the former minor, the guardian of the property of the minor, or in case of death of the minor, to the
minor’s executors or administrators and may by order direct the bank to pay to the person entitled or to the person’s agent or representative
the evidences of ownership of the money. Such order shall vest in such person full power over such investment or all unpaid interest
which may have accrued thereon.
(Code 1852, §§ 1980-1984; 16 Del. Laws, c. 136, § 1; Code 1915, § 3928; Code 1935, § 4435; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 3971; 57 Del.
Laws, c. 402, §§ 3, 5; 69 Del. Laws, c. 109, § 2; 70 Del Laws, c. 186, § 1.)
§§ 3972-3975 [Repealed].
Subchapter VI
Public Guardian
§ 3981 Office established; appointment.
(a) There is established an Office of the Public Guardian, with a Public Guardian who shall serve as follows:
(1) The guardian of last resort for the citizens of Delaware who have been determined to lack capacity to make decisions regarding
their persons, their property, or both.
(2) The representative payee of last resort for Social Security benefits.
(3) The VA fiduciary of last resort for Veteran’s Administration Benefits.
(b) The Public Guardian shall advocate and provide services under subsection (a) of this section, work with advocacy groups and state
agencies to promote systemic reform and recommend changes in the law, procedure and policy necessary to enhance the provision of
services for substituted and supported decision-making, and act as an informational resource for the public. The Public Guardian shall
serve as Executive Director of the Delaware Guardianship Commission and promote the purposes of the Commission, and shall represent
the Office of the Public Guardian in matters in which the appointment of the Public Guardian is sought.
(c) To bring about these goals, the Public Guardian must be an attorney duly licensed to practice law in Delaware, selected by the
Governor, and shall serve for a term of 6 years from the date of swearing in.
(59 Del. Laws, c. 579, § 9; 60 Del. Laws, c. 511, § 50; 60 Del. Laws, c. 570, § 9; 60 Del. Laws, c. 722, § 3; 69 Del. Laws, c. 109,
§ 2; 70 Del Laws, c. 186, § 1; 78 Del. Laws, c. 40, § 1; 78 Del. Laws, c. 179, §§ 121-123; 80 Del. Laws, c. 302, § 1; 82 Del. Laws,
c. 90, § 3.)
§ 3982 Definitions.
For the purposes of this chapter:
(1) “Court” means the Court of Chancery or the court which has jurisdiction for the appointment of guardians for the person, or
property, or both, pursuant to this chapter.
(2) “Guardian” means a court-appointed guardian.
(3) “Guardianship Commission” means the Delaware Guardianship Commission.
(4) The term “last resort’' includes any of the following:
a. Circumstances in which there is no other suitable person related to the individual willing or able to serve as surrogate decision
maker guardian, representative payee, or VA fiduciary.
b. Circumstances in which a person willing or able to serve, or already serving, as a validly appointed agent of a durable power
of attorney, a surrogate decision maker, representative payee, VA fiduciary, or a guardian, is available but sufficient cause has been
found by the court that the individual available or so acting is not suitable to serve and that the appointment of the Public Guardian
is in the best interest of the person who is incapacitated.
c. Exceptional circumstances have been found by the court to establish that appointment of the Public Guardian is in the best
interest of the person who is incapacitated.
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(5) “Person who is incapacitated’' means a “person with a disability’' as that term is defined under § 3901(a)(2) of this title.
(6) “Representative payee” means a person appointed by the Social Security Administration to receive Social Security or SSI benefits
for an individual who cannot manage or direct the management of the individual’s Social Security or SSI benefits.
(7) “VA fiduciary” means a person appointed by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to receive VA benefits for an individual
who is unable to manage the individual’s VA benefits.
(78 Del. Laws, c. 40, § 1; 78 Del. Laws, c. 179, §§ 121-123; 82 Del. Laws, c. 90, § 4.)
§ 3983 Duties of the Public Guardian.
The Public Guardian:
(1) Shall establish case acceptance priorities and other administrative policies and procedures in consultation with the Guardianship
Commission.
(2) Shall receive referrals and recommendations regarding individuals who may be in need of services under § 3981(a) of this title
and independently evaluate the referral to make a determination as to the physical, social, and financial conditions of the individual,
whether there are alternatives to public services under § 3981(a) of this title, and whether the individual is at risk of abuse, neglect,
or exploitation.
(3) After evaluation of the conditions of the individual and in consideration of the established case acceptance priorities, may do
any of the following:
a. Make a recommendation as to a suitable individual who is available and willing to serve as guardian or surrogate decision maker
or refer to an appropriate private, nonprofit, or other entity willing to serve as guardian, representative payee, or VA fiduciary.
b. File a petition for its own appointment as guardian, or file for the appointment of any other individual as guardian where it is
determined that the filing of a petition on behalf of another may avoid the need for public guardianship.
c. Consent to serve as guardian where another entity or individual files a petition for the appointment of the Public Guardian.
d. Consent to appointment as representative payee or VA fiduciary for an individual in an acute care setting or who is a client
of the Department of Health and Social Services.
(4) When appointed as guardian by court order, shall serve as guardian of last resort, either plenary or limited; temporary guardian;
or successor guardian; of the person or property, or both, of persons who are determined to be incapacitated for reasons other than
minority. The Public Guardian shall have the same powers and duties as a private guardian as set out by this chapter and as defined
by the court upon appointment.
(5) Shall acquire recognized certification as a guardian where available in a timely manner upon appointment and maintain
certification while acting as Public Guardian, and promote and act in accordance with nationally recognized standards of guardianship
and those developed in cooperation with the Delaware Guardianship Commission.
(6) a. May offer advice and guidance, without court appointment as guardian, to persons who request assistance or to those on whose
behalf such assistance is requested for the purpose of encouraging maximum self-reliance and independence and avoiding the need
for appointment of a guardian.
b. May take all necessary action, including programs of public education and legislative advocacy, to secure and ensure the legal,
civil, and special rights of those determined by the court to be incapacitated.
(7) Shall submit an annual report on the efforts of the office that shall be provided to the Guardianship Commission and included
in the annual report of the Guardianship Commission.
(8) May coordinate volunteer legal representation for wards of the office to assist with needed representation before administrative
agencies and courts to pursue the legal rights and remedies of the ward and a volunteer legal community outreach program to assist the
Office of the Public Guardian in educating the community about guardianship and alternatives to guardianship.
(9) May apply for and accept grants, gifts and bequests of funds from other state, federal and interstate agencies, as well as private
firms, individuals and foundations, for the purpose of carrying out the lawful responsibilities of the Office of the Public Guardian
and the Guardianship Commission. The funds must be deposited with the State Treasurer in a restricted receipt account established to
permit funds to be expended in accordance with the provision of the grant, gift, or bequest.
(10) Shall take whatever actions are necessary to help the Guardianship Commission accomplish its goals.
(59 Del. Laws, c. 579, § 9; 60 Del. Laws, c. 511, § 50; 60 Del. Laws, c. 570, § 9; 60 Del. Laws, c. 722, § 3; 69 Del. Laws, c. 109,
§ 2; 78 Del. Laws, c. 40, § 1; 82 Del. Laws, c. 90, § 5.)
§ 3984 Staff; budgeting; finance.
The Public Guardian may appoint subordinates and delegate the appointed authority to subordinates to assist in carrying out the purposes
of this subchapter. Subordinates may include such nonprofit organizations as the Public Guardian shall deem to be qualified in carrying
out the duties as a subordinate guardian. The Public Guardian shall prepare an annual fiscal budget for the operation of the Office of
the Public Guardian.
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The General Assembly may annually appropriate such sums as it may deem necessary for the payment of the salary of the Public
Guardian, the staff, and for the payment of actual expenses incurred by the Office of the Public Guardian. The Office of the Public
Guardian shall be operated within limitation of the annual appropriation and any other funds appropriated by the General Assembly or
designated for that purpose from the estate of the person with a disability by the court.
Special funds may be used in accordance with approved programs, grants, and appropriations.
(59 Del. Laws, c. 579, § 9; 60 Del. Laws, c. 511, § 50; 60 Del. Laws, c. 570, § 9; 60 Del. Laws, c. 722, § 3; 69 Del. Laws, c. 109,
§ 2; 78 Del. Laws, c. 40, § 1; 78 Del. Laws, c. 179, §§ 121-123.)
§ 3985 Court costs and allocation of costs.
In any proceeding for appointment of the Office of the Public Guardian, or in any proceeding involving the estate of a person with a
disability for whom the Public Guardian has been appointed guardian of the person or of the property, the court may waive any court
costs or filing fees.
If the Public Guardian has been appointed guardian of the person or of the property, administrative costs and all costs incurred in the
appointment procedure shall not be charged against the income or estate of the person. If at any time the court determines that the income
or the estate of the person can support the payment of any part of these costs, the court may enter an order charging that part of the
payment of cost against the income or estate.
(59 Del. Laws, c. 579, § 9; 60 Del. Laws, c. 511, § 50; 60 Del. Laws, c. 570, § 9; 60 Del. Laws, c. 722, § 3; 69 Del. Laws, c. 109,
§ 2; 78 Del. Laws, c. 40, § 1; 78 Del. Laws, c. 179, §§ 121-123.)
§ 3986 [Reserved].
§ 3987 Indemnification from liability.
No attorney, director, investigator, social worker, or other person employed by, contracted by, or volunteering for the Office of the
Public Guardian shall be subject to suit directly, derivatively, or by way of contribution or indemnification for any civil damages under
the laws of Delaware resulting from any act or omission performed during or in connection with the discharge of his or her duties with the
Office within the scope of his or her appointment or employment, unless the act or omission was done with gross or wanton negligence,
or maliciously, or in bad faith.
(78 Del. Laws, c. 40, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1.)
§ 3988 Bond.
The Public Guardian shall post bond as required by the court upon the appointment of the office. The Office of the Public Guardian
shall apply for and maintain bond sufficient to insure the assets managed by the office.
(59 Del. Laws, c. 579, § 9; 60 Del. Laws, c. 511, § 50; 60 Del. Laws, c. 570, § 9; 60 Del. Laws, c. 722, § 3; 69 Del. Laws, c. 109,
§ 2; 70 Del Laws, c. 186, § 1; 78 Del. Laws, c. 40, § 1.)
§ 3989 [Reserved].
Subchapter VII
Delaware Guardianship Commission
§ 3991 The Guardianship Commission.
(a) The Delaware Guardianship Commission is hereby established, and shall be known as the “Guardianship Commission.” The
Commission shall consist of 12 members and shall be staffed by the Office of the Public Guardian. The Guardianship Commission shall
be comprised of the following:
(1) One member from the Court of Chancery, designated by the Chancellor;
(2) A representative from the Department of Justice, designated by the Attorney General;
(3) The Director of the Guardianship Monitoring Program, or the Director’s designee;
(4) One member of the House of Representatives, designated by the Speaker of the House;
(5) One member of the Senate, designated by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate;
(6) The Director of the Division of Services for Aging and Adults with Physical Disabilities, or the Director’s designee,
(7) The Director of the Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health, or the Director’s designee;
(8) The Director of the Division of Developmental Disabilities Services, or the Director’s designee;
(9) The Secretary of the Department of Health and Social Services, or the Secretary’s designee.
(10) A representative from the Disability Community, designated by the Secretary of Health and Social Services;
(11) A representative from the Senior Citizen Community, designated by the Secretary of Health and Social Services;
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(12) A representative from the hospital community, designated by the Delaware Healthcare Association.
(b) The Public Guardian shall serve as the Executive Director of the Commission to effectuate its purposes. The Public Guardian may,
with the concurrence of the members, invite other individuals to participate in the Commission to advance its work.
(78 Del. Laws, c. 40, § 2.)
§ 3992 Duties of the Commission.
The Commission shall advocate for the welfare of individuals who are incapacitated; shall work with advocacy groups and state agencies
to promote systemic reform; recommend changes in the law, procedure and policy necessary to enhance the provision of guardianship
services and the protection of those unable to protect themselves; and act as an informational resource for the public. To that end, the
Commission shall meet on a quarterly basis and shall:
(1) Act in an advisory capacity to the Office of the Public Guardian, providing assistance to the Public Guardian in establishing
administrative policies and procedures in the Office of the Public Guardian, and assistance in developing case acceptance priorities
for the Office of the Public Guardian;
(2) Examine and evaluate the policies, procedures and effectiveness of the guardianship system, and make recommendations for
changes therein, including establishing statewide standards and regulation of public and private guardianships;
(3) Conduct an annual statewide needs assessment relating to the number of individuals currently and predicted to be in need of a
decision maker due to incapacity, the resources available or needed to meet that need, and to the processes utilized to meet the need;
(4) Advocate for legislation and make legislative recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly;
(5) Develop public and professional education programs on issues relating to guardianship, alternatives to guardianship, and concerns
relating to the abuse, neglect, and exploitation of individuals who are incapacitated; and
(6) Provide an annual summary of the work and recommendations of the Guardianship Commission, including the work of the Office
of the Public Guardian to the Governor, the General Assembly, and the court.
(78 Del. Laws, c. 40, § 2; 78 Del. Laws, c. 179, §§ 121-123.)
§ 3993 Compensation.
Members of the Commission shall serve without compensation; however, they may be reimbursed, upon request, for reasonable and
necessary expenses incident to their duties as members of the Commission to the extent funds are available through the Office of the
Public Guardian. Members may be removed at the discretion of their appointing authority.
(78 Del. Laws, c. 40, § 2.)
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Part V
Fiduciary Relations
Chapter 39A
Uniform Adult Guardianship and Protective Proceedings Jurisdiction Act
§ 39A-101 Definitions.
For purposes of this chapter:
(1) “Adult” means an individual who has attained 18 years of age.
(2) “Conservator” is a “guardian of the property” as that term is used in this title.
(3) “Court” means the Court of Chancery.
(4) “Emergency” means the respondent is in danger of incurring imminent serious physical harm or substantial economic loss or
expense.
(5) “Guardian” is a “guardian of the person” as that term is used in this title.
(6) “Guardianship order” means an order appointing a guardian.
(7) “Guardianship proceeding” means a judicial proceeding in which an order for the appointment of a guardian is sought or has
been issued.
(8) “Home state” means the state in which the respondent was physically present, including any period of temporary absence, for
at least 6 consecutive months immediately before the filing of a petition for a protective order or the appointment of a guardian; or if
none, the state in which the respondent was physically present, including any period of temporary absence, for at least 6 consecutive
months ending within the 6 months prior to the filing of the petition.
(9) “Party” means the respondent, petitioner, guardian, conservator, or any other person allowed by the Court to participate in a
guardianship or protective proceeding.
(10) “Person,” except in the term “person who is incapacitated” or “protected person,” means an individual, corporation, business
trust, estate, trust, partnership, limited liability company, association, joint venture, public corporation, government or governmental
subdivision, agency, or instrumentality, or any other legal or commercial entity.
(11) “Person who is incapacitated” shall mean a “person with a disability” as that term is defined in § 3901(a)(2) of this title.
(12) “Protected person” means an adult for whom a protective order has been issued.
(13) “Protective order” means an order appointing a “guardian of the property” as that term is used in this title.
(14) “Protective proceeding” means a judicial proceeding in which a protective order is sought or has been issued.
(15) “Record” means information that is inscribed on a tangible medium or that is stored in an electronic or other medium and is
retrievable in perceivable form.
(16) “Respondent” means an adult for whom a protective order or the appointment of a guardian is sought.
(17) “Significant-connection state” means a state, other than the home state, with which a respondent has a significant connection
other than mere physical presence and in which substantial evidence concerning the respondent is available. In determining under §§
39A-201 and 39A-301(e) of this title whether a respondent has a significant connection with a particular state, the Court shall consider:
a. The location of the respondent’s family and other persons required to be notified of the guardianship or protective proceeding;
b. The length of time the respondent at any time was physically present in the state and the duration of any absence;
c. The location of the respondent’s property; and
d. The extent to which the respondent has ties to the state such as voting registration, state or local tax return filing, vehicle
registration, driver’s license, social relationship, and receipt of services.
(18) “State” means a state of the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, a federally
recognized Indian tribe, or any territory or insular possession subject to the jurisdiction of the United States.
(76 Del. Laws, c. 380, § 5; 78 Del. Laws, c. 179, §§ 124, 125.)
§ 39A-102 International application of Act.
The Court may treat a foreign country as if it were a state for the purpose of applying this chapter.
(76 Del. Laws, c. 380, § 5.)
§ 39A-103 Communication between courts.
(a) The Court may communicate with a court in another state concerning a proceeding arising under this chapter. The Court may allow
the parties to participate in the communication. Except as otherwise provided in subsection (b) of this section, the Court shall make a
record of the communication. The record may be limited to the fact that the communication occurred.
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(b) Courts may communicate concerning schedules, calendars, court records, and other administrative matters without making a record.
(76 Del. Laws, c. 380, § 5.)
§ 39A-104 Cooperation between courts.
(a) In a guardianship or protective proceeding in this State, the Court may request the appropriate court of another state to do any of
the following:
(1) Hold an evidentiary hearing;
(2) Order a person in that state to produce evidence or give testimony pursuant to procedures of that state;
(3) Order that an evaluation or assessment be made of the respondent;
(4) Order any appropriate investigation of a person involved in a proceeding;
(5) Forward to the Court a certified copy of the transcript or other record of a hearing under paragraph (a)(1) of this section or any
other proceeding, any evidence otherwise produced under paragraph (a)(2) of this section, and any evaluation or assessment prepared
in compliance with an order under paragraph (a)(3) or (a)(4) of this section;
(6) Issue any order necessary to assure the appearance in the proceeding of a person whose presence is necessary for the Court to
make a determination, including the respondent or the person who is incapacitated or a protected person;
(7) Issue an order authorizing the release of medical, financial, criminal, or other relevant information in that state, including protected
health information as defined in 45 C.F.R. § 164.504.
(b) If a court of another state in which a guardianship or protective proceeding is pending requests assistance of the kind provided in
subsection (a) of this section, the Court has jurisdiction for the limited purpose of granting the request or making reasonable efforts to
comply with the request.
(76 Del. Laws, c. 380, § 5; 78 Del. Laws, c. 179, § 126.)
§ 39A-105 Taking testimony in another state.
(a) In a guardianship or protective proceeding, in addition to other procedures that may be available, testimony of a witness who is
located in another state may be offered by deposition or other means allowable in this State for testimony taken in another state. The
Court on its own motion may order that the testimony of a witness be taken in another state and may prescribe the manner in which and
the terms upon which the testimony is to be taken.
(b) In a guardianship or protective proceeding, a court in this State may permit a witness located in another state to be deposed or to
testify by telephone or audiovisual or other electronic means. The Court shall cooperate with the court of the other state in designating
an appropriate location for the deposition or testimony.
(c) Documentary evidence transmitted from another state to a court of this State by technological means that do not produce an original
writing may not be excluded from evidence on an objection based on the means of transmission.
(76 Del. Laws, c. 380, § 5.)
§ 39A-201 Jurisdiction.
The Court has jurisdiction to appoint a guardian or issue a protective order for a respondent if:
1. This State is the respondent’s home state;
2. On the date the petition is filed, this State is a significant-connection state and:
(A) The respondent does not have a home state or a court of the respondent’s home state has declined to exercise jurisdiction
because this State is a more appropriate forum; or
(B) The respondent has a home state, a petition for an appointment or order is not pending in a court of that state or another
significant-connection state, and, before the Court makes the appointment or issues the order:
(i) A petition for an appointment or order is not filed in the respondent’s home state;
(ii) An objection to the Court’s jurisdiction is not filed by a person required to be notified of the proceeding; and
(iii) The Court concludes that it is an appropriate forum under the factors set forth in § 39A-204 of this title;
3. This State does not have jurisdiction under either paragraph 1. or 2. of this section, the respondent’s home state and all significantconnection states have declined to exercise jurisdiction because this State is the more appropriate forum, and jurisdiction in this State
is consistent with the constitutions of this State and the United States; or
4. The requirements for special jurisdiction under § 39A-202 of this title are met.
(76 Del. Laws, c. 380, § 5.)
§ 39A-202 Special jurisdiction.
(a) The Court lacking jurisdiction under § 39A-201 of this title has special jurisdiction to do any of the following:
(1) Appoint a guardian in an emergency pursuant to § 3901 of this title for a term not exceeding 30 days for a respondent who is
physically present in this State;
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(2) Issue a protective order with respect to real or tangible personal property located in this State;
(3) Appoint a guardian or conservator for a person who is incapacitated or a protected person for whom a provisional order to transfer
the proceeding from another state has been issued under procedures similar to § 39A-301 of this title.
(b) If a petition for the appointment of a guardian in an emergency is brought in this State pursuant to § 3901 of this title and this State
was not the respondent’s home state on the date the petition was filed, the Court shall dismiss the proceeding at the request of the court
of the home state, if any, whether dismissal is requested before or after the emergency appointment.
(76 Del. Laws, c. 380, § 5; 78 Del. Laws, c. 179, § 127.)
§ 39A-203 Exclusive and continuing jurisdiction.
Except as otherwise provided in § 39A-202 of this title, a court that has appointed a guardian or issued a protective order consistent
with this Act has exclusive and continuing jurisdiction over the proceeding until it is terminated by the Court or the appointment or order
expires by its own terms.
(76 Del. Laws, c. 380, § 5.)
§ 39A-204 Appropriate forum.
(a) The Court having jurisdiction under § 39A-201 of this title to appoint a guardian or issue a protective order may decline to exercise
its jurisdiction if it determines at any time that a court of another state is a more appropriate forum.
(b) If the Court declines to exercise its jurisdiction under subsection (a) of this section, it shall either dismiss or stay the proceeding.
The Court may impose any condition the Court considers just and proper, including the condition that a petition for the appointment of
a guardian or issuance of a protective order be filed promptly in another state.
(c) In determining whether it is an appropriate forum, the Court shall consider all relevant factors, including:
(1) Any expressed preference of the respondent;
(2) Whether abuse, neglect, or exploitation of the respondent has occurred or is likely to occur and which state could best protect
the respondent from the abuse, neglect, or exploitation;
(3) The length of time the respondent was physically present in or was a legal resident of this or another state;
(4) The distance of the respondent from the court in each state;
(5) The financial circumstances of the respondent’s estate;
(6) The nature and location of the evidence;
(7) The ability of the court in each state to decide the issue expeditiously and the procedures necessary to present evidence;
(8) The familiarity of the court of each state with the facts and issues in the proceeding; and
(9) If an appointment were made, the court’s ability to monitor the conduct of the guardian or conservator.
(76 Del. Laws, c. 380, § 5.)
§ 39A-205 Jurisdiction declined by reason of conduct.
(a) If at any time the Court determines that it acquired jurisdiction to appoint a guardian or issue a protective order because of
unjustifiable conduct, the Court may:
(1) Decline to exercise jurisdiction;
(2) Exercise jurisdiction for the limited purpose of fashioning an appropriate remedy to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of
the respondent or the protection of the respondent’s property or prevent a repetition of the unjustifiable conduct, including staying
the proceeding until a petition for the appointment of a guardian or issuance of a protective order is filed in a court of another state
having jurisdiction; or
(3) Continue to exercise jurisdiction after considering:
A. The extent to which the respondent and all persons required to be notified of the proceedings have acquiesced in the exercise
of the Court’s jurisdiction;
B. Whether it is a more appropriate forum than the court of any other state under the factors set forth in § 39A-204(c) of this
title; and
C. Whether the court of any other state would have jurisdiction under factual circumstances in substantial conformity with the
jurisdictional standards of § 39A-202 of this title.
(b) If the Court determines that it acquired jurisdiction to appoint a guardian or issue a protective order because a party seeking to
invoke its jurisdiction engaged in unjustifiable conduct, it may assess against that party necessary and reasonable expenses, including
attorneys’ fees, investigative fees, court costs, communication expenses, witness fees and expenses, and travel expenses. The Court may
not assess fees, costs, or expenses of any kind against this State or a governmental subdivision, agency, or instrumentality of this State
unless authorized by law other than this chapter.
(76 Del. Laws, c. 380, § 5.)
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§ 39A-206 Notice of proceeding.
If a petition for the appointment of a guardian or issuance of a protective order is brought in this State and this State was not the
respondent’s home state on the date the petition was filed, in addition to complying with the notice requirements of this State, notice of
the petition must be given to those persons who would be entitled to notice of the petition if a proceeding were brought in the respondent’s
home state. The notice must be given in the same manner as notice is required to be given in this State.
(76 Del. Laws, c. 380, § 5.)
§ 39A-207 Proceedings in more than 1 state.
Except for a petition for the appointment of a guardian in an emergency or issuance of a protective order limited to property located in
this State under § 39A-202(a)(1) or (a)(2) of this title, if a petition for the appointment of a guardian or issuance of a protective order is
filed in this State and in another state and neither petition has been dismissed or withdrawn, the following rules apply:
(1) If the Court has jurisdiction under § 39A-201 of this title, it may proceed with the case unless a court in another state acquires
jurisdiction under provisions similar to § 39A-201 of this title before the appointment or issuance of the order.
(2) If the Court does not have jurisdiction under § 39A-201 of this title, whether at the time the petition is filed or at any time before
the appointment or issuance of the order, the Court shall stay the proceeding and communicate with the court in the other state. If the
court in the other state has jurisdiction, the court in this State shall dismiss the petition unless the court in the other state determines
that the court in this State is a more appropriate forum.
(76 Del. Laws, c. 380, § 5.)
§ 39A-301 Transfer of guardianship or conservatorship to another state.
(a) A guardian or conservator appointed in this State may petition the Court to transfer the guardianship or conservatorship to another
state.
(b) Notice of a petition under subsection (a) of this section must be given to the persons that would be entitled to notice of a petition
in this State for the appointment of a guardian or conservator.
(c) On the Court’s own motion or on request of the guardian or conservator, the person who is incapacitated or a protected person, or
other person required to be notified of the petition, the Court shall hold a hearing on a petition filed pursuant to subsection (a) of this section.
(d) The Court shall issue an order provisionally granting a petition to transfer a guardianship and shall direct the guardian to petition
for guardianship in the other state if the Court is satisfied that the guardianship will be accepted by the court in the other state and the
Court finds that:
(1) The person who is incapacitated is physically present in or is reasonably expected to move permanently to the other state;
(2) An objection to the transfer has not been made or, if an objection has been made, the objector has not established that the transfer
would be contrary to the interests of the person who is incapacitated; and
(3) Plans for care and services for the person who is incapacitated in the other state are reasonable and sufficient.
(e) The Court shall issue a provisional order granting a petition to transfer a conservatorship and shall direct the conservator to petition
for conservatorship in the other state if the Court is satisfied that the conservatorship will be accepted by the court of the other state and
the Court finds that:
(1) The protected person is physically present in or is reasonably expected to move permanently to the other state, or the protected
person has a significant connection to the other state considering the factors in § 39A-201(b) of this title;
(2) An objection to the transfer has not been made or, if an objection has been made, the objector has not established that the transfer
would be contrary to the interests of the protected person; and
(3) Adequate arrangements will be made for management of the protected person’s property.
(f) The Court shall issue a final order confirming the transfer and terminating the guardianship or conservatorship upon its receipt of:
(1) A provisional order accepting the proceeding from the court to which the proceeding is to be transferred which is issued under
provisions similar to § 39A-302 of this title; and
(2) The documents required to terminate a guardianship or conservatorship in this State.
(76 Del. Laws, c. 380, § 5; 78 Del. Laws, c. 179, §§ 128, 129.)
§ 39A-302 Accepting guardianship or conservatorship transferred from another state.
(a) To confirm transfer of a guardianship or conservatorship transferred to this State under provisions similar to § 39A-301 of this title,
the guardian or conservator must petition the court in this State to accept the guardianship or conservatorship. The petition must include
a certified copy of the other state’s provisional order of transfer.
(b) Notice of a petition under subsection (a) of this section must be given to those persons that would be entitled to notice if the petition
were a petition for the appointment of a guardian or issuance of a protective order in both the transferring state and this State. The notice
must be given in the same manner as notice is required to be given in this State.
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(c) On the Court’s own motion or on request of the guardian or conservator, the person who is incapacitated or a protected person,
or other person required to be notified of the proceeding, the Court shall hold a hearing on a petition filed pursuant to subsection (a)
of this section.
(d) The Court shall issue an order provisionally granting a petition filed under subsection (a) of this section unless:
(1) An objection is made and the objector establishes that transfer of the proceeding would be contrary to the interests of the person
who is incapacitated or a protected person; or
(2) The guardian or conservator is ineligible for appointment in this State.
(e) The Court shall issue a final order accepting the proceeding and appointing the guardian or conservator as guardian or conservator
in this State upon its receipt from the court from which the proceeding is being transferred of a final order issued under provisions similar
to § 39A-301 of this title transferring the proceeding to this State.
(f) Not later than 90 days after issuance of a final order accepting transfer of a guardianship or conservatorship, the Court shall determine
whether the guardianship or conservatorship needs to be modified to conform to the law of this State.
(g) In granting a petition under this section, the Court shall recognize a guardianship or conservatorship order from the other state,
including the determination of the incapacity of the person who is incapacitated or protected and the appointment of the guardian or
conservator.
(h) The denial by the Court of a petition to accept a guardianship or conservatorship transferred from another state does not affect the
ability of the guardian or conservator to seek appointment as guardian or conservator in this State under Chapters 39 and 41 of this title
if the Court has jurisdiction to make an appointment other than by reason of the provisional order of transfer.
(76 Del. Laws, c. 380, § 5; 78 Del. Laws, c. 179, § 130.)
§ 39A-401 Foreign guardians.
The authority of a guardian or conservator appointed in another state to act in this state is governed by § 3904 of this title.
(76 Del. Laws, c. 380, § 5.)
§ 39A-402 Effective date.
This chapter applies to guardianship and protective proceedings begun on or after January 1, 2009.
(76 Del. Laws, c. 380, § 5.)
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Title 12 - Decedents’ Estates and Fiduciary Relations
Part V
Fiduciary Relations
Chapter 40
Delaware Careplan Trust Act
§ 4001 Definitions.
In this chapter:
(1) “Comprehensive care plan” means those services offered by the Delaware CarePlan Trust that are designed to ensure that the
needs of each participant are being met for as long as may be required and may include periodic visits to the participant and to the
places where the participant receives services, participation in the development of individualized plans for the participant, and other
similar services consistent with the purposes of this chapter.
(2) “Delaware CarePlan Trust” means a nonprofit nongovernmental organization that offers the following services:
a. Administration of trust funds for persons with disabilities;
b. Comprehensive care planning;
c. Guardianship for persons with disabilities who are incompetent; and
d. Advice and counsel to persons who have been appointed as individual guardians of the person or property of persons with
disabilities.
(3) “Participant” shall mean any person with a disability who is accepted as a participant in and has the right to receive services
from the Delaware CarePlan Trust.
(4) “Person with a disability” means a person with a physical or mental impairment with a long-term need for specialized health,
social or other services.
(5) “Surplus trust funds” means funds accumulated in the trust from contributions made by or on behalf of a participant which, after
the participant’s death or withdrawal from the plan, are determined by the Board to be in excess of the actual cost of providing services
during the participant’s lifetime, including the participant’s share of administrative costs.
(6) “Trustee” means the Board formed for the purpose of managing the community trust.
(71 Del. Laws, c. 360, § 1.)
§ 4002 Purpose, scope and organization.
(a) The Delaware CarePlan Trust is intended to encourage supplementation and augmentation of those services provided by local, state
and federal government agencies for persons with disabilities. It will provide a method to assure ongoing individualized support for a
person with a disability. Assets contributed by or on behalf of a person with a disability will be available for the use and benefit of such
participant. Assets of participants may be pooled to provide efficient management.
(b) This chapter shall be liberally construed and applied to promote its underlying purposes and policies, including, but not limited, to:
(1) Encourage the orderly establishment of the Delaware CarePlan Trust for the benefit of persons with disabilities;
(2) Ensure that the Delaware CarePlan Trust is administered properly and that its Board is free from conflicts of interest;
(3) Facilitate the sound administration of contributions on behalf of persons with disabilities by allowing family members and other
interested persons to obtain professional investment management, which may entail pooling of contributions;
(4) Provide families and other interested persons peace of mind in knowing that a means exists to support and assist persons with
disabilities and provide efficient management of assets;
(5) Make guardians available for persons with disabilities as needed;
(6) Encourage the availability of resources for the supplemental needs of persons with disabilities that are not available through any
governmental or charitable program;
(7) Encourage the inclusion of indigent persons with disabilities as beneficiaries of the Delaware CarePlan Trust if and when funds
are available for such persons; and
(8) Encourage families and other interested persons to set aside funds for the future protection of persons with disabilities by ensuring
that the interest of persons with disabilities in the Delaware CarePlan Trust are not considered assets or income that would disqualify
them from any governmental program with an economic means test.
(c) The Delaware CarePlan Trust shall be organized as a nongovernmental nonprofit organization pursuant to Delaware law.
(71 Del. Laws, c. 360, § 1.)
§ 4003 Administration; powers and duties.
(a) The Delaware CarePlan Trust shall be administered by a Board, the members of which shall include, but shall not be limited to,
family members, interested persons, public representatives, persons with disabilities who are not participants, legal advisers, trust advisers,
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Title 12 - Decedents’ Estates and Fiduciary Relations
financial advisers and professionals in the disabilities field. No Board member with voting power shall be a provider of nonincidental
habilitative, health, social or education services to persons with disabilities or an employee of such a service provider. The Board may
allow service providers to serve on a separate advisory board. Board members shall be selected from the geographic areas served by the
Delaware CarePlan Trust.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, no member of the Board may receive fees or commissions for services
provided as a member of the Board.
(c) The Delaware CarePlan Trust shall be considered the trustee of any funds administered by it. No individual Board member shall
be considered to be a trustee.
(d) The Board shall adopt appropriate policies and bylaws in accordance with this chapter.
(e) The Board may retain paid staff as it considers necessary to provide comprehensive care plan services to the extent required by each
participant. The Delaware CarePlan Trust may authorize the expenditure of funds for any goods or services which, in its sole discretion,
it determines will promote the well-being of any participant, including recreational services. The Delaware CarePlan Trust may pay
for the burial of any participant. The Delaware CarePlan Trust, however, may not expend funds for any goods or services available to
any particular participant through any governmental or charitable program, insurance or other sources available to the participant. The
Delaware CarePlan Trust may expend funds to meet the reasonable costs of administration.
(f) The Delaware CarePlan Trust may accept appointment as guardian of the person, guardian of the property or guardian of both on
behalf of any participant. If the Delaware CarePlan Trust accepts appointment as guardian, it shall assign a staff member to carry out its
responsibilities as guardian. The Delaware CarePlan Trust may, on request, offer consultative and professional assistance to the guardian
of any of its participants.
(71 Del. Laws, c. 360, § 1.)
§ 4004 Eligibility for participation and services.
(a) A person with a disability may be eligible to be a participant in the Delaware CarePlan Trust:
(1) Upon a contribution of assets into the Delaware CarePlan Trust, or the Board’s waiver of such contribution, by or on behalf
of the person; and
(2) Acceptance into the Delaware CarePlan Trust by the Board.
(b) The Board is directed to develop standards of eligibility for participants.
(1) The extent and character of the services and acceptance of participants are at the discretion of the Delaware CarePlan Trust.
(2) The Delaware CarePlan Trust may accept contributions, bequests, payee services and/or property passing by beneficiary
designation by or on behalf of persons with disabilities.
(c) Upon the acceptance of a person with a disability as a participant, the Delaware CarePlan Trust shall develop a comprehensive
care plan for the participant, and shall provide such plan to the donor and to the participant or the participant’s representative. The
comprehensive care plan shall include:
(1) A starting date for the delivery of services or the condition for commencing delivery of services;
(2) The nature and duration of the services to be provided; and
(3) The criteria or procedures for modifying the program of services from time to time.
(d) The Delaware CarePlan Trust is not required to provide services to a participant who is a competent adult and who has refused to
accept services, or who, in the Board’s determination in accordance with this chapter, is no longer eligible to be a participant. Further,
the Delaware CarePlan Trust shall not provide services of a nature or in a manner that would be contrary to the public policy of the State
at the time such services are to be provided. In either case, the Delaware CarePlan Trust may offer alternate services that are consistent
with the purposes of this chapter and in keeping with the best interest of the participant.
(71 Del. Laws, c. 360, § 1.)
§ 4005 Special requests on behalf of participant.
(a) The Delaware CarePlan Trust may agree to fulfill any special requests made by or on behalf of a participant as long as the requests
are consistent with this chapter and provided that adequate funds are available for such purpose.
(b) The Delaware CarePlan Trust may agree to serve as trustee or as trust advisor for any individual trust created by or on behalf of a
participant, regardless of whether the trust is revocable or irrevocable, has one or more remaindermen or contingent beneficiaries, or any
other condition, so long as the individual trust is consistent with the purposes of this chapter.
(71 Del. Laws, c. 360, § 1.)
§ 4006 Accountability.
(a) The Delaware CarePlan Trust shall prepare a report annually itemizing all funds collected for the year, income earned, salaries,
other expenses incurred and the opening and final trust balances. Such report shall be available to the public.
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Title 12 - Decedents’ Estates and Fiduciary Relations
(b) The Delaware CarePlan Trust shall, upon request, provide a copy of the report required under subsection (a) of this section to the
participant or the participant’s representative.
(c) Each year, the Delaware CarePlan Trust shall prepare on behalf of each participant:
(1) A detailed individual statement of the services provided to each participant during the previous 12 months, and the services
planned for such participant during the following 12 months; and
(2) An accounting of expenditures made on behalf of the participant and the investments remaining in such participant’s account.
(d) The Delaware CarePlan Trust shall provide the statement required under subsection (c) of this section to the participant or the
participant’s representative, and, consistent with standards adopted by the Board to protect the participant’s privacy rights, shall upon
request provide such statement to each donor for the participant.
(e) The Delaware CarePlan Trust shall provide the statement required under subsection (c) of this section as a final statement upon
the withdrawal of a participant.
(71 Del. Laws, c. 360, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1.)
§ 4007 Withdrawal of a participant; surplus trust funds.
(a) The Board is directed to develop standards and procedures for the withdrawal of a participant from the Delaware CarePlan Trust.
(1) A participant may withdraw from the Delaware CarePlan Trust. The death of a participant shall constitute a withdrawal from
the Delaware CarePlan Trust.
(2) The Board may determine that a participant must withdraw from the Delaware CarePlan Trust.
(b) Upon the withdrawal of a participant from the Delaware CarePlan Trust, the Board may release from the Delaware CarePlan Trust
all or any portion of the participant’s surplus trust assets.
(c) The Delaware CarePlan Trust may use surplus trust funds for purposes including, but not limited to, qualifying a person with a
disability as a participant, reducing the charges for the cost of administration and for any other purpose that is consistent with this chapter.
(d) The Delaware CarePlan Trust may not use a participant’s surplus trust funds to make any charitable contribution on behalf of any
participant or class of participants.
(71 Del. Laws, c. 360, § 1.)
§ 4008 Charitable contributions.
The Delaware CarePlan Trust may accept contributions not designated for a particular participant, and use such contributions, in its
discretion, for purposes including, but not limited to, qualifying a person with a disability as a participant, meeting start-up costs, reducing
the charges to the trust for the cost of administration, and for any other purpose that is consistent with this chapter.
(71 Del. Laws, c. 360, § 1.)
§ 4009 Effect on participation in government programs.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a participant’s interest in the Delaware CarePlan Trust shall be disregarded in assessing
financial eligibility and liability under any program of government benefits or assistance. No government agency shall reduce the benefits
or services available to any individual because that person is a participant.
(71 Del. Laws, c. 360, § 1.)
§ 4010 Exemption from creditors.
No participant shall have the power to assign, convey, alienate, or otherwise encumber any interest in the Delaware CarePlan Trust;
nor shall such interest or any trust disbursement be subject to any creditor’s claim, attachment, encumbrance or execution under any writ
or proceeding in law or equity.
(71 Del. Laws, c. 360, § 1.)
§ 4011 Trust not subject to law against perpetuities, restraints on alienation.
The Delaware CarePlan Trust shall not be subject to or held to be in violation of any principle of law against perpetuities or restraints
on alienation or perpetual accumulations of trusts.
(71 Del. Laws, c. 360, § 1.)
§ 4012 Short title.
This chapter may be cited as the “Delaware CarePlan Trust Act.”
(71 Del. Laws, c. 360, § 1.)
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Title 12 - Decedents’ Estates and Fiduciary Relations
Part V
Fiduciary Relations
Chapter 41
Conservator of Property for Persons Reported Missing or
Captured While Serving in Armed Forces or as a Merchant Sailor
§ 4101 Appointment of conservator.
Whenever a person, hereinafter referred to as an absentee, serving in or with the armed forces of the United States or a person serving
as a merchant sailor has been reported or listed as missing or missing in action or interned in a neutral country or beleaguered, besieged
or captured by an enemy has an interest in any form of property in this State or is a legal resident of this State and has not provided an
adequate power of attorney authorizing another to act in the person’s behalf in regard to such property or interest, then, the Register of
Wills of the county of such absentee’s legal domicile or of the county where such property is situated, upon petition alleging the foregoing
facts and showing the necessity for providing care of the property of such absentee, made by any person who would have an interest in
the property of the absentee were such absentee deceased, or on the Register’s own motion, after notice to or on receipt of proper waivers
from the heirs and next of kin of the absentee as provided by law for the administration of an estate and upon good cause being shown,
may, after finding the facts to be as aforesaid, appoint a conservator to take charge of the absentee’s estate, under the supervision and
subject to the further orders of the Register.
(45 Del. Laws, c. 231, § 1; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 4101; 70 Del Laws, c. 186, § 1.)
§ 4102 Bond and powers of conservator.
The Register of Wills may appoint any suitable person as conservator and may require such conservator to post an adequate surety
bond and to make such reports as the Register deems necessary. The conservator shall have the same powers and authority as the guardian
of the property of an infant or incompetent and shall be considered as an officer or arm of the court.
(45 Del. Laws, c. 231, § 2; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 4102.)
§ 4103 Termination of conservatorship.
At any time upon petition signed by the absentee or on petition of an attorney-in-fact acting under an adequate power of attorney granted
by the absentee the Register shall direct the termination of the conservatorship and the transfer of all property held thereunder to the
absentee or to the designated attorney-in-fact. Likewise, if at any time subsequent to the appointment of a conservator it appears that the
absentee has died and an executor or administrator has been appointed for the absentee’s estate, the Register shall direct the termination
of the conservatorship and the transfer of all property of the deceased absentee held thereunder to such executor or administrator.
(45 Del. Laws, c. 231, § 3; 12 Del. C. 1953, § 4103; 70 Del Laws, c. 186, § 1.)
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Title 12 - Decedents’ Estates and Fiduciary Relations
Part V
Fiduciary Relations
Chapter 43
Uniform Act for Simplification of Fiduciary Security Transfers
§ 4301 Definitions.
In this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:
(1) “Assignment” includes any written stock power, bond power, bill of sale, deed, declaration of trust or other instrument of transfer.
(2) “Claim of beneficial interest” includes a claim of any interest by a decedent’s legatee, distributee, heirs or creditor, a beneficiary
under a trust, a ward, a beneficial owner of a security registered in the name of a nominee or a minor owner of a security registered
in the name of a custodian or a claim of any similar interest, whether the claim is asserted by the claimant or by a fiduciary or by any
other authorized person on the claimant’s behalf and includes a claim that the transfer would be in breach of fiduciary duties.
(3) “Corporation” means a private or public corporation, association or trust issuing a security.
(4) “Fiduciary” means an executor, administrator, trustee, guardian, committee, conservator, curator, tutor, custodian or nominee.
(5) “Person” includes an individual, a corporation, government or governmental subdivision or agency, statutory trust, business trust,
estate, trust, partnership or association, 2 or more persons having a joint or common interest or any other legal or commercial entity.
(6) “Security” includes any share of stock, bond, debenture, note or other security issued by a corporation which is registered as to
ownership on the books of the corporation.
(7) “Transfer” means a change on the books of a corporation in the registered ownership of a security.
(8) “Transfer agent” means a person employed or authorized by a corporation to transfer securities issued by the corporation.
(12 Del. C. 1953, § 4301; 54 Del. Laws, c. 141; 70 Del Laws, c. 186, § 1; 73 Del. Laws, c. 329, § 56.)
§ 4302 Registration in the name of a fiduciary.
A corporation or transfer agent registering a security in the name of a person who is a fiduciary or who is described as a fiduciary is
not bound to inquire into the existence, extent or correct description of the fiduciary relationship and thereafter the corporation and its
transfer agent may assume without inquiry that the newly registered owner continues to be the fiduciary until the corporation or transfer
agent receives written notice that the fiduciary is no longer acting as such with respect to the particular security.
(12 Del. C. 1953, § 4302; 54 Del. Laws, c. 141.)
§ 4303 Assignment by a fiduciary.
Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, a corporation or transfer agent making a transfer of a security pursuant to an assignment
by a fiduciary:
(1) May assume without inquiry that the assignment, even though to the fiduciary or to the fiduciary’s nominee, is within the
fiduciary’s authority and capacity and is not in breach of the fiduciary duties;
(2) May assume without inquiry that the fiduciary has complied with any controlling instrument and with the law of the jurisdiction
governing the fiduciary relationship, including any law requiring the fiduciary to obtain court approval of the transfer; and
(3) Is not charged with notice of and is not bound to obtain or examine any court record or any recorded or unrecorded document
relating to the fiduciary relationship or the assignment, even though the record or document is in its possession.
(12 Del. C. 1953, § 4303; 54 Del. Laws, c. 141; 70 Del Laws, c. 186, § 1.)
§ 4304 Evidence of appointment or incumbency.
A corporation or transfer agent making a transfer pursuant to an assignment by a fiduciary who is not the registered owner shall obtain
the following evidence of appointment or incumbency:
(1) In the case of a fiduciary appointed or qualified by a court, a certificate issued by or under the direction or supervision of that
court or an officer thereof and dated within 60 days before the transfer; or
(2) In any other case, a copy of a document showing the appointment or a certificate issued by or on behalf of a person reasonably
believed by the corporation or transfer agent to be responsible or, in the absence of such a document or certificate, other evidence
reasonably deemed by the corporation or transfer agent to be appropriate. Corporations and transfer agents may adopt standards with
respect to evidence of appointment or incumbency under this subdivision provided such standards are not manifestly unreasonable.
Neither the corporation nor transfer agent is charged with notice of the contents of any document obtained pursuant to this subsection
except t