2017 Oregon Revised Statutes
Volume : 03 - Landlord-Tenant, Domestic Relations, Probate
Chapter 130 - Uniform Trust Code
Section 130.735 - Appointment of adviser; liability of trustee.
(1) A trust instrument may appoint a person to act as an adviser for the purpose of directing or approving decisions made by the trustee, including decisions related to distribution of trust assets and to the purchase, sale or exchange of trust investments. The appointment must be made by a provision of the trust that specifically refers to this section. The appointment may provide for succession of advisers and for a process for the removal of advisers. An adviser shall exercise all authority granted under the trust instrument as a fiduciary unless the trust instrument provides otherwise. A person who agrees to act as an adviser is subject to Oregon law and submits to the jurisdiction of the courts of this state.
(2) If a trust instrument provides that a trustee is to follow the direction of an adviser, and that trustee acts in accordance with the adviser’s directions, the trustee is not liable for any loss resulting directly or indirectly from the trustee’s decision unless the decision constitutes reckless indifference to the purposes of the trust or the interests of the beneficiaries.
(3) If a trust instrument provides that a trustee is to make decisions with the approval of an adviser, and the adviser does not provide approval within a reasonable time after the trustee has made a request for approval of a decision, the trustee is not liable for any loss resulting directly or indirectly from the decision unless the decision constitutes reckless indifference to the purposes of the trust or the interests of the beneficiaries.
(4) Except to the extent specifically provided by the trust instrument, a trustee has no duty to monitor an adviser’s conduct, provide advice to the adviser, consult with the adviser or give notice to any beneficiary or third party about decisions made pursuant to the adviser’s direction that the trustee would have decided differently.
(5) Absent clear and convincing evidence to the contrary, all actions taken by a trustee for the purpose of implementing directions from an adviser, including confirming that the adviser’s directions have been carried out and recording and reporting activities requested by the adviser, are presumed to be administrative actions taken by the trustee solely for the purpose of allowing the trustee to perform the duties assigned to the trustee under the trust instrument. Administrative actions taken by a trustee for the purpose of implementing directions from an adviser do not constitute monitoring of the adviser or other participation in decisions that are within the scope of the adviser’s authority.
(6) A court may remove an adviser if the court finds:
(a) The adviser has committed a serious breach of trust; or
(b) Removal of the adviser best serves the interests of the beneficiaries because the adviser is unfit or unwilling, or has persistently failed to timely and effectively advise the trustee in matters assigned to the adviser in the trust instrument under subsection (1) of this section. [2009 c.275 §21; 2013 c.529 §22]
