2017 Wisconsin Statutes & Annotations
Chapter 701. Trusts.
701.0411 Modification or termination of noncharitable irrevocable trust by consent.
701.0411 Modification or termination of noncharitable irrevocable trust by consent.
(1) A noncharitable irrevocable trust may be modified or terminated, with or without court approval, upon consent of the settlor and all beneficiaries, even if the modification or termination is inconsistent with a material purpose of the trust. A settlor's power to consent to a trust's modification or termination may be exercised by a representative under s. 701.0303 only if the representative is specifically authorized to consent to a trust's modification or termination under a power of attorney, the terms of the trust, or by a court under a guardianship or conservatorship.
(2)
(a) A noncharitable irrevocable trust may be terminated upon consent of all of the beneficiaries if the court concludes that continuance of the trust is not necessary to achieve any material purpose of the trust.
(b) A noncharitable irrevocable trust may be modified upon consent of all of the beneficiaries if the court concludes that modification is not inconsistent with a material purpose of the trust.
(3) A spendthrift provision in the terms of the trust is not presumed to constitute a material purpose of the trust.
(4) A court may not compel a beneficiary to consent to a modification or termination to satisfy a creditor of the beneficiary.
(5) Upon termination of a trust under sub. (1) or (2), the trustee shall distribute the trust property as agreed by the beneficiaries.
(6) If not all of the beneficiaries consent to a proposed modification or termination of the trust under sub. (1) or (2), the modification or termination may be approved by the court if the court is satisfied that all of the following apply:
(a) If all of the beneficiaries had consented, the trust could have been modified or terminated under this section.
(b) The interests of a beneficiary who does not consent will be adequately protected.
(7) A party proposing to modify or terminate a trust under sub. (1) or (2) shall give notice of the proposed modification or termination to the settlor, if living, the trustee, each trust protector, each directing party, and each beneficiary at least 30 days before the proposed effective date of the modification or termination.
