2019 Wyoming Statutes
Title 2 - Wills, Decedents' Estates and Probate Code
Chapter 3 - Fiduciaries
Article 9 - Wyoming Unitrust Act
Section 2-3-903 - Unitrust Election by Trustee; Requirements to Make Unitrust Election.
2-3-903. Unitrust election by trustee; requirements to make unitrust election.
(a) A trustee, other than an interested trustee, or where two (2) or more persons are acting as trustees, a majority of the trustees who are not interested trustees may, in its sole discretion and without the approval of the district court:
(i) Elect to release the power to adjust described in W.S. 2-3-804 and to convert an income trust to a total return unitrust;
(ii) Reconvert a total return unitrust to an income trust and reinstate the power to adjust described in W.S. 2-3-804; or
(iii) Change the percentage used to calculate the unitrust amount or the method used to determine the fair market value of the trust if the following requirements are completed:
(A) The trustee adopts a written policy for the trust providing:
(I) In the case of a trust being administered as an income trust, that future distributions from the trust will be unitrust amounts rather than net income;
(II) In the case of a trust being administered as a total return unitrust, that future distributions from the trust will be net income rather than unitrust amounts; or
(III) That the percentage used to calculate the unitrust amount or the method used to determine the fair market value of the trust will be changed as stated in the policy.
(b) The trustee shall mail notice of the proposed action to all beneficiaries who are receiving, or are entitled to receive, income under the trust or to receive a distribution of principal if the trust were terminated at the time the notice is given assuming nonexercise of all powers of appointment.
(c) Notice of proposed action need not be given to any person who consents in writing to the proposed action. The consent may be executed at any time before or after the proposed action is taken.
(d) The written notice of its intention to take action shall include the following:
(i) The name and mailing address of the trustee;
(ii) The name and telephone number of a person who may be contacted for additional information;
(iii) A description of the action proposed to be taken and an explanation of the reasons for the action;
(iv) A copy of the trustee's written policy discussed in subparagraph (a)(iii)(A) of this section;
(v) The time within which objections to the proposed action can be made, which shall be at least thirty (30) days from the mailing of the notice of proposed action; and
(vi) The date on or after which the proposed action may be taken or is effective.
(e) A beneficiary may object to the proposed action by mailing a written objection to the trustee stating the objection and the basis or reason for the objection at the address stated in the notice of proposed action within the time period specified in the notice of proposed action.
(f) If the trustee receives a written objection stating the basis or reason for the objection within the applicable period, either the trustee or a beneficiary may petition the court to have the proposed action taken as proposed, taken with modifications, or denied.
(g) A beneficiary who has not objected is not estopped from opposing the proposed action in the proceeding.
(h) If the trustee decides not to implement the proposed action, the trustee shall notify the beneficiaries of the decision not to take the action and the reasons for the decision, and the trustee's decision not to implement the proposed action shall not itself give rise to liability to any current or future beneficiary.
