The Uniform Trust Code is a model law in the United States created by the Uniform Law Commission, which although not binding, is influential in the states, and used by many as a model law. As of January 1, 2020, 34 States have enacted a version of the Uniform Trust Code (Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming). Legislation has currently^[when?] been proposed in New York to adopt the UTC. ^[1]

Background

The goal of the uniform law is to standardize the law of trusts to a greater extent, given their increased use as a substitute for the "last will and testament" as the primary estate planning mechanism.

Contents

The Uniform Trust Code consists of eleven articles:^[2]

1. General Provisions and Definitions
2. Judicial Proceedings
3. Representation
4. Creation, Validity, Modification and Termination of a Trust
5. Creditor's Claim, Spendthrift and Discretionary Trusts
6. Revocable Trusts
7. Office of Trustee
8. Duties and Powers of the Trustee
9. Uniform Prudent Investor Act
10. Liability of Trustees and Rights of Persons Dealing with the Trustee
11. Miscellaneous Provisions