Title 13, Protective Proceedings; Powers of Attorney; Trusts

A trustee who has special skills or expertise, or is named trustee in reliance upon the trustee’s representation that the trustee has special skills or expertise, shall use those special skills or expertise in administering the trust. [2005 c.348 §64]

(1) A trustee may delegate duties and powers that a prudent trustee of comparable skills could properly delegate under the circumstances. The trustee shall exercise reasonable care, skill and caution in: (a) Selecting an agent; (b) Establishing the scope and terms of the delegati…

(1) While a trust is revocable, the trustee may follow a direction of the settlor that is contrary to the terms of the trust. (2) If the terms of a trust confer upon a person other than the settlor of a revocable trust power to direct certain actions of the trustee, the trustee s…

A trustee shall take reasonable steps to take control of and protect the trust property. [2005 c.348 §67]

(1) A trustee shall keep adequate records of the administration of the trust. (2) A trustee shall keep trust property separate from the trustee’s own property. (3) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (4) of this section, a trustee shall cause the trust property to be desig…

A trustee shall take reasonable steps to enforce claims of the trust and to defend claims against the trust. [2005 c.348 §69]

A trustee shall take reasonable steps to compel a former trustee or other person to deliver trust property to the trustee, and to remedy a breach of trust known to the trustee to have been committed by a former trustee. [2005 c.348 §70]

(1) A trustee shall keep the qualified beneficiaries of the trust reasonably informed about the administration of the trust and of the material facts necessary for those beneficiaries to protect their interests. If reasonable under the circumstances, a trustee may respond to a re…

(1) A trustee shall exercise a discretionary power in good faith and in a manner that is in accordance with the terms and purposes of the trust and the interests of the beneficiaries. The duty imposed by this subsection is not affected by the grant of discretion in the terms of t…

(1) A trustee, without authorization by the court, may exercise powers conferred by the terms of the trust and, except as limited by the terms of the trust: (a) All powers over the trust property that an unmarried financially capable owner has over individually owned property; (b…

Without limiting the authority conferred by ORS 130.720, a trustee may do any of the following: (1) Collect trust property and accept or reject additions to the trust property from a settlor or any other person. (2) Acquire or sell property, for cash or on credit, at public or pr…

(1) The interests of a beneficiary under a testamentary trust vest upon the death of the testator, and the interests of a beneficiary under a revocable or irrevocable trust vest when the trust becomes irrevocable, and not later, unless the will or trust clearly indicates a contra…

(1) Prior to a proposed action to be taken by a trustee regarding the administration of a trust, the trustee may send the beneficiaries a written notice of the proposed action informing the beneficiaries of the proposed action. (2) The right of a beneficiary receiving a notice of…

(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 b…

(1) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (2) of this section, a trustee who invests and manages trust assets owes a duty to the beneficiaries of the trust to comply with the prudent investor rule set forth in ORS 130.755. (2) The prudent investor rule is a default rule that…

(1) A trustee shall invest and manage trust assets as a prudent investor would, by considering the purposes, terms, distribution requirements and other circumstances of the trust. In satisfying this standard, the trustee shall exercise reasonable care, skill and caution. (2) A tr…

A trustee shall diversify the investments of the trust unless the trustee reasonably determines that, because of special circumstances, the purposes of the trust are better served without diversifying. [2005 c.348 §79]

Within a reasonable time after accepting a trusteeship or receiving trust assets, a trustee shall review the trust assets and make and implement decisions concerning the retention and disposition of assets in order to bring the trust portfolio into compliance with the requirement…

Compliance with the prudent investor rule is determined in light of the facts and circumstances existing at the time of a trustee’s decision or action and not by hindsight. [2005 c.348 §81]

Unless otherwise limited or modified, the following terms or comparable language in the provisions of a trust authorize any investment or strategy permitted under ORS 130.750 to 130.775: “investments permissible by law for investment of trust funds,” “legal investments,” “authori…

(1) A violation by a trustee of a duty the trustee owes to a beneficiary is a breach of trust. A breach of trust may occur by reason of an action or by reason of a failure to act. (2) To remedy a breach of trust that has occurred or to prevent a breach of trust, the court may: (a…

(1) A trustee who commits a breach of trust is liable to the beneficiaries affected for the greatest of: (a) The amount of damages caused by the breach; (b) The amount required to restore the value of the trust property and trust distributions to what they would have been had the…

(1) Except as provided by ORS 130.725 (4) and (15) or 709.175 or other law of this state, a trustee is accountable to an affected beneficiary for any profit made by the trustee arising from the administration of the trust, without regard to whether the profit resulted from a brea…

In a judicial proceeding involving the validity or administration of a trust, the court may award costs and expenses and reasonable attorney’s fees to any party, to be paid by another party or from the trust. [2005 c.348 §86]

(1) Notwithstanding ORS chapter 12 or any other provision of law, but subject to subsection (2) of this section, a civil action against a trustee based on any act or omission of the trustee, whether based in tort, contract or other theory of recovery, must be commenced within six…

A trustee who acts in reasonable reliance on the terms of the trust as expressed in the trust instrument is not liable to a beneficiary for a breach of trust to the extent the breach resulted from the reliance. [2005 c.348 §88]

A trustee is not liable for failing to determine whether a marriage, a divorce, a death, the performance of educational requirements or another event affecting the administration or distribution of a trust has occurred if the trustee has exercised reasonable care in attempting to…

(1) A term of a trust relieving a trustee of liability for breach of trust is unenforceable to the extent that the term: (a) Relieves the trustee of liability for breach of trust committed in bad faith or with reckless indifference to the purposes of the trust or the interests of…

If a beneficiary consents to conduct of a trustee that constitutes a breach of trust, releases a trustee from liability for a breach of trust or ratifies a transaction entered into by a trustee that constitutes a breach of trust, the trustee is not liable to the beneficiary for t…

(1) Except as otherwise provided in the contract, a trustee is not personally liable on a contract properly entered into in the trustee’s fiduciary capacity in the course of administering the trust if the trustee disclosed the trustee’s fiduciary capacity in the contract. (2) A t…

(1) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (3) of this section or unless personal liability is imposed in the contract, a trustee who holds an interest as a general partner in a general or limited partnership is not personally liable on a contract entered into by the partners…

(1) 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, is not liable for acts of the trustee that exceed the trustee’s powers or for the improper exercise of the trustee’s powers, unless the person knows…

(1) A person who is not a beneficiary and who proposes to deal with the trustee of a trust may require that all trustees execute and furnish to the person a certification of trust. (2) The certification of trust shall contain the following information: (a) That the trust exists a…

In applying and construing ORS chapter 130, consideration must be given to the need to promote uniformity of the law with respect to trusts among states that enact the Uniform Trust Code. [2005 c.348 §96] Note: 130.900 to 130.910 were enacted into law by the Legislative Assembly …

The legal effect, validity or enforceability of electronic records or electronic signatures under ORS chapter 130, and of contracts formed or performed with the use of such records or signatures, are governed by ORS 84.001 to 84.061. [2005 c.348 §97] Note: See note under 130.900.…

(1) Except as otherwise provided in ORS chapter 130: (a) ORS chapter 130 applies to all trusts created before, on or after January 1, 2006. (b) ORS chapter 130 does not apply to judicial, administrative and other proceedings concerning trusts commenced before January 1, 2006. (c)…