§ 411. Modification or termination of noncharitable irrevocable trust by consent

(a) A noncharitable irrevocable trust may be modified or terminated upon consent of the settlor and all beneficiaries, even if the modification or termination is inconsistent with a material purpose of the trust. If, upon petition, the Probate Division of the Superior Court finds that the settlor and all beneficiaries consent to the modification or termination of a noncharitable irrevocable trust, the Probate Division of the Superior Court shall approve the modification or termination 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 an agent under a power of attorney only to the extent expressly authorized by the power of attorney or the terms of the trust; by the settlor's guardian of the property with the approval of the Probate Division of the Superior Court supervising the guardianship if an agent is not so authorized; or by the settlor's guardian of the person with the approval of the Probate Division of the Superior Court supervising the guardianship if an agent is not so authorized and a guardian of the property has not been appointed.

(b) A noncharitable irrevocable trust may be terminated upon consent of all of the beneficiaries if the Probate Division of the Superior Court concludes that continuance of the trust is not necessary to achieve any material purpose of the trust. A noncharitable irrevocable trust may be modified upon consent of all of the beneficiaries if the Probate Division of the Superior Court concludes that modification is not inconsistent with a material purpose of the trust.

(c) A spendthrift provision in the terms of the trust is not presumed to constitute a material purpose of the trust.

(d) Upon termination of a trust under subsection (a) or (b) of this section, the trustee shall distribute the trust property as agreed by the beneficiaries.

(e) If not all of the beneficiaries consent to a proposed modification or termination of the trust under subsection (a) or (b) of this section, the modification or termination may be approved by the Probate Division of the Superior Court if the Probate Division of the Superior Court is satisfied that:

(1) if all of the beneficiaries had consented, the trust could have been modified or terminated under this section; and

(2) the interests of a beneficiary who does not consent will be adequately protected. (Added 2009, No. 20, § 1; amended 2009, No. 154 (Adj. Sess.), § 236, eff. Feb. 1, 2011.)