(A) As used in this section:
(1) "Ascertainable standard" includes a standard in a trust instrument requiring the trustee to provide for the care, comfort, maintenance, welfare, education, or general well-being of the beneficiary.
(2) "Disability" means any substantial, medically determinable impairment that can be expected to result in death or that has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of at least twelve months, except that "disability" does not include an impairment that is the result of abuse of alcohol or drugs.
(3) "Political subdivision" and "state" have the same meanings as in section2744.01of the Revised Code.
(4) "Supplemental services" means services specified by rule of the department of mental health and addiction services under section5119.10of the Revised Code or the department of developmental disabilities under section5123.04of the Revised Code that are provided to an individual with a disability in addition to services the individual is eligible to receive under programs authorized by federal or state law.
(B) Any person may create a trust under this section to provide funding for supplemental services for the benefit of another individual who meets either of the following conditions:
(1) The individual has a physical or mental disability and is eligible to receive services through the department of developmental disabilities or a county board of developmental disabilities;
(2) The individual has a mental disability and is eligible to receive services through the department of mental health and addiction services or a board of alcohol, drug addiction, and mental health services.
The trust may confer discretion upon the trustee and may contain specific instructions or conditions governing the exercise of the discretion.
(C) The general division of the court of common pleas and the probate court of the county in which the beneficiary of a trust authorized by division (B) of this section resides or is confined have concurrent original jurisdiction to hear and determine actions pertaining to the trust. In any action pertaining to the trust in a court of common pleas or probate court and in any appeal of the action, all of the following apply to the trial or appellate court:
(1) The court shall render determinations consistent with the testator's or other settlor's intent in creating the trust, as evidenced by the terms of the trust instrument.
(2) The court may order the trustee to exercise discretion that the trust instrument confers upon the trustee only if the instrument contains specific instructions or conditions governing the exercise of that discretion and the trustee has failed to comply with the instructions or conditions. In issuing an order pursuant to this division, the court shall require the trustee to exercise the trustee's discretion only in accordance with the instructions or conditions.
(3) The court may order the trustee to maintain the trust and distribute assets in accordance with rules adopted by the director of mental health and addiction services under section5119.10of the Revised Code or the director of developmental disabilities under section5123.04of the Revised Code if the trustee has failed to comply with such rules.
(D) To the extent permitted by federal law and subject to the provisions of division (C)(2) of this section pertaining to the enforcement of specific instructions or conditions governing a trustee's discretion, a trust authorized by division (B) of this section that confers discretion upon the trustee shall not be considered an asset or resource of the beneficiary, the beneficiary's estate, the settlor, or the settlor's estate and shall be exempt from the claims of creditors, political subdivisions, the state, other governmental entities, and other claimants against the beneficiary, the beneficiary's estate, the settlor, or the settlor's estate, including claims regarding the medicaid program or based on provisions of Chapters 5121. or 5123. of the Revised Code and claims sought to be satisfied by way of a civil action, subrogation, execution, garnishment, attachment, judicial sale, or other legal process, if all of the following apply:
(1) At the time the trust is created, the trust principal does not exceed the maximum amount determined under division (E) of this section;
(2) The trust instrument contains a statement of the settlor's intent, or otherwise clearly evidences the settlor's intent, that the beneficiary does not have authority to compel the trustee under any circumstances to furnish the beneficiary with minimal or other maintenance or support, to make payments from the principal of the trust or from the income derived from the principal, or to convert any portion of the principal into cash, whether pursuant to an ascertainable standard specified in the instrument or otherwise;
(3) The trust instrument provides that trust assets can be used only to provide supplemental services, as defined by rule of the director of mental health and addiction services under section5119.10of the Revised Code or the director of developmental disabilities under section5123.04of the Revised Code, to the beneficiary;
(4) The trust is maintained and assets are distributed in accordance with rules adopted by the director of mental health and addiction services under section5119.10of the Revised Code or the director of developmental disabilities under section5123.04of the Revised Code;
(5) The trust instrument provides that on the death of the beneficiary, a portion of the remaining assets of the trust, which shall be not less than fifty per cent of such assets, will be deposited to the credit of the services fund for individuals with mental illness created by section5119.51of the Revised Code or the services fund for individuals with developmental disabilities created by section5123.40of the Revised Code.
(E) In 1994, the trust principal maximum amount for a trust created under this section shall be two hundred thousand dollars. The maximum amount for a trust created under this section prior to November 11, 1994, may be increased to two hundred thousand dollars.
In 1995, the maximum amount for a trust created under this section shall be two hundred two thousand dollars. Each year thereafter, the maximum amount shall be the prior year's amount plus two thousand dollars.
(F) This section does not limit or otherwise affect the creation, validity, interpretation, or effect of any trust that is not created under this section.
(G) Once a trustee takes action on a trust created by a settlor under this section and disburses trust funds on behalf of the beneficiary of the trust, then the trust may not be terminated or otherwise revoked by a particular event or otherwise without payment into the services fund created pursuant to section5119.51or5123.40of the Revised Code of an amount that is equal to the disbursements made on behalf of the beneficiary for medical care by the state from the date the trust vests but that is not more than fifty per cent of the trust corpus.
Last updated October 20, 2025 at 9:15 AM