§ 35-15-502 — Spendthrift provision

(a) A spendthrift provision is valid only if it restrains both voluntary and involuntary transfer of a beneficiary's interest. (b) A term of a trust providing that the interest of a beneficiary is held subject to a "spendthrift trust," or words of similar import, is sufficient to restrain both voluntary and involuntary transfer of the beneficiary's interest. (c) A spendthrift provision applies to all beneficial interests, including distribution interests and remainder interests. (d) A beneficiary may not transfer an interest in a trust in violation of a valid spendthrift provision and a creditor or assignee of the beneficiary may not reach any of, the interest, or a present, future or prospective distribution at the trust level. Similarly, no creditor or assignee of the beneficiary may force any distribution from the trust. This subsection (d) remains applicable regardless of the beneficiary's potential right to force a distribution under § 35-15-814 . (e) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section to the contrary, regardless of whether a beneficiary has any outstanding creditor, a trustee, cotrustee or other fiduciary of a trust subject to a spendthrift provision may directly pay any expense on behalf of such beneficiary and may exhaust the income and principal of the trust for the benefit of such beneficiary. No trustee, cotrustee or other fiduciary is liable to any creditor for paying the expenses of a beneficiary under a trust subject to a spendthrift provision. This subsection (e) remains applicable regardless of whether the beneficiary for whom such direct payment was made held a mandatory, support, discretionary or remainder interest.

Legislative History

Amended by 2013 Tenn. Acts, ch. 390,s 16, eff. 7/1/2013. Acts 2004, ch. 537, § 41.