§ 44D-8B-14 — Protection of charitable interest

West Virginia § 44D-8B-14

• Jurisdiction: West Virginia
• Ch. 44D: UNIFORM TRUST CODE
• Art. 8B: WEST VIRGINIA UNIFORM TRUST DECANTING ACT

Text

(a) In this section:

(1) “Determinable charitable interest” means a charitable interest that is a right to a mandatory distribution currently, periodically, on the occurrence of a specified event, or after the passage of a specified time and which is unconditional or will be held solely for charitable purposes.

(2) “Unconditional” means not subject to the occurrence of a specified event that is not certain to occur, other than a requirement in a trust instrument that a charitable organization be in existence or qualify under a particular provision of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986 on the date of the distribution, if the charitable organization meets the requirement on the date of determination.

(b) If a first trust contains a determinable charitable interest which is not held by an identified charitable organization, the Attorney General has the rights of a qualified beneficiary and may represent and bind the charitable interest.

(c) If a first trust contains a charitable interest, the second trust or trusts may not:

(1) Diminish the charitable interest;

(2) Diminish the interest of an identified charitable organization that holds the charitable interest;

(3) Alter any charitable purpose stated in the first-trust instrument; or

(4) Alter any condition or restriction related to the charitable interest.

(d) If there are two or more second trusts, the second trusts shall be treated as one trust for purposes of determining whether the exercise of the decanting power diminishes the charitable interest or diminishes the interest of an identified charitable organization for purposes of subsection (c) of this section.

(e) If a first trust contains a determinable charitable interest which is not held by an identified charitable organization, the second trust or trusts that include a charitable interest pursuant to subsection (c) of this section must be administered under the law of this state unless:

(1) The Attorney General, after receiving notice under §44D-8B-7 of this code, fails to object in a signed record delivered to the authorized fiduciary within the notice period;

(2) The Attorney General consents in a signed record to the second trust or trusts being administered under the law of another jurisdiction; or

(3) The court approves the exercise of the decanting power.

Legislative History

2020 Reg. Sess., SB668