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    564-B:1-113 Precatory Language. –

(a) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:

(1) "
Letter of wishes
" means a record that:

(A) Is not a trust instrument;

(B) Is created by a settlor; and

(C) Contains precatory language.

(2) "
Precatory language
" means language that:

(A) Is not binding on any trustee, trust advisor, or trust protector;

(B) Expresses the settlor’s wishes regarding the exercise of any discretionary power by a trustee, trust advisor, or trust protector; and

(C) Is not inconsistent with the terms of the trust.

(b) In exercising a discretionary power, a trustee, trust advisor, or trust protector may consider precatory language contained in the trust instrument or a letter of wishes.

(c) Precatory language does not impose any duty on any trustee, trust advisor, or trust protector, and the fact that a trustee, trust advisor, or trust protector does not exercise a discretionary power in accordance with precatory language shall not create an inference that the trustee, trust advisor, or trust protector improperly exercised the power.

(d) In determining whether a trustee, trust advisor, or trust protector exercised a discretionary power in a manner that is consistent with the settlor’s intent, a court may consider precatory language contained in the trust instrument or a letter of wishes. A court may consider precatory language contained in a letter of wishes regardless of whether the trust instrument is ambiguous.

(e) Except as provided under the terms of the trust or by court order, a trustee, trust advisor, or trust protector shall not have any duty to provide any beneficiary a copy of a letter of wishes.

Source. 2019, 230:1, eff. Sept. 10, 2019.