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Party Alterations. 1. By the Settlor -- § 112.051. Presumption = Settlor may revoke, modify, amend, etc. Settlor can make trust irrevocable by express language. Tax benefits Beneficiary protection Creditor protection. 1. By the Settlor -- § 112.051. Revocation Methods
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1. By the Settlor -- § 112.051 • Presumption = Settlor may revoke, modify, amend, etc. • Settlor can make trust irrevocable by express language. • Tax benefits • Beneficiary protection • Creditor protection
1. By the Settlor -- § 112.051 • Revocation Methods • In writing, if trust created in writing. • Sanderson – p. 166 (allowed revocation language to be in a will). • Follow method settlor specified in the trust.
2. By the Trustee • Generally, no power to modify. • Possible situations: • Settlor granted power in the trust. • Division or combination of trusts on identical terms -- § 112.057 • Non-judicial cy pres -- § 113.026
3. By Trustee and Beneficiaries Acting Together • Merger -- § 112.034 • But, no merger of spendthrift trust unless settlor is the beneficiary.
4. By Beneficiaries • General U.S. Rule = Allowed as long as no material trust purpose remained unfulfilled (Claflin rule).
4. By Beneficiaries • Texas under Frost Nat’l Bank v. Newton (Tex. 1977) = Allowed only if all purposes satisfied. • Texas under § 112.054(a)(5) if: • Obtain court approval, • Change not inconsistent with material purpose, and • All beneficiaries agree or are deemed to have agreed.
5. Settlor and All Beneficiaries • Musick v. Reynolds – p. 170, 173 • “[I]f a settlor of a trust is alive and all of the beneficiaries of an irrevocable spendthrift trust consent * * *, the settlor and all beneficiaries may consent to a modification or termination of the trust.”
6. Family Settlements • Favored by courts on public policy grounds. • But, courts make certain controversy is genuine.