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Delegation and agents: getting help as a Colorado trustee

A trustee is not expected to be an investment manager, an accountant and a lawyer. This guide explains what Colorado lets a trustee delegate and what the trustee keeps.

Le texte intégral de ce guide est en anglais ; le résumé ci-dessus est dans votre langue. Les résumés des lois et l'anglais restent la source de référence.

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What may be delegated

C.R.S. §15-5-807(1) provides that a trustee may delegate duties and powers that a prudent trustee of comparable skills could properly delegate under the circumstances. The trustee exercises reasonable care, skill and caution in selecting the agent, establishing the scope and terms of the delegation consistent with the trust's purposes and terms, and periodically reviewing the agent's actions.

What the trustee keeps

An agent performing a delegated function owes the trust a duty to exercise reasonable care to comply with the terms of the delegation (C.R.S. §15-5-807(2)). A trustee who complies with §15-5-807(1) is not liable to the beneficiaries or the trust for the agent's decisions or actions (§15-5-807(3)).

The selection and the monitoring remain the trustee's; many trustees keep the engagement letter, the instructions and their periodic reviews in the trust's file.

Paying for professional help

A trustee is reimbursed from the trust property for expenses properly incurred in the administration (C.R.S. §15-5-709). A fiduciary's lawyer is entitled to reasonable compensation for services rendered on behalf of an estate (§15-10-602), and a court may review the reasonableness of the compensation of anyone employed on behalf of an estate or fiduciary (§15-10-603).

Trust directors

Some trusts move a power away from the trustee entirely, to a trust director with a power of direction (C.R.S. §15-16-806). A directed trustee takes reasonable action to comply and is not liable for doing so except for willful misconduct (§15-16-809), and, unless the terms provide otherwise, has no duty to monitor the director (§15-16-811).

Les textes de loi, mot pour mot

  • Powers of trust director

    C.R.S. §15-16-806 ↗

    Explication claire et simple ; le texte intégral de la loi n'est pas encore attesté dans notre bibliothèque. Consultez la loi officielle via le lien ci-dessus.

  • Duty and liability of directed trustee

    C.R.S. §15-16-809 ↗

    Explication claire et simple ; le texte intégral de la loi n'est pas encore attesté dans notre bibliothèque. Consultez la loi officielle via le lien ci-dessus.

  • Reimbursement of expenses

    C.R.S. §15-5-709 ↗

    Explication claire et simple ; le texte intégral de la loi n'est pas encore attesté dans notre bibliothèque. Consultez la loi officielle via le lien ci-dessus.

  • Delegation by trustee

    C.R.S. §15-5-807 ↗

    Explication claire et simple ; le texte intégral de la loi n'est pas encore attesté dans notre bibliothèque. Consultez la loi officielle via le lien ci-dessus.

Questions fréquentes

Can a Colorado trustee hire an investment manager?

Yes. A trustee may delegate what a prudent trustee of comparable skills could properly delegate, with reasonable care in selecting, instructing and reviewing the agent (C.R.S. §15-5-807(1)).

Is a Colorado trustee liable for an agent's mistakes?

A trustee who used reasonable care in selecting, instructing and monitoring the agent is not liable for the agent's decisions or actions (C.R.S. §15-5-807(3)).

Who pays for a trustee's lawyer in Colorado?

The trust, as an expense properly incurred in the administration (C.R.S. §15-5-709); a fiduciary's lawyer is entitled to reasonable compensation (§15-10-602), which a court may review (§15-10-603).

Le Centre d'apprentissage est de l'information générale sur la loi du Colorado — pas un avis juridique, ni un substitut aux conseils d'un avocat du Colorado agréé sur vos faits précis. TrusteeClear est un logiciel, pas un cabinet.