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Distributions and "by representation" in Arizona

Who takes a deceased beneficiary's share, when a trustee may distribute after a death, and how a termination closes are three questions Arizona's statutes answer in their own words. This guide explains them; the trust instrument's own words decide which rule a particular trust uses.

הטקסט המלא של מדריך זה באנגלית; התקציר שלמעלה בשפתכם. תקצירי החוקים והנוסח האנגלי נשארים המקור המחייב.

Distributions · 6 דק' קריאה

What the words mean in Arizona

Arizona's intestacy statute passes an estate to the decedent's descendants "by representation" (A.R.S. § 14-2103(1)) and defines the method: the estate is divided into as many equal shares as there are surviving descendants in the nearest generation with a survivor and deceased descendants in that generation who left surviving descendants; each survivor in that generation takes one share, and the remaining shares are combined and divided in the same manner among the next generation (§ 14-2106(A)) — per capita at each generation. No Arizona statute gives an instrument's "per stirpes" a statutory meaning; a trust that uses the words is read on its own terms.

The surviving spouse's intestate share turns on whether the surviving issue are also the spouse's issue, and the decedent's one-half of the community property passes with the separate property (A.R.S. § 14-2102); the surviving spouse's own half is the spouse's already.

Discretionary distributions

A trustee exercises a discretionary power in good faith and in accordance with the terms and purposes of the trust and the interests of the beneficiaries (A.R.S. § 14-10814(A)). A beneficiary's creditor may not compel a distribution subject to the trustee's discretion, even where the discretion is expressed as a standard, except a court's order for a child's support (§ 14-10504); a mandatory distribution the trustee has not made within a reasonable period after the mandated date may be reached (§ 14-10506).

Before distributing after a death

On the death of the settlor of a trust that was revocable at the death, the trustee may proceed to distribute the trust property under its terms and is not liable for doing so unless the trustee has actual knowledge of a pending contest or a potential contestant has notified the trustee in writing of a possible proceeding and commences one within sixty days (A.R.S. § 14-10604(B)); a contest may be brought within the earlier of one year after the death and four months after the trustee sends the instrument with the notice the statute describes (§ 14-10604(A)). The property of a trust that was revocable at the death answers for the settlor's creditors' claims, the costs of administering the estate, the funeral expenses and the family's allowances to the extent the probate estate is inadequate (§ 14-10505(A)(3)) — the reason many trustees wait, or retain a reserve.

At termination

On an event terminating or partially terminating the trust, the trustee distributes within a reasonable time, subject to a reasonable reserve for debts, expenses and taxes (A.R.S. § 14-10817(B)). The trustee may send the beneficiaries a proposal for distribution; a beneficiary's right to object ends if the beneficiary does not notify the trustee of an objection within thirty days after the proposal was sent, provided the proposal informed the beneficiary of the right to object and of the time allowed (§ 14-10817(A)). A release of the trustee is invalid to the extent it was induced by improper conduct or given without knowledge of the beneficiary's rights or the material facts (§ 14-10817(C)).

החוקים, מילה במילה

  • Limitation on actions contesting validity or revocable trust; distribution of trust property

    A.R.S. § 14-10604 ↗

    הסבר ברור ופשוט; נוסח החוק המילולי טרם אושר בספרייה שלנו. ראו את החוק הרשמי בקישור למעלה.

  • Distribution on termination; release of trustee

    A.R.S. § 14-10817 ↗

    הסבר ברור ופשוט; נוסח החוק המילולי טרם אושר בספרייה שלנו. ראו את החוק הרשמי בקישור למעלה.

  • Intestate share of surviving spouse

    A.R.S. § 14-2102 ↗

    הסבר ברור ופשוט; נוסח החוק המילולי טרם אושר בספרייה שלנו. ראו את החוק הרשמי בקישור למעלה.

  • Passing of estate by representation; assigning of shares; definitions

    A.R.S. § 14-2106 ↗

    הסבר ברור ופשוט; נוסח החוק המילולי טרם אושר בספרייה שלנו. ראו את החוק הרשמי בקישור למעלה.

שאלות נפוצות

What does "by representation" mean in Arizona?

The intestate division per capita at each generation: equal shares at the nearest generation with a survivor, counting deceased members who left descendants, with the deceased members' shares combined and divided in the same manner among the next generation (A.R.S. § 14-2106).

Can an Arizona trustee distribute right after the settlor dies?

The statute lets the trustee distribute under the terms and protects the trustee from liability for doing so, unless the trustee knows of a pending contest or a potential contestant's written notice is followed by a proceeding within sixty days (A.R.S. § 14-10604(B)); the trust's liability for the estate's claims is the reason to read the claims position first (§ 14-10505).

How long do beneficiaries have to object to a final distribution in Arizona?

Thirty days after the proposal for distribution was sent — only where the proposal informed the beneficiary of the right to object and of the time allowed (A.R.S. § 14-10817(A)).

מרכז הלמידה הוא מידע כללי על חוק אריזונה — לא ייעוץ משפטי ולא תחליף לייעוץ מעורך דין מורשה באריזונה על העובדות שלכם. TrusteeClear היא תוכנה, לא משרד עורכי דין.