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Verifye ak Florida Statutes yo nan dat 2026-09-09. Enfòmasyon jeneral, pa konsèy legal; tèks ofisyèl la ki kòmande.
Part I: General provisions and definitions
- §736.0102 ↗ Scope
- The code applies to express trusts, charitable or noncharitable, and to trusts created by statute, judgment or decree that are to be administered in the manner of an express trust.
- §736.0103 ↗ Definitions
- The words the whole code turns on: settlor, trustee, beneficiary, qualified beneficiary (the people currently entitled to distributions and those next in line), revocable, terms of the trust, trust instrument. Gid: Avi bay benefisyè trust nan Florida
- §736.0105 ↗ Default and mandatory rules
- The terms of the trust prevail over the code, except for a short list the settlor cannot override — including the trustee's duty to act in good faith, the court's power to act, and the duty to inform qualified beneficiaries. Gid: Pouvwa administratè nan Florida (§736.0816)
- §736.0108 ↗ Principal place of administration
- A trust's principal place of administration is where the trustee is located; a trustee may move it, with notice to the qualified beneficiaries, when that serves the beneficiaries.
- §736.0109 ↗ Methods and waiver of notice
- Notice may be given by any method likely to result in its receipt, and a person may waive notice in writing.
- §736.0110 ↗ Others treated as qualified beneficiaries
- A charitable organization named to receive distributions, and the Attorney General for a charitable trust, have the rights of a qualified beneficiary in the circumstances the section describes.
- §736.0111 ↗ Nonjudicial settlement agreements
- Interested persons may resolve a trust matter by written agreement, without a court, on any matter a court could approve — an accounting, a trustee's resignation, compensation, a modification — so long as the result does not violate a material purpose of the trust. Gid: Enpasyalite administratè ak konfli nan Florida
Part II: Judicial proceedings
- §736.0201 ↗ Role of the court
- A court may intervene in a trust's administration when a person invokes its jurisdiction; a trust is not otherwise under continuing judicial supervision.
- §736.0204 ↗ Venue
- A trust proceeding is brought in the county where the trust's principal place of administration is, or where a beneficiary or the trustee resides, as the section allocates.
- §736.0207 ↗ Trust contests
- An action to contest the validity of a revocable trust, or of a revocation, may not be brought while the settlor is alive; after death it proceeds like a will contest, subject to §736.0604's limit.
Part III: Representation
- §736.0301 ↗ Representation: basic effect
- Notice to, and the consent of, a person who may represent another binds the person represented — a minor by a parent, a ward by a guardian — unless the represented person objects before the consent is effective.
- §736.0303 ↗ Representation by fiduciaries and parents
- A guardian represents a ward, an agent under a power of attorney represents the principal, a trustee represents the beneficiaries of another trust, a personal representative represents an estate, and a parent represents a minor or unborn child when no conflict exists. Gid: Avi bay benefisyè trust nan Florida
- §736.0304 ↗ Representation by a person with a substantially identical interest
- A minor, incapacitated, unborn or unascertainable person may be represented by another person with a substantially identical interest in the matter, absent a conflict.
Part IV: Creation, validity, modification and termination
- §736.0402 ↗ Requirements for creation
- A trust is created only if the settlor has capacity and intent, there is a definite beneficiary (or a charitable, pet or purpose trust), the trustee has duties, and the sole trustee is not the sole beneficiary.
- §736.0403 ↗ Trusts created in other jurisdictions; formalities
- The testamentary aspects of a revocable trust made by a Florida domiciliary are valid only if the instrument was executed with the formalities of a will — signed before two attesting witnesses. Gid: Apre ou siyen trust Florida ou a: sa k vini apre
- §736.0404 ↗ Trust purposes
- A trust may be created only for purposes that are lawful, not contrary to public policy, and possible to achieve.
- §736.0408 ↗ Trust for the care of an animal
- A trust may provide for the care of an animal alive during the settlor's lifetime; it ends at the animal's death.
- §736.0410 ↗ Modification or termination: general
- A trust terminates when it expires or is revoked, when no purpose remains, when its purposes become unlawful or impossible, or by the other routes this part provides.
- §736.04113 ↗ Judicial modification when modification is not inconsistent with settlor's purpose
- A court may modify an irrevocable trust when its purposes have been fulfilled, have become illegal, impossible, wasteful or impracticable, or when circumstances not anticipated by the settlor make compliance defeat a material purpose. Gid: Fini yon trust Florida (§736.0414)
- §736.04115 ↗ Judicial modification when modification is in the best interests of beneficiaries
- For a trust created after 2000 without a contrary provision, a court may modify it when doing so is in the beneficiaries' best interests, considering the settlor's intent and the terms.
- §736.04117 ↗ Trustee's power to invade principal in trust (decanting)
- A trustee with the power to invade principal may appoint the property to a second trust for the same beneficiaries, within the limits the section sets, with notice to the qualified beneficiaries.
- §736.0412 ↗ Nonjudicial modification of an irrevocable trust
- After the settlor's death, the trustee and all qualified beneficiaries may modify an irrevocable trust by unanimous agreement, within the section's limits.
- §736.0414 ↗ Modification or termination of an uneconomic trust
- A trustee may terminate a trust whose property is worth less than $50,000 when the value is insufficient to justify the cost of administration, after notice to the qualified beneficiaries; a court may terminate or modify a larger one on the same ground. Gid: Fini yon trust Florida (§736.0414)
- §736.0415 ↗ Reformation to correct mistakes
- A court may reform a trust's terms, even unambiguous ones, to conform to the settlor's intent when a mistake of fact or law is proved by clear and convincing evidence.
- §736.0417 ↗ Combination and division of trusts
- A trustee may combine trusts or divide one into separate trusts, after notice to the qualified beneficiaries, when that does not impair any beneficiary's rights or the trust's purposes.
Part V: Creditors' claims; spendthrift and discretionary trusts
- §736.0502 ↗ Spendthrift provision
- A spendthrift provision — one that restrains both voluntary and involuntary transfer of a beneficiary's interest — is valid, and a creditor cannot reach the interest before it is distributed. Gid: Kalite trust nan Florida
- §736.0503 ↗ Exceptions to the spendthrift provision
- A spendthrift provision does not stop a claim for child support or alimony, a claim by one who provided services protecting the beneficiary's interest, or a claim by the state or the United States.
- §736.0504 ↗ Discretionary trusts; effect of the standard
- A creditor cannot compel a discretionary distribution, even under a standard, and cannot reach the interest until the trustee exercises the discretion.
- §736.0505 ↗ Creditors' claims against the settlor
- The property of a revocable trust is subject to the claims of the settlor's creditors during life, and a settlor's creditors can reach the maximum amount that could be distributed to the settlor from an irrevocable trust the settlor funded. Gid: Pwoteksyon byen nan Florida: baz yo
- §736.05053 ↗ Trustee's duty to pay expenses and obligations of the settlor's estate
- When the probate estate cannot pay the expenses of administration and the enforceable claims, the trustee of the settlor's revocable trust pays the personal representative the amounts certified as required. Gid: Avi trust nan Florida (§736.05055)
- §736.05055 ↗ Notice of trust
- On the death of the settlor of a revocable trust, the trustee files a notice of trust with the court of the settlor's county stating the settlor's name and date of death, the trust's title and date, and the trustee's name and address. Gid: Avi trust nan Florida (§736.05055)
- §736.0506 ↗ Overdue distribution
- A creditor may reach a mandatory distribution the trustee has not made within a reasonable time after the date it was required.
Part VI: Revocable trusts
- §736.0601 ↗ Capacity of the settlor
- The capacity required to create, amend, revoke or add property to a revocable trust is the same as the capacity to make a will.
- §736.0602 ↗ Revocation or amendment
- A trust is revocable unless its terms say otherwise; the settlor revokes or amends by the method the trust provides or, if none, by a later will or codicil referring to the trust or by any method that shows the intent by clear and convincing evidence. Gid: Apre ou siyen trust Florida ou a: sa k vini apre
- §736.0603 ↗ Settlor's powers; powers of withdrawal
- While a trust is revocable, the trustee's duties are owed exclusively to the settlor, and the beneficiaries' rights are subject to the settlor's control. Gid: Administratè siksesè Florida: aksepte wòl la
- §736.0604 ↗ Limitation on action contesting validity
- An action to contest a trust that was revocable at the settlor's death is barred six months after the trustee sends the person a copy of the trust instrument and a notice of the trust's existence, the trustee's name and address, and the time allowed for a contest. Gid: Avi bay benefisyè trust nan Florida
Part VII: The office of trustee
- §736.0701 ↗ Accepting or declining the trusteeship
- A named trustee accepts by the trust's method or by taking the property, exercising powers or performing duties; a person who does not accept within a reasonable time is treated as having declined. Gid: Administratè siksesè Florida: aksepte wòl la
- §736.0702 ↗ Trustee's bond
- A trustee gives bond only if the court finds one needed to protect the beneficiaries or the terms require it and the court has not dispensed with it.
- §736.0703 ↗ Cotrustees
- Cotrustees who cannot agree act by majority; a dissenting cotrustee who records the dissent is generally not liable for the majority's act; each remains bound to prevent a serious breach by another. Gid: Ko-administratè nan Florida (§736.0703)
- §736.0704 ↗ Vacancy; appointment of successor
- A vacancy in a noncharitable trust is filled by the person the trust designates, otherwise by unanimous agreement of the qualified beneficiaries, otherwise by the court. Gid: Administratè siksesè Florida: aksepte wòl la
- §736.0705 ↗ Resignation of trustee
- A trustee may resign on at least 30 days' notice to the qualified beneficiaries, the settlor if living, and all cotrustees, or with the court's approval. Gid: Administratè siksesè Florida: aksepte wòl la
- §736.0706 ↗ Removal of trustee
- The settlor, a cotrustee or a beneficiary may ask the court to remove a trustee for a serious breach, lack of cooperation among cotrustees, unfitness or persistent failure to administer effectively, or a substantial change of circumstances. Gid: Enpasyalite administratè ak konfli nan Florida
- §736.0707 ↗ Delivery of property by former trustee
- A resigning or removed trustee keeps the duties of a trustee to protect the property until it is delivered to the successor, and then delivers the property and the records.
- §736.0708 ↗ Compensation of trustee
- If the terms are silent, a trustee is entitled to compensation that is reasonable under the circumstances; if the terms specify compensation, a court may allow more or less in the circumstances the section names. Gid: Konpansasyon administratè nan Florida (§736.0708)
- §736.0709 ↗ Reimbursement of expenses
- A trustee is entitled to reimbursement from the trust for expenses properly incurred in the administration.
Part VIII: Duties and powers of the trustee
- §736.0801 ↗ Duty to administer the trust
- On accepting, the trustee administers the trust in good faith, in accordance with its terms and purposes and the interests of the beneficiaries, and in accordance with the code. Gid: Devwa administratè siksesè Florida apre yon lanmò
- §736.0802 ↗ Duty of loyalty
- The trustee administers the trust solely in the interests of the beneficiaries; a transaction involving the trust property for the trustee's own benefit is voidable unless authorized by the terms, the court, the beneficiaries or the section. Gid: Pouvwa administratè nan Florida (§736.0816)
- §736.0803 ↗ Impartiality
- With two or more beneficiaries, the trustee acts impartially in investing, managing and distributing, giving due regard to each beneficiary's interests. Gid: Enpasyalite administratè ak konfli nan Florida
- §736.0804 ↗ Prudent administration
- The trustee administers the trust as a prudent person would, considering the purposes, terms, distributional requirements and other circumstances, with reasonable care, skill and caution. Gid: Administrasyon pridan trust nan Florida
- §736.0805 ↗ Costs of administration
- The trustee may incur only costs that are reasonable in relation to the trust property, its purposes and the trustee's skills.
- §736.0806 ↗ Trustee's skills
- A trustee who has, or held out as having, special skills or expertise is held to them.
- §736.0807 ↗ Delegation by trustee
- A trustee may delegate duties and powers a prudent trustee of comparable skills could properly delegate, exercising care in selecting the agent, setting the terms, and monitoring the performance. Gid: Delegasyon administratè nan Florida (§736.0807)
- §736.0809 ↗ Control and protection of trust property
- The trustee takes reasonable steps to take control of and protect the trust property. Gid: Administratè siksesè apre yon lanmò nan Florida: premye etap
- §736.0810 ↗ Recordkeeping and identification of trust property
- The trustee keeps clear, distinct and accurate records of the administration and keeps trust property separate from the trustee's own. Gid: Dosye ak kontablite administratè nan Florida
- §736.0811 ↗ Enforcement and defense of claims
- The trustee takes reasonable steps to enforce claims of the trust and to defend claims against it.
- §736.0812 ↗ Collecting trust property; duties of successor trustees
- The trustee takes reasonable steps to collect the property and to redress a breach of trust by a former trustee that the trustee knows of. Gid: Administratè siksesè Florida: aksepte wòl la
- §736.08125 ↗ Protection of successor trustees
- A successor trustee is not personally liable for a predecessor's acts and has no duty to audit the predecessor's administration unless the successor has actual knowledge of a breach.
- §736.0813 ↗ Duty to inform and account
- The trustee keeps the qualified beneficiaries reasonably informed: notice within 60 days of accepting and within 60 days of learning the trust is irrevocable, copies and information on request, and an accounting at least annually. Gid: Avi bay benefisyè trust nan Florida
- §736.08135 ↗ Trust accountings
- A trust accounting is a reasonably understandable report that shows the period's transactions, gains and losses, the assets on hand with values, liabilities, compensation, and the allocation between income and principal. Gid: Egzijans kontablite trust nan Florida
- §736.0814 ↗ Discretionary powers; tax savings
- However broad the discretion granted, the trustee exercises it in good faith and in accordance with the terms and purposes of the trust; a trustee-beneficiary's discretion over distributions to himself is limited to an ascertainable standard unless the terms say otherwise. Gid: Pouvwa administratè nan Florida (§736.0816)
- §736.0815 ↗ General powers of trustee
- The trustee has the powers the terms grant, the powers an unmarried competent owner has over individually owned property, and any other powers appropriate to the investment, management and distribution of the property — all subject to the duties of this part. Gid: Pouvwa administratè nan Florida (§736.0816)
- §736.0816 ↗ Specific powers of trustee
- The itemized list: collect, retain, acquire, sell, lease, mortgage, insure and manage property; invest; borrow; pay expenses and compensation; employ agents; settle claims; make distributions; wind up on termination. Gid: Pouvwa administratè nan Florida (§736.0816)
- §736.0817 ↗ Distribution upon termination
- When an event terminates a trust, the trustee proceeds expeditiously to distribute the property to the persons entitled to it, subject to a reasonable reserve for debts, expenses and taxes. Gid: Fèmen yon trust nan Florida: etap final administratè a
Part IX: Trust investments
- §736.0901 ↗ Applicable law
- A trustee invests as chapter 518, Florida's prudent investor rule, provides: as a prudent investor would, considering the trust's purposes, terms, distribution requirements and other circumstances, with diversification unless the purposes are better served without it. Gid: Administrasyon pridan trust nan Florida
Part X: Liability of trustees and rights of persons dealing with the trustee
- §736.1001 ↗ Remedies for breach of trust
- A court may compel the trustee to perform, enjoin a breach, compel redress of a breach by paying money or restoring property, order an accounting, appoint a special fiduciary, suspend or remove the trustee, reduce or deny compensation, or void a transaction. Gid: Enpasyalite administratè ak konfli nan Florida
- §736.1002 ↗ Damages for breach of trust
- A trustee who commits a breach is liable for the greater of the amount required to restore the trust property and distributions to what they would have been, or the trustee's profit from the breach.
- §736.1007 ↗ Trustee's attorney fees
- For administering a revocable trust after the settlor's death, the attorney's fee is presumed reasonable when computed as the section provides — and the written disclosures the section requires must be made. Gid: Frè avoka administratè nan Florida (§736.1007)
- §736.1008 ↗ Limitations on proceedings against trustees
- A beneficiary's claim on a matter adequately disclosed in a trust disclosure document is barred six months after receipt when a limitation notice accompanies it; otherwise the chapter 95 period runs from the disclosure. Gid: Egzijans kontablite trust nan Florida
- §736.1009 ↗ Reliance on trust instrument
- A trustee who acts in reasonable reliance on the terms of the trust as expressed in the instrument is not liable for a breach to the extent the breach resulted from the reliance.
- §736.1011 ↗ Exculpation of trustee
- A term relieving a trustee of liability is unenforceable to the extent it relieves liability for breaches committed in bad faith or with reckless indifference, or was inserted through the trustee's abuse of a confidential relationship.
- §736.1012 ↗ Beneficiary's consent, release or ratification
- A trustee is not liable to a beneficiary who consented to the conduct, released the trustee, or ratified the transaction, unless the consent was induced by improper conduct or the beneficiary did not know the material facts.
- §736.1013 ↗ Limitation on personal liability of trustee
- A trustee is not personally liable on a contract properly entered into in the fiduciary capacity if the fiduciary capacity was disclosed, nor for torts committed in the administration unless personally at fault.
- §736.1016 ↗ Protection of persons dealing with trustee
- A person who in good faith assists or deals with a trustee, without knowledge that the trustee is exceeding or improperly exercising the powers, is protected as if the trustee had the power and exercised it properly. Gid: Pouvwa administratè nan Florida (§736.0816)
- §736.1017 ↗ Certification of trust
- Instead of the instrument, a trustee may furnish a certification stating the trust's existence and date, the settlor, the trustee, the trustee's powers, whether the trust is revocable, how cotrustees act, and how title is held; a recipient may rely on it. Gid: Pouvwa administratè nan Florida (§736.0816)
- §736.1018 ↗ Improper distribution or payment
- A distributee who received a distribution to which the distributee was not entitled must return it, or its value, to the trust.
Part XI: Rules of construction
- §736.1102 ↗ Construction of terms
- The rules of construction that apply to the disposition of property by will apply as appropriate to the terms of a trust.
- §736.1104 ↗ Killer not entitled to receive property or other benefits by reason of victim's death
- A person who unlawfully and intentionally kills the settlor or another person is treated as having predeceased for purposes of the trust.
- §736.1106 ↗ Antilapse; deceased devisee
- When a beneficiary who is a grandparent or a descendant of a grandparent of the settlor dies before the distribution date, the beneficiary's descendants take in the beneficiary's place unless the trust provides otherwise. Gid: Distribisyon per stirpes trust nan Florida
Part XIII: Miscellaneous
- §736.1303 ↗ Electronic records and signatures
- The code's requirements for a record and a signature may be satisfied electronically, as the section provides.
Enfòmasyon jeneral sou lwa Florid, se pa konsèy legal.