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The duty to inform and report under Michigan law

Michigan's trust code puts the duty to inform and report in one section, MCL 700.7814. This guide walks through what it provides, to whom, and when — and the one statute that sets it aside for a time.

Tèks konplè gid sa a an angle; rezime ki anwo a nan lang ou. Rezime lwa yo ak vèsyon angle a rete sous referans lan.

Core duties · 6 min lekti

Keeping the qualified trust beneficiaries informed

MCL 700.7814(1) provides that a trustee keeps the qualified trust beneficiaries reasonably informed about the administration and of the material facts necessary for them to protect their interests, and — unless unreasonable under the circumstances — promptly responds to a trust beneficiary's request for information related to the administration. On a reasonable request, a beneficiary receives a copy of the terms of the trust that describe or affect the beneficiary's interest and relevant information about the trust property (MCL 700.7814(2)(a)).

The notices

Within 63 days after accepting a trusteeship, the trustee notifies the qualified trust beneficiaries of the acceptance, the court of registration (if any), and the trustee's name, address and telephone number (MCL 700.7814(2)(b)); within 63 days after learning the trust is irrevocable, of its existence, the settlor's identity, the court of registration (if any), and their right to request the terms (MCL 700.7814(2)(c)); and in advance, of any change in the method or rate of the trustee's compensation (MCL 700.7814(2)(d)). Notice is sent in a manner reasonably suitable and likely to result in receipt (MCL 700.7109).

The report

At least annually and at termination, the trustee sends a report of the trust property, liabilities, receipts and disbursements — including the source and amount of the trustee's compensation — with a listing of the trust property and, if feasible, its market values, to the distributees and permissible distributees and to other beneficiaries who request it (MCL 700.7814(3)). A beneficiary may waive reports and later withdraw the waiver (MCL 700.7814(5)). A report that adequately discloses a potential claim and states the time allowed starts a one-year period for a proceeding (MCL 700.7905(1)(a)).

When the terms keep the trust undisclosed

Where a noncharitable trust's instrument clearly expresses the settlor's intent to withhold information from beneficiaries, MCL 700.7409a allows the trustee to follow it during a nondisclosure period of at most 25 years; the holders of the instrument's nondisclosure rights or protection powers receive the notices meanwhile, and at the period's end the ordinary notices follow. The duty to inform is otherwise one of the code's mandatory rules (MCL 700.7105).

Lwa yo, mo pou mo

  • Notice; methods; waiver

    MCL 700.7109 ↗

    Eksplikasyon klè e senp; tèks egzak lwa a poko ateste nan bibliyotèk nou an. Gade lwa ofisyèl la nan lyen ki anwo a.

  • Trusts with nondisclosure period

    MCL 700.7409a ↗

    Eksplikasyon klè e senp; tèks egzak lwa a poko ateste nan bibliyotèk nou an. Gade lwa ofisyèl la nan lyen ki anwo a.

  • Duty to inform and report

    MCL 700.7814 ↗

    Eksplikasyon klè e senp; tèks egzak lwa a poko ateste nan bibliyotèk nou an. Gade lwa ofisyèl la nan lyen ki anwo a.

  • Commencement of proceedings; limitations

    MCL 700.7905 ↗

    Eksplikasyon klè e senp; tèks egzak lwa a poko ateste nan bibliyotèk nou an. Gade lwa ofisyèl la nan lyen ki anwo a.

Kesyon moun poze souvan

Who is entitled to information about a Michigan trust?

The qualified trust beneficiaries are kept reasonably informed, and any trust beneficiary's request for information is answered promptly unless unreasonable (MCL 700.7814(1)); a beneficiary may request the terms that describe or affect the beneficiary's interest (MCL 700.7814(2)(a)).

Does a Michigan trustee have to send an annual report?

Michigan's statute provides for a report at least annually and at termination to the distributees and permissible distributees and to other beneficiaries who request it (MCL 700.7814(3)); a beneficiary may waive it (MCL 700.7814(5)).

Can a Michigan trust be kept secret from the beneficiaries?

For a time, where the instrument clearly expresses that intent: MCL 700.7409a permits a nondisclosure period of at most 25 years, with the notices going meanwhile to the holders of the instrument's nondisclosure rights or protection powers.

Sant Aprantisaj la se enfòmasyon jeneral sou lwa Michigan — se pa konsèy legal, e li pa ranplase konsèy yon avoka Michigan ki gen lisans sou reyalite pa ou. TrusteeClear se yon lojisyèl, pa yon kabinè avoka.