12 Del. C. § 3812 — Delaware Code / Title 12 / Chapter 38 / Subchapter I / Section 3812
§ Â
        3812. Filing of certificate.
Status: in_force

(a) Any certificate authorized to be filed with the office of the Secretary of State under this subchapter (or any judicial decree of amendment or cancellation) shall be delivered to the office of the Secretary of State for filing. A person who executes a certificate as an agent or fiduciary need not exhibit evidence of the person’s authority as a prerequisite to filing. Unless the Secretary of State finds that any certificate does not conform to law, upon receipt of all filing fees required by law the Secretary of State shall:

(1) Certify that the certificate (or any judicial decree of amendment or cancellation) has been filed in the Secretary of State’s office by endorsing upon the filed certificate (or judicial decree) the word “filed,” and the date and hour of the filing. This endorsement is conclusive of the date and time of its filing in the absence of actual fraud;

(2) File and index the endorsed certificate (or judicial decree);

(3) Prepare and return to the person who filed it or the person’s representative a copy of the filed certificate (or judicial decree), similarly endorsed, and shall certify such copy as a true copy of the filed certificate (or judicial decree); and

(4) Enter such information from the certificate as the Secretary of State deems appropriate into the Delaware Corporation Information System or any system which is a successor thereto in the office of the Secretary of State, and such information shall be permanently maintained as a public record. A copy of each certificate shall be permanently maintained on optical disk or by other suitable medium.

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, any certificate filed in the office of the Secretary of State under this chapter shall be effective at the time of its filing with the Secretary of State or at any later date or time (not later than a time on the one hundred and eightieth day after the date of its filing if such date of filing is on or after January 1, 2012) specified in the certificate. Upon the effective time of a certificate of amendment (or judicial decree of amendment), certificate of correction, corrected certificate, or restated certificate, the certificate of trust shall be amended or restated as set forth therein. Upon the effective time of a certificate of cancellation (or a judicial decree thereof) or a certificate of merger or consolidation or a certificate of division which acts as a certificate of cancellation or a certificate of transfer or a certificate of conversion to a non-Delaware entity, as provided for therein, the certificate of trust shall be canceled. Upon the effective time of a certificate of termination or amendment, the original certificate identified in the certificate of termination or amendment shall be terminated or amended, as the case may be.

(c) A fee as set forth in § 3813(a)(2) of this title shall be paid at the time of the filing of a certificate of trust, a certificate of amendment, a certificate of correction, a corrected certificate, a certificate of termination or amendment, a certificate of cancellation, a certificate of merger or consolidation, a certificate of conversion, a certificate of transfer, a certificate of transfer and continuance, a certificate of statutory trust domestication, a certificate of division or a restated certificate.

(d) A fee as set forth in § 3813(a)(3) of this title shall be paid for a certified copy of any certificate on file as provided for by this subchapter and a fee as set forth in § 3813(a)(4) of this title shall be paid for each page copied.

(e) Any signature on any certificate authorized to be filed with the Secretary of State under any provision of this subchapter may be a facsimile, a conformed signature or an electronically transmitted signature. Any such certificate may be filed by telecopy, fax or similar electronic transmission; provided, however, that the Secretary of State shall have no obligation to accept such filing if such certificate is illegible or otherwise unsuitable for processing.

(f) The fact that a certificate of trust is on file in the Office of the Secretary of State is notice that the person formed in connection with the filing of the certificate of trust is a statutory trust formed under the laws of the State and is notice of all other facts set forth therein which are required to be set forth in a certificate of trust by § 3810(a)(1) and (2) of this title and is notice of the limitation on liability of a series of a statutory trust which is permitted to be set forth in a certificate of trust by § 3804(a) of this title.

(g) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, it shall not be necessary for any statutory trust or foreign statutory trust to amend its certificate of trust, its application for registration as a foreign statutory trust, or any other document that has been filed in the office of the Secretary of State prior to August 1, 2011, to comply with § 3807(h) of this title; notwithstanding the foregoing, any certificate or other document filed under this chapter on or after August 1, 2011, and changing the address of a trustee or registered agent or registered office shall comply with § 3807(h) of this title.
12 Del. C. § 3523 — Delaware Code / Title 12 / Chapter 35 / Subchapter II / Section 3523
§ Â
        3523. Trusteesâ accounts in wills probated prior to April 5, 1909.
Status: in_force

Trustees named in wills probated prior to April 5, 1909, may file and submit accounts of their trusts at such times as they deem necessary and they shall be required to file and submit accounts only upon a rule of the Register in Chancery issued upon them pursuant to the written request of anyone beneficially interested in their trusts or upon the order of the Court of Chancery.
12 Del. C. § 3906 — Delaware Code / Title 12 / Chapter 39 / Subchapter I / Section 3906
§ Â
        3906. Guardianâs bond; additional security; removal for noncompliance.
Status: in_force

If it appears in any case that the guardian’s bond is insufficient, the Court of Chancery shall order the guardian to give further security and, if such order is not complied with, shall remove the guardian from office. Further security shall be taken in the same form as original security.
12 Del. C. § 3310 — Delaware Code / Title 12 / Chapter 33 / Section 3310
§ Â
        3310. Storage of securities.
Status: in_force

(a) Except as otherwise provided by the terms of the governing instrument, all securities in a fiduciary estate, whether held by the fiduciary or an agent for the fiduciary, shall be stored separately from any other securities, except as provided hereafter in this section or in § 3311 of this title.

(b) A bank or trust company may store together securities of the same class of the same issuer held by it as fiduciary or as agent for a fiduciary or nonfiduciary (but not its own securities) and may combine the securities so stored together into 1 or more securities of the same class of the same issuer, provided the records maintained with respect to those securities disclose the capacity in which they are held and provided there is no written objection from either a cofiduciary or the person for whom it is acting as agent.
12 Del. C. § 3528 — Delaware Code / Title 12 / Chapter 35 / Subchapter II / Section 3528
§ Â
        3528. Trusteeâs authority to invade principal or income in trust [For application of this section, see 80 Del. Laws, c. 153, Â 5].
Status: in_force

(a) Unless the terms of the instrument expressly provide otherwise, a trustee who has authority (whether acting at such trustee’s discretion or at the direction or with the consent of an adviser), under the terms of a testamentary instrument or irrevocable inter vivos trust agreement (including a trust that, by its terms, is revocable but was created by a settlor who presently lacks the capacity to revoke the trust), to invade the principal or income or both of a trust (the “first trust”) to make distributions to, or for the benefit of, 1 or more proper objects of the exercise of the power, may instead exercise such authority (whether acting at such trustee’s discretion or at the direction or with the consent of an adviser, as the case may be) by appointing all or part of such principal or income or both as is subject to the power in favor of a trustee of a second trust, which may be a separate trust or the first trust as modified after appointment under this section (the “second trust”) under an instrument other than that under which the power to invade is created or under the same instrument, provided, however, that, except as otherwise provided in this subsection:

(1) The exercise of such authority is in favor of a second trust having only beneficiaries who are proper objects of the exercise of the power except that the governing instrument of the second trust may provide that, at a time or upon an event specified in the governing instrument, the remaining trust assets shall thereafter be held for the benefit of the beneficiaries of the first trust upon terms and conditions concerning the nature and extent of each such beneficiary’s interest that are substantially identical to the first trust’s terms and conditions concerning such beneficial interests;

(2) In the case of any trust, contributions to which have been treated as gifts qualifying for the exclusion from gift tax described in § 2503(b) (26 U.S.C. § 2503(b)) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. § 1 et seq.) (hereinafter referred to in this section as the “I.R.C.”), by reason of the application of I.R.C. § 2503(c) (26 U.S.C. § 2503(c)), the governing instrument for the second trust shall provide that the beneficiary’s remainder interest shall vest and become distributable no later than the date upon which such interest would have vested and become distributable under the terms of the governing instrument for the first trust;

(3) The exercise of such authority does not reduce any income or unitrust interest of any beneficiary of a trust for which a marital deduction has been taken for federal tax purposes under I.R.C. § 2056 or § 2523 (26 U.S.C. § 2056 or § 2523) or for state tax purposes under any comparable provision of applicable state law; and

(4) The exercise of such authority does not apply to trust property subject to a presently exercisable power of withdrawal held by a trust beneficiary who is the only trust beneficiary to whom, or for the benefit of whom, the trustee has authority to make distributions.

Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this subsection, the governing instrument for the second trust may grant a power of appointment (including a power to appoint trust property to the powerholder, the powerholder’s creditors, the powerholder’s estate, the creditors of the powerholder’s estate or any other person, whether or not such person is a trust beneficiary) to 1 or more of the trust beneficiaries who are proper objects of the exercise of the power in the first trust. The exercise of a trustee’s authority granted under this subsection shall in all respects comply with any standard that limits the trustee’s authority to make distributions from the first trust but may be exercised whether or not the trustee would have been permitted to exercise the power to make a current outright distribution of all of the trust assets in compliance with any such standard. For purposes of this subsection, an open class of beneficiaries identified in the governing instrument for the first trust (such as, but not limited to, a class comprised of the descendants of a person who is living or who has living descendants) is a proper object of the exercise of a power to make distributions and the exercise of such a power in favor of a second trust having only beneficiaries, including unborn future beneficiaries, who are among the members of the open class satisfies the requirement of paragraph (a)(1) of this section even if, pursuant to the terms of the governing instrument for the second trust, the class remains, or might remain, open beyond the time when the class would have closed pursuant to the terms of the governing instrument for the first trust; provided, however, that the governing instrument for the second trust shall not permit distributions to or among members of the open class sooner than when or in excess of the amounts permitted by the governing instrument for the first trust. A trustee’s power, pursuant to this subsection, to appoint principal in favor of the trustee of a second trust shall include the power to create the second trust.

(b) The exercise of the power to invade the principal or income or both of a trust under subsection (a) of this section shall be by an instrument in writing, signed by the trustee.

(c) The exercise of the power to invade the principal of the trust under subsection (a) of this section shall be considered the exercise of a power of appointment (other than a power to appoint to the trustee, the trustee’s creditors, the trustee’s estate, or the creditors of the trustee’s estate) and shall be subject to the provisions of Chapter 5 of Title 25 covering the time at which the permissible period of the rule against perpetuities begins and the law which determines the permissible period of the rule against perpetuities. Consequently, a second trust may have a term that is longer than the term set forth in the governing instrument for the first trust, including, but not limited to, a term measured by the lifetime of a current beneficiary.

(d) The provisions of this section shall not be construed to abridge the right of any trustee who has a power of invasion to appoint property in further trust which arises under any other section of this chapter or under another statute or under common law.

(e) When exercising the authority granted under subsection (a) of this section, the trustee and any adviser directing or consenting to the trustee’s exercise of such authority shall be held to the standard of care and the standard of liability applicable to the trustee and any such adviser when making outright distributions, free from trust, to or for the benefit of 1 or more permissible distributees. No trustee or adviser shall have a duty to exercise such authority nor, absent wilful misconduct, any liability to any person for failure to exercise such authority or failure to consider whether to exercise such authority.

(f) This section shall be available to any trust that is administered in this State. Except as otherwise expressly prohibited in the governing instrument for the first trust which granted the trustee the authority to invade the principal or income or both of the first trust to make distributions to, or for the benefit of, 1 or more proper objects of the exercise of the power, the terms of the governing instrument for the first trust are deemed to include the decanting power.

(g) The standard applicable to a trustee’s exercise of discretion under § 3315 of this title shall apply to a trustee’s authority under this section.
12 Del. C. § 2501 — Delaware Code / Title 12 / Chapter 25 / Section 2501
§ Â
        2501. Register of Wills is a Clerk of Court of Chancery.
Status: in_force

In performing the functions of the office, the Register of Wills of each county shall act only as a Clerk of the Court of Chancery.
12 Del. C. § 49A-111 — Delaware Code / Title 12 / Chapter 49A / Subchapter I / Section 49A-111
§ Â
        49A-111. Concurrent agents, joint agents, and successor agents.
Status: in_force

(a) A principal may designate 2 or more persons to act as concurrent agents. Each concurrent agent may exercise its authority independently.

(b) A principal may designate 2 or more persons to act as joint agents. No joint agent shall have the power to act without the agreement of all other joint agents and shall have no power to act independent of the other agent.

(c) If the principal designates more than 1 agent and does not specify that they are concurrent agents or joint agents, such agents shall be considered concurrent agents.

(d) A principal may designate 1 or more successor agents to act if an agent resigns, dies, becomes incapacitated, is not qualified to serve, or declines to serve. Unless the personal power of attorney otherwise provides, a successor agent:

(1) Has the same authority as that granted to the original agent; and

(2) May not act until all predecessor agents have resigned, died, become incapacitated, are no longer qualified to serve, or have declined to serve.

(e) A principal may give an appointed agent or another person designated by name, office or function the authority to designate by a writing executed by such person, 1 or more concurrent, joint, or successor agents in addition to those designated in the personal power of attorney. Unless the personal power of attorney authorizing the appointment of such further agents otherwise provides, a concurrent, joint, or successor agent appointed by this method:

(1) Has the same authority as that granted to the original agent; and

(2) May not act until the predecessor designee has resigned, died, become incapacitated, is no longer qualified to serve, or has declined to serve.

(f) Except as otherwise provided in the personal power of attorney and subsection (g) of this section, an acting agent that does not participate in or conceal a breach of fiduciary duty committed by another agent, including a predecessor agent, is not liable for the actions of the other agent.

(g) An acting agent that has actual knowledge of a breach or imminent breach of fiduciary duty by another agent shall notify the principal and, if the principal is incapacitated, take any action reasonably appropriate in the circumstances to safeguard the principal’s best interest. An agent that fails to notify the principal or take action as required by this subsection is liable for the reasonably foreseeable damages that could have been avoided if the agent had notified the principal or taken such action.
12 Del. C. § 3329 — Delaware Code / Title 12 / Chapter 33 / Section 3329
§ Â
        3329. Effect of no-contest provision.
Status: in_force

(a) A provision of a will or trust that if given effect would reduce or eliminate the interest of any beneficiary of such will or trust who initiates or participates in an action to contest the validity of such will or trust or to set aside or vary the terms of such will or trust shall be enforceable.

(b) The provisions of subsection (a) of this section shall have no application to:

(1) Any action brought by the trustee of a trust or the personal representative under a will;

(2) Any action in which the beneficiary is determined by the court to have prevailed substantially;

(3) Any agreement among beneficiaries of the will or trust in settlement of a dispute relating to such will or trust;

(4) Any action to determine whether a proposed or pending motion, petition, or other proceeding constitutes a contest within the meaning of a no-contest provision described in subsection (a) of this section; or

(5) Any action brought by a beneficiary under a will or trust instrument for a construction or interpretation of such will or trust instrument.
12 Del. C. § 306 — Delaware Code / Title 12 / Chapter 3 / Subchapter I / Section 306
§ Â
        306. Return of freeholders; conclusiveness.
Status: in_force

The freeholders shall return their proceedings in the premises, under their hands, to the Court of Chancery at the next stated term thereof and the same, being confirmed by the Court, shall be conclusive.
12 Del. C. § 610 — Delaware Code / Title 12 / Chapter 6 / Section 610
§ Â
        610. Disclaimer of power of appointment or other power not held in fiduciary capacity.
Status: in_force

If a holder that is not a fiduciary disclaims a power of appointment, whether such power is a general power of appointment or a power that is not a general power of appointment, or other power over a trust, granted to the nonfiduciary holder under the terms of an instrument, the following rules apply:

(1) If the holder has not previously exercised the power of appointment or the power over a trust, the disclaimer of a power of appointment or a power over a trust by a holder takes effect as of the time the instrument granting the power to the holder became or becomes irrevocable.

(2) If the holder has previously exercised a general power of appointment and the disclaimer is of the right to exercise such general power of appointment, whether or not the holder presently has the power to exercise such general power of appointment, the disclaimer of such power of appointment takes effect immediately after the last time the holder exercised such general power of appointment.

(3) If the holder has previously exercised a power of appointment and the disclaimer is of a power of appointment that is not a general power of appointment, whether or not the holder presently has the power to exercise such power of appointment, the disclaimer of such power of appointment takes effect immediately after the last time the holder exercised such power of appointment.

(4) If the holder has previously exercised a power over a trust and the disclaimer is of a power over a trust, whether or not the holder presently has the power to exercise such power over the trust, the disclaimer of the power over a trust takes effect immediately after the last time the holder exercised such power over the trust.

(5) The instrument granting the power of appointment or power over the trust to the holder shall be construed as if the power of the holder ceased to exist with respect to the power of appointment or power over the trust when the disclaimer became effective.
12 Del. C. § 3105 — Delaware Code / Title 12 / Chapter 31 / Subchapter I / Section 3105
§ Â
        3105. Judgment and execution.
Status: in_force

If, upon proceedings under this subchapter, the assets are found insufficient to pay all the debts and legacies of the testator, execution shall be awarded only for such proportion of the assets as may be properly applicable to the plaintiff’s legacy, but judgment for the whole legacy shall be entered and shall stand as a security for the payment of the residue of the legacy, when sufficient assets for such payment shall come to the hands of the executor or administrator. A scire facias shall lie for further execution, suggesting that other assets have come to the hands of the executor or administrator.
12 Del. C. § 3813 — Delaware Code / Title 12 / Chapter 38 / Subchapter I / Section 3813
§ Â
        3813. Fees.
Status: in_force

(a) No documents required to be filed under this subchapter shall be effective until the applicable fee required by this section is paid. The following fees shall be paid to and collected by the Secretary of State for the use of this State:

(1) Upon the receipt for filing of an application for reservation of name, and application for renewal of reservation, or notice of transfer or cancellation of reservation pursuant to § 3814 of this title, a fee in the amount of $75.

(2) Upon the receipt for filing of a certificate of trust, a certificate of amendment, a certificate of cancellation or a certificate of merger or consolidation, a certificate of correction, a corrected certificate, a certificate of conversion, a certificate of transfer, a certificate of transfer and continuance, a certificate of statutory trust domestication, a certificate of division, a certificate of termination or amendment or a restated certificate, a fee in the amount of up to $500.

(3) For certifying copies of any paper on file as provided for by this subchapter, a fee in the amount of $50 for each copy certified.

(4) For issuing further copies of instruments on file, whether certified or not, a fee in the amount of $10 for the first page and $2.00 for each additional page.

(5) Upon the receipt for filing of a certificate under § 3807(e) of this title, a fee in the amount of $200, upon the receipt for filing of a certificate under § 3807(f) of this title, a fee in the amount of $200, and upon the receipt for filing of a certificate under § 3807(g) of this title, a fee in the amount of $2.00 for each statutory trust whose registered agent has resigned by such certificate, and upon the receipt for filing of a certificate under § 3807(n) of this title, a fee in the amount of $500 plus $100 for each statutory trust whose certificate of trust has been amended by such certificate.

(6) For issuing any certificate of the Secretary of State, including but not limited to a certificate of good standing, other than a certification of a copy under paragraph (a)(3) of this section, a fee in the amount of $50, except that for issuing any certificate of the Secretary of State that recites all of a statutory trust’s filings with the Secretary of State, a fee of $175 shall be paid for each such certificate. For issuing any certificate via the Secretary of State’s online services, a fee of up to $175 shall be paid for each certificate.

(7) For preparing and providing a written report of a record search, a fee in the amount of up to $100.

(b) In addition to those fees charged under subsection (a) of this section, there shall be collected by and paid to the Secretary of State the following:

(1) For all services described in subsection (a) of this section that are requested to be completed within 30 minutes on the same day as the day of the request, an additional sum of up to $7,500 and for all services described in subsection (a) of this section that are requested to completed within 1 hour on the same day as the day of the request, an additional sum of up to $1,000 and for all services described in subsection (a) of this section that are requested to be completed within 2 hours on the same day as the day of the request, an additional sum of up to $500; and

(2) For all services described in subsection (a) of this section that are requested to be completed within the same day as the day of the request, an additional sum of up to $300; and

(3) For all services described in subsection (a) of this section that are requested to be completed within a 24-hour period from the time of the request, an additional sum of up to $150.

The Secretary of State shall establish (and may from time to time alter or amend) a schedule of specific fees payable pursuant to this subsection.

(c) Notwithstanding Delaware’s Freedom of Information Act (Chapter 100 of Title 29) or other provision of law granting access to public records, the Secretary of State upon request shall issue only photocopies or electronic image copies of public records in exchange for the fees described in this section, and in no case shall the Secretary of State be required to provide copies (or access to copies) of such public records (including without limitation bulk data, digital copies of instruments, documents and other papers, databases or other information) in an electronic medium or in any form other than photocopies or electronic image copies of such public records in exchange, as applicable, for the fees described in this section or § 2318 of Title 29 for each such record associated with a file number.

(d) Except as provided by this section, all other fees for the Secretary of State shall be as provided for in § 2315 of Title 29.
12 Del. C. § 3312 — Delaware Code / Title 12 / Chapter 33 / Section 3312
§ Â
        3312. Investments in affiliated investments; transactions with affiliates [For application of this section, see 80 Del. Laws, c. 153, Â 5].
Status: in_force

(a) As used in this section:

(1) “Affiliate” means any corporation or other entity that directly or indirectly through 1 or more intermediaries controls, is controlled by or is under common control with the fiduciary.

(2) “Affiliated investment” means an investment for which the fiduciary or an affiliate of the fiduciary acts as adviser, administrator, distributor, placement agent, underwriter, broker or in any other capacity for which it receives or has received a fee or commission from such investment or an investment acquired or disposed of in a transaction for which the fiduciary or an affiliate of the fiduciary receives or has received a fee or commission.

(3) “Fee or commission” means compensation paid to a fiduciary or an affiliate thereof on account of its services to or on behalf of an investment.

(4) “Fiduciary” means any person, including a bank or trust company, acting as a fiduciary as defined in § 3301 of this title, and includes an agent with investment discretion, whether or not such investment discretion has been delegated to such agent by another fiduciary or fiduciaries or granted directly to such agent.

(5) “Governing instrument” means any governing instrument as defined in § 3301 of this title, and includes any agreement or instrument granting fiduciary investment discretion.

(6) “Investment” shall mean any security as defined in § 2(a)(1) of the Securities Act of 1933 [15 U.S.C. § 77b(a)(1)], any contract of sale of a commodity for future delivery within the meaning of § 2(i) of the Commodity Exchange Act [7 U.S.C. § 1 et seq.], or any other asset permitted for fiduciary accounts pursuant to the terms of § 3302 of this title or by the terms of the governing instrument, including by way of illustration and not limitation, shares or interests in a private investment fund (including a private investment fund organized as a limited partnership, limited liability company, a statutory or common law business trust, or a real estate investment trust), joint venture or other general or limited partnership, or an open-end or closed-end management type investment company or investment trust registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940.

(b) Subject to the investment standards stated in § 3302 of this title, a fiduciary may purchase, sell, hold or otherwise deal with an affiliate or an interest in an affiliated investment and, upon satisfaction of the conditions stated in subsection (c) of this section, such fiduciary may receive fiduciary compensation from such account at the same rate as the fiduciary would otherwise be entitled to be compensated.

(c) A fiduciary seeking compensation pursuant to subsection (b) of this section shall disclose to each principal in an agency relationship, and to all current recipients of account statements of any other fiduciary account, all fees or commissions paid or to be paid by the account, or received or to be received by an affiliate arising from such affiliated investment or such other dealing with an affiliate. The disclosure required under this subsection may be given either in a copy of the prospectus or any other disclosure document prepared for the affiliated investment under federal or state securities laws or in a written summary that includes all fees or commissions received or to be received by the fiduciary or any affiliate of the fiduciary and an explanation of the manner in which such fees or commissions are calculated (either as a percentage of the assets invested or by some other method). Such disclosure shall be made at least annually unless there has been no increase in the rate at which such fees or commissions are calculated since the most recent disclosure. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this subsection, no such disclosure is required if:

(1) The governing instrument or a court order expressly authorizes the fiduciary to invest the fiduciary account in affiliated investments or otherwise deal with an affiliate or an interest in an affiliated investment; or

(2) The fiduciary invests in an affiliated investment or otherwise deals with an affiliate or an interest in an affiliated investment at the direction of an adviser (who expressly directs the fiduciary to enter into a transaction that would otherwise require disclosure under this subsection and who is not an affiliate) pursuant to subsection (b) of § 3313 of this title.

(d) A fiduciary that has complied with subsection (c) of this section (whether by making the applicable disclosure or by relying on the terms of a governing instrument or court order) shall have full authority to administer an affiliated investment (including the authority to vote proxies thereon) without regard to the affiliation between the fiduciary and the investment.
12 Del. C. § 3927 — Delaware Code / Title 12 / Chapter 39 / Subchapter II / Section 3927
§ Â
        3927. Compensation of guardian of the property.
Status: in_force

(a) As used in this section, the term “qualified guardian” means any person who is a “qualified trustee” as defined in § 3561 of this title.

(b) All persons who serve as guardian of the property of a person with a disability shall be entitled to reasonable compensation for their services.

(c) Each qualified guardian shall file with the Register in Chancery for every county in this State, a copy of a schedule or a formula by which its allowance as compensation for serving as guardian of the property of a person with a disability shall be computed. Such schedule or formula may be based upon or reflect the following factors:

(1) The time spent or likely to be spent in administering a guardianship of the property.

(2) The risks and responsibilities involved.

(3) The novelty and difficulty of the tasks required of the guardian.

(4) The skill and experience of the guardian.

(5) Comparable charges for similar services.

(6) The character of the guardianship assets.

(7) The time constraints imposed upon the guardian in administering the trust.

The schedule or formula pursuant to this subsection shall result in a fee no greater than that filed by the qualified guardian pursuant to § 3561 of this title with respect to its fees as trustee, for a trust of comparable size.

(d) Each qualified guardian shall provide a copy of its current guardianship fee schedule or formula as filed or upon any filing pursuant to subsection (c) of this section to such persons as the Court of Chancery may require by rule of the court or by the order of the Court of Chancery appointing the qualified guardian.

(e) For other persons serving as guardian of the property of a person with a disability, the Court of Chancery shall from time to time promulgate a rule fixing the method by which guardians of the property other than qualified guardians may be allowed compensation for their services.

(f) Upon proper showing, the Court of Chancery may fix or allow greater compensation than that set forth in the fee schedule of a qualified guardian or that allowed by rule of the Court of Chancery, whichever is applicable, where the compensation provided in the fee schedule of a qualified guardian or that allowed by rule of the Court of Chancery, whichever is applicable, is inadequate because the duties of the guardianship are substantially greater than those for a typical guardianship of its size or under extraordinary circumstances.
12 Del. C. § 3954 — Delaware Code / Title 12 / Chapter 39 / Subchapter IV / Section 3954
§ Â
        3954. Proceeds of sale; payment.
Status: in_force

The proceeds of the sale shall be personal property. Such proceeds, after deducting all expenses allowed by the Court, may be ordered to be paid to the guardian of the property to be accounted for as personal property of the person with a disability in the regular course of the guardianship or such proceeds may be ordered to be deposited in a bank to the credit of the person with a disability, to be invested, loaned or disposed of for the benefit of the person with a disability.
12 Del. C. § 1502 — Delaware Code / Title 12 / Chapter 15 / Subchapter I / Section 1502
§ Â
        1502. Grant of letters testamentary.
Status: in_force

(a) If a will of a domiciliary or nondomiciliary decedent is admitted to probate in accordance with this title, letters testamentary shall be granted by the Register of Wills of the county in which the decedent was domiciled, or in the case of a nondomiciliary in which the decedent owned real or personal property, to the executor or executors thereof, upon their giving bond in accordance with this title.

(b) If several are named as executors, and any are deceased, or fail to give the necessary bond, or renounce or are incapacitated, letters testamentary shall be granted to the others so named. If all of them, or a sole executor, is deceased, or fails to give the necessary bond, or renounces or is incapacitated, administration with the will annexed, shall be granted in accordance with this title.
12 Del. C. § 3344 — Delaware Code / Title 12 / Chapter 33 / Section 3344
§ Â
        3344. Income tax reimbursement or payment.
Status: in_force

(a) Unless the terms of the governing instrument expressly provide that a trustor may not be reimbursed by a trust for the trustor’s personal income tax liability, if the trustor of a trust is treated under 26 U.S.C. § 671 et seq. as the owner of all or part of the trust, the trustee (other than a trustee who is the trustor or a person who is a “related or subordinate party” with respect to the trustor within the meaning of 26 U.S.C. § 672(c)) may, in the trustee’s sole discretion, or at the direction or with the consent of an adviser (who is not the trustor or a person who is a “related or subordinate party” with respect to the trustor within the meaning of 26 U.S.C. § 672(c)), reimburse the trustor for any amount of the trustor’s personal federal, state, county, metropolitan-region, city, local, foreign, or other income tax liability that is attributable to the inclusion of the trust’s income, capital gains, deductions, and credits in the calculation of the trustor’s taxable income. The trustee may pay such amount to the trustor directly or may pay such amount to an appropriate taxing authority on the trustor’s behalf, as the trustee determines in the trustee’s sole discretion. No policy of insurance on the trustor’s life held in the trust nor the cash value of any such policy nor the proceeds of any loan secured by an interest in the policy may be used to reimburse the trustor or to pay an appropriate taxing authority on the trustor’s behalf. Neither the trustee’s power to make payments to, or for the benefit of, the trustor under this section, nor the trustee’s decision to exercise such power in favor of the trustor, shall cause the trustor to be treated as a beneficiary of the trust for purposes of § 3536(c) of this title or for other purposes of Delaware law.

(b) The provisions of this section shall not apply if the application of this section would disqualify a trust for, or reduce the amount of, a marital or charitable deduction otherwise available to any person for state or federal income, gift, or estate tax purposes.
12 Del. C. § 4006 — Delaware Code / Title 12 / Chapter 40 / Section 4006
§ Â
        4006. Accountability.
Status: in_force

(a) The Delaware CarePlan Trust shall prepare a report annually itemizing all funds collected for the year, income earned, salaries, other expenses incurred and the opening and final trust balances. Such report shall be available to the public.

(b) The Delaware CarePlan Trust shall, upon request, provide a copy of the report required under subsection (a) of this section to the participant or the participant’s representative.

(c) Each year, the Delaware CarePlan Trust shall prepare on behalf of each participant:

(1) A detailed individual statement of the services provided to each participant during the previous 12 months, and the services planned for such participant during the following 12 months; and

(2) An accounting of expenditures made on behalf of the participant and the investments remaining in such participant’s account.

(d) The Delaware CarePlan Trust shall provide the statement required under subsection (c) of this section to the participant or the participant’s representative, and, consistent with standards adopted by the Board to protect the participant’s privacy rights, shall upon request provide such statement to each donor for the participant.

(e) The Delaware CarePlan Trust shall provide the statement required under subsection (c) of this section as a final statement upon the withdrawal of a participant.
12 Del. C. § 5005 — Delaware Code / Title 12 / Chapter 50 / Section 5005
§ Â
        5005. Recovery of digital assets and digital accounts from a custodian.
Status: in_force

(a) A fiduciary with authority over digital assets or digital accounts of an account holder under this chapter shall have the same access as the account holder, and is deemed to:

(1) Have the lawful consent of the account holder; and

(2) Be an authorized agent or user under all applicable state and federal law and regulations and any end user license agreement.

(b) Upon receipt of a valid written request sent pursuant to the requirements of subsection (c) of this section, from a fiduciary seeking access to, transfer of, copy of, or destruction of a digital asset or digital account, a custodian shall provide the fiduciary the applicable access, transfer, copy, or destruction of the digital asset or digital account, unless it would be technologically impracticable to provide access to, transfer of, copy of, or destruction of the digital asset or digital account to the fiduciary or to the account holder. Unless otherwise provided by a governing instrument or a court order, a fiduciary may access:

(1) The content of an electronic communication, as the term is defined by the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, 18 U.S.C. § 2510, sent or received by the account holder only if the custodian is permitted to disclose the content under the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, 18 U.S.C. § 2702(b);

(2) The catalogue of electronic communications sent or received by the account holder; and

(3) Any other digital account or digital asset of the account holder.

(c) A valid written request under subsection (b) of this section must:

(1) If by a personal representative, be accompanied by a certified copy of the letters testamentary or letters of administration which grant authority to the personal representative to administer the estate of the deceased account holder;

(2) If by a guardian, be accompanied by a certified copy of the court order that gives the guardian authority over the property of the disabled person;

(3) If by an agent, be accompanied by a certified copy of the power of attorney that authorizes the agent to exercise authority over the affairs of the principal and which includes an authorization regarding the principal’s digital assets or digital accounts and, if the power of attorney provides that the agent’s power to access a digital account or digital asset is conditioned upon the account holder being incapacitated, be accompanied by a certification from a licensed physician or an order of the Court stating the account holder is incapacitated;

(4) If by a trustee, be accompanied by a certified copy of the trust instrument, or a certification of trust pursuant to § 3591 of this title, and, if the trustee’s power to access a digital account or digital asset is conditioned upon the account holder being incapacitated, be accompanied by a certification from a licensed physician or an order of the Court stating the account holder is incapacitated; or

(5) If by a fiduciary not otherwise specified herein, be accompanied by a certified copy of the governing instrument that authorizes the fiduciary to exercise authority over digital assets or digital accounts, or in the case of a fiduciary whose authority is granted in a trust instrument, a certification of trust pursuant to § 3591 of this title.

(d) (1) A custodian shall comply with a valid written request within 60 days after receiving the valid written request. If the custodian fails to comply, the fiduciary may apply to the Court for an order directing compliance.

(2) If the fiduciary applying for an order under paragraph (d)(1) of this section is a parent or legal guardian of the account holder and the account holder is a deceased minor, the Court shall treat the fiduciary’s application as expedited and aim to resolve the application within 30 days after the date the application is filed.

(e) For purposes of this section, a “certified copy” of a trust, power of attorney, certification of trust, or governing instrument means a copy accompanied by an affidavit attesting that the copy is a true, exact, complete and unaltered photocopy of the original, and that to the best of the affiant’s knowledge, said document remains in full force and effect.
12 Del. C. § 1182 — Delaware Code / Title 12 / Chapter 11 / Subchapter II / Section 1182
§ Â
        1182. Action involving another state.
Status: in_force

(a) The State Escheator may join other states to examine and seek enforcement of this chapter against any person believed to be holding property reportable under this chapter.

(b) On request of another state, the Attorney General may commence an action on behalf of the other state to enforce, in this State, the law of the other state against a holder of property presumed abandoned and therefore subject to a claim by the other state, if the other state agrees to pay costs incurred by the Attorney General in the action.

(c) The State Escheator may request the official authorized to enforce the unclaimed property law of another state to commence an action to recover property in the other state on behalf of the State Escheator. This State shall pay all costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, incurred by the other state in an action under this subsection.

(d) The State Escheator may pursue an action on behalf of this State to recover property subject to this chapter but delivered to the custody of another state if the State Escheator believes the property is subject to the custody of the State Escheator.

(e) The State Escheator may retain a private attorney in this State or another state or foreign country to commence an action to recover property on behalf of the State Escheator and may agree to pay attorneys’ fees based in whole or in part on a fixed fee, hourly fee, or a percentage of the amount or value of property recovered in the action.

(f) Expenses incurred by this State in an action under this section may be paid from property received under this chapter or net proceeds of the property. Expenses paid to recover property may not be deducted from the amount that is subject to a claim under this chapter by the owner.
12 Del. C. § 3882 — Delaware Code / Title 12 / Chapter 38 / Subchapter III / Section 3882
§ Â
        3882. Related acquisitions; beneficial interests held for the benefit of others.
Status: in_force

For the purposes of this subchapter:

(1) Beneficial interests acquired within 90 days or beneficial interests acquired in a series of related transactions are considered to have been acquired in the same acquisition including for purposes of approvals or exemptions pursuant to § 3883(b) of this title or approval of a control beneficial interest acquisition by beneficial owners pursuant to § 3885 of this title; and

(2) A person will not be deemed to be entitled to exercise or direct the exercise of voting power with respect to beneficial interests held for the benefit of others if the person:

a. Is acting in the ordinary course of business, in good faith and not for the purpose of circumventing the provisions of this section as determined by the trustees; and

b. Is not entitled to exercise or to direct the exercise of the voting power of the beneficial interests unless the person either:

1. Obtains the instruction of another unaffiliated person; or 2. Is subject to Rule 452 of the New York Stock Exchange LLC (or any successor rule) and has complied with such rule.

2. Is subject to Rule 452 of the New York Stock Exchange LLC (or any successor rule) and has complied with such rule.
12 Del. C. § 3542 — Delaware Code / Title 12 / Chapter 35 / Subchapter III / Section 3542
§ Â
        3542. Termination of small trusts [For application of this section, see 80 Del. Laws, c. 153, Ââ5].
Status: in_force

(a) Unless otherwise provided by the terms of the trust instrument, and subject to the other subsections of this section, a trustee of a trust (other than a trustee who is a settlor or beneficiary of the trust or who may be removed as trustee, by action of 1 or more settlors or beneficiaries and replaced as trustee, by action of the person or persons exercising the removal power, with a successor trustee who is either among the persons exercising the removal and replacement power or who is related or subordinate, within the meaning of § 672(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. 672(c)), as amended, to any such person exercising the removal and replacement power), who finds that the costs of administration thereof are such that the continuance of the trust would defeat or substantially impair the purpose of the trust, may, after written notice to all interested persons, or their legal or natural guardians, terminate the trust and distribute the trust property to 1 or more of the beneficiaries in the trustee’s discretion. No court proceedings or approval is required to effect such a termination.

(b) Any interested person shall have 30 days after receiving written notice in accordance with this section to object to the termination or plan of distribution in writing to such trustee. If the trustee has received no written objection to the proposed termination or plan of distribution within such 30-day period, it may proceed to terminate the trust.

(c) A trustee which receives a written objection to the proposed plan of distribution of a trust within 30 days of the last day on which any interested person received written notice may reformulate the proposed plan of distribution and renotify all interested persons of its intentions. Such renotification shall begin again the 30-day period referred to in subsection (b) of this section.

(d) A trustee which receives a written objection to the termination or plan of distribution of a trust within 30 days of the last day on which any interested person received written notice may proceed to terminate the trust in accordance with the plan of distribution, without court proceeding or approval, notwithstanding the objection, provided that all interested persons have been further notified in writing of such objection, of the trustee’s intention to proceed to terminate such trust notwithstanding such objection, and of their right to petition the Court to prevent the termination or modify the plan of distribution within 6 months from the mailing of such further notice, and provided that at least 6 months have elapsed since such further notice was sent by the trustee, or the trustee has received a written waiver of the right to petition the Court from all interested persons.

(e) Any interested person, within 6 months of the mailing of such further notice of the trustee’s intention to proceed with termination, notwithstanding an objection, may petition the Court to prevent such termination or modify the plan of distribution, or may send to the trustee a written waiver of such right to petition.

(f) The written notice required by this section shall state:

(1) That the trustee intends to terminate the trust in accordance with this section;

(2) The plan of distribution;

(3) That any interested person may object to such termination or plan of distribution in a writing received by the trustee within 30 days of receipt of such notice by such interested person; and

(4) That the trustee may proceed to terminate the trust, notwithstanding any objection to such termination or plan of distribution, 6 months after the trustee further notifies all interested persons of such objection and its intention to proceed with the termination notwithstanding such objection;

provided, that such notice shall inform interested persons that application may be made to the Court of Chancery to prevent the proposed termination.

(g) For purposes of this section, the term “interested person” means any living person or existing organization who is a current income beneficiary, or who would be a vested remainderman of the trust if the trust were to terminate at the time of the notification, and the Delaware Attorney General in the case of a charitable trust.

(h) The existence of spendthrift or similar protective provisions in a trust shall not make this section inapplicable.
12 Del. C. § 1157 — Delaware Code / Title 12 / Chapter 11 / Subchapter II / Section 1157
§ Â
        1157. No private escheat.
Status: in_force

Any provision in a certificate of incorporation, bylaw, trust agreement, contract, or any other writing regulating the relationships between an owner and a holder, which relates to property that is or may be subject to the provisions of this chapter, with the exception of “nonescheat capital credits” as defined in § 909 of Title 26, and which provides that upon the owner’s failure to act or make a claim regarding property in possession of the holder that the property reverts to or becomes the property of the holder is void and unenforceable.
12 Del. C. § 2915 — Delaware Code / Title 12 / Chapter 29 / Section 2915
§ Â
        2915. Effective date [Effective Jan. 1, 2014, but see Ââ2914 of this title for future applicability].
Status: in_force

This chapter takes effect for decedents dying on or after January 1, 2014.
12 Del. C. § 3825 — Delaware Code / Title 12 / Chapter 38 / Subchapter I / Section 3825
§ Â
        3825. Division of a statutory trust.
Status: in_force

(a) As used in this section and § 3810 of this title:

(1) “Dividing trust” means the statutory trust that is effecting a division in the manner provided in this section.

(2) “Division” means the division of a dividing trust into 2 or more statutory trusts in accordance with this section.

(3) “Division contact” means, in connection with any division, a natural person who is a Delaware resident, any division trust in such division or any other statutory trust or other business entity formed or organized under the laws of the State of Delaware, which division contact shall maintain a copy of the plan of division for a period of 6 years from the effective date of the division and shall comply with paragraph (g)(3) of this section.

(4) “Division trust” means a surviving trust, if any, and each resulting trust.

(5) “Resulting trust” means a statutory trust formed as a consequence of a division

(6) “Surviving trust” means a dividing trust that survives the division.

(b) Pursuant to a plan of division, any statutory trust may, in the manner provided in this section, be divided into 2 or more statutory trusts. The division of a statutory trust in accordance with this section and, if applicable, the resulting cessation of the existence of the dividing trust pursuant to a certificate of division shall not be deemed to affect the personal liability of any person incurred prior to such division with respect to matters arising prior to such division, nor shall it be deemed to affect the validity or enforceability of any obligations or liabilities of the dividing trust incurred prior to such division; provided, that the obligations and liabilities of the dividing trust shall be allocated to and vested in, and valid and enforceable obligations of, such division trust or trusts to which such obligations and liabilities have been allocated pursuant to the plan of division, as provided in subsection (l) of this section. Each resulting trust in a division shall be formed in compliance with the requirements of this chapter and subsection (i) of this section.

(c) If the governing instrument of the dividing trust specifies the manner of adopting a plan of division, the plan of division shall be adopted as specified in the governing instrument. If the governing instrument of the dividing trust does not specify the manner of adopting a plan of division and does not prohibit a division of the statutory trust, the plan of division shall be adopted in the same manner as is specified in the governing instrument for authorizing a merger or consolidation that involves the statutory trust as a constituent party to the merger or consolidation. If the governing instrument of a dividing trust that is not registered as an investment company or regulated as a business development company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (15 U.S.C. § 80a-1 et seq.), does not specify the manner of adopting a plan of division or authorizing a merger or consolidation that involves such statutory trust as a constituent party and does not prohibit a division of such statutory trust, the adoption of a plan of division shall be authorized by the approval by of all of the trustees and the beneficial owners of such statutory trust. If the governing instrument of a dividing trust that is registered as an investment company or regulated as a business development company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (15 U.S.C. § 80a-1 et seq.), does not specify the manner of adopting a plan of division or authorizing a merger or consolidation that involves such statutory trust as a constituent party and does not prohibit a division of such statutory trust, the adoption of a plan of division shall be authorized by the approval by all of the trustees and the beneficial owners who own more than 50% of the then current percentage or other interest in the profits of such dividing trust owned by all of the beneficial owners. Notwithstanding prior approval, a plan of division may be terminated or amended pursuant to a provision for such termination or amendment contained in the plan of division.

(d) Unless otherwise provided in a plan of division, the division of a statutory trust pursuant to this section shall not require such statutory trust to wind up its affairs or pay its liabilities and distribute its assets under § 3808 of this title, and the division shall not constitute a dissolution of such statutory trust.

(e) In connection with a division under this section, rights or securities of, or interests in, the dividing trust may be exchanged for or converted into cash, property, rights or securities of, or interests in, the surviving trust or any resulting trust or, in addition to or in lieu thereof, may be exchanged for or converted into cash, property, rights or securities of, or interests in, a statutory trust or any other business entity which is not a division trust or may be canceled or remain outstanding (if the dividing trust is a surviving trust).

(f) A plan of division adopted in accordance with subsection (c) of this section:

(1) May effect any amendment to the governing instrument of the dividing trust if it is a surviving trust in the division; or

(2) May effect the adoption of a new governing instrument for the dividing trust if it is a surviving trust in the division; and

(3) Shall effect the adoption of a governing instrument for each resulting trust.

Any amendment to a governing instrument or adoption of a new governing instrument for the dividing trust, if it is a surviving trust in the division, or adoption of a governing instrument for each resulting trust made pursuant to the foregoing sentence shall be effective at the effective time or date of the division. Any amendment to a governing instrument or adoption of a governing instrument for the dividing trust, if it is a surviving trust in the division, shall be effective notwithstanding any provision in the governing instrument of the dividing trust relating to amendment or adoption of a new governing instrument, other than a provision that by its terms applies to an amendment to the governing instrument or the adoption of a new governing instrument, in either case, in connection with a division, merger or consolidation.

(g) If a statutory trust is dividing under this section, the dividing trust shall adopt a plan of division which shall set forth:

(1) The terms and conditions of the division, including:

a. Any conversion or exchange of the beneficial interests of the dividing trust into or for beneficial interests or other securities or obligations of any division trust or cash, property or rights or securities or obligations of or interests in any other business entity or statutory trust which is not a division trust, or that the beneficial interests of the dividing trust shall remain outstanding or be canceled, or any combination of the foregoing; and

b. The allocation of assets, property, rights, series, debts, liabilities and duties of the dividing trust among the division trusts;

(2) The name of each resulting trust and, if the dividing trust will survive the division, the name of the surviving trust;

(3) The name and business address of a division contact which shall have custody of a copy of the plan of division. The division contact, or any successor division contact, shall serve for a period of 6 years following the effective date of the division. During such 6-year period the division contact shall provide, without cost, to any creditor of the dividing trust, within 30 days following the division contact’s receipt of a written request from any creditor of the dividing trust, the name and business address of the division trust to which the claim of such creditor was allocated pursuant to the plan of division; and

(4) Any other matters that the dividing trust determines to include therein.

(h) If a statutory trust divides under this section, the dividing trust shall file a certificate of division executed by at least 1 trustee of the dividing trust on behalf of such dividing trust in the office of the Secretary of State in accordance with § 3811 of this title and a certificate of trust that complies with § 3810 of this title for each resulting trust executed by all of the trustees of each resulting trust in accordance with § 3811 of this title. The certificate of division shall state:

(1) The name of the dividing trust and, if it has been changed, the name under which its certificate of trust was originally filed and whether the dividing trust is a surviving trust;

(2) The date of filing of the dividing trust’s original certificate of trust with the Secretary of State;

(3) The name of each division trust;

(4) The name and business address of the division contact required by paragraph (g)(3) of this section;

(5) The future effective date or time (which shall be a date or time certain) of the division if it is not to be effective upon the filing of the certificate of division;

(6) That the division has been approved in accordance with this section;

(7) That the plan of division is on file at a place of business of such division trust as is specified therein, and shall state the address thereof;

(8) That a copy of the plan of division will be furnished by such division trust as is specified therein, on request and without cost, to any beneficial owner of the dividing trust; and

(9) Any other information the dividing trust determines to include therein.

(i) The certificate of division and each certificate of formation for each resulting trust required by subsection (h) of this section shall be filed simultaneously in the office of the Secretary of State and, if such certificates are not to become effective upon their filing as permitted by § 3812(b) of this title, then each such certificate shall provide for the same effective date or time in accordance with § 3812(b) of this title. Concurrently with the effective date or time of a division, the governing instrument of each resulting trust shall become effective.

(j) A certificate of division shall act as a certificate of cancellation for a dividing trust which is not a surviving trust.

(k) A governing instrument may provide that a statutory trust shall not have the power to divide as set forth in this section.

(l) Upon the division of a statutory trust becoming effective:

(1) The dividing trust shall be divided into the distinct and independent resulting trusts named in the plan of division, and, if the dividing trust is not a surviving trust, the existence of the dividing trust shall cease.

(2) For all purposes of the laws of the State of Delaware, all of the rights, privileges and powers, and all the property, real, personal and mixed, of the dividing trust and all debts due on whatever account to it, as well as all other things and other causes of action belonging to it, shall without further action be allocated to and vested in the applicable division trust in such a manner and basis and with such effect as is specified in the plan of division, and the title to any real property or interest therein allocated to and vested in any division trust shall not revert or be in any way impaired by reason of the division.

(3) Each division trust shall, from and after effectiveness of the certificate of division, be liable as a separate and distinct statutory trust for such debts, liabilities and duties of the dividing trust as are allocated to such division trust pursuant to the plan of division in the manner and on the basis provided in paragraph (g)(1)b. of this section.

(4) Each of the debts, liabilities and duties of the dividing trust shall without further action be allocated to and be the debts, liabilities and duties of such division trust as is specified in the plan of division as having such debts, liabilities and duties allocated to it, in such a manner and basis and with such effect as is specified in the plan of division, and no other division trust shall be liable therefor, so long as the plan of division does not constitute a fraudulent transfer under applicable law, and all liens upon any property of the dividing trust shall be preserved unimpaired, and all debts, liabilities and duties of the dividing trust shall remain attached to the division trust to which such debts, liabilities and duties have been allocated in the plan of division, and may be enforced against such division trust to the same extent as if said debts, liabilities and duties had originally been incurred or contracted by it in its capacity as a statutory trust.

(5) In the event that any allocation of assets, debts, liabilities and duties to division trusts in accordance with a plan of division is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to constitute a fraudulent transfer, each division trust shall be jointly and severally liable on account of such fraudulent transfer notwithstanding the allocations made in the plan of division; provided, however, the validity and effectiveness of the division are not otherwise affected thereby.

(6) Debts and liabilities of the dividing trust that are not allocated by the plan of division shall be the joint and several debts and liabilities of all of the division trusts.

(7) It shall not be necessary for a plan of division to list each individual asset, property, right, series, debt, liability or duty of the dividing trust to be allocated to a division trust so long as the assets, property, rights, series, debts, liabilities or duties so allocated are reasonably identified by any method where the identity of such assets, property, rights, series, debts, liabilities or duties is objectively determinable.

(8) The rights, privileges, powers and interests in property of the dividing trust that have been allocated to a division trust, as well as the debts, liabilities and duties of the dividing trust that have been allocated to such division trust pursuant to a plan of division, shall remain vested in each such division trust and shall not be deemed, as a result of the division, to have been assigned or transferred to such division trust for any purpose of the laws of the State of Delaware.

(9) Any action or proceeding pending against a dividing trust may be continued against the surviving trust as if the division did not occur, but subject to paragraph (l)(4) of this section, and against any resulting trust to which the asset, property, right, series, debt, liability or duty associated with such action or proceeding was allocated pursuant to the plan of division by adding or substituting such resulting trust as a party in the action or proceeding.

(m) In applying the provisions of this chapter on distributions, a direct or indirect allocation of property or liabilities in a division is not deemed a distribution for purposes of this chapter.

(n) The provisions of this section shall not be construed to limit the means of accomplishing a division by any other means provided for in a governing instrument or other agreement or as otherwise permitted by this chapter or as otherwise permitted by law.

(o) All statutory trusts formed on or after August 1, 2020, shall be governed by this section. All statutory trusts formed prior to August 1, 2020, shall be governed by this section; provided, that if the dividing trust is a party to any written contract, indenture or other agreement entered into prior to August 1, 2020, that, by its terms, restricts, conditions or prohibits the consummation of a merger or consolidation by the dividing trust with or into another party, or the transfer of assets by the dividing trust to another party, then such restriction, condition or prohibition shall be deemed to apply to a division as if it were a merger, consolidation or transfer of assets, as applicable.
12 Del. C. § 1546 — Delaware Code / Title 12 / Chapter 15 / Subchapter III / Section 1546
§ Â
        1546. Refusal to deliver unadministered assets.
Status: in_force

(a) If any executor or administrator who has been removed refuses to deliver to a coexecutor or coadministrator, if there be such, and if not, to a successor, all the unadministered effects belonging to the deceased, which shall be in the executor’s or administrator’s hands, the Court of Chancery may, in a summary proceeding, upon the petition of such coexecutor, administrator or successor, hear the parties, and make an order for such delivery, and enforce the same by attachment, sequestration or any other process.

(b) The Court of Chancery may also proceed, in like manner, against the personal representative of a deceased executor or administrator, refusing to deliver, according to law, any such effects belonging to the estate of the first testator or intestate which shall come to personal representative’s hands.
12 Del. C. § 213 — Delaware Code / Title 12 / Chapter 2 / Subchapter I / Section 213
§ Â
        213. Rules for construction or interpretation of will [For application of this section, see 81 Del. Laws, c. 320, Ââ8].
Status: repealed

In the construction or interpretation of any will the rules set forth in §  3330 of this title shall apply in the absence of any contrary expression of intent in such will.

(1)-(3) [Repealed.]
12 Del. C. § 3551 — Delaware Code / Title 12 / Chapter 35 / Subchapter IV / Section 3551
§ Â
        3551. Burial lots; perpetuities.
Status: in_force

(a) Any owner of any burial lot or plot in any cemetery in this State, whether or not there shall then have been an interment in the lot or plot, may convey it in trust to the corporation owning or maintaining the cemetery or to any trust company, bank or banking company of this State or to any bank or banking company organized under the laws of the United States and doing business in this State and such corporation, trust company, bank or banking company may hold the title thereto in perpetuity or for any shorter time for the use and benefit of the owner of the lot or plot and for the protection of the bodies theretofore interred therein or which may thereafter be interred therein, pursuant to the terms of the deed of trust. Before any such conveyance shall be made the corporation owning or conducting the cemetery in which the lot or plot is located shall, by a resolution of its board of directors or managers passed at a regular meeting of the board, authorize the conveyance.

(b) A trust for the care and maintenance of any burial lot or cemetery plot, or for the construction or maintenance of any monument, marker or other additions thereto, is valid.
12 Del. C. § 1167 — Delaware Code / Title 12 / Chapter 11 / Subchapter II / Section 1167
§ Â
        1167. Claims and rights of appeal [For application of this section, see 83 Del. Laws, c. 59, Â 25; and 83 Del. Laws, c. 346, Ââ 12].
Status: in_force

(a) The State Escheator shall possess full and complete authority to determine all claims filed under § 1165 of this title and shall immediately send written notice of such determination to the claimant as provided under § 1166(b) of this title. At any time within 120 days after the State Escheator sends notice of the determination, which includes the State Escheator’s initial attempt to pay or deliver the property to a claimant, a claimant may apply for a hearing and determination of the claim by the Tax Appeal Board created by subchapter II, Chapter 3, Title 30. The procedure before the Tax Appeal Board for such hearings is the same as that provided for by § 329 of Title 30 and the Board has the same power to compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of evidence as is provided in § 330 of Title 30.

(b) Within 30 days after notice of the Tax Appeal Board’s decision, the State Escheator or a claimant may appeal the decision to the Court of Chancery upon notice to all parties to the proceeding before the Tax Appeal Board and upon such other notice as the Court of Chancery may order.

(c) The Court of Chancery may make such rules as it deems proper for the perfection, hearing and determination of such appeals.
12 Del. C. § 1712 — Delaware Code / Title 12 / Chapter 17 / Section 1712
§ Â
        1712. Probate of will produced after issuance of letters; effect upon prior administration.
Status: in_force

(a) Whenever letters testamentary or of administration shall be issued upon the estate of any person presumed to be dead, in accordance with this chapter, the person having custody of any will which may have been left by such presumed decedent, in case letters of administration have been issued, or of any later will, in case letters testamentary have been issued, or any creditor of any person interested in the estate, may file a petition with the Court of Chancery in which the proceedings to establish the death by presumption have been held, setting forth the facts of the case, a copy of the will or later will, or an averment that such will exists, and the names of all persons interested in the estate of the presumed decedent.

(b) Upon the filing of such petition the Court of Chancery shall issue a citation to the person to whom letters of administration or letters testamentary have been issued, and to all persons interested in the estate of the presumed decedent, to appear upon a day fixed, and to show cause why the alleged will or later will should not be admitted to probate.

(c) Upon the return of the citation, if the Court of Chancery shall be satisfied from all the evidence that may be adduced that the proposed will was, in fact, the last will and testament made by the presumed decedent before the departure or disappearance from the residence, the will shall be admitted to probate as if the testator were in fact dead. If, upon such probate, it appears that an executor is named in the will, the letters of administration previously granted shall be revoked, and letters testamentary shall be issued to the executor, in the same manner and form as if the testator were in fact dead; but, if no executor shall be named in such will, then a certified copy of the will shall be attached to the letters of administration theretofore issued, or to a certified copy of such letters. Thereafter the executor or administrator shall execute the will according to its terms, and all property of the decedent shall be distributed and passed as provided by the will to the several legatees and devisees named therein. In case an earlier will shall have been admitted to probate, the letters testamentary issued thereunder shall be revoked, and letters shall be issued under the last will, or if no executor shall be named in the last will, then letters of administration with the will annexed shall be issued to the person entitled thereto. All the previous lawful acts of the removed executor or administrator shall be valid as provided in § 1545 of this title.
12 Del. C. § 2506 — Delaware Code / Title 12 / Chapter 25 / Section 2506
§ Â
        2506. Deputy register â Powers; recording appointment.
Status: in_force

In all cases where, in the administration of the affairs of the office of Register of Wills in the several counties of the State, it is necessary or proper to administer an oath of affirmation, such oath of affirmation may be administered by a deputy register; and, where the Register might have done so, such deputy register may probate wills and grant letters testamentary and of administration. The appointment of each deputy shall be recorded in the office of the Recorder of Deeds of the county for which the deputy shall be appointed.
12 Del. C. § 5007 — Delaware Code / Title 12 / Chapter 50 / Section 5007
§ Â
        5007. Relation to Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act.
Status: in_force

This chapter modifies, limits, or supersedes the federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, 15 U.S.C. § 7001, et seq., but does not modify, limit, or supersede § 101(c) of that act, 15 U.S.C. § 7001(c), or authorize electronic delivery of any of the notices described in § 103(b) of that act, 15 U.S.C. § 7003(b).
12 Del. C. § 3804 — Delaware Code / Title 12 / Chapter 38 / Subchapter I / Section 3804
§ Â
        3804. Legal proceedings.
Status: repealed

(a) A statutory trust may sue and be sued, and service of process upon 1 of the trustees shall be sufficient. In furtherance of the foregoing, a statutory trust may be sued for debts and other obligations or liabilities contracted or incurred by the trustees or other authorized persons, or by the duly authorized agents of such trustees or other authorized persons, in the performance of their respective duties under the governing instrument of the statutory trust. Except to the extent otherwise provided in the governing instrument of a statutory trust, the trustees or other authorized persons, or the duly authorized agents of such trustees or other authorized persons, may bind a statutory trust to a contract or instrument by entering into such contract or instrument in the name of the statutory trust or in the name of any such person acting on behalf of the statutory trust. The property of a statutory trust shall be subject to attachment and execution as if it were a corporation, subject to § 3502 of Title 10. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this section, in the event that the governing instrument of a statutory trust, including a statutory trust which is a registered investment company or regulated as a business development company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (15 U.S.C. § 80a-1 et seq.), creates 1 or more series as provided in § 3806(b)(2) of this title, and to the extent separate and distinct records are maintained for any such series and the assets associated with any such series are held in such separate and distinct records (directly or indirectly, including through a nominee or otherwise) and accounted for in such separate and distinct records separately from the other assets of the statutory trust, or any other series thereof, and if the governing instrument so provides, and notice of the limitation on liabilities of a series as referenced in this sentence is set forth in the certificate of trust of the statutory trust, then the debts, liabilities, obligations and expenses incurred, contracted for or otherwise existing with respect to a particular series shall be enforceable against the assets of such series only, and not against the assets of the statutory trust generally or any other series thereof, and, unless otherwise provided in the governing instrument, none of the debts, liabilities, obligations and expenses incurred, contracted for or otherwise existing with respect to the statutory trust generally or any other series thereof shall be enforceable against the assets of such series. Neither the preceding sentence nor any provision pursuant thereto in a governing instrument or certificate of trust shall:

(1) Restrict a statutory trust on behalf of a series from agreeing in the governing instrument or otherwise that any or all of the debts, liabilities, obligations and expenses incurred, contracted for or otherwise existing with respect to the statutory trust generally or any other series thereof shall be enforceable against the assets of such series; or

(2) Restrict a statutory trust from agreeing in the governing instrument or otherwise that any or all of the debts, liabilities, obligations and expenses incurred, contracted for or otherwise existing with respect to a series shall be enforceable against the assets of the statutory trust generally.

As used in this chapter, a reference to assets of a series includes assets associated with a series and a reference to assets associated with a series includes assets of a series. Except to the extent otherwise provided in the governing instrument of a statutory trust, a statutory trust that has established series in accordance with this subsection may: (i) contract, hold title to assets (including real, personal and intangible property), grant liens and security interests, and sue and be sued, in each case, in the name of a series, and (ii) enter into an enforceable contract on behalf of 1 series of the statutory trust with and on behalf of another series of the statutory trust or with the statutory trust generally. Solely with respect to any liens or security interests granted in any assets of a series or any assets associated with a series of a statutory trust, only the statutory trust shall be the “debtor” within the meaning of Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code [§ 9-101 et seq. of Title 6] as the person having the power to transfer rights in such assets.

(b) A trustee of a statutory trust may be served with process in the manner prescribed in subsection (c) of this section in all civil actions or proceedings brought in the State involving or relating to the activities of the statutory trust or a violation by a trustee of a duty to the statutory trust, or any beneficial owner, whether or not the trustee is a trustee at the time suit is commenced. Every resident or nonresident of the State who accepts election or appointment or serves as a trustee of a statutory trust shall, by such acceptance or service, be deemed thereby to have consented to the appointment of the Delaware trustee or registered agent of such statutory trust required by § 3807 of this title (or, if there is none, the Secretary of State) as such person’s agent upon whom service of process may be made as provided in this section. Such acceptance or service shall signify the consent of such trustee that any process when so served shall be of the same legal force and validity as if served upon such trustee within the State and such appointment of such Delaware trustee or registered agent (or, if there is none, the Secretary of State) shall be irrevocable.

(c) Service of process shall be effected by serving the Delaware trustee or registered agent of such statutory trust required by § 3807 of this title (or, if there is none, the Secretary of State) with 1 copy of such process in the manner provided by law for service of writs of summons. In the event service is made under this subsection upon the Secretary of State, the plaintiff shall pay to the Secretary of State the sum of $50 for the use of the State, which sum shall be taxed as part of the costs of the proceeding if the plaintiff shall prevail therein. In addition, the Prothonotary or the Register in Chancery of the court in which the civil action or proceeding is pending shall, within 7 days of such service, deposit in the United States mails, by registered mail, postage prepaid, true and attested copies of the process, together with a statement that service is being made pursuant to this section, addressed to the defendant at the defendant’s address last known to and furnished by the party desiring to make such service.

(d) In any action in which any such trustee has been served with process as hereinafter provided, the time in which a defendant shall be required to appear and file a responsive pleading shall be computed from the date of mailing by the Prothonotary or the Register in Chancery as provided in subsection (c) of this section; provided however, the court in which such action has been commenced may order such continuance or continuances as may be necessary to afford such trustee reasonable opportunity to defend the action.

(e) In the governing instrument of the statutory trust or other writing, a trustee or beneficial owner or other person may consent to be subject to the nonexclusive jurisdiction of the courts of, or arbitration in, a specified jurisdiction, or the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the State, or the exclusivity of arbitration in a specified jurisdiction or the State, and to be served with legal process in the manner prescribed in such governing instrument of the statutory trust or other writing. Except by agreeing to arbitrate any arbitrable matter in a specified jurisdiction or in the State, a beneficial owner who is not a trustee may not waive its right to maintain a legal action or proceeding in the courts of the State with respect to matters relating to the organization or internal affairs of a statutory trust.

(f) Nothing herein contained limits or affects the right to serve process in any other manner now or hereafter provided by law. This section is an extension of and not a limitation upon the right otherwise existing of service of legal process upon nonresidents.

(g) The Court of Chancery and the Superior Court may make all necessary rules respecting the form of process, the manner of issuance and return thereof and such other rules which may be necessary to implement this section and are not inconsistent with this section. The Court of Chancery shall have jurisdiction over statutory trusts to the same extent as it has jurisdiction over common law trusts formed under the laws of the State.

(h) [Repealed.]
12 Del. C. § 1155 — Delaware Code / Title 12 / Chapter 11 / Subchapter II / Section 1155
§ Â
        1155. State Escheatorâs options as to custody.
Status: in_force

(a) The State Escheator may decline to take custody of property reported under § 1142 of this title if the State Escheator determines 1 of the following:

(1) The property has a value less than the estimated expenses of notice and sale of the property.

(2) Taking custody of the property would be unlawful.

(3) The property is tangible or in physical form, including but not limited to savings bonds and bearer bonds.

(4) Taking custody of the property may expose the State to a risk of litigation.

(5) The property is a “nonfreely transferable security” or “worthless security” as defined in § 1130 of this title.

(6) The property is virtual currency for which no ready market exists.

(b) A holder may pay or deliver property to the State Escheator before the property is presumed abandoned under this chapter if the holder does all of the following:

(1) Sends the owner of the property the notice required by § 1148 of this title and conforming to § 1149 of this title.

(2) Provides to the State Escheator evidence of the holder’s compliance with paragraph (b)(1) of this section.

(3) Includes with the payment or delivery a report regarding the property conforming to § 1142 of this title.

(4) First obtains the State Escheator’s consent in a record to accept payment or delivery.

(c) A holder’s request for the State Escheator’s consent under paragraph (b)(4) of this section must be in a record. If the State Escheator fails to respond to the request not later than 90 days after receipt of the request, the State Escheator is deemed to consent to the payment or delivery of the property and the payment or delivery is considered to have been made in good faith, as defined in § 1153(d) of this title.

(d) On payment or delivery of property under subsection (b) of this section, the property is presumed abandoned.
12 Del. C. § 39A-203 — Delaware Code / Title 12 / Chapter 39A / Section 39A-203
§ Â
        39A-203. Exclusive and continuing jurisdiction.
Status: in_force

Except as otherwise provided in § 39A-202 of this title, a court that has appointed a guardian or issued a protective order consistent with this Act has exclusive and continuing jurisdiction over the proceeding until it is terminated by the Court or the appointment or order expires by its own terms.
12 Del. C. § 704 — Delaware Code / Title 12 / Chapter 7 / Section 704
§ Â
        704. Insurance policies.
Status: in_force

Where the insured and the beneficiary in a policy of life or accident insurance have died and there is no sufficient evidence that they have died otherwise than simultaneously, the proceeds of the policy shall be distributed as if the insured had survived the beneficiary.
12 Del. C. § 1184 — Delaware Code / Title 12 / Chapter 11 / Subchapter II / Section 1184
§ Â
        1184. Other civil penalties.
Status: in_force

If a holder enters into a contract or other arrangement for the purpose of evading an obligation under this chapter or otherwise wilfully fails to perform a duty imposed on the holder under this chapter, the State Escheator may require the holder to pay the State Escheator, in addition to interest as provided in § 1183(a) of this title, a civil penalty of $1,000 for each day the obligation is evaded or the duty is not performed, up to a cumulative maximum amount of $25,000, plus 25% of the amount or value of any property that should have been but was not reported, paid, or delivered as a result of the evasion or failure to perform.
12 Del. C. § 1709 — Delaware Code / Title 12 / Chapter 17 / Section 1709
§ Â
        1709. Security given by beneficiaries.
Status: in_force

(a) Before any distribution is made of the assets of the estate of the presumed decedent or before the decree is recorded in the office of the Recorder of Deeds as provided in § 1707(b) of this title, the persons, other than creditors, entitled to receive the same, shall, respectively give sufficient real or personal security, to be approved by the Court of Chancery, in such sum and form as the Court directs, with condition that, if the presumed decedent shall in fact be at the time alive, they will respectively refund the assets received by each, on demand.

(b) If any person entitled to receive assets refuses or neglects, or is unable to enter such security, the Court of Chancery may, upon petition of any person interested, and upon due notice to all persons interested, so far as such notice can reasonably be given, appoint a suitable person or corporation as trustee to receive and hold the share of the distributee refusing or neglecting, or being unable to enter security until further order of the Court. Such trustee shall not be an insurer of the trust fund, and shall be liable to the person interested therein only for such care, prudence and diligence in the execution of the trust as trustees are liable for.

(c) If the Court of Chancery shall be satisfied, from the evidence at the hearing to ascertain whether the presumption of death is established, or from the report of the Magistrate, that there is no likelihood of the presumed decedent’s being still alive, then the Court may accept refunding bonds from the distributees of the presumed decedent’s estate without requiring sureties thereon.
12 Del. C. § 2308 — Delaware Code / Title 12 / Chapter 23 / Subchapter I / Section 2308
§ Â
        2308. Surviving spouseâs allowance.
Status: in_force

(a) The surviving spouse of any decedent shall be entitled to receive and the executor or administrator shall pay to such spouse as soon as convenient, in the manner provided in this section, cash up to the amount of $7,500 out of the estate of the decedent, which payment shall be made in the order of preference of claims against the estate in § 2105 of this title, as amended. The foregoing provision shall not affect any other rights to which such spouse may be entitled, either under the will of the decedent or the intestacy laws of this State.

(b) The allowance to the surviving spouse of a decedent provided for in subsection (a) of this section shall be of no effect unless and until such spouse shall, within 9 months from the date of death or 6 months from the date of the granting of letters, testamentary or of administration, whichever shall be the shorter period, notify in writing the Register of Wills of the county wherein the letters were granted and the executor or administrator of such spouse’s demand that a specific sum, not exceeding $7,500, be so set aside out of the proceeds of the estate of the decedent.

(c) The allowance provided for in subsection (a) of this section shall be considered to be a debt of the estate, and the executor or administrator may sell so much of the property of the decedent as will enable the executor or administrator to pay the allowance in the same manner as the executor or administrator may be enabled to do by law for the payment of other debts of the decedent or of the estate.
12 Del. C. § 61-104 — Delaware Code / Title 12 / Chapter 61 / Subchapter I / Section 61-104
§ Â
        61-104. Trusteeâs power to adjust.
Status: in_force

(a) A trustee may adjust between principal and income to the extent the trustee considers necessary if the trustee invests and manages trust assets as a prudent investor, the terms of the trust describe the amount that may or must be distributed to a beneficiary by referring to the trust’s income, and the trustee determines, after applying the rules in § 61-103(a) of this title, that the trustee is otherwise unable to comply with § 61-103(b) of this title.

(b) In deciding whether and to what extent to exercise the power conferred by subsection (a) of this section, a trustee shall consider all factors relevant to the trust and its beneficiaries, including the following factors to the extent they are relevant:

(1) The nature, purpose, and expected duration of the trust;

(2) The intent of the settlor;

(3) The identity and circumstances of the beneficiaries;

(4) The needs for liquidity, regularity of income, and preservation and appreciation of capital;

(5) The assets held in the trust; the extent to which they consist of financial assets, interests in closely held enterprises, tangible and intangible personal property, or real property; the extent to which an asset is used by a beneficiary; and whether an asset was purchased by the trustee or received from the settlor;

(6) The net amount allocated to income under the other sections of this chapter, and the increase or decrease in the value of the principal assets, which the trustee may estimate as to assets for which market values are not readily available;

(7) Whether and to what extent the terms of the trust give the trustee the power to invade principal or accumulate income or prohibit the trustee from invading principal or accumulating income, and the extent to which the trustee has exercised a power from time to time to invade principal or accumulate income;

(8) The actual and anticipated effect of economic conditions on principal and income and effects of inflation and deflation; and

(9) The anticipated tax consequences of an adjustment.

(c) A trustee may not make an adjustment:

(1) That diminishes the income interest in a trust that requires all of the income to be paid at least annually to a spouse and for which an estate tax or gift tax marital deduction would be allowed, in whole or in part, if the trustee did not have the power to make the adjustment;

(2) That reduces the actuarial value of the income interest in a trust to which a person transfers property with the intent to qualify for a gift tax exclusion;

(3) That changes the amount payable to a beneficiary as a fixed annuity or a fixed fraction of the value of the trust assets;

(4) If the adjustment is from any amount that is permanently set aside for charitable purposes under the governing instrument and for which a federal estate or gift tax deduction has been taken unless both income and principal are so set aside;

(5) If possessing or exercising the power to make an adjustment causes an individual to be treated as the owner of all or part of the trust for income tax purposes, and the individual would not be treated as the owner if the trustee did not possess the power to make an adjustment;

(6) If possessing or exercising the power to make an adjustment causes all or part of the trust assets to be included for estate tax purposes in the estate of an individual who has the power to remove a trustee or appoint a trustee, or both, and the assets would not be included in the estate of the individual if the trustee did not possess the power to make an adjustment;

(7) If the trustee is a beneficiary of the trust; or

(8) If the trustee is not a beneficiary, but the adjustment would benefit the trustee directly or indirectly.

(d) If paragraph (c)(5), (6), (7), or (8) of this section applies to a trustee and there is more than 1 trustee, a cotrustee to whom the provision does not apply may make the adjustment unless the exercise of the power by the remaining trustee or trustees is not permitted by the terms of the trust.

(e) A trustee may release the entire power conferred by subsection (a) of this section or may release only the power to adjust from income to principal or the power to adjust from principal to income if the trustee is uncertain about whether possessing or exercising the power will cause a result described in paragraph (c)(1) through (6) or (c)(8) of this section or if the trustee determines that possessing or exercising the power will or might deprive the trust of a tax benefit or impose a tax burden not described in subsection (c) of this section. The release may be permanent or for a specified period, including a period measured by the life of an individual.

(f) Terms of a trust that limit the power of a trustee to make an adjustment between principal and income do not affect the application of this section unless it is clear from the terms of the trust that the terms are intended to deny the trustee the power of adjustment conferred by subsection (a) of this section.

(g) This section shall have no application to trusts governed by §§ 61-106 and 61-107 of this title. This section shall be construed as pertaining to the administration of a trust.

(h) Following the exercise of the power conferred by subsection (a) of this section to adjust principal to income, the trustee:

(1) Shall consider as ordinary income the amount so adjusted that is not capital gain net income described in paragraph (h)(2) of this section as paid from trust accounting income;

(2) After calculating the trust’s capital gain net income described in § 1222(9) (26 U.S.C. § 1222(9)) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, may consider the amount so adjusted as paid from net short-term capital gain described in § 1222(5) (26 U.S. C. § 1222(5)) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and then from net long-term capital gain described in § 1222(7) (26 U.S.C. § 1222(7)) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended; and

(3) Shall then consider any remaining amount so adjusted as paid from the principal of the trust.
12 Del. C. § 1113 — Delaware Code / Title 12 / Chapter 11 / Subchapter I / Section 1113
§ Â
        1113. Claims to proceeds of sale.
Status: in_force

Any person who did not participate in or receive actual notice of the hearing provided by § 1104 of this title shall have the right within 2 years of the date of sale of any property under this subchapter to file a claim by way of petition in the Court of Chancery, to all or any portion of the escheated property. If such claim is established and allowed by the Court, such person shall be entitled to receive from the State Treasurer, under a warrant for the same signed by the Secretary of Finance, all such proceeds as the State shall have received on the sale of such property or portion thereof, after all charges thereon are deducted, or all escheated property, real or personal, still held by the State, subject to paying all costs of the escheat.
12 Del. C. § 2909 — Delaware Code / Title 12 / Chapter 29 / Section 2909
§ Â
        2909. Collection of estate tax by fiduciary [Effective Jan. 1, 2014, but see Ââ2914 of this title for future applicability].
Status: in_force

(a) A fiduciary responsible for payment of an estate tax may collect from any person the tax apportioned to and the tax required to be advanced by the person.

(b) Except as otherwise provided in § 2906 of this title, any estate tax due from a person that cannot be collected from the person may be collected by the fiduciary from other persons in the following order of priority:

(1) Any person having an interest in the apportionable estate which is not exonerated from the tax;

(2) Any other person having an interest in the apportionable estate;

(3) Any person having an interest in the gross estate.

(c) A domiciliary fiduciary may recover from an ancillary personal representative the estate tax apportioned to the property controlled by the ancillary personal representative.

(d) The total tax collected from a person pursuant to this chapter may not exceed the value of the person’s interest.
12 Del. C. § 3334 — Delaware Code / Title 12 / Chapter 33 / Section 3334
§ Â
        3334. Contributions to revocable trusts [For application of this section, see 79 Del. Laws, c. 172, Ââ6].
Status: in_force

Where spouses make a contribution of property to 1 or more trusts, each of which is revocable by either or both of them, and, immediately before such contribution, such property or any part thereof or any accumulation thereto was, pursuant to applicable law, owned by them as tenants by the entireties, in any action concerning whether a creditor of either or both spouses may recover the debt from the trust, the sole remedy available to the creditor with respect to such trust property shall be an order directing the trustee to transfer the property to both spouses as tenants by the entireties.
12 Del. C. § 3809 — Delaware Code / Title 12 / Chapter 38 / Subchapter I / Section 3809
§ Â
        3809. Applicability of trust law.
Status: in_force

Except to the extent otherwise provided in the governing instrument of a statutory trust or in this subchapter, the laws of this State pertaining to trusts are hereby made applicable to statutory trusts; provided however, that for purposes of any tax imposed by this State or any instrumentality, agency or political subdivision of this State a statutory trust shall be classified as a corporation, an association, a partnership, a trust or otherwise, as shall be determined under the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986 [26 U.S. Code § 1 et seq.], as amended, or under any successor provision.
12 Del. C. § 3536 — Delaware Code / Title 12 / Chapter 35 / Subchapter III / Section 3536
§ Â
        3536. Rights of creditors and assignees of beneficiary of trust [For application of this section, see 79 Del. Laws, c. 172, Ââ6].
Status: in_force

(a) Except as expressly provided in subsections (c) and (d) of this section, a creditor of a beneficiary of a trust shall have only such rights against or with respect to such beneficiary’s interest in the trust or the property of the trust as shall be expressly granted to such creditor by the terms of the instrument that creates or defines the trust or by the laws of this State. The provisions of this subsection shall be effective regardless of the nature or extent of the beneficiary’s interest, whether or not such interest is subject to an exercise of discretion by the trustee or other fiduciary, and shall be effective regardless of any action taken or that might be taken by the beneficiary. Every interest in a trust or in trust property or the income therefrom that shall not be subject to the rights of creditors of such beneficiary as expressly provided in this section shall be exempt from execution, attachment, distress for rent, foreclosure, garnishment and from all other legal or equitable process or remedies instituted by or on behalf of any creditor, including, without limitation, actions at law or in equity against a trustee or beneficiary that seeks a remedy that directly or indirectly affects a beneficiary’s interest such as, by way of illustration and not of limitation, an order, whether such order be at the request of a creditor or on the court’s own motion or other action, that would:

(1) Compel the trustee or any other fiduciary or any beneficiary to notify the creditor of a distribution made or to be made from the trust;

(2) Compel the trustee or beneficiary to make a distribution from the trust whether or not distributions from the trust are subject to the exercise of discretion by a trustee or other fiduciary;

(3) Prohibit a trustee from making a distribution from the trust to or for the benefit of the beneficiary whether or not distributions from the trust are subject to the exercise of discretion by a trustee or other fiduciary; or

(4) Compel the beneficiary to exercise a power of appointment or power of revocation over the trust.

Every direct or indirect assignment, or act having the effect of an assignment, whether voluntary or involuntary, by a beneficiary of a trust of the beneficiary’s interest in the trust or the trust property or the income or other distribution therefrom that is unassignable by the terms of the instrument that creates or defines the trust is void. No beneficiary may waive the application of this subsection. For purposes of this subsection, the creditors of a beneficiary shall include, but not be limited to, (i) any person that has a claim against the beneficiary, the beneficiary’s estate, or the beneficiary’s property by reason of any forced heirship, legitime, marital elective share, or similar rights, and (ii) a former spouse who has a claim against the beneficiary, the beneficiary’s estate, or the beneficiary’s property. The provisions of this subsection shall apply to the interest of a trust beneficiary until the actual distribution of trust property to the beneficiary. Regardless of whether a beneficiary has any outstanding creditor, a trustee may make direct payment of any expense on behalf of such beneficiary to the extent permitted by the instrument that creates or defines the trust and may exhaust the income and principal of the trust for the benefit of such beneficiary. A trustee shall not be liable to any creditor of a beneficiary for paying the expenses of a beneficiary.

(b) Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this section, a beneficiary entitled to receive all or a part of the income of a trust shall have the right to assign gratuitously in writing, at any time or from time to time, a stated fraction or percentage of the beneficiary’s entire remaining income interest in such trust to the State or to any corporation, church, community chest, fund, or foundation authorized as a deduction pursuant to §§ 1107, 1108, and 1109 of Title 30 and such assignment shall be valid and binding on all parties irrespective of any restrictions on assignment contained in the instrument creating or defining the trust; provided, however, that this subsection shall not authorize a beneficiary of such a trust to reduce any part of the beneficiary’s income interest which is subject to such restrictions on assignment below 50% of what such interest would be if no assignments were made under this subsection. Any interest assigned under this subsection, together with a corresponding portion of the corpus of the trust, shall be treated as a separate share and thereafter no provision of the trust permitting invasion of corpus for the benefit of the assignor shall be exercisable with respect to such share.

(c) Except as provided in subchapter VI of this Chapter 35, if the trustor is also a beneficiary of a trust, a provision that restrains the voluntary or involuntary transfer of the trustor’s beneficial interest shall not prevent such trustor’s creditors from satisfying their respective claims from the trustor’s interest in the trust to the extent that such interest is attributable to the trustor’s contributions to the trust. The trustor shall not be considered a beneficiary for purposes of this section, and a trustor’s creditors may not satisfy their respective claims from the trust, merely because:

(1) The trustor may be named as an additional trust beneficiary;

(2) The trustee, under the governing instrument or § 3344 of this title, may, in its discretion (or at the direction of or with the consent of an adviser other than the trustor), reimburse the trustor for any income tax liability attributable to the trust;

(3) The trustor is a proper object of the exercise of a power of appointment over trust property held by someone other than the trustor; or

(4) The trustor has retained a beneficial interest that is contingent upon surviving the trustor’s spouse (or surviving until the release of an interest by such a spouse under subsection (e) of this section) such as, but not limited to, an interest in an inter vivos marital deduction trust in which the interest of the trustor’s spouse is treated as qualified terminable interest property under § 2523(f) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. § 2523(f)), as amended, an interest in an inter vivos marital deduction trust that is treated as a general power of appointment trust for which a marital deduction would be allowed under § 2523(a) and (e) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. § 2523(a) and (e)), as amended, and an interest in an inter vivos trust commonly known as a credit shelter trust’' that used all or a portion of the trustor’s unified credit under § 2505 of the Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C. § 2505), as amended.

Further, a beneficiary of a trust shall not be considered a trustor of the trust merely because of a lapse, waiver, or release of the beneficiary’s right to withdraw all or a part of the trust property. For purposes of paragraph (c)(3) of this section, if a person who otherwise would be considered a trustor of a trust becomes a beneficiary of a trust created by exercise of a testamentary power of appointment by another person, such person shall be treated as a beneficiary of such trust and shall not be treated as a trustor of the trust so created and such beneficiary’s creditors may not satisfy their respective claims from such beneficiary’s interest in the trust even if such beneficiary granted the power of appointment to the other person.

(d) For purposes of subsection (a) of this section, a creditor shall have no right against the interest of a beneficiary of a trust or against the beneficiary or trustee of the trust with respect to such interest unless:

(1) The beneficiary has a power to appoint all or part of the trust property to the beneficiary, the beneficiary’s estate, the beneficiary’s creditors, or the creditors of the beneficiary’s estate by will or other instrument such that the appointment would take effect only upon the beneficiary’s death and the beneficiary actually exercises such power in favor of the beneficiary, the beneficiary’s creditors, the beneficiary’s estate, or the creditors of the beneficiary’s estate but then only to the extent of such exercise.

(2) The beneficiary has a power to appoint all or part of the trust property to the beneficiary, the beneficiary’s creditors, the beneficiary’s estate, or the creditors of the beneficiary’s estate during the beneficiary’s lifetime and the beneficiary actually exercises such power in favor of the beneficiary, the beneficiary’s creditors, the beneficiary’s estate, or the creditors of the beneficiary’s estate but then only to the extent of such exercise.

(3) The beneficiary has the power to revoke the trust in whole or in part during the beneficiary’s lifetime and, upon such revocation, the trust or the part thereof so revoked would be possessed by the beneficiary. This paragraph shall have no application to any part of the trust that may not be so revoked by the beneficiary.

(e) Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this section, unless the trust’s governing instrument expressly provides otherwise, a beneficiary of a charitable remainder unitrust or charitable-remainder annuity trust as such terms are defined in § 664 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. § 664) and any successor provision thereto, shall have the right, at any time and from time to time, by written instrument delivered to the trustee, to release such beneficiary’s retained interest in such a trust, in whole or in part, in favor of-— or to assign such interest, in whole or in part, to-—a charitable organization that has or charitable organizations that have a succeeding beneficial interest in such trust. Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this section, unless the trust’s governing instrument expressly provides otherwise, a beneficiary may also disclaim an interest in a trust pursuant to Chapter 6 of this title. In addition, notwithstanding subsection (a) of this section, a trustor’s spouse holding an interest in a trust described in subsection (c) of this section shall have the right, at any time and from time to time, by written instrument delivered to the trustee, to release, assign, or otherwise dispose of within the meaning of § 2519 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. § 2519), such spouse’s interest in such trust, in whole or in part, in favor of the beneficiary or beneficiaries having the next succeeding beneficial interest in such trust.
12 Del. C. § 1302 — Delaware Code / Title 12 / Chapter 13 / Section 1302
§ Â
        1302. Proving will.
Status: in_force

(a) A will shall be proved before the Register of Wills of the county in which the testator was domiciled at the time of death. If the testator was not domiciled in this State, it may be proved before the Register of any county in this State wherein there are any goods or chattels, rights or credits, or lands or tenements of the deceased.

(b) To be effective to prove a transfer of any property or to nominate an executor, a will must be declared to be valid by admission to probate.
12 Del. C. § 2354 — Delaware Code / Title 12 / Chapter 23 / Subchapter IV / Section 2354
§ Â
        2354. Accounting and decree of Court of Chancery upon petition of domiciliary state.
Status: in_force

Within 60 days after the mailing of the notice required by § 2353 of this title, the official or body charged with the administration of the death tax laws of the domiciliary state may file with the Court of Chancery in this State a petition for an accounting in such estate, and such official or body of the domiciliary state shall, for the purposes of this section, be a party interested for the purpose of petitioning the Court for such accounting. If such petition be filed within said period of 60 days, the Court shall decree such accounting and, upon such accounting being filed and approved, shall decree either the payment of any such tax found to be due to the domiciliary state or subdivision thereof or the remission to a fiduciary appointed or to be appointed by the probate court, or other court charged with the administration of estates of decedents, of the domiciliary state, of the balance of the intangible personalty after the payment of creditors and expenses of administration in this State.
12 Del. C. § 3522 — Delaware Code / Title 12 / Chapter 35 / Subchapter II / Section 3522
§ Â
        3522. Trusteesâ accounts for inter vivos trusts.
Status: in_force

Trustees of an inter vivos trust (whether or not property was bequeathed or devised to such trust by a testamentary disposition) shall not be required to file any accounts or inventories with respect to such trust, except:

(1) To the extent provided in the governing instrument;

(2) Upon an order of the Court of Chancery, for cause shown, expressly requiring an accounting by such trustees; or

(3) If such trustees were appointed by the Court of Chancery, then as may be otherwise provided in the order of appointment.
12 Del. C. § 5004 — Delaware Code / Title 12 / Chapter 50 / Section 5004
§ Â
        5004. Control of digital accounts and digital assets by a fiduciary.
Status: in_force

(a) Except as otherwise provided by a governing instrument or court order, a fiduciary may exercise control over any and all rights in digital assets and digital accounts of an account holder, to the extent permitted under applicable state or federal law, including copyright law, or regulations or any end user license agreement.

(b) If a provision in an end user license agreement limits a fiduciary’s access to or control over a digital asset or digital account of an account holder, the provision is void as against the strong public policy of this State, unless the account holder has agreed to the provision by an affirmative act separate from the account holder’s assent to other provisions of the end user license agreement.

(c) A choice-of-law provision in an end user license agreement is unenforceable against a fiduciary action under this chapter to the extent the provision designates law that enforces or would enforce a limitation on a fiduciary’s access to or control over digital assets or digital accounts that is void under subsection (b) of this section.
12 Del. C. § 3852 — Delaware Code / Title 12 / Chapter 38 / Subchapter II / Section 3852
§ Â
        3852. Registration required; application.
Status: in_force

(a) Before doing business in the State of Delaware, a foreign statutory trust shall register with the Secretary of State. In order to register, a foreign statutory trust shall submit to the Secretary of State:

(1) A copy executed by a trustee or other authorized person of an application for registration as a foreign statutory trust, setting forth:

a. The name of the foreign statutory trust and, if different, the name under which it proposes to register and do business in the State of Delaware;

b. The state, territory, possession or other jurisdiction or country where formed, the date of its formation and a statement from a trustee or other authorized person that, as of the date of filing, the foreign statutory trust validly exists as a statutory trust under the laws of the jurisdiction of its formation;

c. The nature of the business or purposes to be conducted or promoted in the State of Delaware;

d. The address of the registered office and the name and address of the registered agent for service of process required to be maintained by § 3854(b) of this title;

e. A statement that the Secretary of State is appointed the agent of the trust for service of process under the circumstances set forth in § 3860(b) of this title; and

f. The date on which the foreign statutory trust first did, or intends to do, business in the State of Delaware.

(2) A certificate, as of a date not earlier than 6 months prior to the filing date, issued by an authorized officer of the jurisdiction of its formation evidencing its existence. If such certificate is in a foreign language, a translation thereof, under oath of the translator, shall be attached thereto.

(3) A fee as set forth in § 3862 of this title shall be paid.

(b) If a foreign statutory trust that is registering to do business in the State of Delaware in accordance with subsection (a) of this section is governed by a governing instrument that establishes or provides for the establishment of designated series of trustees, beneficial owners, beneficial interests or assets having separate rights, powers or duties with respect to specified property or obligations of the foreign statutory trust or profits and losses associated with specified property or obligations, that fact shall be so stated on the application for registration as a foreign statutory trust. In addition, the foreign statutory trust shall state on such application whether the debts, liabilities and obligations incurred, contracted for or otherwise existing with respect to a particular series, if any, shall be enforceable against the assets of such series only, and not against the assets of the foreign statutory trust generally or any other series thereof, and whether any of the debts, liabilities, obligations and expenses incurred, contracted for or otherwise existing with respect to the foreign statutory trust generally or any series thereof shall be enforceable against the assets of such series.
12 Del. C. § 268 — Delaware Code / Title 12 / Chapter 2 / Subchapter III / Section 268
§ Â
        268. Declaration â revocation by divorce.
Status: in_force

Unless otherwise expressly provided in a declaration instrument, a subsequent divorce, dissolution of marriage, annulment of marriage, or legal separation between the declarant and spouse automatically revokes a delegation to the declarant’s spouse to direct the disposition of the declarant’s last remains or ceremonies after the declarant’s death. This section shall not be construed to revoke the remaining provisions of the declaration instrument.
12 Del. C. § 3525 — Delaware Code / Title 12 / Chapter 35 / Subchapter II / Section 3525
§ Â
        3525. Filing of trusteesâ accounts; contents; approval.
Status: in_force

(a) Trustees required to file accounts as provided in the governing instrument, or in an order of the Court of Chancery, shall file accounts as described in subsection (c) of this section only in accordance with the express terms, if any, of such governing instrument or order.

(b) Trustees otherwise required to file accounts under §§ 3523 and 3524 of this title shall file accounts as described in subsection (c) of this section.

(c) To the extent required in subsections (a) and (b) of this section above, trustees required to file accounts shall file with the Register in Chancery, in the county in which a will creating the trust was probated or in which such appointments were made, and submit for the approval of the Court of Chancery just and true accounts, showing all receipts and disbursements of their trusts, as the Court requires, but not oftener than once in 2 years, unless there is special occasion. Such accounts shall also show the manner in which the principal of the trust is invested. Upon the request of the trustee or of any party in interest the Court shall, and upon its own motion may, proceed to approve or disapprove the investments, but otherwise the Court shall approve or disapprove the remainder of the account without passing upon the manner in which the principal of the trust is invested.
12 Del. C. § 4509 — Delaware Code / Title 12 / Chapter 45 / Section 4509
§ Â
        4509. Manner of creating custodial property and effecting transfer; designation of initial custodian; control.
Status: in_force

(a) Custodial property is created and a transfer is made whenever:

(1) An uncertificated security or a certificated security in registered form is either:

a. Registered in the name of the transferor, an adult other than the transferor or a trust company, followed in substance by the words: “as custodian for (name of minor) under the Delaware Uniform Transfers to Minors Act”; or

b. Delivered if in certificated form or any document necessary for the transfer of an uncertificated security is delivered, together with any necessary endorsement to an adult other than the transferor or to a trust company as custodian, accompanied by an instrument in substantially the form set forth in subsection (b) of this section;

(2) Money is paid or delivered or a security held in the name of a broker, financial institution or its nominee is transferred to a broker or financial institution for credit to an account in the name of the transferor, an adult other than the transferor or a trust company, followed in substance by the words: “as custodian for (name of minor) under the Delaware Uniform Transfers to Minors Act”;

(3) The ownership of a life or endowment insurance policy or annuity contract is either:

a. Registered with the issuer in the name of the transferor, an adult other than the transferor or a trust company, followed in substance by the words: “as custodian for (name of minor) under the Delaware Uniform Transfers to Minors Act”; or

b. Assigned in writing delivered to an adult other than the transferor or to a trust company whose name in the assignment is followed in substance by the words: “as custodian for (name of minor) under the Delaware Uniform Transfers to Minors Act”;

(4) An irrevocable exercise of a power of appointment or an irrevocable present right to future payment under a contract is the subject of a written notification delivered to the payor, issuer or other obligor that the right is transferred to the transferor, an adult other than the transferor or a trust company, whose name in the notification is followed in substance by the words: “as custodian for (name of minor) under the Delaware Uniform Transfers to Minors Act”;

(5) An interest in real property is recorded in the name of the transferor, an adult other than the transferor or a trust company, followed in substance by the words: “as custodian for (name of minor) under the Delaware Uniform Transfers to Minors Act”;

(6) A certificate of title issued by a department or agency of a state or of the United States which evidences title to tangible personal property is either:

a. Issued in the name of the transferor, an adult other than the transferor or a trust company, followed in substance by the words: “as custodian for (name of minor) under the Delaware Uniform Transfers to Minors Act”; or

b. Delivered to an adult other than the transferor or to a trust company, endorsed to that person followed in substance by the words: “as custodian for (name of minor) under the Delaware Uniform Transfers to Minors Act”; or

(7) An interest in any property not described in paragraphs (a)(1) through (6) of this section is transferred to an adult other than the transferor or to a trust company by a written instrument in substantially the form set forth in subsection (b) of this section.

(b) An instrument in the following form satisfies the requirements of paragraphs (a)(1)b. and (a)(7) of this section:

“TRANSFER UNDER THE DELAWARE UNIFORM

TRANSFERS TO MINORS ACT

I, ________________________________ (name of transferor or name and representative capacity if a fiduciary), hereby transfer to ________________________________ (name of custodian), as custodian for ________________________________ (name of minor) under the Delaware Uniform Transfers to Minors Act, the following: (insert a description of the custodial property sufficient to identify it).

Date: ________________________________

________________________________      (Signature)

________________________________ (name of custodian) acknowledges receipt of the property described above as custodian for the minor named above under the Delaware Uniform Transfers to Minors Act.

Dated: ________________________________

________________________________      (Signature of Custodian)”

(c) A transferor shall place the custodian in control of the custodial property as soon as practicable.
12 Del. C. § 601 — Delaware Code / Title 12 / Chapter 6 / Section 601
§ Â
        601. Short title.
Status: in_force

This chapter may be cited as the “Delaware Disclaimer Act.”
12 Del. C. § 1172 — Delaware Code / Title 12 / Chapter 11 / Subchapter II / Section 1172
§ Â
        1172. Rules and procedures for conducting an examination [For application of this section, see 83 Del. Laws, c. 59, Â 25; 84 Del. Laws, c. 368, Â 16].
Status: in_force

(a) Effective July 1, 2015, and subject to subsection (d) of this section, the State Escheator shall not initiate any new examination of records or an investigation of any person under this section unless the person has first been notified in writing by the Secretary of State that the person may enter into an unclaimed property voluntary disclosure agreement, or the holder fails to otherwise comply with a requirement imposed on such holder pursuant to § 1173 of this title.

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of § 1173(e)(3) of this title, for any examination authorized by the State Escheator on or before July 22, 2015, except any securities examinations in which estimation is not required, the person under such an examination may notify the State Escheator and the Secretary of State of the person’s intent to convert the pending examination into a review under the Secretary of State’s voluntary disclosure program and to enter into the Secretary of State’s unclaimed property voluntary disclosure program under § 1173 of this title. The person shall notify the State Escheator and Secretary of State in writing in a form and manner provided by the State Escheator and the Secretary of State. If such notice is not received within 60 days of the adoption of regulations under § 1176(b) of this title, the person may not convert the examination into a review under the Secretary of State’s unclaimed property voluntary disclosure program under § 1173 of this title. The look back period for any such voluntary disclosure permitted under this section is 10 years prior to when property is presumed abandoned under this chapter from the calendar year in which the State Escheator provided the original notice of examination.

(c) (1) For any examination authorized by the State Escheator after February 2, 2017, and before August 1, 2021, the person under examination may notify the State Escheator of the person’s request to expedite the completion of the pending examination by providing written notification on a form provided by the State Escheator, responses to all pending or outstanding requests for records, testimony, and information made by the person conducting the examination, and a detailed workplan and schedule for completion of the expedited examination that must be received by the State Escheator by September 29, 2021. For any examination authorized by the State Escheator after August 1, 2021, the person under examination may notify the State Escheator of the person’s request to expedite the completion of the pending examination by providing written notification on a form provided by the State Escheator, responses to all pending or outstanding requests for records, testimony, and information made by the person conducting the examination, and a detailed workplan and schedule for completion of the expedited examination. Within 60 days, the State Escheator shall issue a written determination to accept or deny the person’s request to expedite completion of the examination, or otherwise seek agreement with the person requesting to expedite to revise the detailed work plan and schedule for completion so that the State Escheator might accept the person’s request to expedite completion of the examination. For any person whose request to expedite the completion of the pending examination is accepted, the State Escheator shall provide written notice of the acceptance within 60 days of receipt of the person’s request. This determination shall be within the complete discretion of the State Escheator and subject only to the review of the Secretary of Finance, whose review must be requested in writing within 30 days of the State Escheator’s determination.

(2) Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (c)(1) of this section, for any person who notifies the State Escheator of the person’s request to expedite the completion of the pending examination by providing written notification on a form provided by the State Escheator under § 1173(b) of this title, the State Escheator shall mail a notice of examination within 30 days of receipt of the person’s request to expedite the completion of the pending examination.

(3) If the request to expedite the completion of the examination is accepted under paragraph (c)(1) of this section or the person received a notice of examination under paragraph (c)(2) of this section and the person provides sufficient responses within the time and in the manner established by the State Escheator to all requests for records, testimony, and information made by the person conducting the examination, the State Escheator shall complete the examination and provide an examination report within 2 years from the date of the acceptance of the request to expedite under paragraph (c)(1) of this section or the notice of examination under paragraph (c)(2) of this sectionand shall apply interest per § 1185(a)(2) of this title, provided that the person complies with paragraph (c)(7) of this section.

(4) All requests for records, testimony, and information must be made by the person conducting the examination to the person under examination no later than 18 months after the acceptance of the request to expedite under paragraph (c)(1) of this section or the notice of examination under paragraph (c)(2) of this section.

(5) The determination whether the person has responded within the time and in the manner established and a resulting determination to terminate expediting the person’s examination under this subsection if the person has not, shall be within the complete discretion of the State Escheator and subject only to the review of the Secretary of Finance, whose review must be requested in writing within 30 days of the State Escheator’s determination. Upon termination of the expedited examination, the person shall be under nonexpedited examination, subject to the terms and conditions of such an examination as provided by this subchapter.

(6) A statement of findings produced at the conclusion of the expedited examination shall be treated as any other report after the conclusion of an examination of a holder under § 1179(a) of this title.

(7) A person whose request to expedite has been accepted under paragraph (c)(1) of this section or who received a notice of examination under paragraph (c)(2) of this section must deliver full and final payment in accordance with § 1179 of this title not later than the earlier of any the following:

a. Ninety days after the date the State Escheator provides a statement of findings and request for payment.

b. Not later than 3 years from the acceptance of the request to expedite under paragraph (c)(1) of this section or the notice of examination under paragraph (c)(2) of this section.

c. No more than 180 days after the date determined under either paragraph (c)(7)a. or b. of this section pursuant to a single extension, which shall be determined within the complete discretion of the State Escheator and subject only to the review of the Secretary of Finance, whose review must be requested in writing within 30 days of the State Escheator’s determination. If the person fails to deliver full and final payment, the State Escheator may terminate the expedited examination per paragraph (c)(5) of this section, and the person shall be under nonexpedited examination, subject to the terms and conditions of such an examination as provided by this subchapter.

(d) The State Escheator may authorize an examination of records or an investigation of any person under this section without the person having been notified in writing by the Secretary of State as outlined in subsection (a) of this section in any of the following circumstances:

(1) Pursuant to information received under Chapter 12 of Title 6.

(2) As a joint examination initiated by another state under § 1182 of this title.

(3) Where the Secretary of State may not enter into an unclaimed property voluntary disclosure agreement with person subject to § 1173(e) of this title.

(4) Where the State Escheator determines that the person has not completed or responded to a verified report or compliance review as required under § 1170 of this title.

(e) The State Escheator shall adopt rules governing procedures and standards for a compliance review under § 1170 of this title and an examination under § 1171 of this title, including rules for use of an estimation, extrapolation, and statistical sampling in conducting an examination.

(f) If the person subject to examination under § 1171 of this title has filed all reports required by § 1142 of this title and has retained the records required by § 1145 of this title, all of the following rules apply:

(1) The examination must include a review of the person’s records.

(2) The examination may not be based upon an estimate unless the holder expressly consents in a record to the use of an estimate.

(3) The person conducting the examination shall consider all evidence presented by the person in good faith in preparing the findings of the examination under § 1177 of this title.

(g) Any examination under this section may include the State Escheator utilizing any and all reliable external data, including electronic databases deemed relevant by the State Escheator.

(h) After February 2, 2017, the State Escheator may not conduct any examination of records or an investigation under this section with respect to the reporting, payment, or delivery of property more than 10 years after the duty arose under this chapter from the earlier of the date on which the State Escheator delivers written notice of such examination or the Secretary of State delivers notice that the person may enter into an unclaimed property voluntary disclosure agreement under subsection (a) of this section, except if the State Escheator reasonably concludes that the holder has filed a report containing a fraudulent or wilful misrepresentation.

(i) Subject to this section and § 1171 of this title, the State Escheator may authorize an examination of records or an investigation of any person, or any agent, representative, subsidiary or affiliate of the person under examination, or party in possession of information related to such examination, for any reason related to an examination and is under no obligation to provide any other more specific or detailed reason or justification for the examination to the person under examination or any agent, representative, subsidiary or affiliate of the person under examination, or any party in possession of information related to such examination, other than the request being related to an examination to determine compliance with this chapter.

(j) For any holder who requests to enter into the voluntary disclosure agreement program under § 1173 of this title and subsequently voluntarily withdraws or is referred to the State Escheator pursuant to § 1173(a)(4) of this title, the State Escheator may not conduct any examination of records or an investigation under this section for any period more than 10 years prior to when property is presumed abandoned under this chapter from the calendar year in which the holder provided written notice of such holder’s intent to enter into the voluntary disclosure agreement program pursuant to § 1173 of this title, except if the State Escheator reasonably concludes that the holder has filed a report containing a fraudulent or wilful misrepresentation.
12 Del. C. § 1551 — Delaware Code / Title 12 / Chapter 15 / Subchapter IV / Section 1551
§ Â
        1551. Appointment of trustee upon petition of executor or administrator; bond, duties and release of trustee.
Status: in_force

(a) When any person, other than the person who during life shall be entitled under the will of any deceased testator to the income on the personal estate of such deceased testator or any part thereof, shall be the executor or administrator with the will annexed of the estate of such deceased testator, such executor or administrator with the will annexed may, if no trustee is named in such will, after having passed a final account of administration on the estate before the Register of Wills, petition the Court of Chancery for the appointment of a trustee to receive from such executor or administrator with the will annexed, the fund to which the person named in the will is entitled during the person’s life.

(b) The Court of Chancery, upon petition being presented to it as provided in subsection (a) of this section, shall appoint a trustee to receive, manage and invest the fund, and the trustee shall give bond as the Court may order and direct.

(c) The trustee shall manage and invest the fund, and pay over to the person entitled for life to the fund the profits and income arising thereout; and after the death of the person entitled for life, shall pay the fund to the person entitled absolutely.

(d) The trust shall terminate upon the death of the person entitled during life to the fund, and the release of the person entitled absolutely to the fund shall discharge and release the trustee from all liability for or concerning the same.
12 Del. C. § 3314 — Delaware Code / Title 12 / Chapter 33 / Section 3314
§ Â
        3314. Limitation on certain fiduciary powers.
Status: in_force

(a) This section shall apply to:

(1) Any trust created under a governing instrument that, but for this section, would permit any of the powers described in subsection (c) of this section to be exercised by the fiduciary unless the governing instrument expressly provides that this section does not apply.

(2) For purposes of this section, the term “fiduciary” means any trustee or trust adviser or the personal representative of an estate except to the extent the governing instrument expressly states that such person is not serving in a fiduciary capacity.

(b) This section shall not apply to:

(1) Any trust during the time that the trust is revocable or amendable by its trustor.

(2) A spouse of a decedent or trustor where the spouse is a fiduciary of a testamentary or inter vivos trust for which a marital deduction has been allowed.

(3) A fiduciary who possesses in such fiduciary’s individual, nonfiduciary, capacity an unlimited right to appoint all or part of the property held in trust to the fiduciary, the fiduciary’s estate, the fiduciary’s creditors, or the creditors of the fiduciary’s estate.

(4) A trust under a governing instrument that by specific reference expressly rejects the application of this section.

(5) A trust created under a governing instrument executed on or before August 1, 2008, if, in the case of a fiduciary’s possessing a power described in subsection (c) of this section and dying at any time on or after August 1, 2008, no part of the property of the trust would be included in the gross estate of the fiduciary for federal estate-tax purposes or, notwithstanding that all or some part of the property held in trust would be so included, no federal estate tax would be payable by such estate.

(6) A trust created under a governing instrument executed on or before August 1, 2008, if, in the case of a beneficiary’s possessing a power to appoint a trustee and dying at any time on or after August 1, 2008, no part of the property of the trust would be included in the gross estate of the beneficiary for federal estate-tax purposes or, notwithstanding that all or some part of the property held in trust would be so included, no federal estate tax would be payable by such estate.

(c) The following powers conferred by a governing instrument upon a fiduciary in that fiduciary’s capacity as a fiduciary shall not be exercised by that fiduciary:

(1) The power to make discretionary distributions of either principal or income to or for the benefit of the fiduciary, the fiduciary’s estate, the creditors of the fiduciary, or the creditors of the fiduciary’s estate unless the power is either:

a. Limited by an ascertainable standard relating to the fiduciary’s health, education, support, or maintenance within the meaning of 26 U.S.C. §§ 2041 (relating to powers of appointment) and 2514 (relating to powers of appointment); or

b. Exercisable by the fiduciary only in conjunction with another person having a substantial interest in the property subject to the power which is adverse to the interest of the fiduciary within the meaning of 26 U.S.C. § 2041(b)(1)(C)(ii).

(2) The power to make discretionary distributions of either principal or income to satisfy any of the fiduciary’s personal legal obligations for support or other purposes.

(3) The power to make discretionary allocations in the fiduciary’s personal favor of receipts or expenses as between income and principal unless the fiduciary has no power to enlarge or shift any beneficial interest except as an incidental consequence of the discharge of the fiduciary’s duties.

(4) The power to exercise any of the powers proscribed in this subsection with regard to an individual other than the fiduciary to the extent that the individual could exercise a similar prohibited power in connection with a trust that benefits the fiduciary.

(5) The power to make an election, other than an election under 26 U.S.C. §§ 2056(b)(7) and 2523(f) (relating to the federal estate-tax and gift-tax marital deductions), in a fiduciary capacity that would cause the property over which the election could be made to be included in the gross estate of the fiduciary for federal estate-tax purposes.

(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions:

(1) If a fiduciary is prohibited by this section from exercising a power conferred upon the fiduciary, the fiduciary nevertheless may exercise that power but shall be limited to distributions for the fiduciary’s health, education, support, or maintenance to the extent otherwise permitted by the terms of the trust.

(2) Unless otherwise prohibited by the provisions of this section, a fiduciary may exercise a power described herein in favor of someone other than the fiduciary, the fiduciary’s estate, the creditors of the fiduciary, or the creditors of the fiduciary’s estate.

(3) Subject to the preceding paragraphs of this subsection, any purported exercise of a power proscribed by subsection (c) of this section shall be void and of no effect.

(e) If a governing instrument creates a power proscribed by this section:

(1) If the power is conferred on 2 or more fiduciaries, it may be exercised by the fiduciary or fiduciaries who are not so prohibited as if they were the only fiduciary or fiduciaries.

(2) If there is no fiduciary in office who can exercise the power as provided in paragraph (e)(1) of this section, the court, upon petition and hearing after such notice as it may direct, shall appoint a fiduciary who is not disqualified and whose term in office shall be as the court directs for the sole purpose of exercising the power that the other fiduciary or fiduciaries cannot exercise.

(3) The court may, upon petition by any fiduciary or beneficiary of the trust subject to the power, appoint an additional fiduciary or fiduciaries.

(f) No beneficiary of a trust in an individual, fiduciary, or other capacity may appoint, or remove and appoint, a fiduciary who is related or subordinate to the beneficiary within the meaning of 26 U.S.C. § 672(c) unless:

(1) The fiduciary’s discretionary power to make distributions to or for the beneficiary is limited by an ascertainable standard relating to the beneficiary’s health, education, support, or maintenance within the meaning of 26 U.S.C. §§ 2041 and 2514;

(2) The fiduciary’s discretionary power may not be exercised to satisfy any of the beneficiary’s legal obligations for support or other purposes; and

(3) The fiduciary’s discretionary power may not be exercised to grant to the beneficiary a general power to appoint property of the trust to the beneficiary, the beneficiary’s estate, or the creditors thereof within the meaning of 26 U.S.C. § 2041.

(4) This subsection shall not apply if the appointment of the fiduciary by the beneficiary may be made only in conjunction with another person having a substantial interest in the property of the trust subject to the power which is adverse to the exercise of the power in favor of the beneficiary within the meaning of 26 U.S.C. § 2041(b)(1)(C)(ii).
12 Del. C. § 2512 — Delaware Code / Title 12 / Chapter 25 / Section 2512
§ Â
        2512. Refusal to pay fees; penalty.
Status: in_force

Whoever neglects or refuses to pay the fees provided for in this chapter, for any service performed, within 30 days after written demand from the Register of Wills to whom such fees are due, shall be fined $20 besides costs of suit unless the Court of Chancery, upon application within such 30-day period for good cause shown, grants an extension of time for payment of such fees.
12 Del. C. § 2318 — Delaware Code / Title 12 / Chapter 23 / Subchapter II / Section 2318
§ Â
        2318. Proportional contribution of legatees.
Status: in_force

If there are several legacies, and a return of part of a legacy which has been paid becomes necessary, the legatee shall only be required to return a proportional part of the legatee’s legacy towards making up the whole sum wanting.
12 Del. C. § 61-101 — Delaware Code / Title 12 / Chapter 61 / Subchapter I / Section 61-101
§ Â
        61-101. Short title.
Status: in_force

Subchapters I through VI of this chapter may be cited as the “Delaware Uniform Principal and Income Act.”
12 Del. C. § 701 — Delaware Code / Title 12 / Chapter 7 / Section 701
§ Â
        701. Insufficient evidence of survivorship.
Status: in_force

Where the title to property or the devolution thereof depends upon priority of death and there is not sufficient evidence that the persons have died otherwise than simultaneously, the property of each person shall be disposed of as if each person had survived, except as otherwise provided in this chapter.
12 Del. C. § 4303 — Delaware Code / Title 12 / Chapter 43 / Section 4303
§ Â
        4303. Assignment by a fiduciary.
Status: in_force

Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, a corporation or transfer agent making a transfer of a security pursuant to an assignment by a fiduciary:

(1) May assume without inquiry that the assignment, even though to the fiduciary or to the fiduciary’s nominee, is within the fiduciary’s authority and capacity and is not in breach of the fiduciary duties;

(2) May assume without inquiry that the fiduciary has complied with any controlling instrument and with the law of the jurisdiction governing the fiduciary relationship, including any law requiring the fiduciary to obtain court approval of the transfer; and

(3) Is not charged with notice of and is not bound to obtain or examine any court record or any recorded or unrecorded document relating to the fiduciary relationship or the assignment, even though the record or document is in its possession.
12 Del. C. § 3507 — Delaware Code / Title 12 / Chapter 35 / Subchapter I / Section 3507
§ Â
        3507. Order of appointment.
Status: in_force

The Court of Chancery shall make any appointment or direction under §§ 3503-3506 of this title by an order made in any case pending in that Court or upon petition of the person entitled to such conveyance, assignment, transfer or payment. When the title of the person claiming such conveyance, assignment, transfer or payment may require investigation or it otherwise appears improper to make an order for the same on petition, the Court may direct a complaint to be filed to establish the right.
12 Del. C. § 1901 — Delaware Code / Title 12 / Chapter 19 / Section 1901
§ Â
        1901. Personal property constituting assets of estate; exceptions; employee death benefit plans and insurance policies.
Status: in_force

(a) Estates in lands, tenements and hereditaments held by the decedent for the life of another shall be chattels; and such estates, estates by elegit or for years, the crop of the decedent growing or begun (except on lands devised by the decedent), bank and other stock, money (whether in hand or deposited), and all goods and chattels shall be assets and included in the inventory.

(b) The following articles shall not be included in the inventory: The family Bible; clothes of the decedent; and the family stores laid in before the death of the decedent.

(c) If, under the terms of any insurance policy or contract, pension, bonus, stock option or other employee benefit or incentive plan, a person, trust or corporation, other than the decedent or the decedent’s estate’s personal representative, is designated to receive, upon or after the death of the decedent, any property or other death benefit, such property or death benefit shall not be included in the inventory of the decedent as chargeable to the decedent’s personal representative; and such person, trust or corporation shall be entitled to such property or death benefits as against the claim of any personal representative, creditor, legatee or next of kin of the decedent.

(d) Subsection (c) of this section shall apply to designations whether made prior to or subsequent to the enactment of this section with respect to decedents dying after June 30, 1969. This section shall have no effect on the validity of other designations, nor shall it affect the calculations of estate taxes with respect to any decedent.
12 Del. C. § 3325 — Delaware Code / Title 12 / Chapter 33 / Section 3325
§ Â
        3325. Specific powers of trustee [For application of this section, see 79 Del. Laws, c. 172, Â 6; 80 Del. Laws, c. 153, Â 5].
Status: in_force

Without limiting the authority conferred by § 3324 of this title, a trustee may:

(1) Collect trust property and accept or decline additions to the trust property from a trustor or any other person;

(2) Acquire or sell property, for cash or on credit, at public or private sale;

(3) Exchange, partition or otherwise change the character of trust property;

(4) Deposit trust funds in an account in a regulated financial services institution, including an institution operated by or affiliated with the trustee;

(5) Borrow money, with or without security, and mortgage or pledge trust property for a period within or extending beyond the duration of the trust and, in connection with any such borrowing, mortgaging or pledging, indemnify the lender against liability incurred with respect to, or in connection with, the borrowing and entering into any related mortgage or pledge or security agreement;

(6) Advance money for the protection of the trust, where the trustee has a lien on the trust property as against a beneficiary for reimbursement of those advances, with reasonable interest;

(7) With respect to an interest in a proprietorship, partnership, limited liability company, statutory trust, business trust, corporation or other form of business or enterprise, continue the business or other enterprise and take any action that may be taken by shareholders, members or property owners, including merging, dissolving or otherwise changing the form of business organization or contributing additional capital;

(8) With respect to stocks or other securities, to exercise the rights of an absolute owner, including the right to:

a. Vote, or give proxies to vote, with or without power of substitution, or enter into or continue a voting trust agreement;

b. Hold a security in the name of a nominee or in other form without disclosure of the trust so that title may pass by delivery;

c. Pay calls, assessments and other sums chargeable or accruing against the securities, and sell or exercise stock subscription or conversion rights; and

d. Deposit the securities with a securities depository or other regulated financial services institution;

(9) With respect to an interest in real property, construct, make ordinary or extraordinary repairs, alterations or improvements in buildings or other structures, demolish improvements, raze existing or erect new party walls or buildings, subdivide or develop land, dedicate land to public use or grant public or private easements, and make or vacate plats and adjust boundaries;

(10) Enter into a lease for any purpose as lessor or lessee, including a lease or other arrangement for exploration and removal of natural resources, with or without the option to purchase or renew, for a period within the duration of the trust;

(11) Grant an option involving a sale, lease or other disposition of trust property or take an option for the acquisition of property, excluding an option exercisable beyond the duration of the trust, and exercise an option so acquired;

(12) Insure the property of the trust against damage or loss and insure the trustee, the trustee’s agents and beneficiaries against liability arising from the administration of the trust;

(13) Abandon or decline to administer property of no value or of insufficient value to justify its collection or continued administration;

(14) With respect to possible liability for environmental conditions:

a. Inspect or investigate property the trustee holds or has been asked to hold, or property owned or operated by an entity in which the trustee holds or has been asked to hold an interest, for the purpose of determining the application of environmental law with respect to the property;

b. Take action to prevent, abate or otherwise remedy any actual or potential violation of any environmental law affecting property held directly or indirectly by the trustee, whether taken before or after the initiation of a claim or governmental enforcement action;

c. Decline to accept property into trust or to disclaim any power with respect to property that has or may have environmental liability attached;

d. Compromise claims against the trust which may be asserted for an alleged violation of environmental law; and

e. Pay the expense of any inspection, review, abatement or remedial action to comply with environmental law;

(15) Pay or contest any claim, settle a claim by or against the trust, and release, in whole or in part, a claim belonging to the trust:

(16) Pay taxes, assessments and compensation of the trustee and of employees and agents of the trust, and other expenses incurred in the administration of the trust;

(17) Exercise elections with respect to federal, state and local taxes;

(18) Select a mode of payment under any employee benefit or retirement plan, annuity or life insurance payable to the trustee, exercise rights thereunder, and take appropriate action to collect the proceeds, including exercise of the right to indemnification against expenses and liabilities;

(19) Make loans out of or guarantees based on trust property and, in connection with any such guarantee of a loan, indemnify the lender against liability incurred with respect to, or in connection with, the loan and any related mortgage, pledge or security agreement, including loans to or guarantees for the benefit of a beneficiary on terms and conditions the trustee considers to be fair and reasonable under the circumstances, and subject to § 3536 of this title, the trustee has a lien on future distributions for repayment of those loans and for the repayment of an amount equal to any payment made or that might be made on account of such guarantee; provided further that any such loans or guarantees shall only be permitted to the extent the same are either:

a. Made for investment purposes;

b. Made in lieu of a distribution amount that could have been made currently to or for such beneficiary under the terms of the governing instrument, not made in excess of such amount, and the fiduciary creates a reserve for the potential liability; or

c. Made to or for the benefit of another trust of which such beneficiary is also a beneficiary, provided the requirements of paragraph (19)b. of this section are satisfied.

(20) Appoint a trustee to act in another state or country as to trust property located in the other jurisdiction, confer upon the appointed trustee all of the powers and duties of the appointing trustee, require that the appointed trustee furnish security, and remove any trustee so appointed;

(21) Pay an amount distributable to a beneficiary who is under a legal disability or who the trustee reasonably believes is incapacitated by paying it directly to the beneficiary or applying it for the beneficiary’s benefit, or by:

a. Paying it to the beneficiary’s guardian;

b. Paying it to the beneficiary’s custodian under the Uniform Transfers to Minors Act [Chapter 45 of this title], and for such purpose, to create a custodianship;

c. If there is no custodian paying it to an adult relative or other person having legal or physical care or custody of the beneficiary, to be expended on the beneficiary’s behalf;

d. Depositing it in a regulated financial services institution in an interest bearing account or certificate in the sole name of the beneficiary and by giving notice of the deposit to the beneficiary; or

e. The trustee managing it as a separate fund on the beneficiary’s behalf, subject to the beneficiary’s continuing right to withdraw the distribution.

(22) On distribution of trust property or the division or termination of a trust, make distributions in divided or undivided interests, allocate particular assets in proportionate or disproportionate shares, value the trust property for those purposes, and adjust for resulting differences in valuation;

(23) Decide, in accordance with § 61-103(b) of this title, how and in what proportions any receipts or disbursements are credited, charged or apportioned as between principal and income, including the ability to create reserves out of income for depreciation, depletion, amortization or obsolescence;

(24) If all interested beneficiaries also consent, consent to the resolution of a dispute concerning the interpretation of the trust or its administration by mediation, arbitration or other procedure for alternative dispute resolution;

(25) Prosecute or defend an action, claim or judicial proceeding in any jurisdiction to protect trust property and the trustee in the performance of the trustee’s duties;

(26) Sign and deliver contracts and other instruments that are useful to achieve or facilitate the exercise of the trustee’s powers;

(27) On termination of the trust, exercise the powers appropriate to wind up the administration of the trust and distribute the trust property to the persons entitled to it;

(28) Sever any trust estate on a fractional basis into 2 or more separate trusts for any reason; and segregate by allocation to a separate account or trust a specific amount or specific assets included in the trust property or gift made from any trust to reflect a partial disclaimer, to reflect or result in differences in federal tax attributes, to satisfy any federal tax requirement or election, to reduce potential generation-skipping transfer tax liability, to accomplish a division along family lines, or for any other reason, in a manner consistent with the rules governing disclaimers, such federal tax attributes, such requirements or elections, or any applicable tax rules or regulations, and income earned on a segregated amount, specific assets, or gift after segregation occurs shall pass to the designated taker of such amount, specific assets, or gift. In managing, investing, administering, and distributing the trust property of any separate account or trust and in making applicable tax elections, the trustee may consider the differences in federal tax attributes and all other factors the trustee believes pertinent and may make disproportionate distributions from the separate trusts created. A separate account or trust created by severance or segregation shall be treated as a separate trust for all purposes from and after the date on which the severance or segregation is effective, and shall be held on terms and conditions that are substantially equivalent to the terms of the trust from which it was severed or segregated so that the aggregate interests of each beneficiary in the several trusts are substantially equivalent to the beneficiary’s interests in the trust before severance or segregation; provided, however, that any terms of the trust before severance or segregation that, if altered, would adversely affect qualification of the trust for any federal tax deduction, exclusion, election, exemption, or other special federal tax status must remain identical in each of the separate trusts created;

(29) Declare 1 or more new trusts for the purpose of merging all, or a portion, of the trust with or into the new trust or trusts and merge all or a portion of the trust with or into any other trust or trusts, including statutory trusts and foreign statutory trusts as defined in § 3801 of this title, whether or not created by the same trustor and whether or not funded prior to the merger, to be held and administered as a single trust if such a merger would not result in a material change in the dispositive terms of the trust defining the nature and extent of any trust beneficiary’s interest in the principal or income of the trust;

(30) Take such actions as are necessary to cause gains from the sale or exchange of trust assets, as determined for federal income-tax purposes, to be taxed for federal income-tax purposes as part of a distribution of income (including income which has been increased by an adjustment from principal to income under § 61-104 of this title), a unitrust distribution, or a distribution of principal to a beneficiary;

(31) Exercise all rights and powers granted to a fiduciary under the Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets and Accounts Act, Chapter 50 of this title; and

(32) Subject to any applicable limitations or standards under the governing instrument, provide financial education services to the beneficiaries either individually or as a group, regarding multigenerational estate and asset planning, intergenerational asset transfers, developing wealth management and money skills, financial literacy and acumen, business fundamentals, entrepreneurship, personal financial growth, knowledge of family businesses, and philanthropy.

a. Subject to the terms of the governing instrument, the trustee itself may provide the services under this paragraph (32), or may select, hire, retain, and compensate providers of the services, and pay for the services from the trust estate, whether or not the providers are third parties or affiliates of the trustee within the meaning of § 3312 of this title.

b. Each provider is entitled to payment for providing the services under this paragraph (32), and a trustee is entitled to the full fiduciary compensation to which the trustee is otherwise entitled as trustee without diminution for the fees and costs of these services, in accordance with subchapter V of Chapter 35 of this title.
12 Del. C. § 609 — Delaware Code / Title 12 / Chapter 6 / Section 609
§ Â
        609. Disclaimer of power held in fiduciary capacity.
Status: in_force

If a holder who is a fiduciary disclaims a power held in a fiduciary capacity, the following rules apply:

(1) If the fiduciary holder has not previously exercised the power held in a fiduciary capacity the disclaimer of the power takes effect as of the time the instrument creating the power becomes irrevocable.

(2) If the fiduciary holder has previously exercised the power held in a fiduciary capacity the disclaimer of the power takes effect immediately after the last exercise of the power.

(3) A disclaimer under this section is effective as to another fiduciary and is binding upon the estate, trust or other person for whom the fiduciary is acting as limited by Delaware law unless otherwise stated within the instrument.
12 Del. C. § 1310 — Delaware Code / Title 12 / Chapter 13 / Section 1310
§ Â
        1310. Formal testacy proceedings; contested cases; testimony of attesting witnesses.
Status: in_force

If the will is self-proved, compliance with signature requirements for execution is conclusively presumed and other requirements of execution are presumed subject to rebuttal without the testimony of any witness upon filing the will and the acknowledgment and affidavits annexed or attached thereto, and, unless there is proof of fraud or forgery affecting the acknowledgment or affidavit, the will shall be admitted to probate subject to all other provisions of this title.
12 Del. C. § 3811 — Delaware Code / Title 12 / Chapter 38 / Subchapter I / Section 3811
§ Â
        3811. Execution.
Status: in_force

(a) Each certificate required by this subchapter to be filed in the office of the Secretary of State shall be executed in the following manner:

(1) A certificate of trust must be signed by all of the trustees;

(2) A certificate of amendment, a certificate of correction, a corrected certificate, a certificate of termination or amendment, and a restated certificate of trust must be signed by at least 1 of the trustees;

(3) A certificate of cancellation must be signed by all of the trustees or as otherwise provided in the governing instrument of the statutory trust; and

(4) If a statutory trust is filing a certificate of merger or consolidation, certificate of conversion, certificate of transfer, certificate of transfer and continuance, certificate of statutory trust domestication, certificate of division or certificate of termination or amendment to any such certificate, the certificate of merger or consolidation, certificate of conversion, certificate of transfer, certificate of transfer and continuance, certificate of statutory trust domestication, certificate of division or certificate of termination or amendment to any such certificate must be signed by all of the trustees or as otherwise provided in the governing instrument of the statutory trust, or if the certificate of merger or consolidation, certificate of conversion, certificate of statutory trust domestication or certificate of termination or amendment to any such certificate is being filed by an other business entity or non-United States entity (as such term is defined in § 3822 of this title thereof), the certificate of merger or consolidation, certificate of conversion, certificate of statutory trust domestication or certificate of termination or amendment to any such certificate must be signed by a person authorized to execute the certificate on behalf of the other business entity or non-United States entity (as such term is defined in § 3822 of this title hereof).

(b) Unless otherwise provided in the governing instrument, any person may sign any certificate or amendment thereof or enter into a governing instrument or amendment thereof by any agent, including any attorney-in-fact. An authorization, including a power of attorney, to sign any certificate or amendment thereof or to enter into a governing instrument or amendment thereof need not be in writing, need not be sworn to, verified or acknowledged and need not be filed in the office of the Secretary of State, but if in writing, must be retained by the statutory trust or a trustee or other person authorized to manage the business and affairs of the statutory trust.

(c) The execution of a certificate by a trustee, or other person authorized pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, constitutes an oath or affirmation, under the penalties of perjury in the third degree, that, to the best of the trustee’s, or other person authorized pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, knowledge and belief, the facts stated in the certificate shall be true at the time the certificate becomes effective as provided in this subchapter.

(d) For all purposes of the laws of the State of Delaware, unless otherwise provided in a governing instrument of a statutory trust, a power of attorney or proxy with respect to a statutory trust granted to any person shall be irrevocable if it states that it is irrevocable and it is coupled with an interest sufficient in law to support an irrevocable power of attorney or proxy. Such irrevocable power of attorney or proxy, unless otherwise provided therein or in a governing instrument of a statutory trust, shall not be affected by subsequent death, disability, incapacity, dissolution, termination of existence or bankruptcy of, or any other event concerning, the principal. A power of attorney or proxy with respect to matters relating to the organization, internal affairs or termination of a statutory trust or granted by a person as a beneficial owner or by a person seeking to become a beneficial owner and, in either case, granted to the statutory trust, a trustee or beneficial owner thereof, or any of their respective officers, directors, managers, members, partners, trustees, employees or agents shall be deemed coupled with an interest sufficient in law to support an irrevocable power of attorney or proxy. The provisions of this subsection shall not be construed to limit the enforceability of a power of attorney or proxy that is part of a governing instrument of a statutory trust.
12 Del. C. § 3805 — Delaware Code / Title 12 / Chapter 38 / Subchapter I / Section 3805
§ Â
        3805. Rights of beneficial owners and trustees in trust property.
Status: in_force

(a) Except to the extent otherwise provided in the governing instrument of the statutory trust, a beneficial owner shall have an undivided beneficial interest in the property of the statutory trust and shall share in the profits and losses of the statutory trust in the proportion (expressed as a percentage) of the entire undivided beneficial interest in the statutory trust owned by such beneficial owner. The governing instrument of a statutory trust may provide that the statutory trust or the trustees, acting for and on behalf of the statutory trust, shall be deemed to hold beneficial ownership of any income earned on securities of the statutory trust issued by any business entities formed, organized, or existing under the laws of any jurisdiction, including the laws of any foreign country.

(b) No creditor of the beneficial owner shall have any right to obtain possession of, or otherwise exercise legal or equitable remedies with respect to, the property of the statutory trust.

(c) A beneficial owner’s beneficial interest in the statutory trust is personal property notwithstanding the nature of the property of the trust. Except to the extent otherwise provided in the governing instrument of a statutory trust, a beneficial owner has no interest in specific statutory trust property.

(d) A beneficial owner’s beneficial interest in the statutory trust is freely transferable except to the extent otherwise provided in the governing instrument of the statutory trust.

(e) Except to the extent otherwise provided in the governing instrument of a statutory trust, at the time a beneficial owner becomes entitled to receive a distribution, the beneficial owner has the status of, and is entitled to all remedies available to, a creditor of the statutory trust with respect to the distribution. A governing instrument may provide for the establishment of record dates with respect to allocations and distributions by a statutory trust.

(f) Except to the extent otherwise provided in the governing instrument of the statutory trust, legal title to the property of the statutory trust or any part thereof may be held in the name of any trustee of the statutory trust, in its capacity as such, with the same effect as if such property were held in the name of the statutory trust. The holding of legal title to any statutory trust property by a trustee shall not require such trustee to be a party to any contract or other instrument (including a security agreement) to which the statutory trust is a party.

(g) No creditor of the trustee shall have any right to obtain possession of, or otherwise exercise legal or equitable remedies with respect to, the property of the statutory trust with respect to any claim against, or obligation of, such trustee in its individual capacity and not related to the statutory trust.

(h) Except to the extent otherwise provided in the governing instrument of the statutory trust, where the statutory trust is a registered investment company or regulated as a business development company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (15 U.S.C. § 80a-1 et seq.), any class, group or series of beneficial interests established by the governing instrument with respect to such statutory trust shall be a class, group or series preferred as to distribution of assets or payment of dividends over all other classes, groups or series in respect to assets specifically allocated to the class, group or series as contemplated by § 18 (or any amendment or successor provision) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. § 80a-18), as amended, and any regulations issued thereunder, provided that this section is not intended to affect in any respect the provisions of § 3804(a) of this title.

(i) Unless otherwise provided in the governing instrument of a statutory trust or another agreement, a beneficial owner shall have no preemptive right to subscribe to any additional issue of beneficial interests or another interest in a statutory trust.
12 Del. C. § 3506 — Delaware Code / Title 12 / Chapter 35 / Subchapter I / Section 3506
§ Â
        3506. Appointment of trustee to convey, assign or transfer trust property from discharged or removed trustee to successor.
Status: in_force

When any person who, having been discharged or removed from any trust by an order or decree of the Court of Chancery, neglects or refuses to convey, assign or transfer the subject matter of such trust to the person who has been appointed by such Court to be the trustee in lieu of the person so discharged or removed, the Court may, upon petition of the person appointed, order a conveyance, assignment or transfer of the subject matter of such trust to be made by a person by such order appointed for that purpose. Any conveyance, assignment or transfer so made shall be as effectual, to all intents and purposes, as if the same were made by the trustee so discharged or the trustee’s heirs or executors.
12 Del. C. § 1911 — Delaware Code / Title 12 / Chapter 19 / Section 1911
§ Â
        1911. Power of Court to suppress, reject and order another inventory or list.
Status: in_force

The Court of Chancery may order an inventory or list of debts to be suppressed, or adjudge the same imperfect and order another to be made and filed in the office of the Register of Wills. No inventory or list of debts shall be suppressed or adjudged imperfect because of any defect in the affidavit or in any certificate of any oath or affirmation.
12 Del. C. § 4901 — Delaware Code / Title 12 / Chapter 49 / Section 4901
§ Â
        4901. Defined.
Status: in_force

A durable power of attorney is a power of attorney by which a principal designates another agent in writing, and the writing contains the words: “This power of attorney shall not be affected by subsequent disability or incapacity of the principal,” or “This power of attorney shall become effective upon the disability or incapacity of the principal,” or similar words showing the intent of the principal that the authority conferred shall be exercisable notwithstanding the principal’s subsequent disability or incapacity.
12 Del. C. § 49A-116 — Delaware Code / Title 12 / Chapter 49A / Subchapter I / Section 49A-116
§ Â
        49A-116. Judicial relief.
Status: in_force

(a) A person designated in subsection (b) of this section may petition the Court of Chancery requesting that the Court:

(1) Determine whether the personal power of attorney or the authority of an agent is in effect or has terminated pursuant to § 49A-110 of this title or otherwise;

(2) Compel the agent to exercise or refrain from exercising authority in a particular manner or for a particular purpose;

(3) Compel the agent to account for transactions conducted on the principal’s behalf pursuant to § 49A-114(g) of this title;

(4) Modify, suspend, or revoke the powers of the agent to act under a personal power of attorney, and, if the principal has not designated another agent or successor agent in the personal power of attorney, appoint another agent to act in place of the agent whose powers are modified, suspended, or revoked;

(5) Determine an agent’s liability for violation of his or her duties pursuant to § 49A-114 of this title; or

(6) Compel a person to accept a personal power of attorney if required to by § 49A-120 of this title.

(b) Any of the following persons may file a petition seeking appropriate relief under this section:

(1) The principal or the agent;

(2) The spouse, child, or parent of the principal;

(2) A guardian, trustee, or other fiduciary acting for the principal;

(3) The personal representative, trustee, or a beneficiary of the principal’s estate;

(4) Any other interested person, as long as the person demonstrates to the Court’s satisfaction that the person is interested in the welfare of the principal and has a good faith belief that:

a. The Court’s intervention is necessary; and

b. The principal is incapacitated at the time of filing the petition or otherwise unable to protect that principal’s own interests; or

(5) A person asked to accept a personal power of attorney.

(c) Upon motion by the principal, who shall be presumed to have legal capacity, the Court shall dismiss a petition filed under this section, unless the Court finds that the principal lacks capacity to revoke the agent’s authority or the personal power of attorney.

(d) Nothing in this section shall preclude or diminish the Court’s authority to appoint a guardian or other fiduciary pursuant to Chapter 39 of this title, or to order other judicial relief, in order to grant appropriate relief upon review of a personal power of attorney or an agent’s conduct with respect to a personal power of attorney.

(e) Nothing in this section shall preclude the Department of Health and Social Services, the Public Guardian, or other governmental agency having authority to protect the welfare of the principal from petitioning the Court for access to the principal or to records necessary to determine, or terminate, possible abuse, neglect, exploitation or abandonment of the principal.
12 Del. C. § 3333 — Delaware Code / Title 12 / Chapter 33 / Section 3333
§ Â
        3333. Retention of counsel by fiduciary [For application of this section, see 79 Del. Laws, c. 172, Â 6; 80 Del. Laws, c. 153, Â 5].
Status: in_force

(a) In the case of a fiduciary that retains counsel in connection with any matter whether or not related to any claim that has been or might be asserted against the fiduciary and pays such counsel’s fees and related expenses entirely from such fiduciary’s own funds, any communications with such counsel shall be deemed to be within the attorney-client privilege.

(b) Except as otherwise provided in the governing instrument, a fiduciary may retain counsel in connection with any matter that is or that might reasonably be believed to be 1 that will become the subject of or related to a claim against the fiduciary, and the payment of counsel fees and related expenses from the fund with respect to which the fiduciary acts as such shall not cause the fiduciary to waive or to be deemed to have waived any right or privilege including, without limitation, the attorney-client privilege even if the communications with counsel had the effect of guiding the fiduciary in the performance of fiduciary duties. However, in the event that the fiduciary is determined by a court to have breached a fiduciary duty related to such matter, the court may, in its discretion, deny such fiduciary the right to have all or some part of the fiduciary’s counsel fees paid from such fund and may require the fiduciary to reimburse any such fees and expenses that have been previously paid.
12 Del. C. § 4706 — Delaware Code / Title 12 / Chapter 47 / Section 4706
§ Â
        4706. Release or modification of restrictions on management, investment, or purpose.
Status: in_force

(a) If the donor consents in a record, an institution may release or modify, in whole or in part, a restriction contained in a gift instrument on the management, investment, or purpose of an institutional fund. A release or modification may not allow a fund to be used for a purpose other than a charitable purpose of the institution.

(b) The court, upon application of an institution, may modify a restriction contained in a gift instrument regarding the management or investment of an institutional fund if the restriction has become impracticable or wasteful, if it impairs the management or investment of the fund, or if, because of circumstances not anticipated by the donor, a modification of a restriction will further the purposes of the fund. The institution shall notify the Attorney General of the application, and the Attorney General must be given an opportunity to be heard. To the extent practicable, any modification must be made in accordance with the donor’s probable intention.

(c) If a particular charitable purpose or a restriction contained in a gift instrument on the use of an institutional fund becomes unlawful, impracticable, impossible to achieve, or wasteful, the court, upon application of an institution, may modify the purpose of the fund or the restriction on the use of the fund in a manner consistent with the charitable purposes expressed in the gift instrument. The institution shall notify the Attorney General of the application, and the Attorney General must be given an opportunity to be heard.

(d) If an institution determines that a restriction contained in a gift instrument on the management, investment, or purpose of an institutional fund is unlawful, impracticable, impossible to achieve, or wasteful, the institution, 60 days after notification to the Attorney General, may release or modify the restriction, in whole or part, if:

(1) The institutional fund subject to the restriction has a total value of less than $25,000;

(2) More than 20 years have elapsed since the fund was established; and

(3) The institution uses the property in a manner consistent with the charitable purposes expressed in the gift instrument.
12 Del. C. § 511 — Delaware Code / Title 12 / Chapter 5 / Section 511
§ Â
        511. Dower and curtesy abolished.
Status: in_force

The estates of dower and curtesy are abolished.
12 Del. C. § 1910 — Delaware Code / Title 12 / Chapter 19 / Section 1910
§ Â
        1910. Additional inventory; after discovered assets.
Status: in_force

If, after the return of an inventory or list of debts, personal estate or debts due the decedent, not included therein, shall come to the knowledge of the executor or administrator, the executor or administrator shall cause an additional inventory or list to be made and returned into the Register of Wills’ office.
12 Del. C. § 3124 — Delaware Code / Title 12 / Chapter 31 / Subchapter II / Section 3124
§ Â
        3124. Costs; allowance in account.
Status: in_force

Costs shall be awarded to and against executors and administrators in like manner as other parties, but costs awarded against them shall not be allowed in their accounts, unless the court shall certify the propriety of such allowance or there is other good evidence that they were properly incurred.
12 Del. C. § 3335 — Delaware Code / Title 12 / Chapter 33 / Section 3335
§ Â
        3335. Effect of formula clauses in certain wills and trusts.
Status: in_force

(a) A governing instrument, such as a will or trust of a decedent, who dies after December 31, 2009, and before January 1, 2011, that contains a formula referring to the “unified credit,” “estate tax exemption,” “applicable exemption amount,” “applicable credit amount,” “applicable exclusion amount,” “generation-skipping transfer tax exemption,” “GST exemption,” “marital deduction,” “maximum marital deduction,” or “unlimited marital deduction,” or that measures a share of an estate or trust based on the amount that can pass free of federal estate taxes or the amount that can pass free of federal generation-skipping transfer taxes, or that is otherwise based on a similar provision of federal estate tax or generation-skipping transfer tax law, shall be presumed to refer to the federal estate tax and generation-skipping transfer tax laws as they applied to estates of decedents dying on December 31, 2009. This provision shall not apply to a will or trust that is executed or amended after December 31, 2009, or that manifests an intent that a contrary rule shall apply. Furthermore, this provision shall not apply in cases where the application of this provision would cause: (i) a decrease in the amount passing to 1 trust and a substantially equal increase in the amount passing to another trust if the terms of both trusts concerning beneficial interests are substantially similar; (ii) a decrease in the amount passing to a trust and a substantially equal increase in the amount passing to an individual if the individual is eligible to receive unlimited discretionary principal distributions from the trust or (iii) a decrease in the amount passing to 1 trust and a substantially equal combined total increase in the amount passing to another trust or trusts and individuals described in clauses (i) and (ii). For purposes of determining whether the terms of 2 trusts concerning beneficial interests are substantially the same:

(1) Any provision of the will or trust requiring, or expressing a preference for, distributions from 1 trust rather than from the other trust shall be disregarded;

(2) a. A trust intended to be a general power of appointment marital trust under § 2056(b)(5) of the Internal Revenue Code [26 U.S.C. § 2056(b)(5)]; or

b. Which, would, if an election could have been made under § 2056(b)(7) of the Internal Revenue Code [26 U.S.C. § 2056(b)(7)] as in effect for decedents dying on December 31, 2009, qualify as qualified terminable interest property under § 2056(b)(7) [26 U.S.C. § 2056(b)(7)],

shall be considered to be substantially the same as any other trust which requires that all income be distributed currently to the surviving spouse, regardless of whether the other trust may have current beneficiaries of principal who are persons other than the surviving spouse; and

(3) Any provision of the will or trust which may have different provisions concerning the identity, selection or nomination of current or future trustees shall be disregarded.

(b) This section shall apply only to a governing instrument of a decedent whose executor elects to apply the Internal Revenue Code as though subtitle A and E of title V of the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 [P.L. 107-16] applies with respect to Chapter 11 of the Internal Revenue Code [26 U.S.C. Chapter 11].

(c) Any person interested under a will or trust may bring a proceeding under § 6504 of Title 10 to determine whether the decedent intended that the references under subsection (a) of this section be construed with respect to the law as it existed after December 31, 2009. Such a proceeding must be commenced prior to January 1, 2012.

(d) The presumption described in subsection (a) of this section shall not apply if fiduciaries such as personal representatives or trustees serving under the governing instrument, who are not interested fiduciaries, elect to opt out of the application of subsection (a) of this section as to all or any part of the governing instrument and no beneficiary under the governing instrument objects to the election within 30 days following receipt of written notice of the election. A fiduciary is interested if: (i) the fiduciary is a beneficiary under the governing instrument whose beneficial interest would or might change in value by reason of the election; (ii) the fiduciary may be removed and replaced by a beneficiary described in clause (i) of this subsection above; or (iii) the fiduciary is an individual legally obligated to support a beneficiary described in clause (i) of this subsection above. If all of the fiduciaries are interested, this subsection shall have no application.

(e) Whenever the term “pass” or “passing” is used in this section, the term shall relate to an amount distributable or allocable under the governing instrument as result of the decedent’s death.
12 Del. C. § 1312 — Delaware Code / Title 12 / Chapter 13 / Section 1312
§ Â
        1312. Limitation on action contesting validity of exercise of power of appointment [For application of this section, see 80 Del. Laws, c. 153, Ââ5].
Status: in_force

(a) A judicial proceeding to contest whether an exercise of a power of appointment by any written instrument other than a will, under which property is transferred pursuant to the exercise of the power of appointment only as of the death of the person exercising the power of appointment (the “exercisor”) may not be initiated later than the first to occur of:

(1) One hundred twenty days after the date that the exercisor notified in writing the person who is contesting the exercise of the existence of the instrument exercising the power of appointment, the name and address of the exercisor, whether such person is a beneficiary, and of the time allowed under this section for initiating a judicial proceeding to contest the exercise of the power of appointment. The exercisor shall also provide to the person who is contesting the exercise a copy of the instrument which creates the power of appointment. For purposes of this subsection, notice shall have been given when received by the person to whom the notice was given and, absent evidence to the contrary, it shall be presumed that notice mailed or delivered to the last known address of such person constitutes receipt by such person. This paragraph (a)(1) shall be applicable only to a proceeding to contest whether an exercise of a power of appointment by any written instrument other than a will is valid to the extent that the basis for such contest is a failure to comply with formalities for the execution of the power of appointment, undue influence over the exercisor, or lack of capacity of the exercisor;

(2) Two years after the death of the exercisor; or

(3) The date the person’s right to contest was precluded by adjudication, consent, or other limitation.

(b) For purposes of subsection (a) of this section, a person is deemed to have been given any notice that has been given to any person who under § 3547 of this title may represent and bind such person.