Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 203E, sec. 802 — MA Code / Part II / Title II / Chapter 203E / Section 802
Duty of loyalty
Status: in_force

Section 802. Duty of loyalty (a) A trustee shall administer the trust solely in the interests of the beneficiaries. (b) Subject to the rights of persons dealing with or assisting the trustee, as provided in section 1012, a sale, encumbrance or other transaction involving the investment or management of trust property entered into by the trustee for the trustee's own personal account or which is otherwise affected by a conflict between the trustee's fiduciary and personal interests shall be voidable by a beneficiary affected by the transaction unless: (1) the transaction was authorized by the terms of the trust; (2) the transaction was approved by the court; (3) the beneficiary did not commence a judicial proceeding within the time allowed by section 1005; (4) the beneficiary consented to the trustee's conduct, ratified the transaction or released the trustee in compliance with section 1009; or (5) the transaction involves a contract entered into or claim acquired by the trustee before the person became a trustee. (c) A sale, encumbrance or other transaction involving the investment or management of trust property shall be presumed to be affected by a conflict between personal and fiduciary interests if it is entered into by the trustee with: (1) the trustee's spouse; (2) the trustee's descendants, siblings, parents or their spouses; (3) an agent or attorney of the trustee; or (4) a corporation or other person or enterprise in which the trustee, or a person that owns a significant interest in the trustee, has an interest that might affect the trustee's best judgment. (d) A transaction not concerning trust property, in which the trustee engages in the trustee's individual capacity, shall be a conflict between personal and fiduciary interests if the transaction concerns an opportunity properly belonging to the trust. (e) An investment by a trustee in securities of an investment company or investment trust to which the trustee, or its affiliate, provides services in a capacity other than as trustee shall not be presumed to be affected by a conflict between personal and fiduciary interests if the investment otherwise complies with the prudent investor rule of chapter 203C. In addition to compensation for acting as trustee, the trustee may be compensated by the investment company or investment trust for providing those services out of fees charged to the trust. If the trustee receives compensation from the investment company or investment trust for providing investment advisory or investment management services, the trustee shall at least annually notify the persons entitled under section 813 to receive a copy of the trustee's annual report of the rate and method by which that compensation was determined. (f) In voting shares of stock or in exercising powers of control over similar interests in other forms of enterprise, the trustee shall act in the best interests of the beneficiaries. (g) This section shall not preclude the following transactions, if fair to the beneficiaries: (1) an agreement between a trustee and a beneficiary relating to the appointment or compensation of the trustee; (2) payment of reasonable compensation to the trustee; (3) a transaction between a trust and another trust, decedent's estate or conservatorship of which the trustee is a fiduciary or in which a beneficiary has an interest; (4) a deposit of trust money in a regulated financial service institution operated by the trustee; or (5) an advance or loan by the trustee of money to the trust for a proper trust purpose.

Section 802. Duty of loyalty

(a) A trustee shall administer the trust solely in the interests of the beneficiaries.

(b) Subject to the rights of persons dealing with or assisting the trustee, as provided in section 1012, a sale, encumbrance or other transaction involving the investment or management of trust property entered into by the trustee for the trustee's own personal account or which is otherwise affected by a conflict between the trustee's fiduciary and personal interests shall be voidable by a beneficiary affected by the transaction unless:

(1) the transaction was authorized by the terms of the trust;

(2) the transaction was approved by the court;

(3) the beneficiary did not commence a judicial proceeding within the time allowed by section 1005;

(4) the beneficiary consented to the trustee's conduct, ratified the transaction or released the trustee in compliance with section 1009; or

(5) the transaction involves a contract entered into or claim acquired by the trustee before the person became a trustee.

(c) A sale, encumbrance or other transaction involving the investment or management of trust property shall be presumed to be affected by a conflict between personal and fiduciary interests if it is entered into by the trustee with:

(1) the trustee's spouse;

(2) the trustee's descendants, siblings, parents or their spouses;

(3) an agent or attorney of the trustee; or

(4) a corporation or other person or enterprise in which the trustee, or a person that owns a significant interest in the trustee, has an interest that might affect the trustee's best judgment.

(d) A transaction not concerning trust property, in which the trustee engages in the trustee's individual capacity, shall be a conflict between personal and fiduciary interests if the transaction concerns an opportunity properly belonging to the trust.

(e) An investment by a trustee in securities of an investment company or investment trust to which the trustee, or its affiliate, provides services in a capacity other than as trustee shall not be presumed to be affected by a conflict between personal and fiduciary interests if the investment otherwise complies with the prudent investor rule of chapter 203C. In addition to compensation for acting as trustee, the trustee may be compensated by the investment company or investment trust for providing those services out of fees charged to the trust. If the trustee receives compensation from the investment company or investment trust for providing investment advisory or investment management services, the trustee shall at least annually notify the persons entitled under section 813 to receive a copy of the trustee's annual report of the rate and method by which that compensation was determined.

(f) In voting shares of stock or in exercising powers of control over similar interests in other forms of enterprise, the trustee shall act in the best interests of the beneficiaries.

(g) This section shall not preclude the following transactions, if fair to the beneficiaries:

(1) an agreement between a trustee and a beneficiary relating to the appointment or compensation of the trustee;

(2) payment of reasonable compensation to the trustee;

(3) a transaction between a trust and another trust, decedent's estate or conservatorship of which the trustee is a fiduciary or in which a beneficiary has an interest;

(4) a deposit of trust money in a regulated financial service institution operated by the trustee; or

(5) an advance or loan by the trustee of money to the trust for a proper trust purpose.