2023 Maryland Statutes › Estates and Trusts › Title 15 - Fiduciaries › Subtitle 5 - Maryland Uniform Principal and Income Act › Part I - Definitions; Fiduciary Duties › Section 15-502.3 - Proposed Decision by Trustee

(a)    In this section, “qualified beneficiary” means:
(1)    A person who, on the date that notice is given by the trustee in accordance with subsection (b) of this section:
(i)    Is a distributee or permissible distributee of the income or principal of the trust estate;
(ii)    Would be a distributee or permissible distributee of the income or principal of the trust estate if the interests of the distributees described in item (i) of this paragraph terminated on the date that notice is given by the trustee; or
(iii)    Would be a distributee or permissible distributee of the income or principal of the trust estate if the trust were to terminate on the date that notice is given by the trustee and no powers of appointment were exercised;
(2)    If an individual described in paragraph (1) of this subsection is a minor, the individual’s natural or legal guardian; or
(3)    If an individual described in paragraph (1) of this subsection is a disabled person, as defined in § 13-101 of this article, any person acting on behalf of the individual under a guardianship, conservatorship, or committee.
(b)    A trustee shall give notice of a proposed decision regarding the exercise or nonexercise of the discretionary power conferred under:
(1)    Section 15-502.1(a) of this subtitle to convert a trust to a unitrust;
(2)    Section 15-502.1(i) of this subtitle to reconvert from a unitrust; or
(3)    Section 15-502.2(a) of this subtitle to adjust between principal and income.
(c)    The trustee shall mail the notice required under subsection (b) of this section to:
(1)    All qualified beneficiaries, except that notice of the proposed decision need not be given to any qualified beneficiary who consents in writing to the proposed decision at any time before the notice is mailed; and
(2)    The creator of the trust, if living.
(d)    The notice of proposed decision shall state that it is given in accordance with this section and shall state the following:
(1)    The name and mailing address of the trustee, together with the name and telephone number of a person who may be contacted for additional information;
(2)    A description of the decision proposed to be taken and, if the proposed decision also includes an action that requires an order of a court in accordance with § 15-502.1 or § 15-502.2 of this subtitle, a description of that action;
(3)    The time within which written consents to the proposed decision may be given to the trustee, which shall be at least 30 days after the mailing of the notice of proposed decision; and
(4)    The date on or after which the proposed decision may be taken or is effective, which shall be after the end of the time within which consents to the proposed decision may be given to the trustee.
(e)    If the trustee receives the written consent of all qualified beneficiaries, then the trustee shall undertake the proposed decision unless the proposed decision also includes an action that requires an order of a court in accordance with § 15-502.1 or § 15-502.2 of this subtitle.
(f)    If any qualified beneficiary does not consent to the proposed decision, or if the proposed decision includes an action that requires an order of a court under § 15-502.1 or § 15-502.2 of this subtitle, then the trustee or any qualified beneficiary may file a petition to review the proposed decision in the circuit court for the county in which the trustee resides in this State, if the trustee is an individual, or in which the principal place of business of the trustee is located in this State.
(g)    (1)    In a proceeding under subsection (f) of this section:
(i)    With respect to the power to convert to a unitrust under § 15-502.1(a) of this subtitle or to reconvert from a unitrust under § 15-502.1(i) of this subtitle, the sole remedy in the proceeding is to direct, deny, or revise the conversion to a unitrust or reconversion from a unitrust; and
(ii)    With respect to the power to adjust between principal and income under § 15-502.2(a) of this subtitle, the sole remedy in the proceeding is to direct, deny, or revise the adjustment between principal and income.
(2)    Notice of the proceeding shall be given by the petitioner to the trustee and to all qualified beneficiaries.
(h)    Any action taken or not taken in accordance with the provisions of this section shall be binding on the trustee, all qualified beneficiaries, and any other person who has a present or future interest in the trust, vested or contingent, including any unborn or unascertained beneficiary, and the trustee is not liable to any person for that action taken or not taken.