Opinion ID: 895117
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Removal as Trustee

Text: The second issue is whether the trial court erred in failing to remove John as trustee of the testamentary trust. The removal of a trustee is governed by Trust Code section 113.082. This section gives the trial court more leeway on removal than does the Probate Code, as its four grounds are not as narrow. In fact, in one subsection, the statute allows that a court may, in its discretion, remove a trustee ... if ... the court finds other cause for removal. [34] While the statute for removal of an independent executor is different from the statute for removal of a trustee, the fiduciary duties owed by both are similar. [35] Given the similarities in the type of duties owed and the level of discretion given a trial court by the statute, we cannot say the trial court abused its discretion in not removing John as trustee when, viewing the same conduct, it was not error to keep him as independent executor.