701.20(4g)(a)(a) Subject to
par. (d), a trust may be converted to a unitrust in any of the following ways:
701.20(4g)(a)1.
1. By the trustee, at his or her own discretion or at the request of a beneficiary, if all of the following apply:
701.20(4g)(a)1.a.
a. The trustee determines that the conversion will enable the trustee to better carry out the purposes of the trust.
701.20(4g)(a)1.b.
b. The trustee provides notice in the same manner as provided in
sub. (4c) (b) of the trustee's intention to convert the trust to a unitrust, and the notice advises how the unitrust will operate, including the fixed percentage under
par. (c) 1. and any other initial determinations under
par. (c) 4. that the trustee intends to follow.
701.20(4g)(a)1.d.
d. Every sui juris beneficiary consents to the conversion to a unitrust in a writing delivered to the trustee.
701.20(4g)(a)1.e.
e. The terms of the trust describe the amount that may or must be distributed by referring to the trust income.
701.20(4g)(a)2.
2. By a court on the petition of the trustee or a beneficiary, if all of the following apply:
701.20(4g)(a)2.a.
a. The trustee or beneficiary has provided notice under
sub. (4c) of the intention to request the court to convert the trust to a unitrust, and the notice advises how the unitrust will operate, including the fixed percentage under
par. (c) 1. and any other initial determinations under
par. (c) 4. that will be requested.
701.20(4g)(a)2.b.
b. The court determines that the conversion to a unitrust will enable the trustee to better carry out the purposes of the trust.
701.20(4g)(b)
(b) In deciding whether to convert the trust to a unitrust under
par. (a) 1., the trustee shall consider all relevant factors under
sub. (4) (b) 1. to
9.
701.20(4g)(c)1.1. If a trust is converted to a unitrust under this subsection by the trustee or a court, notwithstanding
sub. (3) (a) 1. and
4. and
s. 701.21 (4) the trustee shall make distributions in accordance with the creating instrument, except that any reference in the creating instrument to "income" means a fixed percentage of the net fair market value of the unitrust's assets, whether such assets otherwise would be considered income or principal under this section, averaged over a preceding period determined by the trustee, which is at least 3 years but not more than 5 years, or the period since the original trust was created, whichever is less.
701.20(4g)(c)2.a.a. Subject to
subd. 2. b., if the trust is converted to a unitrust under
par. (a) 1., the trustee shall determine the fixed percentage to be applied under
subd. 1., and the notice under
par. (a) 1. b. must state the fixed percentage. If the trust is converted to a unitrust under
par. (a) 2., the court shall determine the fixed percentage to be applied under
subd. 1.
701.20(4g)(c)2.b.
b. Any fixed percentage under
subd. 1. that is determined by a trustee may not be less than 3 percent nor more than 5 percent.
701.20(4g)(c)3.
3. After a trust is converted to a unitrust, the trustee may, subject to the notice requirement under
sub. (4c) and with the consent of every sui juris beneficiary, do any of the following:
701.20(4g)(c)3.a.
a. Convert the unitrust back to the original trust under the creating instrument.
701.20(4g)(c)4.
4. After a trust is converted to a unitrust, a trustee may determine or change any of the following:
701.20(4g)(c)4.b.
b. Standards for prorating a distribution for a short year in which a beneficiary's right to payments commences or ceases.
701.20(4g)(c)4.c.
c. The effect on the valuation of the unitrust's assets of other payments from, or contributions to, the unitrust.
701.20(4g)(c)4.f.
f. Whether to omit from the calculation of the value of the unitrust's assets unitrust property occupied by or in the possession of a beneficiary.
701.20(4g)(c)4.g.
g. The averaging under
subd. 1. to a different preceding period, which is at least 3 years but not more than 5 years.
701.20(4g)(c)4.h.
h. Any other matters necessary for the proper functioning of the unitrust.
701.20(4g)(c)5.
5. The trustee may not deduct from a unitrust distribution expenses that would be deducted from income if the trust were not a unitrust.
701.20(4g)(c)6.
6. Unless otherwise provided by the creating instrument, the unitrust distribution is considered to have been paid from the following sources in the order of priority:
701.20(4g)(c)6.c.
c. Net realized short-term capital gains for federal income tax purposes.
701.20(4g)(c)6.d.
d. Net realized long-term capital gain for federal income tax purposes.
701.20(4g)(c)7.
7. A court may, on the petition of the trustee or a beneficiary, do any of the following:
701.20(4g)(c)7.a.
a. Change the fixed percentage that was determined under
subd. 2. by the trustee or by a prior court order.
701.20(4g)(c)7.b.
b. If necessary to preserve a tax benefit, provide for a distribution of net income, determined as if the trust were not a unitrust, that exceeds the unitrust distribution.
701.20(4g)(c)7.c.
c. Average the valuation of the unitrust's assets over a period other than that specified in
subd. 1.
701.20(4g)(c)7.d.
d. Require the unitrust to be converted back to the original trust under the creating instrument.
701.20(4g)(c)8.
8. Conversion to a unitrust under this subsection does not affect a provision in the creating instrument that directs or authorizes the trustee to distribute principal or that authorizes a beneficiary to withdraw a portion or all of the principal.
701.20(4g)(d)1.1. A trust may not be converted under this subsection to a unitrust if any of the following applies:
701.20(4g)(d)1.b.
b. Payment of the unitrust distribution will change the amount payable to a beneficiary as a fixed annuity or a fixed fraction of the value of the trust assets.
701.20(4g)(d)1.c.
c. The unitrust distribution will be made from any amount that is permanently set aside for charitable purposes under the creating instrument and for which an estate or gift tax charitable deduction has been taken, unless both income and principal are so set aside.
701.20(4g)(d)1.d.
d. Converting to a unitrust will cause 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 trust were not converted.
701.20(4g)(d)1.e.
e. Converting to a unitrust will cause all or a part of the trust assets to be subject to estate or gift tax with respect to an individual and the trust assets would not be subject to estate or gift tax with respect to the individual if the trust were not converted.
701.20(4g)(d)1.f.
f. Converting to a unitrust will result in the disallowance of an estate or gift tax marital deduction that would be allowed if the trust were not converted.
701.20(4g)(d)2.
2. Notwithstanding
subd. 1., if a trust may not be converted to a unitrust solely because
subd. 1. g. applies to a trustee, a cotrustee, if any, to whom
subd. 1. g. does not apply may convert the trust to a unitrust under
par. (a) 1., unless prohibited by the creating instrument, or a court may convert the trust to a unitrust under
par. (a) 2. on the petition of a trustee or beneficiary.
701.20(4g)(e)
(e) A trustee may release the power conferred by
par. (a) 1. if the trustee is uncertain about whether possessing or exercising the power will cause a result described in
par. (d) 1. b. to
f. or if the trustee determines that possessing or exercising the power will or may deprive the trust of a tax benefit or impose a tax burden not described in
par. (d) 1. The release may be permanent or for a specified period, including a period measured by the life of an individual.
701.20(4j)(a)(a) In this subsection "express unitrust" means any trust that by its governing instrument requires the distribution at least annually of a unitrust amount equal to a fixed percentage of the net fair market value of the trust's assets, valued at least annually, other than a trust solely for charitable purposes or a charitable split-interest trust under section
664 (d) or
170 (f) (2) (B) of the Internal Revenue Code.
701.20(4j)(b)1.
1. To the extent not otherwise provided for in the governing instrument, the unitrust amount of not less than 3 percent nor more than 5 percent may be determined by reference to the net fair market value of the trust's assets averaged over a preceding period determined by the trustee, which is at least 3 years but not more than 5 years.
701.20(4j)(b)2.
2. Distribution of such a fixed percentage unitrust amount of not less than 3 percent nor more than 5 percent is a distribution of all of the income of the unitrust and is an income interest.
701.20(4j)(b)3.
3. Such a distribution of a fixed percentage of not less than 3 percent nor more than 5 percent is a reasonable apportionment of the total return of the trust.
701.20(4j)(b)4.
4. A trust that provides for a fixed annual percentage payout in excess of 5 percent per year of the net fair market value of the trust is considered to be a 5 percent express unitrust, paying out all of the income of the unitrust, and to have paid out principal of the trust to the extent that the fixed percentage payout exceeds 5 percent per year.
701.20(4j)(b)5.
5. The governing instrument may grant discretion to the trustee to adopt a consistent practice of treating capital gains as part of the unitrust distribution, to the extent that the unitrust distribution exceeds the income determined as if the trust were not a unitrust, or it may specify the ordering of such classes of income.
701.20(4j)(b)6.
6. Unless the terms of the trust specifically provide otherwise, a distribution of the unitrust amount is considered to have been made from the following sources in the following order of priority:
701.20(4j)(b)6.c.
c. Net realized short-term capital gains for federal income tax purposes.
701.20(4j)(b)6.d.
d. Net realized long-term capital gains for federal income tax purposes.
701.20(4j)(b)7.
7. The trust document may provide that assets used by the trust beneficiary, such as a residence or tangible personal property, may be excluded from the net fair market value for computing the unitrust amount. Such use may be considered equivalent to the income or unitrust amount.
701.20(4j)(b)8.
8. In the absence of contrary provisions in the governing document of an express unitrust, the provisions of
sub. (4g) (c) 1.,
4., and
5. apply.
701.20(4k)
(4k) Power to treat capital gains as part of a distribution. Unless prohibited by the governing instrument, a trustee may 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 that has been increased by an adjustment from principal to income under
sub. (4), of a unitrust distribution, of a fixed annuity distribution, or of a principal distribution to a beneficiary.
701.20(4m)
(4m) Judicial review of discretionary power. 701.20(4m)(a)(a) Nothing in this section creates a duty to make an adjustment under
sub. (4) or to convert a trust to a unitrust under
sub. (4g). Unless it determines that the decision to make an adjustment or to convert to a unitrust was an abuse of the fiduciary's discretion, a court may not grant relief from any decision a fiduciary makes regarding the exercise of a discretionary power conferred by
sub. (4) or
(4g).
701.20(4m)(am)
(am) An action taken under
sub. (4) or
(4g) is not an abuse of a fiduciary's discretion if the fiduciary gave written notice of the proposed action under
sub. (4c) and did not receive a timely written objection to the notice. It is not an abuse of discretion not to exercise the power to adjust under
sub. (4) or to convert under
sub. (4g).
701.20(4m)(b)
(b) A fiduciary's decision is not an abuse of discretion merely because the court would have exercised the power in a different manner or would not have exercised the power.
701.20(4m)(c)
(c) If the court determines that a fiduciary has abused the fiduciary's discretion, the remedy shall be to restore the income and remainder beneficiaries to the positions that they would have occupied had the discretion not been abused, according to the following rules:
701.20(4m)(c)1.
1. To the extent that the abuse of discretion has resulted in no distribution to a beneficiary or in a distribution that is too small, the court shall order the fiduciary to distribute from the trust to the beneficiary an amount that the court determines will restore the beneficiary, in whole or in part, to the beneficiary's appropriate position.
701.20(4m)(c)2.
2. To the extent that the abuse of discretion has resulted in a distribution to a beneficiary that is too large, the court shall place the beneficiaries, the trust, or both, in whole or in part, in their appropriate positions by ordering the fiduciary to withhold an amount from one or more future distributions to the beneficiary who received the distribution that was too large or by ordering that beneficiary to return some or all of the distribution to the trust.
701.20(4m)(c)3.
3. To the extent that the court is unable, after applying
subds. 1. and
2., to place the beneficiaries, the trust, or both in the positions that they would have occupied had the discretion not been abused, the court may order the fiduciary to pay an appropriate amount from its own funds to one or more of the beneficiaries, the trust, or both.
701.20(4m)(d)
(d) Upon petition by the fiduciary, the court having jurisdiction over a trust shall determine whether a proposed exercise or nonexercise by the fiduciary of a discretionary power conferred under this section will result in an abuse of the fiduciary's discretion. The petition must describe the proposed exercise or nonexercise of the power and contain sufficient information to inform the beneficiaries of the reasons for the proposal, the facts upon which the fiduciary relies, and an explanation of how the income and remainder beneficiaries will be affected by the proposed exercise or nonexercise of the power. A beneficiary who challenges the proposed exercise or nonexercise of the power has the burden of establishing that it will result in an abuse of discretion.
701.20(5)
(5) Determination and distribution of net income. In the case of an estate of a decedent or after an income interest in a trust ends, the following rules apply:
701.20(5)(a)
(a) A fiduciary of an estate or of a terminating income interest shall determine the amount of net income and net principal receipts received from property specifically given to a beneficiary under the rules in
subs. (7) to
(30) that apply to trustees and the rules in
par. (e). The fiduciary shall distribute the net income and net principal receipts to the beneficiary who is to receive the specific property.
701.20(5)(b)
(b) A fiduciary shall determine the remaining net income of a decedent's estate or a terminating income interest under the rules in
subs. (7) to
(30) that apply to trustees and by:
701.20(5)(b)1.
1. Including in net income all income from property used to discharge liabilities.
701.20(5)(b)2.
2. Paying from income or principal, in the fiduciary's discretion, fees of attorneys, accountants, and fiduciaries; court costs and other expenses of administration; and interest on death taxes, but the fiduciary may pay those expenses from income of property passing to a trust for which the fiduciary claims an estate tax marital or charitable deduction only to the extent that the payment of those expenses from income will not cause the reduction or loss of the deduction.
701.20(5)(b)3.
3. Paying from principal all other disbursements made or incurred in connection with the settlement of a decedent's estate or the winding up of a terminating income interest, including debts, funeral expenses, disposition of remains, family allowances, and death taxes and related penalties that are apportioned to the estate or terminating income interest by the will, the terms of the trust, or applicable law.
701.20(5)(c)
(c) A fiduciary shall distribute to a beneficiary, including a trustee, who receives a pecuniary amount not determined by a pecuniary formula interest at the legal rate set forth in
s. 138.04 on any unpaid portion of the pecuniary amount for the period commencing one year after the decedent's death or after the income interest in the trust ends. The interest under this paragraph shall be distributed from net income determined under
par. (b) or from principal to the extent that net income is insufficient. For purposes of this paragraph, the deferred marital property elective share amount elected by a surviving spouse under
s. 861.02 (1) is a bequest of a specific amount of money not determined by a pecuniary formula.
701.20(5)(d)
(d) A fiduciary shall distribute the net income remaining after distributions required by
par. (c) in the manner described in
sub. (6) to all other beneficiaries, including a beneficiary who receives a pecuniary amount determined by a pecuniary formula.
701.20(5)(e)
(e) A fiduciary may not reduce principal or income receipts from property described in
par. (a) because of a payment described in
sub. (25) or
(26) to the extent that the will, the terms of the trust, or applicable law requires the fiduciary to make the payment from assets other than the property or to the extent that the fiduciary recovers or expects to recover the payment from a 3rd party. The net income and principal receipts from the property are determined by including all of the amounts the fiduciary receives or pays with respect to the property, whether those amounts accrued or became due before, on, or after the date of a decedent's death or an income interest's terminating event, and by making a reasonable provision for amounts that the fiduciary believes the estate or terminating income interest may become obligated to pay after the property is distributed.
701.20(6)
(6) Distribution to residuary and remainder beneficiaries. 701.20(6)(a)(a) Each beneficiary described in
sub. (5) (d) is entitled to receive a portion of the net income equal to the beneficiary's fractional interest in undistributed principal assets, using values as of the distribution date. If a fiduciary makes more than one distribution of assets to beneficiaries to whom this subsection applies, each beneficiary, including one who does not receive part of the distribution, is entitled, as of each distribution date, to the net income the fiduciary has received after the date of death or terminating event or earlier distribution date but has not distributed as of the current distribution date.
