14-10819 - Arizona Statutes

14-10819. Trustee's special power to appoint to other trust A. Unless the terms of the instrument expressly provide otherwise, a trustee who has the discretion under the terms of a testamentary instrument or irrevocable inter vivos agreement to make distributions, regardless of whether a standard is provided in the instrument or agreement, for the benefit of a beneficiary of the trust may exercise without prior court approval the trustee's discretion by appointing part or all of the estate trust in favor of a trustee of a trust under an instrument other than that under which the power to make distributions was created if the exercise of this discretion: 1. Does not reduce any fixed nondiscretionary income payment to a beneficiary. 2. Does not alter any nondiscretionary annuity or unitrust payment to a beneficiary. 3. Is in favor of the beneficiaries of the trust. 4. Results in any ascertainable standard applicable for distributions from the trust being the same or more restrictive standard applicable for distributions from the recipient trust when the trustee exercising the power described in this subsection is a possible beneficiary under the standard. 5. Does not adversely affect the tax treatment of the trust, the trustee, the settlor or the beneficiaries. 6. Does not violate the limitations on validity under sections 14-2901 and 14-2905. B. This section applies to a trust governed by the laws of this state, including a trust whose governing jurisdiction is transferred to this state. C. The exercise of the power to invade the principal of a trust under subsection A of this section is considered to be the exercise of a special power of appointment. D. The trustee, in the trustee's sole discretion, prior to or after the exercise of the trustee's discretion under this section, may request the court to approve the exercise.