eLaws | eCases | Massachusetts Courts | Counties & Cities of Massachusetts | United States Code |
 General Laws of Massachusetts (Last Updated: January 16, 2020)
 PART II REAL AND PERSONAL PROPERTY AND DOMESTIC RELATIONS
 TITLE II. DESCENT AND DISTRIBUTION, WILLS, ESTATES OF DECEASED PERSONS AND ABSENTEES, GUARDIANSHIP, CONSERVATORSHIP AND TRUSTS
 CHAPTER 203E. MASSACHUSETTS UNIFORM TRUST CODE
 ARTICLE 4. CREATION, VALIDITY, MODIFICATION AND TERMINATION OF TRUST

  SECTION 402. Requirements for creation  

Latest version.

  • (a) A trust shall be created only if:

    (1) the settlor has capacity to create a trust;

    (2) the settlor indicates an intention to create the trust;

    (3) the trust has a definite beneficiary or is:

    (A) a charitable trust;

    (B) a trust for the care of an animal, as provided in section 408; or

    (C) a trust for a non-charitable purpose, as provided in section 409;

    (4) the trustee has duties to perform; and

    (5) the same person is not the sole trustee and sole beneficiary.

    (b) A beneficiary shall be definite if the beneficiary can be ascertained now or in the future, subject to any applicable rule against perpetuities.

    (c) A power in a trustee to select a beneficiary from an indefinite class shall be valid. If the power is not exercised within a reasonable time, the power shall fail and the property subject to the power shall pass to the persons who would have taken the property had the power not been conferred.