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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>376446</law_id><section_number>64.2-776</section_number><catch_line>Discretionary powers; tax savings</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2026/" slug="2026" current="TRUE" last_updated="2026-08-02">2026</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="136" identifier="64.2">Wills, Trusts, and Fiduciaries</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="3" identifier="III">Trusts</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="7">Uniform Trust Code</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="8" identifier="8">Duties and Powers of Trustee</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> Notwithstanding the breadth of discretion granted to a <span class="dictionary">trustee</span> in the terms of the trust, including the use of such terms as &#x201C;absolute,&#x201D; &#x201C;sole,&#x201D; or &#x201C;uncontrolled,&#x201D; the <span class="dictionary">trustee</span> shall exercise a discretionary power in good faith and in accordance with the terms and purposes of the trust and the <span class="dictionary">interests of the beneficiaries</span>. <a id="paragraph-1405562" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-776/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> Subject to subsection D, and unless the terms of the trust expressly indicate that a rule in this subsection does not apply: <a id="paragraph-1405563" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-776/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> A <span class="dictionary">person</span> other than a settlor who is a <span class="dictionary">beneficiary</span> and <span class="dictionary">trustee</span> of a trust that confers on the <span class="dictionary">trustee</span> a power to make discretionary distributions to or for the <span class="dictionary">trustee</span>&#x2019;s personal benefit may exercise the power only in accordance with an <span class="dictionary">ascertainable standard</span>; and <a id="paragraph-1405564" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-776/#B1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> A <span class="dictionary">trustee</span> may not exercise a power to make discretionary distributions to satisfy a legal obligation of support that the <span class="dictionary">trustee</span> personally owes another <span class="dictionary">person</span>.
				For purposes of this subsection, &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">trustee</span>&#x201D; includes a <span class="dictionary">person</span> who is deemed to have any power of a <span class="dictionary">trustee</span>, whether because such <span class="dictionary">person</span> has the right to remove or replace any <span class="dictionary">trustee</span> or because a reciprocal trust or power doctrine applies. <a id="paragraph-1405565" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-776/#B2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> A power whose exercise is limited or prohibited by subsection B may be exercised by a majority of the remaining <span class="dictionary">trustees</span> whose exercise of the power is not so limited or prohibited. If the power of all <span class="dictionary">trustees</span> is so limited or prohibited, the <span class="dictionary">court</span> may appoint a special <span class="dictionary">fiduciary</span> with authority to exercise the power. <a id="paragraph-1405566" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-776/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> Subsection B does not apply to: <a id="paragraph-1405567" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-776/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> A power held by the settlor&#x2019;s spouse who is the <span class="dictionary">trustee</span> of a trust for which a marital deduction, as defined in &#xA7; 2056(b)(5) or 2523(e) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as in effect on the effective date of this chapter, or as later amended, was previously allowed; <a id="paragraph-1405568" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-776/#D1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Any trust during any period that the trust may be revoked or amended by its settlor; or <a id="paragraph-1405569" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-776/#D2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> A trust if contributions to the trust qualify for the annual exclusion under &#xA7; 2503(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as in effect on the effective date of this chapter, or as later amended. <a id="paragraph-1405570" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-776/#D3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>2005, c. 935, &#xA7; 55-548.14; 2012, c. 614; 2013, c. 324.</history><metadata><court_decisions><item key="0"><name> .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. Paul Galiotos, Individually, etc. v. Tasos A. Galiotos, .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. </name><case_number>0077241</case_number><citation></citation><date>2024-12-30</date><url>https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/10305439/paul-galiotos-individually-etc-v-tasos-a-galiotos-individually-etc/</url><abstract> .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. </abstract><court_html><abbr title="Court of Appeals">COA</abbr></court_html></item><item key="1"><name> .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. Stavros P. Galiotos, Individually, etc. v. Tasos A. .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. </name><case_number>0068241</case_number><citation></citation><date>2024-12-30</date><url>https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/10305437/stavros-p-galiotos-individually-etc-v-tasos-a-galiotos-individually/</url><abstract> .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. </abstract><court_html><abbr title="Court of Appeals">COA</abbr></court_html></item></court_decisions></metadata></law>
