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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>84854</law_id><section_number>13.1-1219</section_number><catch_line>Governing instrument</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>13.1-1231</reference><reference>13.1-1240</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="13.1">Corporations</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="14">Virginia Business Trust Act</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="2">Formation</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> A <span class="dictionary">governing instrument</span> of a <span class="dictionary">business trust</span> may: <a id="paragraph-303987" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-1219/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Provide that a <span class="dictionary">person</span> shall become a <span class="dictionary">beneficial owner</span> and shall become bound by the <span class="dictionary">governing instrument</span> if such <span class="dictionary">person</span>, or a representative authorized by such <span class="dictionary">person</span>, orally, in writing, or by other action such as payment for a beneficial interest, complies with the conditions for becoming a <span class="dictionary">beneficial owner</span> set forth in the <span class="dictionary">governing instrument</span> or any other writing and acquires a beneficial interest; <a id="paragraph-303988" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-1219/#A1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Consist of one or more agreements, instruments, or other writings and may include or incorporate a declaration of trust or bylaws containing provisions relating to the business of the <span class="dictionary">business trust</span>, the conduct of its affairs, and its rights or powers or the rights or powers of its <span class="dictionary">trustees</span>, <span class="dictionary">beneficial owners</span>, agents, or employees; and <a id="paragraph-303989" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-1219/#A2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> Contain any provision that is not inconsistent with <span class="dictionary">law</span> or with the information contained in the <span class="dictionary">articles of trust</span>. <a id="paragraph-303990" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-1219/#A3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> A <span class="dictionary">governing instrument</span> may contain any provision relating to the management of the business and affairs of the <span class="dictionary">business trust</span>, and the rights, duties, and obligations of the <span class="dictionary">trustees</span>, <span class="dictionary">beneficial owners</span>, and other <span class="dictionary">persons</span>, that is not contrary to any provision or requirement of this chapter or the <span class="dictionary">articles of trust</span> and without limitation: <a id="paragraph-303991" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-1219/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> May provide for classes, groups, or series of <span class="dictionary">trustees</span> or <span class="dictionary">beneficial owners</span>, or classes, groups, or series of beneficial interests, having such relative rights, powers, and duties as the <span class="dictionary">governing instrument</span> may provide; and may make provision for the future creation in the manner provided in the <span class="dictionary">governing instrument</span> of additional classes, groups or series of <span class="dictionary">trustees</span>, <span class="dictionary">beneficial owners</span>, or beneficial interests, having the relative rights, powers, and duties as may from time to time be established, including rights, powers, and duties senior or subordinate to existing classes, groups, or series of <span class="dictionary">trustees</span>, <span class="dictionary">beneficial owners</span>, or beneficial interests; <a id="paragraph-303992" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-1219/#B1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> May establish or provide for the establishment of designated series of <span class="dictionary">trustees</span>, <span class="dictionary">beneficial owners</span>, or beneficial interests having separate rights, powers, or duties with respect to specified property or obligations of the <span class="dictionary">business trust</span> or profits and losses associated with specified property or obligations and, to the extent provided in the <span class="dictionary">governing instrument</span>, any series may have a separate business purpose or investment objective; <a id="paragraph-303993" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-1219/#B2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> May provide for the taking of any action, including the amendment of the <span class="dictionary">articles of trust</span> or <span class="dictionary">governing instrument</span>, the accomplishment of a merger or <span class="dictionary">consolidation</span>, the appointment of one or more <span class="dictionary">trustees</span>, the sale, lease, exchange, transfer, pledge, or other <span class="dictionary">disposition</span> of all or any part of the <span class="dictionary">assets</span> of the <span class="dictionary">business trust</span> or the <span class="dictionary">assets</span> of any series, or the dissolution of the <span class="dictionary">business trust</span>; or may provide for the taking of any action to create, under the provisions of the <span class="dictionary">governing instrument</span>, a class, group, or series of beneficial interests that was not previously outstanding, in any such case without the vote or approval of any particular <span class="dictionary">trustee</span> or <span class="dictionary">beneficial owner</span>, or class, group, or series of <span class="dictionary">trustees</span> or <span class="dictionary">beneficial owners</span>; <a id="paragraph-303994" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-1219/#B3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B4" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> May grant to or withhold from all or certain <span class="dictionary">trustees</span> or <span class="dictionary">beneficial owners</span>, or a specified class, group, or series of <span class="dictionary">trustees</span> or <span class="dictionary">beneficial owners</span>, the right to vote, separately or with any or all other classes, groups, or series of <span class="dictionary">trustees</span> or <span class="dictionary">beneficial owners</span>, on any matter, such voting being on a per capita, number, financial interest, class, group, series, or any other basis; <a id="paragraph-303995" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-1219/#B4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B5" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">5.</span> May, if and to the extent that voting rights are granted under the <span class="dictionary">governing instrument</span>, set forth provisions relating to notice of the time, place, or purpose of any meeting at which any matter is to be voted on, method of giving such notice, <span class="dictionary">waiver</span> of any such notice, action by consent without a meeting, the establishment of record dates, quorum requirements, voting in <span class="dictionary">person</span>, by proxy or in any other manner, or any other matter with respect to the exercise of the right to vote; <a id="paragraph-303996" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-1219/#B5"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B6" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">6.</span> May provide for the present or future creation of more than one <span class="dictionary">business trust</span>, including the creation of a future <span class="dictionary">business trust</span> to which all or any part of the <span class="dictionary">assets</span>, liabilities, profits, or losses of any existing <span class="dictionary">business trust</span> will be transferred, and for the conversion of beneficial interests in an existing <span class="dictionary">business trust</span> or series, into beneficial interests in the separate <span class="dictionary">business trust</span> or series; <a id="paragraph-303997" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-1219/#B6"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B7" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">7.</span> May provide for the appointment, election, or engagement, either as agents or independent contractors of the <span class="dictionary">business trust</span> or as delegates of the <span class="dictionary">trustees</span>, of officers, employees, managers, or other <span class="dictionary">persons</span> who may manage the business and affairs of the <span class="dictionary">business trust</span> and may have the titles and the relative rights, powers, and duties as the <span class="dictionary">governing instrument</span> shall provide; and <a id="paragraph-303998" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-1219/#B7"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B8" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">8.</span> May provide for restrictions on transfer of beneficial interests to maintain the <span class="dictionary">business trust</span>&#x2019;s status when it is dependent on the number or identity of its <span class="dictionary">beneficial owners</span>, to preserve exemptions under federal or state securities <span class="dictionary">laws</span> or for any other purpose. <a id="paragraph-303999" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-1219/#B8"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>2002, c. 621.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
