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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>86944</law_id><section_number>64.2-703</section_number><catch_line>Default and mandatory rules</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="64.2">Wills, Trusts, and Fiduciaries</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" 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="1" identifier="1">General Provisions and Definitions</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> Except as otherwise provided in the terms of the trust, this chapter governs the duties and powers of a <span class="dictionary">trustee</span>, relations among <span class="dictionary">trustees</span>, and the rights and interests of a <span class="dictionary">beneficiary</span>. <a id="paragraph-311277" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-703/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> The terms of a trust prevail over any provision of this chapter except: <a id="paragraph-311278" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-703/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> The requirements for creating a trust; <a id="paragraph-311279" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-703/#B1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Subject to subsection I of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Cotrustees" href="/64.2-756/">64.2-756</a> and &#xA7;&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Duty and liability of directed trustee" href="/64.2-779.32/">64.2-779.32</a> and <a class="law" title="No duty to monitor, inform, or advise" href="/64.2-779.34/">64.2-779.34</a>, the duty of a <span class="dictionary">trustee</span> to act 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-311280" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-703/#B2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> The requirement that a trust and its terms be for the benefit of its beneficiaries, and that the trust have a purpose that is lawful, not contrary to public policy, and possible to achieve; <a id="paragraph-311281" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-703/#B3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B4" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> The power of the <span class="dictionary">court</span> to modify or terminate a trust under &#xA7;&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Modification or termination of trust; proceedings for approval or disapproval" href="/64.2-728/">64.2-728</a> through <a class="law" title="Modification to achieve settlor's tax objectives" href="/64.2-734/">64.2-734</a>; <a id="paragraph-311282" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-703/#B4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B5" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">5.</span> The effect of a <span class="dictionary">spendthrift provision</span> and the rights of certain <span class="dictionary">creditors</span> and assignees to reach a trust as provided in Article 5 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Rights of beneficiary's creditor or assignee" href="/64.2-742/">64.2-742</a> et seq.); <a id="paragraph-311283" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-703/#B5"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B6" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">6.</span> The power of the <span class="dictionary">court</span> under &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Trustee's bond" href="/64.2-755/">64.2-755</a> to require, dispense with, or modify or terminate a <span class="dictionary">bond</span>; <a id="paragraph-311284" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-703/#B6"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B7" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">7.</span> The power of the <span class="dictionary">court</span> under subsection B of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Compensation of trustee" href="/64.2-761/">64.2-761</a> to adjust a <span class="dictionary">trustee</span>&#x2019;s compensation specified in the terms of the trust that is unreasonably low or high; <a id="paragraph-311285" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-703/#B7"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B8" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">8.</span> The effect of an exculpatory term under &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Exculpation of trustee" href="/64.2-799/">64.2-799</a>; <a id="paragraph-311286" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-703/#B8"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B9" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">9.</span> The rights under &#xA7;&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Limitation on personal liability of trustee" href="/64.2-801/">64.2-801</a> through <a class="law" title="Certification of trust" href="/64.2-804/">64.2-804</a> of a <span class="dictionary">person</span> other than a <span class="dictionary">trustee</span> or <span class="dictionary">beneficiary</span>; <a id="paragraph-311287" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-703/#B9"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B10" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">10.</span> Periods of limitation for commencing a judicial proceeding; and <a id="paragraph-311288" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-703/#B10"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B11" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">11.</span> The power of the <span class="dictionary">court</span> to take such action and exercise such <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> as may be necessary in the interests of justice. <a id="paragraph-311289" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-703/#B11"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>2005, c. 935, &#xA7; 55-541.05; 2007, c. 216; 2012, c. 614; 2020, c. 768.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
