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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>55071</law_id><section_number>64.2-746</section_number><catch_line>Discretionary trusts; effect of standard</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="5">Creditor's Claims; Spendthrift and Discretionary Trusts</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> In this section, &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">child</span>&#x201D; includes any <span class="dictionary">person</span> for whom an <span class="dictionary">order</span> or <span class="dictionary">judgment</span> for <span class="dictionary">child</span> support has been entered in this or another <span class="dictionary">state</span>. <a id="paragraph-201970" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-746/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> Except as otherwise provided in subsection C and &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Certain claims for reimbursement for public assistance" href="/64.2-745/">64.2-745</a>, whether or not a trust contains a <span class="dictionary">spendthrift provision</span>, a <span class="dictionary">creditor</span> of a <span class="dictionary">beneficiary</span> may not compel a distribution that is subject to the <span class="dictionary">trustee</span>&#x2019;s discretion, even if: <a id="paragraph-201971" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-746/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> The discretion is expressed in the form of a standard of distribution; or <a id="paragraph-201972" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-746/#B1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> The <span class="dictionary">trustee</span> has abused the discretion. <a id="paragraph-201973" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-746/#B2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> To the extent a <span class="dictionary">trustee</span> has not complied with a standard of distribution or has abused a discretion: <a id="paragraph-201974" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-746/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> A distribution may be ordered by the court to satisfy a <span class="dictionary">judgment</span> or <span class="dictionary">court order</span> against the <span class="dictionary">beneficiary</span> for support or maintenance of the <span class="dictionary">beneficiary</span>&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">child</span>; and <a id="paragraph-201975" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-746/#C1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> The court shall direct the <span class="dictionary">trustee</span> to pay to the <span class="dictionary">child</span> such amount as is <span class="dictionary">equitable</span> under the circumstances but not more than the amount the <span class="dictionary">trustee</span> would have been required to distribute to or for the benefit of the <span class="dictionary">beneficiary</span> had the <span class="dictionary">trustee</span> complied with the standard or not abused the discretion. <a id="paragraph-201976" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-746/#C2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> This section does not limit the right of a <span class="dictionary">beneficiary</span> to maintain a judicial proceeding against a <span class="dictionary">trustee</span> for an abuse of discretion or failure to comply with a standard for distribution. <a id="paragraph-201977" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-746/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E"><p><span class="prefix-number">E.</span> A <span class="dictionary">creditor</span> may not reach the interest of a <span class="dictionary">beneficiary</span> who is also a <span class="dictionary">trustee</span> or cotrustee, or otherwise compel a distribution, if the <span class="dictionary">trustee</span>&#x2019;s discretion to make distributions for the <span class="dictionary">trustee</span>&#x2019;s own benefit is limited by an <span class="dictionary">ascertainable standard</span>. <a id="paragraph-201978" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-746/#E"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>2005, c. 935, &#xA7; 55-545.04; 2012, c. 614.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
