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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>66828</law_id><section_number>64.2-759</section_number><catch_line>Removal of trustee</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>64.2-779.38</reference><reference>64.2-792</reference></referred_to_by><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="7">Office of Trustee</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> The settlor, a cotrustee, or a <span class="dictionary">beneficiary</span>, or, in the case of a <span class="dictionary">charitable trust</span>, the <span class="dictionary">Attorney General</span> may <span class="dictionary">petition</span> the <span class="dictionary">court</span> to remove a <span class="dictionary">trustee</span>, or a <span class="dictionary">trustee</span> may be removed by the <span class="dictionary">court</span> on its own initiative. <a id="paragraph-242330" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-759/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> The <span class="dictionary">court</span> may remove a <span class="dictionary">trustee</span> if: <a id="paragraph-242331" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-759/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> The <span class="dictionary">trustee</span> has committed a serious breach of trust; <a id="paragraph-242332" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-759/#B1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Lack of cooperation among cotrustees substantially impairs the administration of the trust; <a id="paragraph-242333" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-759/#B2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> Because of unfitness, unwillingness, or persistent failure of the <span class="dictionary">trustee</span> to administer the trust effectively, the <span class="dictionary">court</span> determines that removal of the <span class="dictionary">trustee</span> best serves the <span class="dictionary">interests of the beneficiaries</span>; or <a id="paragraph-242334" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-759/#B3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B4" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> There has been a substantial change of circumstances or removal is requested by all of the qualified beneficiaries, the <span class="dictionary">court</span> finds that removal of the <span class="dictionary">trustee</span> best serves the interests of all of the beneficiaries and is not inconsistent with a <span class="dictionary">material</span> purpose of the trust, and a suitable cotrustee or successor <span class="dictionary">trustee</span> is available. <a id="paragraph-242335" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-759/#B4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> Pending a final decision on a request to remove a <span class="dictionary">trustee</span>, or in lieu of or in addition to removing a <span class="dictionary">trustee</span>, the <span class="dictionary">court</span> may <span class="dictionary">order</span> such appropriate relief under subsection B of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Remedies for breach of trust" href="/64.2-792/">64.2-792</a> as may be necessary to protect the trust <span class="dictionary">property</span> or the <span class="dictionary">interests of the beneficiaries</span>. <a id="paragraph-242336" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-759/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>2005, c. 935, &#xA7; 55-547.06; 2012, c. 614.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
