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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>64385</law_id><section_number>64.2-779.27</section_number><catch_line>Application</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="8.2">Uniform Directed Trust Act</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> Except as otherwise provided in subsection B and &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Exclusions" href="/64.2-779.28/">64.2-779.28</a>, this article applies to a trust that has its principal place of administration in the Commonwealth and that: <a id="paragraph-234304" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-779.27/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Is created on or after July 1, 2020; <a id="paragraph-234305" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-779.27/#A1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Is amended by a settlor on or after July 1, 2020; <a id="paragraph-234306" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-779.27/#A2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> Is amended or modified on or after July 1, 2020, by a nonjudicial <span class="dictionary">settlement</span> agreement under &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Nonjudicial settlement agreements" href="/64.2-709/">64.2-709</a>, by a <span class="dictionary">second-<span class="dictionary">trust instrument</span></span> under the Uniform Trust Decanting Act (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Scope" href="/64.2-779.1/">64.2-779.1</a> et seq.), or by the <span class="dictionary">court</span>; or <a id="paragraph-234307" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-779.27/#A3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A4" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> In the case of any trust not described in subdivision A 1, A 2, or A 3, was made subject to subsection E of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Repealed" href="/64.2-770/">64.2-770</a>, as it existed prior to the effective date of this article, by specific reference in the <span class="dictionary">trust instrument</span>. <a id="paragraph-234308" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-779.27/#A4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> In the case of a trust described in subdivision A 2 or A 3, this article applies only to a decision or action on or after the date of the first such amendment or modification. <a id="paragraph-234309" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-779.27/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> Any trust, decision, or action to which this article does not apply shall be governed by the following rules: <a id="paragraph-234310" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-779.27/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> If the terms of a trust confer upon a <span class="dictionary">person</span> other than the settlor of a revocable trust power to direct certain actions of the <span class="dictionary">trustee</span>, the <span class="dictionary">trustee</span> shall act in accordance with an exercise of the power unless the attempted exercise is manifestly contrary to the terms of the trust or the <span class="dictionary">trustee</span> knows the attempted exercise would constitute a serious breach of a <span class="dictionary">fiduciary</span> duty that the <span class="dictionary">person</span> holding the power owes to the beneficiaries of the trust. <a id="paragraph-234311" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-779.27/#C1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> The terms of a trust may confer upon a <span class="dictionary">trustee</span> or other <span class="dictionary">person</span> a power to direct the modification or termination of the trust. <a id="paragraph-234312" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-779.27/#C2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> A <span class="dictionary">person</span>, other than a <span class="dictionary">beneficiary</span>, who holds a power to direct is presumptively a <span class="dictionary">fiduciary</span> who, as such, is required to act in good faith with regard to the purposes of the trust and the <span class="dictionary">interests of the beneficiaries</span>. The holder of a power to direct is liable for any loss that results from breach of a <span class="dictionary">fiduciary</span> duty. <a id="paragraph-234313" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-779.27/#C3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>2020, c. 768.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
