For purposes of sections 34-500 to 34-547, inclusive:

(1) “Beneficial owner” means any owner of a beneficial interest in a statutory trust. Beneficial ownership shall be determined and evidenced, whether by means of registration, the issuance of certificates or otherwise, in accordance with the applicable provisions of the governing instrument of the statutory trust.

(2) “Statutory trust” or “domestic statutory trust” means an unincorporated association which (A) is created by a trust instrument under which property is or will be held, managed, administered, controlled, invested, reinvested or operated, or business or professional activities are carried on or will be carried on, by a trustee or trustees for the benefit of such person or persons as are or may become entitled to a beneficial interest in the trust property, including but not limited to a trust of the type known at common law as a “business trust” or “Massachusetts trust” or “grantor trust”, or a trust qualifying as a real estate investment trust under Section 856 et seq., of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or any subsequent corresponding internal revenue code of the United States, as from time to time amended, or a trust qualifying as a real estate mortgage investment conduit under Section 860D of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or any subsequent corresponding internal revenue code of the United States, as from time to time amended, and (B) files a certificate of trust pursuant to section 34-503. Any such association organized before or after October 1, 1997, shall be a statutory trust and a separate legal entity.

(3) “Document” includes anything delivered to the office of the Secretary of the State for filing under sections 34-500 to 34-547, inclusive.

(4) “Foreign statutory trust” means any business trust, association or similar entity which is not organized under the laws of this state.

(5) “Governing instrument” means a trust instrument which creates a statutory trust and provides for the governance of the affairs of the statutory trust and the conduct of its business. A governing instrument: (A) May provide that a person shall become a beneficial owner and shall become bound by the governing instrument if such person, or a representative authorized by such person orally, in writing or by other action such as payment for a beneficial interest, complies with the conditions for becoming a beneficial owner set forth in the governing instrument or any other writing and acquires a beneficial interest; and (B) may consist of one or more agreements, instruments or other writings and may refer to or incorporate bylaws containing provisions relating to the business of the statutory trust, the conduct of its affairs and its rights or powers or the rights or powers of its trustees, beneficial owners, agents or employees.

(6) “Other business entity” means a corporation, a limited liability company, a general or limited partnership, a limited liability partnership, a common law trust or any other unincorporated business.

(7) “Person” means a natural person, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability partnership, limited liability company, trust, estate, association, corporation, custodian, nominee or any other individual or entity in its own or any representative capacity.

(8) “Sign” or “signature” includes any manual, facsimile, conformed or electronic signature.

(9) “Trustee” means the person or persons appointed as a trustee in accordance with the governing instrument of a statutory trust and may include one or more of the beneficial owners of the statutory trust.

(P.A. 96-271, S. 221, 254; P.A. 98-137, S. 31, 62; 98-219, S. 33, 34; P.A. 11-146, S. 17.)

History: P.A. 96-271 effective October 1, 1997; P.A. 98-137 amended definition of “statutory trust” to delete provision re the purposes for which a statutory trust may be organized, said provision being reenacted as Sec. 34-502a by same public act, effective July 1, 1998; P.A. 98-219 revised effective date of P.A. 98-137, but without affecting this section; P.A. 11-146 added new Subdiv. (3) defining “document”, redesignated existing Subdivs. (3) to (6) as Subdivs. (4) to (7), added new Subdiv. (8) defining “sign” or “signature” and redesignated existing Subdiv. (7) as Subdiv. (9), effective January 1, 2012.