(A) A trustee, other than an interested trustee, or, where two or more persons are acting as trustees, a majority of the trustees who are not interested trustees (in either case hereafter "trustee") in the trustee's sole discretion and without court approval, may:

(1) convert an income trust to a total return unitrust;

(2) reconvert a total return unitrust to an income trust; or

(3) change the percentage used to calculate the unitrust amount or the method used to determine the fair market value of the trust if all of the following apply:

(a) The trustee adopts a written policy for the trust providing:

(i) in the case of a trust being administered as an income trust, that future distributions from the trust will be unitrust amounts rather than net income as determined pursuant to the South Carolina Uniform Principal and Income Act;

(ii) in the case of a trust being administered as a total return unitrust, that future distributions from the trust will be net income rather than unitrust amounts; or

(iii) that the percentage used to calculate the unitrust amount or the method used to determine the fair market value of the trust will be changed as stated in the policy.

(b) The trustee gives written notice of its intention to take the action, including copies of the written policy and Sections 62-7-904B through 62-7-904P, to:

(i) the settlor of the trust, if living; and

(ii) all persons who are the qualified beneficiaries of the trust at the time the notice is given. If a qualified beneficiary is under a legal disability, notice shall be given to the representative of the qualified beneficiary if a representative is available without court order.

(c) There is at least:

(i) one qualified beneficiary described in Section 62-7-103(12)(A) or (B) who is not under a legal disability or a representative of a qualified beneficiary so described; or

(ii) one qualified beneficiary described in Section 62-7-103(12)(C) who is not under a legal disability or a representative of a qualified beneficiary so described.

(d) No person receiving notice of the trustee's intention to take the proposed action objects to the action within ninety days after notice has been given. The objection must be by written notice to the trustee.

(B) If there is no trustee of the trust other than an interested trustee, the interested trustee or, where two or more persons are acting as trustee and are interested trustees, a majority of the interested trustees may, in its sole discretion and without court approval:

(1) convert an income trust to a total return unitrust;

(2) reconvert a total return unitrust to an income trust; or

(3) change the percentage used to calculate the unitrust amount or the method used to determine the fair market value of the trust if all of the following apply:

(a) The trustee adopts a written policy for the trust providing:

(i) in the case of a trust being administered as an income trust, that future distributions from the trust will be unitrust amounts rather than net income as determined pursuant to the South Carolina Uniform Principal and Income Act;

(ii) in the case of a trust being administered as a total return unitrust, that future distributions from the trust will be net income as determined pursuant to the South Carolina Uniform Principal and Income Act rather than unitrust amounts, or

(iii) that the percentage used to calculate the unitrust amount or the method used to determine the fair market value of the trust will be changed as stated in the policy.

(b) The trustee appoints a disinterested person who, in its sole discretion but acting in a fiduciary capacity, determines for the trustee:

(i) the percentage to be used to calculate the unitrust amount;

(ii) the method to be used in determining the fair market value of the trust; and

(iii) which assets, if any, are to be excluded in determining the unitrust amount.

(c) The trustee gives written notice of its intention to take the action, including copies of the written policy and Sections 62-7-904B through 62-7-904P and the determinations of the disinterested person to:

(i) the settlor of the trust, if living; and

(ii) all persons who are the qualified beneficiaries of the trust at the time of the giving of the notice. If a qualified beneficiary is under a legal disability, notice must be given to the representative of the qualified beneficiary if a representative is available without court order.

(d) There is at least:

(i) one qualified beneficiary described in Section 62-7-103(12)(A) or (B) or a representative of a beneficiary so described; or

(ii) one qualified beneficiary described in Section 62-7-103(12)(C) or a representative of a qualified beneficiary so described.

(e) No person receiving notice of the trustee's intention to take the proposed action of the trustee objects to the action or to the determination of the disinterested person within ninety days after notice has been given. The objection must be by written instrument delivered to the trustee.

(C) A trustee may act under subsection (A) or (B) of this section with respect to a trust for which both income and principal have been set aside permanently for charitable purposes under the governing instrument and for which a federal estate or gift tax deduction has been taken, if all of the following apply:

(1) Instead of sending written notice to the persons described in subsection (A)(3)(b) or subsection (B)(3)(b), as the case may be, the trustee shall send written notice to each charitable organization expressly designated to receive the income of the trust under the governing instrument and, if no charitable organization is expressly designated to receive all of the income of the trust under the governing instrument, to the Attorney General of this State.

(2) Subsection (A)(3)(d) or subsection (B)(3)(d) of this subsection, as the case may be, does not apply to this action.

(3) In each taxable year, the trustee shall distribute the greater of the unitrust amount or the amount required by Section 4942 of the Code.

(D) The provisions of Section 62-7-109 regarding notices and the sending of documents to persons under this article shall apply for purposes of notices and the sending of documents under this section.

HISTORY: 2013 Act No. 100, Section 2, eff January 1, 2014.