Alabama § 19-3A-201 - Determination and Distribution of Net Income.

§ 19-3A-201. Determination and Distribution of Net Income.

After the decedent’s death, in the case of a decedent’s estate, or after an income interest in a trust ends, the following rules apply:

(a) If property is specifically given to a beneficiary by will or by trust, then the fiduciary of the decedent’s estate or of the terminating income interest shall distribute the net income and net principal receipts to the beneficiary who is to receive the specifically given property, subject to the following rules:

(1) The net income and principal receipts from the specifically given property are determined by including all of the amounts the fiduciary receives or pays with respect to the specifically given property, whether such amounts accrued or became due before, on, or after the date of the decedent’s death or the date upon which an income interest in a trust terminates, and by making a reasonable provision for amounts that the fiduciary believes the decedent’s estate or terminating income interest may become obligated to pay after the specifically given property is distributed.

(2) A fiduciary may not reduce principal or income receipts from the specifically given property on account of a payment described in Section 19-3A-501 or Section 19-3A-502 to the extent that the will, the terms of the trust, or applicable law requires the fiduciary to make the payment from property other than the specifically given property or to the extent that the fiduciary recovers or expects to recover the payment from a third party.

(b) If a beneficiary is to receive a pecuniary amount (1) outright, in the case of a decedent’s estate or (2) outright from a trust after an income interest ends, then a fiduciary shall distribute to the beneficiary the interest or other amount provided by the will, the terms of the trust, or applicable law. The interest shall be paid from net income as determined under subsection (c) or from principal, to the extent that net income is insufficient.

(c) A fiduciary shall determine the remaining net income of the decedent’s estate or terminating income interest as provided in Article 3 through Article 5 and by:

(1) Including in net income all income from property used to discharge liabilities;

(2) Paying from income or principal, in the fiduciary’s discretion, a. fees of attorneys, accountants, and fiduciaries; b. court costs and other expenses of administration; and c. interest on death taxes. The fiduciary may pay these expenses from income of property passing to a trust for which the fiduciary claims an estate tax marital or charitable deduction, but only to the extent that the payment of these expenses from income will not cause the reduction or loss of the deduction; and

(3) Paying from principal all other disbursements made or incurred in connection with the settlement of a decedent’s estate or the winding up of a terminating income interest, including debts, funeral expenses, disposition of remains, family allowances, and death taxes and related penalties that are apportioned to the decedent’s estate or terminating income interest by the will, the terms of the trust, or applicable law.

(d) A fiduciary shall distribute the remaining net income in the manner described in Section 19-3A-202 to all other beneficiaries, including a beneficiary who receives a pecuniary amount in trust, even if the beneficiary holds an unqualified power to withdraw assets from the trust or other presently exercisable general power of appointment over the trust.

(e) In calculating the interest pursuant to subsection (b), the fiduciary shall use the interest rate for 180-day U.S. Treasury bills as of (1) the thirtieth day following the date on which the time for filing verified claims against the decedent’s estate expires, or (2) the date upon which an income interest ends.