Montana § 72-38-402 - Requirements For Creation

§ 72-38-402. Requirements For Creation

Requirements for creation. (1) A trust is created only if: (a) the settlor has capacity to create a trust; (b) the settlor indicates an intention to create the trust; (c) the trust has a definite beneficiary or is: (i) a charitable trust; (ii) a trust for the care of an animal, as provided in 72-38-408 ; or (iii) a trust for a noncharitable purpose, as provided in 72-38-409 ; (d) the trustee has duties to perform; and (e) the same person is not the sole trustee and sole beneficiary. (2) A beneficiary is definite if the beneficiary can be ascertained now or in the future, subject to any applicable rule against perpetuities. (3) A power in a trustee to select a beneficiary from an indefinite class is valid. If the power is not exercised within a reasonable time, the power fails and the property subject to the power passes to the persons who would have taken the property had the power not been conferred. (4) A conservation easement created or conveyed under Title 76, chapter 6, does not create a charitable trust unless the settlor expresses a clear intention in the conservation easement instrument to create or convey the conservation easement as a charitable trust.