New Jersey § 3b:19b-31
Full text of New Jersey New Jersey Statutes § 3b:19b-31, with citation guidance and answers to common questions.
§ 3b:19b-31.
a. A court shall not change a fiduciary's decision to exercise or not to exercise
a discretionary power conferred by this act unless it determines that the decision
was an abuse of discretion. A court shall not determine that a fiduciary abused its discretion merely because
the court would have exercised the discretion in a different manner or would not have
exercised the discretion. b. The decisions to which subsection a. of this section applies include: (1) A determination under subsection a. of section 4 of this act of whether and to
what extent an amount should be transferred from principal to income or from income
to principal. (2) A determination of the factors that are relevant to the trust and its beneficiaries,
the extent to which they are relevant, and the weight, if any, to be given to the
relevant factors in deciding whether and to what extent to exercise the powers conferred
by subsection a. of section 4 of this act. c. If a court determines that a fiduciary has abused its discretion, the remedy is
to restore the income and remainder beneficiaries to the position they would have
occupied if the fiduciary had not abused its discretion, according to the following
rules: (1) To the extent that the abuse of discretion has resulted in no distribution to
a beneficiary or a distribution that is too small, the court shall require the fiduciary
to distribute from the trust to the beneficiary an amount that the court determines
will restore the beneficiary, in whole or in part, to his appropriate position. (2) To the extent that an abuse of discretion has resulted in a distribution to a
beneficiary that is too large, the court shall restore the beneficiaries, the trust,
or both, in whole or in part, to their appropriate position by requiring the fiduciary
to withhold an amount from one or more of future distributions to the beneficiary
who received the distribution that was too large or requiring that beneficiary to
return some or all of the distribution to the trust. (3) To the extent that the court is unable, after applying paragraphs (1) and (2)
of this subsection to restore the beneficiaries, the trust, or both, to the position
they would have occupied if the fiduciary had not abused its discretion, the court
may require the fiduciary to pay an appropriate amount from its own funds to one or
more of the beneficiaries or the trust or both. d. Upon a petition by the fiduciary, the court having jurisdiction over the trust
or estate shall determine whether a proposed exercise or nonexercise by the fiduciary
of a discretionary power conferred by this act will result in an abuse of the fiduciary's
discretion. If the petition describes the proposed exercise or nonexercise of the power and
contains sufficient information to inform the beneficiaries of the reasons for the
proposal, the facts upon which the fiduciary relies, and an explanation of how the
income and remainder beneficiaries will be affected by the proposed exercise or nonexercise
of the power, a beneficiary who challenges the proposed exercise or nonexercise has
the burden of establishing that it will result in an abuse of discretion.
Frequently Asked Questions About New Jersey § 3b:19b-31
What does New Jersey Statutes § 3b:19b-31 cover?
Section 3b:19b-31 is part of the New Jersey Statutes, the codified statutory law of New Jersey. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.
How do I cite New Jersey § 3b:19b-31?
A common citation format is "New Jersey Statutes § 3b:19b-31" (New Jersey). Legal writing may require the code abbreviation, section number, and year or edition. Match the style required by your court, professor, or publisher.
Is this the official text of New Jersey law?
No. This page is for research and education and may not include the most recent amendments. For official current law, check the New Jersey official source linked on this page or consult a licensed New Jersey attorney.
How does New Jersey § 3b:19b-31 apply to my situation?
Statutes are interpreted in context, and application depends on your specific facts. Only a licensed attorney in New Jersey can advise on how this section applies to you. Contact your state or local bar association for a referral.
Sources & Verification
Not legal advice. Verify against the official source and consult a licensed attorney in New Jersey.