North Carolina § 36C-4B-3 - Definitions.

§ 36C-4B-3. Definitions.

The following definitions apply to this Article unless the context clearly requires otherwise: "Charitable remainder trust" means a trust that provides for a specified distribution at least annually for either life or a term of years to one or more beneficiaries, at least one of which is not a charity (hereinafter referred to as "beneficiaries"), with an irrevocable remainder interest to be held for the benefit of, or paid over to, charity. For purposes of this Article, only a charitable remainder annuity trust or a charitable remainder unitrust is considered a charitable remainder trust. "Charitable remainder annuity trust" means a charitable remainder trust: From which a sum certain (that is not less than five percent (5%) of the initial net fair market value of all property placed in trust) is to be paid at least annually to one or more persons (at least one of which is not an organization described in section 170(c) of the Internal Revenue Code and, in the case of individuals, only to an individual who was living at the time of the creation of the trust) for a term of years (not in excess of 20 years) or for the life or lives of that individual or those individuals; however, in the case of an individual, the amount to be paid to that individual may be subject to a qualified contingency according to the terms of the governing instrument; From which no amount other than the payments described in sub-subdivision a. of this subdivision may be paid to or for or both to and for the use of anyone other than an organization that is or was described in section 170(c) of the Internal Revenue Code; and Following the termination of the payments described in sub-subdivision a. of this subdivision, the remainder interest in the trust is to be transferred to, or for the use of, an organization that is or was described in section 170(c) of the Internal Revenue Code or is to be retained by the trust for that use. "Charitable remainder unitrust" means a charitable remainder trust: From which a fixed percentage (that is not less than five percent (5%)) of the net fair market value of its assets, valued annually, is to be paid at least annually to one or more persons (at least one of which is not an organization described in section 170(c) of the Internal Revenue Code and, in the case of individuals, only to an individual who was living at the time of the creation of the trust) for a term of years (not in excess of 20 years) or for the life or lives of that individual or those individuals; however, in the case of an individual, the amount to be paid to that individual may be made subject to a qualified contingency according to the terms of the governing instrument; From which no amount other than the payments described in sub-subdivision a. of this subdivision may be paid to or for the use of anyone other than an organization that is or was an organization described in section 170(c) of the Internal Revenue Code; and Following the termination of the payments described in sub-subdivision a. of this subdivision, the remainder interest in the trust is to be transferred to, or for the use of, an organization that is or was described in section 170(c) of the Internal Revenue Code, or is to be retained by the trust for such a use. "Qualified contingency" means any provision of the governing instrument that provides that, upon the happening of a contingency, the payments made to an individual noncharitable beneficiary of a charitable remainder trust will terminate not later than those payments would otherwise terminate under the governing instrument. Notwithstanding sub-subdivisions a. and b. of this subdivision, the trust instrument may provide that the trustee shall pay to the income beneficiary for any year (i) the amount of the trust income if that amount is less than the amount required to be distributed under sub-subdivision a. of this subdivision, and (ii) any amount of the trust income that exceeds the amount required to be distributed under sub-subdivision a. of this subdivision to the extent that (by reason of sub-subdivision a.) the aggregate of the amounts paid in prior years is less than the aggregate of the required amounts. History (1981 (Reg. Sess., 1982), c. 1252, s. 1; 1985, c. 406, ss. 1-3; 2005-192, s. 2.)