AN ACT Relating to uniform transfers to minors; amending RCW 11.76.095, 11.98.170, 67.70.220, and 11.92.140; adding a new chapter to Title 11 RCW; repealing RCW 11.93.010, 11.93.020, 11.93.030, 11.93.040, 11.93.050, 11.93.060, 11.93.070, 11.93.080, 11.93.900, 11.93.910, 11.93.911, 11.93.912, 11.93.920, and 11.76.090; providing an effective date; and declaring an emergency.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. DEFINITIONS. Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter.

(1) "Adult" means an individual who has attained the age of twenty-one years.

(2) "Benefit plan" means an employer's plan for the benefit of an employee or partner.

(3) "Broker" means a person lawfully engaged in the business of effecting transactions in securities or commodities for the person's own account or for the account of others.

(4) "Guardian" means a person appointed or qualified by a court to act as general, limited, or temporary guardian of a minor's property or a person legally authorized to perform substantially the same functions. Conservator means guardian for transfers made under another state's law but enforceable in this state's courts.

(5) "Court" means a superior court of the state of Washington.

(6) "Custodial property" means (a) any interest in property transferred to a custodian under this chapter and (b) the income from and proceeds of that interest in property.

(7) "Custodian" means a person so designated under section 9 of this act or a successor or substitute custodian designated under section 18 of this act.

(8) "Financial institution" means a bank, trust company, savings institution, or credit union, chartered and supervised under state or federal law.

(9) "Legal representative" means an individual's personal representative or guardian.

(10) "Member of the minor's family" means the minor's parent, stepparent, spouse, grandparent, brother, sister, uncle, or aunt, whether of the whole or half blood or by adoption.

(11) "Minor" means an individual who has not attained the age of twenty-one years.

(12) "Person" means an individual, corporation, organization, or other legal entity.

(13) "State" includes any state of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and any territory or possession subject to the legislative authority of the United States.

(14) "Transfer" means a transaction that creates custodial property under section 9 of this act.

(15) "Transferor" means a person who makes a transfer under this chapter.

(16) "Trust company" means a financial institution, corporation, or other legal entity, authorized to exercise general trust powers.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. SCOPE AND JURISDICTION. (1) This chapter applies to a transfer that refers to this chapter in the designation under section 9(1) of this act by which the transfer is made if at the time of the transfer, the transferor, the minor, or the custodian is a resident of this state or the custodial property is located in this state. The custodianship so created remains subject to this chapter despite a subsequent change in residence of a transferor, the minor, or the custodian, or the removal of custodial property from this state.

(2) A person designated as custodian under this chapter is subject to personal jurisdiction in this state with respect to any matter relating to the custodianship.

(3) A transfer that purports to be made and which is valid under the uniform transfers to minors act, the uniform gifts to minors act, or a substantially similar act of another state is governed by the law of the designated state and may be executed and is enforceable in this state if at the time of the transfer, the transferor, the minor, or the custodian is a resident of the designated state or the custodial property is located in the designated state.

(4) A matter under this chapter subject to court determination is governed by the procedures provided in chapter 11.96 RCW. However, no guardian ad litem is required for the minor, except under section 19(1) of this act, in the case of a petition by a unrepresented minor under the age of fourteen years.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. NOMINATION OF CUSTODIAN. (1) A person having the right to designate the recipient of property transferable upon the occurrence of a future event may revocably nominate a custodian to receive the property for a minor beneficiary upon the occurrence of the event by naming the custodian followed in substance by the words: "... as custodian for .......... (name of minor) under the Washington uniform transfers to minors act." The nomination may name one or more persons as substitute custodians to whom the property shall be transferred, in the order named, if the first nominated custodian dies before the transfer or is unable, declines, or is ineligible to serve. The nomination may be made in a will, a trust, a deed, an instrument exercising a power of appointment, or in a writing designating a beneficiary of contractual rights which is registered with or delivered to the payor, issuer, or other obligor of the contractual rights.

(2) A custodian nominated under this section shall be a person to whom a transfer of property of that kind may be made under section 9(1) of this act.

(3) The nomination of a custodian under this section does not create custodial property until the nominating instrument becomes irrevocable or a transfer to the nominated custodian is completed under section 9 of this act. Unless the nomination of a custodian has been revoked, upon the occurrence of the future event the custodianship becomes effective and the custodian shall enforce a transfer of the custodial property pursuant to section 9 of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. TRANSFER BY GIFT OR EXERCISE OF POWER OF APPOINTMENT. A person may make a transfer by irrevocable gift to, or the irrevocable exercise of a power of appointment in favor of, a custodian for the benefit of a minor pursuant to section 9 of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. TRANSFER AUTHORIZED BY WILL OR TRUST. (1) A personal representative or trustee may make an irrevocable transfer pursuant to section 9 of this act to a custodian for the benefit of a minor as authorized in the governing will or trust. The personal representative or trustee may designate himself or herself as custodian provided he or she falls within the class of persons eligible to serve as custodian under section 9(1) of this act.

(2) If the testator or grantor has nominated a custodian under section 3 of this act to receive the custodial property, the transfer shall be made to that person.

(3) If the testator or grantor has not nominated a custodian under section 3 of this act, or all persons so nominated as custodian die before the transfer or are unable, decline, or are ineligible to serve, the personal representative or the trustee, as the case may be, shall designate the custodian from among those eligible to serve as custodian for property of that kind under section 9(1) of this act. The personal representative or trustee may designate himself or herself as custodian, provided he or she falls within the class of persons eligible to serve as custodian under section 9(1) of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. OTHER TRANSFER BY FIDUCIARY. (1) A personal representative or trustee may make an irrevocable transfer to an adult or trust company for the benefit of a minor pursuant to section 9 of this act, in the absence of a will or under a will or trust that does not contain an authorization to do so, but only if:

(a) The personal representative or trustee, or the court if an order is requested under (c) of this subsection, considers the transfer to be in the best interest of the minor;

(b) The transfer is not prohibited by or inconsistent with provisions of the applicable will, trust instrument, or other governing instrument; and

The personal representative, the trustee, or a member of the minor's family may select the custodian, subject to court approval. The personal representative or trustee may serve as custodian, provided he or she falls within the class of persons eligible to serve as custodian under section 9(1) of this act.

(2) A member of the minor's family may request that the court establish a custodianship if a custodianship has not already been established, regardless of the value of the transfer.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. TRANSFER BY OBLIGOR. (1) Subject to subsections (2) and (3) of this section, a person not subject to section 5 or 6 of this act who holds property of or owes a liquidated debt to a minor not having a guardian may make an irrevocable transfer to a custodian for the benefit of the minor pursuant to section 9 of this act.

(2) If a person having the right to do so under section 3 of this act has nominated a custodian under that section to receive the custodial property, the transfer shall be made to that person.

(3) If no custodian has been nominated under section 3 of this act, or all persons so nominated as custodian die before the transfer or are unable, decline, or are ineligible to serve, a transfer under this section may be made to an adult member of the minor's family or to a trust company unless the property exceeds thirty thousand dollars in value.

(4) A member of the minor's family or the person who holds the property of the minor or who owes a debt to the minor may request that the court establish a custodianship if not previously established, regardless of the value of the transfer.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 8. RECEIPT FOR CUSTODIAL PROPERTY. A written confirmation of delivery by a custodian constitutes a sufficient receipt and discharge of the transferor for custodial property transferred to the custodian under this chapter.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 9. MANNER OF CREATING CUSTODIAL PROPERTY AND EFFECTING TRANSFER‑-DESIGNATION OF INITIAL CUSTODIAN‑-CONTROL. (1) Custodial property is created and a transfer is made if:

(a) An uncertificated security or a certificated security in registered form is either:

(i) Registered in the name of the transferor, an adult other than the transferor, or a trust company, followed in substance by the words: "... as custodian for .......... (name of minor) under the Washington uniform transfers to minors act"; or

(ii) Delivered if in certificated form, or any document necessary for the transfer of an uncertificated security is delivered, together with any necessary endorsement to an adult other than the transferor or to a trust company as custodian, accompanied by an instrument in substantially the form set forth in subsection (2) of this section;

(b) Money is paid or delivered, or a security held in the name of a broker, financial institution, or its nominee is transferred, to a broker or financial institution for credit to an account in the name of the transferor, an adult other than the transferor, or a trust company, followed in substance by the words: "... as custodian for .......... (name of minor) under the Washington uniform transfers to minors act";

(i) Registered with the issuer in the name of the transferor, an adult other than the transferor, or a trust company, followed in substance by the words: "... as custodian for .......... (name of minor) under the Washington uniform transfers to minors act"; or

(ii) Assigned in a writing delivered to an adult other than the transferor or to a trust company whose name in the assignment is followed in substance by the words: "... as custodian for .......... (name of minor) under the Washington uniform transfers to minors act";

(d) An irrevocable exercise of a power of appointment or an irrevocable present right to future payment under a contract is the subject of a written notification delivered to the payor, issuer, or other obligor that the right is transferred to the transferor, an adult other than the transferor, or a trust company, whose name in the notification is followed in substance by the words: "... as custodian for .......... (name of minor) under the Washington uniform transfers to minors act";

(e) An interest in real property is recorded in the name of the transferor, an adult other than the transferor, or a trust company, followed in substance by the words: "... as custodian for .......... (name of minor) under the Washington uniform transfers to minors act";

(f) A certificate of title issued by a department or agency of a state or of the United States which evidences title to tangible personal property is either:

(i) Issued in the name of the transferor, an adult other than the transferor, or a trust company, followed in substance by the words: " ... as custodian for .......... (name of minor) under the Washington uniform transfers to minors act"; or

(ii) Delivered to an adult other than the transferor or to a trust company, endorsed to that person followed in substance by the words: "... as custodian for .......... (name of minor) under the Washington uniform transfers to minors act"; or

(g) An interest in any property not described in (a) through (f) of this subsection is transferred to an adult other than the transferor or to a trust company by a written instrument in substantially the form set forth in subsection (2) of this section.

(2) An instrument in the following form satisfies the requirements of subsection (1) (a)(ii) and (g) of this section:

"TRANSFER UNDER THE WASHINGTON

UNIFORM TRANSFERS TO MINORS ACT

I, .......... (name of transferor or name and representative capacity if a fiduciary) hereby transfer to .......... (name of custodian), as custodian for .......... (name of minor) under the Washington uniform transfers to minors act, the following: (insert a description of the custodial property sufficient to identify it).

Dated: .......................

..............................

(Signature)

.......... (name of custodian) acknowledges receipt of the property described above as custodian for the minor named above under the Washington uniform transfers to minors act.

Dated: .......................

............................."

(Signature of Custodian)

(3) A transferor shall place the custodian in control of the custodial property as soon as practicable.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 10. SINGLE CUSTODIANSHIP. A transfer may be made only for one minor, and only one person may be the custodian. All custodial property held under this chapter by the same custodian for the benefit of the same minor constitutes a single custodianship.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 11. VALIDITY AND EFFECT OF TRANSFER. (1) The validity of a transfer made in a manner prescribed in this chapter is not affected by:

(a) Failure of the transferor to comply with section 9(3) of this act concerning possession and control;

(b) Designation of an ineligible custodian, except designation of the transferor in the case of property for which the transferor is ineligible to serve as custodian under section 9(1) of this act; or

(c) Death or incapacity of a person nominated under section 3 of this act or designated under section 9 of this act as custodian or the disclaimer of the office by that person.

(2) A transfer made pursuant to section 9 of this act is irrevocable, and the custodial property is indefeasibly vested in the minor, but the custodian has all the rights, powers, duties, and authority provided in this chapter, and neither the minor nor the minor's legal representative has any right, power, duty, or authority with respect to the custodial property except as provided in this chapter.

(3) By making a transfer, the transferor incorporates in the disposition all the provisions of this chapter and grants to the custodian, and to any third person dealing with a person designated as custodian, the respective powers, rights, and immunities provided in this chapter.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 12. CARE OF CUSTODIAL PROPERTY. (1) A custodian shall, as soon as custodial property is made available to the custodian:

(a) Take control of custodial property;

(b) Register or record title to custodial property if appropriate; and

(2) In dealing with custodial property, a custodian shall observe the standard of care applicable to fiduciaries under chapter 11.100 RCW. If a custodian has a special skill or expertise or is named custodian on the basis of representations of a special skill or expertise, the custodian shall use that skill or expertise. A custodian, in the custodian's discretion and without liability to the minor or the minor's estate, may retain any custodial property received from a transferor according to the same standards as apply to a fiduciary holding trust funds under RCW 11.100.060. However, the provisions of RCW 11.100.025, 11.100.040, and 11.100.140 shall not apply to a custodian.

(3) A custodian may invest in or pay premiums on life insurance or endowment policies on (a) the life of the minor only if the minor or the minor's estate is the sole beneficiary, or (b) the life of another person in whom the minor has an insurable interest only to the extent that the minor, the minor's estate, or the custodian in the capacity of custodian, is the irrevocable beneficiary.

(4) A custodian at all times shall keep custodial property separate and distinct from all other property in a manner sufficient to identify it clearly as custodial property of the minor. Custodial property consisting of an undivided interest is so identified if the minor's interest is held as a tenant in common and is fixed. Custodial property subject to recordation is so identified if it is recorded, and custodial property subject to registration is so identified if it is either registered, or held in an account designated, in the name of the custodian, followed in substance by the words: "... as custodian for .......... (name of minor) under the Washington uniform transfers to minors act."

(5) A custodian shall keep records of all transactions with respect to custodial property, including information necessary for the preparation of the minor's tax returns, and shall make them available upon request for inspection by a parent or legal representative of the minor or by the minor if the minor has attained the age of fourteen years.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 13. POWERS OF CUSTODIAN. (1) A custodian, acting in a custodial capacity, has all the rights, powers, and authority over custodial property that unmarried adult owners have over their own property, including without limitation all the powers granted to a trustee under RCW 11.98.070, but a custodian may exercise those rights, powers, and authority only in a custodial capacity.

(2) This section does not relieve a custodian from liability for breach of section 12 of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 14. USE OF CUSTODIAL PROPERTY. (1) A custodian may deliver or pay to the minor or expend for the minor's benefit so much of the custodial property as the custodian considers advisable for the use and benefit of the minor, without court order and without regard to (a) the duty or ability of the custodian personally or of any other person to support the minor, or (b) any other income or property of the minor which may be applicable or available for that purpose.

(2) On petition of an interested person or the minor if the minor has attained the age of fourteen years, the court may order the custodian to deliver or pay to the minor or expend for the minor's benefit so much of the custodial property as the court considers advisable for the use and benefit of the minor.

(3) A delivery, payment, or expenditure under this section is in addition to, not in substitution for, and does not affect any obligation of a person to support the minor.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 15. CUSTODIAN'S EXPENSES, COMPENSATION, AND BOND. (1) A custodian is entitled to reimbursement from custodial property for reasonable expenses incurred in the performance of the custodian's duties.

(2) Except for one who is a transferor under section 4 of this act, a custodian has a noncumulative election during each calendar year to charge reasonable compensation for services performed during that year.

(3) Except as provided in section 18(6) of this act, a custodian need not give a bond.

(4) Notwithstanding section 19 of this act, a custodian not compensated for services is not liable for losses to the custodial property unless they result from bad faith, intentional wrongdoing, or gross negligence, or from failure to maintain the standard of prudence in investing the custodial property provided in this chapter.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 16. EXEMPTION OF THIRD PERSON FROM LIABILITY. A third person in good faith and without court order may act on the instructions of or otherwise deal with any person purporting to make a transfer or purporting to act in the capacity of a custodian or successor custodian and, in the absence of knowledge, is not responsible for determining:

(1) The validity of the purported custodian's designation;

(2) The propriety of, or the authority under this chapter for, any act of the purported custodian;

(3) The validity or propriety under this chapter of any instrument or instructions executed or given either by the person purporting to make a transfer or by the purported custodian; or

(4) The propriety of the application of any property of the minor delivered to the purported custodian.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 17. LIABILITY TO THIRD PERSONS. (1) A claim based on:

(a) A contract entered into by a custodian acting in a custodial capacity;

(b) An obligation arising from the ownership or control of custodial property;

(c) A tort committed during the custodianship, may be asserted against the custodial property by proceeding against the custodian in the custodial capacity, whether or not the custodian or the minor is personally liable therefor; or

(d) A noncontractual obligation, including obligations in tort, is collectible from the custodial property only if:

(i) The obligation was a common incident of the kind of business activity in which the custodian or the custodian's predecessor was properly engaged for the custodianship;

(ii) Neither the custodian nor the custodian's predecessor, nor any officer or employee of the custodian or the custodian's predecessor was personally at fault in incurring the obligation; or

(iii) Although the obligation did not fall within (d)(i) or (ii) of this subsection, the incident that gave rise to the obligation increased the value of the custodial property.

If the obligation is within (d)(i) or (ii) or this subsection, collection may be had of the full amount of damage proved. If the obligation is within (d)(iii) of this subsection, collection may be had only to the extent of the increase in the value of the trust property.

(2) A custodian is not personally liable:

(a) On a contract properly entered into in the custodial capacity unless the custodian fails to reveal that capacity. The addition of the words "custodian" or "as custodian" after the signature of a custodian is adequate revelation of this capacity; or

(b) For an obligation arising from control of custodial property or for a tort committed during the custodianship unless the custodial property is not liable for the obligation under (b) of this subsection and unless the custodian is personally at fault.

(3) A minor is not personally liable for an obligation arising from ownership of custodial property or for a tort committed during the custodianship unless the minor is personally at fault.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 18. RENUNCIATION, RESIGNATION, DEATH, OR REMOVAL OF CUSTODIAN‑-DESIGNATION OF SUCCESSOR CUSTODIAN. (1) A person nominated under section 3 of this act or designated under section 9 of this act as custodian may decline to serve. If the event giving rise to a transfer has not occurred and no substitute custodian able, willing, and eligible to serve was nominated under section 3 of this act, the person who made the nomination may nominate a substitute custodian under section 3 of this act; otherwise the transferor or the transferor's legal representative shall designate a substitute custodian at the time of the transfer, in either case from among the persons eligible to serve as custodian for that kind of property under section 9(1) of this act. The custodian so designated has the rights of a successor custodian.

(2) A custodian at any time may designate a trust company or an adult other than a transferor under section 4 of this act as successor custodian by executing and dating an instrument of designation. If the instrument of designation does not contain or is not accompanied by the resignation of the custodian, the designation of the successor does not take effect until the custodian resigns, dies, becomes incapacitated, or is removed, and custodial property is transferred to the successor custodian.

(3) A custodian may resign at any time by delivering written notice to the minor, if the minor has attained the age of fourteen years, and to the successor custodian, and by delivering the custodial property to the successor custodian.

(4) If a custodian is ineligible, dies, or becomes incapacitated and no successor custodian has been designated as provided in this chapter, and the minor has attained the age of fourteen years, the minor may designate as successor custodian, in the manner prescribed in subsection (2) of this section, an adult member of the minor's family, a guardian of the minor, or a trust company. If the minor has not attained the age of fourteen years or fails to act within sixty days after the ineligibility, death, or incapacity, the guardian of the minor becomes successor custodian. If the minor has no guardian or the guardian declines to act, the transferor, the legal representative of the transferor or of the custodian, an adult member of the minor's family, or any other interested person may petition the court to designate a successor custodian.

(5) A custodian who declines to serve under subsection (1) of this section or resigns under subsection (3) of this section, or the legal representative of a deceased or incapacitated custodian, as soon as practicable, shall put the custodial property and records in the possession and control of the successor custodian. The successor custodian by action may enforce the obligation to deliver custodial property and records and becomes responsible for each item as received.

(6) A transferor, the legal representative of a transferor, an adult member of the minor's family, a guardian of the minor, or the minor if the minor has attained the age of fourteen years may petition the court to remove the custodian for cause and to designate a successor custodian other than a transferor under section 4 of this act or to require the custodian to give appropriate bond.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 19. ACCOUNTING BY AND DETERMINATION OF LIABILITY OF CUSTODIAN. (1) A minor who has attained the age of fourteen years, the minor's legal representative, an adult member of the minor's family, a transferor, or a transferor's legal representative may petition the court (a) for an accounting by the custodian or the custodian's legal representative; or (b) for a determination of responsibility, as between the custodial property and the custodian personally, for claims against the custodial property unless the responsibility has been adjudicated in an action under section 17 of this act to which the minor or the minor's legal representative was a party.

(2) A successor custodian may petition the court for an accounting by the predecessor custodian.

(3) The court, in a proceeding under this chapter or in any other proceeding, may require or permit the custodian or the custodian's legal representative to account.

(4) If a custodian is removed under section 18(6) of this act, the court shall require an accounting and order delivery of the custodial property and records to the successor custodian and the execution of all instruments required for transfer of the custodial property.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 20. TERMINATION OF CUSTODIANSHIP. Subject to section 22 of act, the custodian shall transfer in an appropriate manner the custodial property to the minor or to the minor's estate upon the earlier of:

(1) The minor's attainment of twenty-one years of age with respect to custodial property transferred under section 4 or 5 of this act;

(2) The minor's attainment of eighteen years of age with respect to custodial property transferred under section 6 or 7 of this act; or

(3) The minor's death.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 21. APPLICABILITY. This chapter applies to a transfer within the scope of section 2 of this act made after the effective date of section 2 of this act, if:

(1) The transfer purports to have been made under the Washington uniform gifts to minors act; or

(2) The instrument by which the transfer purports to have been made uses in substance the designation "as custodian under the uniform gifts to minors act" or "as custodian under the uniform transfers to minors act" of any other state, and the application of this chapter is necessary to validate the transfer.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 22. EFFECT ON EXISTING CUSTODIANSHIPS. (1) Any transfer of custodial property as now defined in this chapter made before the effective date of this section, is validated notwithstanding that there was no specific authority in the Washington uniform gifts to minors act for the coverage of custodial property of that kind or for a transfer from that source at the time the transfer was made.

(2) This chapter applies to all transfers made before the effective date of this section, in a manner and form prescribed in the Washington uniform gifts to minors act, except insofar as the application impairs constitutionally vested rights or extends the duration of custodianships in existence on the effective date of this section. However, as to any custodianship established after August 9, 1971, but prior to January 1, 1985, a minor has the right after attaining the age of eighteen to demand delivery from the custodian of all or any portion of the custodial property.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 23. UNIFORMITY OF APPLICATION AND CONSTRUCTION. This chapter shall be applied and construed to effectuate its general purpose to make uniform the law with respect to the subject of this chapter among states enacting it.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 24. SHORT TITLE. This chapter may be cited as the uniform transfers to minors act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 25. CAPTIONS NOT LAW. Section headings as used in this chapter do not constitute any part of the law.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 26. SAVINGS. To the extent that this chapter, by virtue of section 22(2) of this act, does not apply to transfers made in a manner prescribed in the uniform gifts to minors act of Washington or to the powers, duties, and immunities conferred by transfers in that manner upon custodians and persons dealing with custodians, the repeal of the uniform gifts to minors act of Washington does not affect those transfers or those powers, duties, and immunities.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 27. The following acts or parts of acts are each repealed:

(1) RCW 11.93.010 and 1985 c 30 s 12;

(2) RCW 11.93.020 and 1985 c 30 s 13;

(3) RCW 11.93.030 and 1985 c 30 s 14;

(4) RCW 11.93.040 and 1985 c 30 s 15;

(5) RCW 11.93.050 and 1985 c 30 s 16;

(6) RCW 11.93.060 and 1985 c 30 s 17;

(7) RCW 11.93.070 and 1985 c 30 s 18;

(8) RCW 11.93.080 and 1985 c 30 s 19;

(9) RCW 11.93.900 and 1985 c 30 s 20;

(10) RCW 11.93.910 and 1985 c 30 s 21;

(11) RCW 11.93.911 and 1985 c 30 s 22;

(12) RCW 11.93.912 and 1985 c 30 s 23; and

(13) RCW 11.93.920 and 1985 c 30 s 24.

Sec. 28. RCW 11.76.095 and 1988 c 29 s 5 are each amended to read as follows:

When a decree of distribution is made by the court in administration upon a decedent's estate or when distribution is made by a personal representative under a nonintervention will and distribution is ordered under such decree or authorized under such nonintervention will to a person under the age of eighteen years, it shall be required that:

(1) The money be deposited in a bank or trust company or be invested in an account in an insured financial institution for the benefit of the minor subject to withdrawal only upon the order of the court in the original probate proceeding, or upon said minor's attaining the age of eighteen years and furnishing proof thereof satisfactory to the depositary;

(2) A general guardian shall be appointed and qualify and the money or property be paid or delivered to such guardian prior to the discharge of the personal representative in the original probate proceeding; ((or))

(3) The provisions of ((~~either~~)) RCW 11.76.090 ((~~or 11.93.020(4)~~)) are complied with; or

(4) A custodian be selected and the money or property be transferred to the custodian subject to chapter 11.93 RCW.

Sec. 29. RCW 11.98.170 and 1985 c 30 s 59 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) Any life insurance policy or retirement plan payment provision may designate as beneficiary:

(a) A trustee named or to be named by will, and immediately after the proving of the will, the proceeds of such insurance or of such plan designated as payable to that trustee, in part or in whole, shall be paid to the trustee in accordance with the beneficiary designation, to be held and disposed of under the terms of the will governing the testamentary trust; or

(b) A trustee named or to be named under a trust agreement executed by the insured, the plan participant, or any other person, and the proceeds of such insurance or retirement plan designated as payable to such trustee, in part or in whole, shall be paid to the trustee in accordance with the beneficiary designation, to be held and disposed of by the trustee as provided in such trust agreement; a trust is valid even if the only corpus consists of the right of the trustee to receive as beneficiary insurance or retirement plan proceeds; any such trustee may also receive assets, other than insurance or retirement plan proceeds, by testamentary disposition or otherwise and, unless directed otherwise by the transferor of the assets, shall administer all property of the trust according to the terms of the trust agreement.

(2) If no qualified trustee makes claim to the insurance policy or retirement plan proceeds from the insurance company or the plan administrator within twelve months after the death of the insured or plan participant, determination of the proper recipient of the proceeds shall be made pursuant to the judicial or nonjudicial dispute resolution procedures of chapter 11.96 RCW, unless prior to the institution of the judicial procedures, a qualified trustee makes claim to the proceeds, except that (a) if satisfactory evidence is furnished the insurance company or plan administrator within the twelve-month period showing that no trustee can or will qualify to receive such proceeds, payment shall be made to those otherwise entitled to the proceeds under the terms of the policy or retirement plan, including the terms of the beneficiary designation except that (b) if there is any dispute as to the proper recipient of insurance policy or retirement plan proceeds, the dispute shall be resolved pursuant to the judicial or nonjudicial resolution procedures in chapter 11.96 RCW.

(3) The proceeds of the insurance or retirement plan as collected by the trustee are not subject to debts of the insured or the plan participant to any greater extent than if the proceeds were payable to any named beneficiary other than the personal representative or the estate of the insured or of the plan participant.

(4) For purposes of this section the following definitions apply:

(a) "Plan administrator" means the person upon whom claim must be made in order for retirement plan proceeds to be paid upon the death of the plan participant.

(b) "Retirement plan" means any plan, account, deposit, annuity, or benefit, other than a life insurance policy, that provides for payment to a beneficiary designated by the plan participant for whom the plan is established. The term includes, without limitation, such plans regardless of source of funding, and, for example, includes pensions, annuities, stock bonus plans, employee stock ownership plans, profit sharing plans, self-employed retirement plans, individual retirement accounts, individual retirement annuities, and retirement bonds, as well as any other retirement plan or program.

(c) "Trustee" includes any custodian under chapter ((~~11.93~~)) 11.‑-RCW (sections 1 through 26 of this 1991 act) or any similar statutory provisions of any other state and the terms "trust agreement" and "will" refer to the provisions of chapter ((~~11.93~~)) 11.‑- RCW (sections 1 through 26 of this 1991 act) or such similar statutory provisions of any other state.

(5) Enactment of this section does not invalidate life insurance policy or retirement plan beneficiary designations executed prior to January 1, 1985, naming a trustee established by will or by trust agreement.

Sec. 30. RCW 67.70.220 and 1985 c 7 s 128 are each amended to read as follows:

If the person entitled to a prize is under the age of eighteen years, and such prize is less than five thousand dollars, the director may direct payment of the prize by delivery to an adult member of the minor's family or a guardian of the minor of a check or draft payable to the order of such minor. If the person entitled to a prize is under the age of eighteen years, and such prize is five thousand dollars or more, the director may direct payment to such minor by depositing the amount of the prize in any bank to the credit of an adult member of the minor's family or a guardian of the minor as custodian for such minor. The person so named as custodian shall have the same duties and powers as a person designated as a custodian in a manner prescribed by the Washington uniform ((~~gifts~~)) transfers to minors act, chapter ((~~11.93~~)) 11.‑- RCW (sections 1 through 26 of this 1991 act), and for the purposes of this section the terms "adult member of a minor's family," "guardian of a minor," and "bank" shall have the same meaning as in chapter ((~~11.93~~)) 11.‑- RCW (sections 1 through 26 of this 1991 act). The commission and the director shall be discharged of all further liability upon payment of a prize to a minor pursuant to this section.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 31. RCW 11.76.090 and 1988 c 29 s 4, 1974 ex.s. c 117 s 11, 1971 c 28 s 2, & 1965 c 145 s 11.76.090 are each repealed.

Sec. 32. RCW 11.92.140 and 1990 c 122 s 32 are each amended to read as follows:

The court, upon the petition of a guardian of the estate of an incapacitated person other than the guardian of a minor, and after such notice as the court directs and other notice to all persons interested as required by chapter 11.96 RCW, may authorize the guardian to take any action, or to apply funds not required for the incapacitated person's own maintenance and support, in any fashion the court approves as being in keeping with the incapacitated person's wishes so far as they can be ascertained and as designed to minimize insofar as possible current or prospective state or federal income and estate taxes, permit entitlement under otherwise available federal or state medical or other assistance programs, and to provide for gifts to such charities, relatives, and friends as would be likely recipients of donations from the incapacitated person.

The action or application of funds may include but shall not be limited to the making of gifts, to the conveyance or release of the incapacitated person's contingent and expectant interests in property including marital property rights and any right of survivorship incident to joint tenancy or tenancy by the entirety, to the exercise or release of the incapacitated person's powers as donee of a power of appointment, the making of contracts, the creation of revocable or irrevocable trusts of property of the incapacitated person's estate which may extend beyond the incapacitated person's disability or life, the establishment of custodianships for the benefit of a minor under chapter 11.93 RCW, the Washington uniform transfers to minors act, the exercise of options of the incapacitated person to purchase securities or other property, the exercise of the incapacitated person's right to elect options and to change beneficiaries under insurance and annuity policies and the surrendering of policies for their cash value, the exercise of the incapacitated person's right to any elective share in the estate of the incapacitated person's deceased spouse, and the renunciation or disclaimer of any interest acquired by testate or intestate succession or by inter vivos transfer.

The guardian in the petition shall briefly outline the action or application of funds for which approval is sought, the results expected to be accomplished thereby and the savings expected to accrue. The proposed action or application of funds may include gifts of the incapacitated person's personal or real property. Gifts may be for the benefit of prospective legatees, devisees, or heirs apparent of the incapacitated person, or may be made to individuals or charities in which the incapacitated person is believed to have an interest. Gifts may or may not, in the discretion of the court, be treated as advancements to donees who would otherwise inherit property from the incapacitated person under the incapacitated person's will or under the laws of descent and distribution. The guardian shall also indicate in the petition that any planned disposition is consistent with the intentions of the incapacitated person insofar as the intentions can be ascertained, and if the incapacitated person's intentions cannot be ascertained, the incapacitated person will be presumed to favor reduction in the incidence of the various forms of taxation and the partial distribution of the incapacitated person's estate as provided in this section. The guardian shall not, however, be required to include as a beneficiary any person whom there is reason to believe would be excluded by the incapacitated person. No guardian may be required to file a petition as provided in this section, and a failure or refusal to so petition the court does not constitute a breach of the guardian's fiduciary duties.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 33. Sections 1 through 26 of this act shall constitute a new chapter in Title 11 RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 34. This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect July 1, 1991.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 35. If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.