760 ILCS 20/ Illinois Uniform Transfers to Minors Act.
(760 ILCS 20/1) (from Ch. 110 1/2, par. 251) Sec. 1. Short title. This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Illinois Uniform Transfers to Minors Act". (Source: P.A. 84‑915.) |
(760 ILCS 20/2) (from Ch. 110 1/2, par. 252) Sec. 2. Definitions. In this Act: (1) "Adult" means an individual who has attained the age of 21 years. (2) "Benefit plan" means any pension plan, retirement, death benefit, deferred compensation, employment, agency, stock bonus, option or profit sharing contract, plan, system, account, trust or individual retirement account. A benefit plan "obligor" means the party designated under the plan to make distributions, otherwise the paying entity. (3) "Beneficial interest in a land trust" and "land trust" mean the same as "beneficial interest" and "land trust" as defined in "An Act to require disclosure, under certification of perjury, of all beneficial interests in real property held in a land trust, in certain cases", approved September 21, 1973, as now or hereafter amended. (4) "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 another. (5) "Court" means an Illinois circuit court. (6) "Custodial property" means (i) any interest in property transferred to a custodian under this Act and (ii) the income from and proceeds of that interest in property. (7) "Custodian" means a person designated under Section 10 or a successor or substitute custodian designated under Section 19. (8) "Financial Institution" means a bank, trust company, savings institution, or credit union, chartered and supervised under state or federal law. (9) "Governing instrument" means any judicial order or non‑judicial document creating or describing property rights. (10) "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. (11) "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. (12) "Minor" means an individual who has not attained the age of 21 years. (13) "Person" means an individual, corporation, organization, or other entity. (13.5) "Qualified minor's trust" means any trust (including a trust created by the custodian) (i) of which the minor is the sole beneficiary and (ii) that satisfies the requirements of Section 2503(c) of the Internal Revenue Code and the regulations implementing that Section. (14) "Representative" means an executor, administrator, general, temporary or limited guardian, successor representative, an obligor under a benefit plan or other governing instrument or a person legally authorized to perform substantially the same functions. (15) "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. (16) "Transfer" means a transaction that creates custodial property under Section 10. (17) "Transferor" means a person who makes a transfer under this Act. (18) "Trust company" means a financial institution, corporation, or other entity, authorized to exercise general trust powers. (Source: P.A. 91‑90, eff. 1‑1‑00.) |
(760 ILCS 20/3) (from Ch. 110 1/2, par. 253) Sec. 3. Scope and Jurisdiction. (a) This Act applies to a transfer that refers to this Act in the designation under Section 10(a) 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 Act despite a subsequent change in residence of a transferor, the minor, or the custodian, or the removal of custodial property from this State. (b) A person designated as custodian under this Act is subject to personal jurisdiction in this State with respect to any matter relating to the custodianship. (c) A transfer that purports to be made and which is valid under 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. (Source: P.A. 84‑915.) |
(760 ILCS 20/4) (from Ch. 110 1/2, par. 254) Sec. 4. Nomination of Custodian. (a) 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 Illinois Uniform Transfers to Minors Act". The nomination may name one or more persons as substitute custodians to whom the property must 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 any governing instrument including, without limitation, a will, a trust, a deed, an instrument exercising a power of appointment, or 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. (b) A custodian nominated under this Section must be a person to whom a transfer of property of that kind may be made under Section 10(a). (c) 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 10. 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 10. (Source: P.A. 84‑1129.) |
(760 ILCS 20/5) (from Ch. 110 1/2, par. 255) Sec. 5. 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 10. (Source: P.A. 84‑915.) |
(760 ILCS 20/6) (from Ch. 110 1/2, par. 256) Sec. 6. Authorized Transfers. (a) A representative, trustee or other obligor under a governing instrument may make an irrevocable transfer pursuant to Section 10 to a custodian for the benefit of a minor as authorized in the governing will, trust or other governing instrument. The authorization will be presumed unless the transfer is expressly prohibited by or inconsistent with the provisions of the will, trust or governing instrument. (b) If the testator, settlor or other person has nominated a custodian under Section 4 to receive the custodial property, the transfer must be made to that person. (c) If the testator, settlor or other person has not nominated a custodian under Section 4, or all persons so nominated as custodian die before the transfer or are unable, decline, or are ineligible to serve, the representative, trustee or other person as the case may be, shall designate the custodian from among the transferor, an adult member of the minor's family or a trust company. (Source: P.A. 84‑1129.) |
(760 ILCS 20/7) (from Ch. 110 1/2, par. 257) Sec. 7. Other Transfer by Fiduciary. (a) Subject to subsection (c), a representative may make an irrevocable transfer to an adult or trust company as custodian for the benefit of a minor pursuant to Section 10, in the absence of an authorization to do so. (b) Subject to subsection (c), a guardian may make an irrevocable transfer to an adult or trust company as custodian for the benefit of the minor pursuant to Section 10. (c) A transfer under subsection (a) or (b) may be made only if (i) the representative or guardian considers the transfer to be in the best interest of the minor and (ii) the transfer is authorized by the court if it exceeds $10,000 in value. (Source: P.A. 84‑1129.) |
(760 ILCS 20/8) (from Ch. 110 1/2, par. 258) Sec. 8. Transfer by Other Obligor. (a) Subject to subsections (b) and (c), a person not subject to Section 5, 6 or 7 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 10. (b) If a person having the right to do so under Section 4 has nominated a custodian under that Section to receive the custodial property, the transfer must be made to that person. (c) If no custodian has been nominated under Section 4, 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 $50,000 in value. (Source: P.A. 84‑1129.) |
(760 ILCS 20/9) (from Ch. 110 1/2, par. 259) Sec. 9. Receipt for Custodial Property. A written acknowledgment of delivery by a custodian constitutes a sufficient receipt and discharge for custodial property transferred to the custodian pursuant to this Act. (Source: P.A. 84‑915.) |
(760 ILCS 20/10) (from Ch. 110 1/2, par. 260) Sec. 10. Manner of Creating Custodial Property and Effecting Transfer; Designation of Initial Custodian; Control. (a) Custodial property is created and a transfer is made whenever: (1) 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 Illinois 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 the transferor, an adult other than the transferor or a trust company as custodian, accompanied by an instrument in substantially the form set forth in subsection (b); (2) money is paid or delivered 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 Illinois Uniform Transfers to Minors Act"; (3) the ownership of a life or endowment insurance policy or annuity contract is either: (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 Illinois Uniform Transfers to Minors Act"; or (ii) assigned in a writing delivered to the transferor, an adult other than the transferor or a trust company whose name in the assignment is followed in substance by the words: "as custodian for .......... (name of minor) under the Illinois Uniform Transfers to Minors Act"; (4) an irrevocable exercise of a power of appointment or an irrevocable present right to future payment under a governing instrument 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 Illinois Uniform Transfers to Minors Act"; (5) real estate or an interest therein is the subject of an executed and delivered deed, assignment or similar conveyance into 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 Illinois Uniform Transfers to Minors Act". Said document, to be effective, shall also either be recorded by the transferor or the custodian or be executed by the custodian using a statement in substance in the following form: "..............(name of custodian) hereby acknowledges receipt of the above property described:.........(insert a description of the custodial property sufficient to identify it) as custodian for the minor under the Illinois Transfers to Minors Act. Dated: ............. ........................ (Signature of Custodian)"; (6) 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 Illinois Uniform Transfers to Minors Act"; or (ii) delivered to the transferor, an adult other than the transferor or a trust company, endorsed to that person followed in substance by the words: "as custodian for .......... (name of minor) under the Illinois Uniform Transfers to Minors Act"; (7) the beneficial interest in a land trust is assigned to 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 Illinois Uniform Transfers to Minors Act". The assignment and its acceptance by the custodian must be delivered to the trustee of the land trust and an acknowledgment of receipt obtained; or (8) an interest in any property not described in paragraphs (1) through (7) is transferred to the transferor, an adult other than the transferor or a trust company by a written instrument in substantially the form set forth in subsection (b). (b) An instrument in the following form satisfies the requirements of paragraphs (1)(ii) and (8) of subsection (a): "TRANSFER UNDER THE ILLINOIS 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 Illinois 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 Illinois Uniform Transfers to Minors Act. Dated: .......... ............................. (Signature of Custodian)" (c) A transferor shall place the custodian in control of the custodial property as soon as practicable. (Source: P.A. 84‑1129.) |
(760 ILCS 20/11) (from Ch. 110 1/2, par. 261) Sec. 11. 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 Act by the same custodian for the benefit of the same minor constitutes a single custodianship. (Source: P.A. 84‑915.) |
(760 ILCS 20/12) (from Ch. 110 1/2, par. 262) Sec. 12. Validity and Effect of Transfer. (a) The validity of a transfer made in a manner prescribed in this Act is not affected by: (1) failure of the transferor to comply with Section 10(c) concerning possession and control; (2) designation of an ineligible custodian; or (3) death or incapacity of a person nominated under Section 4 or designated under Section 10 as custodian or the disclaimer of the office by that person. (b) A transfer made pursuant to Section 10 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 Act, and neither the minor nor the minor's representative has any right, power, duty, or authority with respect to the custodial property except as provided in this Act. (c) By making a transfer, the transferor incorporates in the disposition all the provisions of this Act 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 Act. (Source: P.A. 84‑1129.) |
(760 ILCS 20/13) (from Ch. 110 1/2, par. 263) Sec. 13. Care of Custodial Property. (a) A custodian shall: (1) take control of custodial property; (2) register or record title to custodial property if appropriate; and (3) collect, hold, manage, invest, and reinvest custodial property. (b) The custodian, notwithstanding statutes restricting investments by fiduciaries, shall invest and reinvest the custodial property as would a prudent person of discretion and intelligence who is seeking a reasonable income and the preservation of his capital, including without limitation in one or more common trust funds as defined in and from time to time established, maintained and administered pursuant to "An Act concerning common trust funds", approved July 29, 1943, as now or hereafter amended, except that he may, in his discretion and without liability to the minor or his estate, retain custodial property given to the minor in a manner prescribed in this Act or hold money so given in an account in the financial institution to which it was paid or delivered by the transferor. (c) A custodian may invest in or pay premiums on life insurance or endowment policies on (i) the life of the minor only if the minor or the minor's estate is the sole beneficiary, or (ii) 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. (d) 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 a custodian for .......... (name of minor) under the Illinois Uniform Transfers to Minors Act". (e) 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 for inspection at reasonable intervals by a parent or representative of the minor or by the minor if the minor has attained the age of 14 years. (Source: P.A. 84‑1129.) |
(760 ILCS 20/14) (from Ch. 110 1/2, par. 264) Sec. 14. Powers of Custodian. (a) 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, but a custodian may exercise those rights, powers, and authority in that capacity only. (b) This Section does not relieve a custodian from liability for breach of Section 13. (Source: P.A. 84‑915.) |
(760 ILCS 20/15) (from Ch. 110 1/2, par. 265) Sec. 15. Use of Custodial Property. (a) 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 (i) the duty or ability of the custodian personally or of any other person to support the minor, or (ii) any other income or property of the minor which may be applicable or available for that purpose. (a‑5) At any time, a custodian may transfer part or all of the custodial property to a qualified minor's trust without a court order. Such a transfer terminates the custodianship to the extent of the transfer. (b) On petition of an interested person or the minor if the minor has attained the age of 14 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. (c) 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. (Source: P.A. 91‑90, eff. 1‑1‑00.) |
(760 ILCS 20/16) (from Ch. 110 1/2, par. 266) Sec. 16. Custodian's Expenses, Compensation, and Bond. (a) A custodian is entitled to reimbursement from custodial property for reasonable expenses incurred in the performance of the custodian's duties. (b) Except for one who is a transferor under Section 5, a custodian has a noncumulative election during each calendar year to charge reasonable compensation for services performed during that year. (c) Except as provided in Section 19(f), a custodian need not give a bond. (d) A custodian not compensated for his services is not liable for losses to the custodial property unless they result from his bad faith, intentional wrongdoing or gross negligence or from his failure to maintain the standard of prudence in investing the custodial property provided in this Act. (Source: P.A. 84‑1129.) |
(760 ILCS 20/17) (from Ch. 110 1/2, par. 267) Sec. 17. 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 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 Act for, any act of the purported custodian; (3) the validity or propriety under this Act 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. (Source: P.A. 84‑1129.) |
(760 ILCS 20/18) (from Ch. 110 1/2, par. 268) Sec. 18. Liability to Third Persons. (a) A claim based on (i) a contract entered into by a custodian acting in a custodial capacity, (ii) an obligation arising from the ownership or control of custodial property, or (iii) 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. (b) A custodian is not personally liable: (1) on a contract properly entered into in the custodial capacity unless the custodian fails to reveal that capacity and to identify the custodianship in the contract; or (2) for an obligation arising from control of custodial property or for a tort committed during the custodianship unless the custodian is personally at fault. (c) 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. (Source: P.A. 84‑915.) |
(760 ILCS 20/19) (from Ch. 110 1/2, par. 269) Sec. 19. Renunciation, Resignation, Death, or Removal of Custodian; Designation of Successor Custodian. (a) A person nominated under Section 4 or designated under Section 6 or Section 10 as custodian may decline to serve by delivering a valid disclaimer to the person who made the nomination or designation or to the transferor or the transferor's representative. 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 4, the person who made the nomination or designation may nominate a substitute custodian; otherwise the transferor or the transferor's 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 10(a). The custodian so designated has the rights of a successor custodian. (b) At any time or times a transferor or his representative may designate an adult or a trust company as successor custodian, single or successive, by executing and dating an instrument of designation and delivering it to the custodian or if he is deceased or disabled to his representative. A custodian at any time when a vacancy would otherwise occur may designate a trust company or an adult as successor custodian by executing and dating an instrument of designation. If an 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 disabled, or is removed. If a transferor or a custodian has executed more than one instrument of designation, the instrument dated on the earlier date shall be treated as revoked by the instrument dated on the later date; however, a designation by a transferor or his representative shall not be revoked by a custodian. A successor custodian has all the powers, duties and immunities of a custodian designated in a manner prescribed by this Act. (c) A custodian may resign at any time by delivering written notice to the minor if the minor has attained the age of 14 years and to the successor custodian and by delivering the custodial property to the successor custodian. (d) If a custodian is ineligible, dies, or becomes disabled and no successor has been effectively designated and the minor has attained the age of 14 years, the minor may designate as successor custodian, in the manner prescribed in subsection (b), 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 14 years or fails to act within 60 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 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. (e) A custodian who declines to serve under subsection (a) or resigns under subsection (c), or the representative of a deceased or disabled 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 obligations to deliver custodial property and records and becomes responsible for each item as received. (f) A transferor, the representative of a transferor, an adult member of the minor's family, a guardian of the person of the minor, the guardian of the minor, or the minor if the minor has attained the age of 14 years may petition the court to remove the custodian for cause and to designate a successor custodian not inconsistent with an effective designation or to require the custodian to give appropriate bond. (Source: P.A. 84‑1129.) |
(760 ILCS 20/20) (from Ch. 110 1/2, par. 270) Sec. 20. Accounting by and Determination of Liability of Custodian. (a) A minor who has attained the age of 14 years, the minor's representative, an adult member of the minor's family, a transferor, or a transferor's representative may petition the court (i) for an accounting by the custodian or the custodian's representative; or (ii) 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 18 to which the minor or the minor's representative was a party. (b) A successor custodian may petition the court for an accounting by the predecessor custodian. (c) The court, in a proceeding under this Act or in any other proceeding, may require or permit the custodian or the custodian's representative to account. (d) If a custodian is removed under Section 19(f), the court shall r
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