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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>Thank you both for your insights, John and Mark.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>John – your thoughts mirror mine in terms of it being inappropriate for a well-paid trustee to try to limit, or eliminate, liability by passing on responsibilities to a Trust Protector.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>But Mark, you also bring up good examples of why a Trust Protector might be a valuable part of the Trust picture, so long as it is not a mechanism to shield the Trustee from liability.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>Thanks again.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>Regards,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>Doug Bratt<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com [mailto:wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Mark Vohr<br><b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, July 31, 2018 11:34 PM<br><b>To:</b> WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv<br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [WSBAPT] Trust Protectors<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Requests for information on this role come up all the time during interviews for proposed trustees. I agree trust advisors/protectors should not be employed to insulate a trustee from liability. I wouldn’t hire a trustee that insisted on it for their own actions and I do not believe a trustee could be relieved of the duty to act in good faith and with honest judgment.. RCW 11.97.010. But I wouldn’t throw the baby out with the bathwater. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Trust Advisors can perform very useful services, particularly in terms of replacing poorly matched or performing trustees or acting as simple interested parties to receive annual accountings and keep them in the loop. It would make sense to consider using trust advisors, even paid ones, to review annual accountings with minor beneficiaries in the care of their parents to address the instance where the parent has a conflict of interest as in Anderson v. Dussault. Could be far more cost effective over the use of a court appointed GAL. I do believe Trust Advisors can be indemnified and held harmless from any liability, which makes sense – otherwise who would serve. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Baskerville Old Face","serif"'>Mark<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Bradley Hand ITC";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-family:"Bradley Hand ITC";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width=786 style='width:6.55in;margin-left:14.0pt;border-collapse:collapse'><tr><td width=201 valign=top style='width:120.6pt;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt'><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bradley Hand ITC";color:#1F497D'>Ohana Fiduciary Corp.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bradley Hand ITC";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Bradley Hand ITC";color:#1F497D'>A Washington Trust Company<o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width=585 valign=top style='width:351.0pt;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-left:none;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt'><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Bradley Hand ITC";color:#1F497D'>Mark C. Vohr, J.D., CPG, Principal<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Bradley Hand ITC";color:#1F497D'>PO Box 33710 Seattle, WA 98133<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Bradley Hand ITC";color:#1F497D'>T: (206) 782-1189 F: (206) 782-1434<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calisto MT","serif";color:#1F497D'><a href="mailto:mcv@ohanafc.com"><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#0563C1'>mcv@ohanafc.com</span></a></span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:#1F497D'> </span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calisto MT","serif";color:#1F497D'><a href="http://www.ohanafc.com/"><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#0563C1'>www.ohanafc.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calisto MT","serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Bradley Hand ITC"'><a href="https://ohanafc.sharefile.com/r-r48c92bafe5243b0a"><span style='color:#0563C1'>Click here</span></a> to securely upload files<o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr></table><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-family:"Bradley Hand ITC";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b>From:</b> wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com [mailto:wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com] <b>On Behalf Of </b>John Creahan<br><b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, July 31, 2018 10:17 PM<br><b>To:</b> WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv <wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com><br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [WSBAPT] Trust Protectors<o:p></o:p></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:6.0pt'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#595959'>Doug,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:6.0pt'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#595959'>I would be strongly advise my clients against including a provision in their trust document which would appoint a trust protector with the power to bless trustee actions and insulate the trustee from liability. The statutory trust advisor has a fiduciary duty to the beneficiaries – which means, I think, that the trustee to would simply be transferring its liability to the trust protector. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:6.0pt'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#595959'>Beneficiaries pay trustees significant fees mostly (perhaps only) because the beneficiaries can sue them if they screw up. I see no reason to allow the trustee to transfer that liability to a third party – particularly if that third party is an unpaid, relatively unsophisticated family member.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:6.0pt'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#595959'>My $.02.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:6.0pt'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#595959'>John<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#595959'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Tw Cen MT","sans-serif";color:#595959'>John Creahan</span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tw Cen MT","sans-serif";color:#595959'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tw Cen MT","sans-serif";color:#595959'><a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.cairn-2Dlaw.com_&d=DwMFAg&c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&r=K1mLMC1eFjwfeeMM-AC6zQ&m=1mql6tTiroNjqtHMOUOzgTqNFTnMbYwqo6d8KLbljtM&s=Txv5uIIQM7UJgCx-8CLSKicpCX3v6QzCS1IUaaYw6lU&e="><span style='color:#595959'>www.cairn-law.com</span></a><br>206-578-5877<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Tw Cen MT","sans-serif";color:#595959'>Fremont office:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Tw Cen MT","sans-serif";color:#595959'>3417 Evanston Ave. N, Suite 312<br>Seattle, WA 98103</span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tw Cen MT","sans-serif";color:#4F6228'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#595959'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#595959'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b>From:</b> <a href="mailto:wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com">wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com</a> <<a href="mailto:wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com">wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com</a>> <b>On Behalf Of </b>Douglas Bratt<br><b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, July 31, 2018 3:08 PM<br><b>To:</b> <a href="mailto:wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com">wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com</a><br><b>Subject:</b> [WSBAPT] Trust Protectors<o:p></o:p></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Listmates:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I have recently been doing some research regarding the role of a Statutory Trust Advisor, which is discussed in RCW 11.98A.030. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The gist of the appointment of a Statutory Trust Advisor seems to be the desire to have a mechanism, particularly in high asset situations, with potential multiple generational beneficiaries, to have someone, or some institution (separate from the Trustee) empowered to oversee the Trust and the Trustee to make sure that the focus of the original trust is being adhered to, to make adjustments in trust provisions, as may be advisable because of changes in the law, to approve discretionary distributions to beneficiaries, and the like. The earlier reading seemed to be that this is something that the Trustor might be interested in to essentially keep the Trust on track. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>However, later reading has led me to the conclusion that Trustees themselves, particularly institutional Trustees, are insisting on the appointment of a Trust Protector (the phrase used by at least one institutional Trustee, and a phrase included in the statutory definition of a Statutory Trust Advisor) in order to seemingly remove the Trustee from criticism (and possible liability) in exercising discretionary powers (like discretionary distributions to Beneficiaries) that Trustees have traditionally been empowered, and expected, to do. Review of Trust Instruments by Trustees, prior to acceptance of the responsibilities of serving as Trustee, includes a requirement, in some instances, that the Trust Protector provisions be in place, with a prospective Trust Protector already designated.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Has anyone been running into these sorts of situations? Do any of you have reference to Washington-based materials and/or Washington forms used in these sorts of instances? I am dealing with a proposed institutional Trustee who, I suspect, has such requirements in place.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I thank all of you, in advance, for your thoughts. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Best Regards,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Doug Bratt<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Lucida Calligraphy";color:#1F497D'>Douglas J. Bratt</span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Lucida Calligraphy";color:#1F497D'>Lawyer</span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#1F497D'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><img border=0 width=165 height=167 id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.jpg@01D42996.72D56D50" alt="Envelope scaled Terry"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#1F497D'>Office: (360) 213-2040 <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#1F497D'> Fax: (360) 213-2030<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#1F497D'>CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This email message may contain confidential or privileged information. If you have received this message by mistake, please do not review, disclose, copy, or distribute the email. Instead, please notify us immediately by replying to this message or telephoning us. Thank you.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#1F497D'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#1F497D'>NOTE:</span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#1F497D'> </span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#1F497D'>I do not use encrypted email. Messages sent to or from my office via email are not secure and may not be protected by attorney-client privilege. This email address is not monitored at all times. If your matter is urgent, please phone my office during regular business hours.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>