A fiduciary may disclaim property interests or powers, but court approval is required in some cases and a trustee has specific limits.
Sec. 240.008. POWER TO DISCLAIM BY FIDUCIARY ACTING IN FIDUCIARY CAPACITY. (a) Subject to this section and except to the extent the fiduciary's right to disclaim is expressly restricted or limited by a law of this state or by the instrument creating the fiduciary relationship, a fiduciary acting in a fiduciary capacity may disclaim, in whole or in part, any interest in or power over property, including a power of appointment and the power to disclaim, that would have passed to the ward, estate, trust, or principal with respect to which the fiduciary was acting had the disclaimer not been made even if: (1) the creator of the interest or power imposed a spendthrift provision or similar restriction on transfer or a restriction or limitation on the right to disclaim; or (2) an instrument other than the instrument that created the fiduciary relationship imposed a restriction or limitation on the right to disclaim. (b) Except as provided by Subsection (c), (d), or (f), a disclaimer by a fiduciary acting in a fiduciary capacity does not require court approval to be effective unless the instrument that created the fiduciary relationship requires court approval. (c) Except as provided by Subsection (c-1), the following disclaimers by a fiduciary acting in a fiduciary capacity are not effective unless approved by a court of competent jurisdiction: (1) a disclaimer by a personal representative who is not an independent administrator or independent executor; (2) a disclaimer by the trustee of a management trust created under Chapter 1301, Estates Code; (3) a disclaimer by the trustee of a trust created under Section 142.005; or (4) a disclaimer that would result in an interest in or power over property passing to the person making the disclaimer. (c-1) A disclaimer described by Subsection (c)(4) does not require court approval if the disclaimer is authorized under Subtitle P, Title 2, Estates Code. (d) A trustee acting in a fiduciary capacity may not disclaim an interest in property that would cause the interest in property not to become trust property unless: (1) a court of competent jurisdiction approves the disclaimer; or (2) the trustee provides written notice of the disclaimer in accordance with Section 240.0081. (e) In the absence of a court-appointed guardian, without court approval, a natural guardian as described by Section 1104.051, Estates Code, may disclaim on behalf of a minor child of the natural guardian, in whole or in part, any interest in or power over property, including a power of appointment, that the minor child is to receive solely as a result of another disclaimer, but only if the disclaimed interest or power does not pass to or for the benefit of the natural guardian as a result of the disclaimer. (f) Unless a court of competent jurisdiction approves the disclaimer, a disclaimer by a fiduciary acting in a fiduciary capacity must be compatible with the fiduciary's fiduciary obligations. A disclaimer by a fiduciary acting in a fiduciary capacity is not a per se breach of the fiduciary's fiduciary obligations. (g) Possible remedies for a breach of fiduciary obligations do not include declaring an otherwise effective disclaimer void or granting other legal or equitable relief that would make the disclaimer ineffective. Added by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 562 (H.B. 2428), Sec. 15, eff. September 1, 2015. Amended by: Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 210 (S.B. 1650), Sec. 7, eff. September 1, 2023.