Section 53-12-64. Termination of trusts

   (a) The trust instrument may confer upon a trustee or other person a power to terminate the trust.

(b) The court may terminate a trust and order distribution of the trust property if:

   (1) The costs of administration are such that the continuance of the trust, the establishment of the trust if it is to be established, or the distribution from a probate estate would defeat or substantially impair the purposes of the trust;

   (2) The purpose of the trust has been fulfilled or become illegal or impossible to fulfill; or

   (3) Owing to circumstances not known to or anticipated by the settlor, the continuance of the trust would defeat or substantially impair the accomplishment of the purposes of the trust.

(c) A petition for termination may be filed by the trustee or any beneficiary or, in the case of an unfunded testamentary trust, the personal representative of the settlor's estate.

(d) Notice of a petition to terminate the trust shall be given to the trustee, all beneficiaries, any holder of a power of appointment over the trust property, and such other persons as the court may direct.

(e) The court may terminate the trust regardless of whether it contains spendthrift provisions or other similar protective provisions.

(f) Distribution of the trust property under the order for termination shall be made to or among the current beneficiaries and the vested remainder beneficiaries, or, if there are no vested remainder beneficiaries, among the current beneficiaries and the contingent remainder beneficiaries. The order shall specify the appropriate share, if any, of each current and remainder beneficiary who is to share in the proceeds of the trust so as to conform as nearly as practicable to the intention of the settlor or testator. The order may direct that the interest of a minor beneficiary, or any portion thereof, be converted into qualifying property and distributed to a custodian pursuant to Article 5 of Chapter 5 of Title 44, "The Georgia Transfers to Minors Act."

Code 1981, § 53-12-64, enacted by Ga. L. 2010, p. 579, § 1/SB 131.