GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
1987 SESSION

CHAPTER 563
SENATE BILL 107

AN ACT TO BE KNOWN AS THE NORTH CAROLINA UNIFORM TRANSFERS TO MINORS ACT AS RECOMMENDED BY THE GENERAL STATUTES COMMISSION.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

Section 1.  Article 12 of Chapter 33 of the General Statutes, entitled "Gifts of Securities and Money to Minors", is repealed.
Sec. 2.  The General Statutes are amended by adding a new Chapter 33A to read:
"Chapter 33A.
"North Carolina Uniform Transfers to Minors Act.
"§ 33A-1.  Definitions.–In this Chapter:
(1)	'Adult' means an individual who has attained the age of 21 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)	'Court' means the clerk of the superior court of the several counties of the State.
(5)	'Custodial property' means (i) any interest in property transferred to a custodian under this Chapter and (ii) the income from and proceeds of that interest in property.
(6)	'Custodian' means a person so designated under Section 33A-9 or a successor or substitute custodian designated under Section 33A-18.
(7)	'Financial institution' means a bank, trust company, savings and loan associations or other savings institutions, or credit union, chartered and supervised under State or federal law.
(8)	'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.
(9)	'Legal representative' means an individual's personal representative or guardian.
(10)	'Member of the minor's family' means the minor's parent, 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 21 years.
(12)	'Person' means an individual, corporation, organization, or other legal entity.
(13)	'Personal representative' means an executor, administrator, successor personal representative, collector, or special administrator of a decedent's estate or a person legally authorized to perform substantially the same function.
(14)	'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.
(15)	'Transfer' means a transaction that creates custodial property under G.S. 33A‑9.
(16)	'Transferor' means a person who makes a transfer under this Chapter.
(17)	'Trust company' means a financial institution, corporation, or other legal entity, authorized to exercise general trust powers.
"§ 33A-2.  Scope and jurisdiction.–(a) This Chapter applies to a transfer 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 and the transfer instrument refers to this Chapter in the designation under G.S. 33A-9(a) by which the transfer is made.  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.
(b)	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.
(c)	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.
(d)	This act shall not be construed to be the exclusive procedures for transferring property interests to minors and any other procedure for such transfers authorized by the law of this State and, not specifically repealed shall continue in effect.
"§ 33A-3.  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 North Carolina 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 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.
(b)	A custodian nominated under this section must be a person to whom a transfer of property of that kind may be made under G.S. 33A-9(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 G.S. 33A-9.  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 G.S. 33A-9.
"§ 33A-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 G.S. 33A-9.
"§ 33A-5.  Transfer authorized by will or trust.–(a) A personal representative or trustee may make an irrevocable transfer pursuant to G.S. 33A-9 to a custodian for the benefit of a minor as authorized in the governing will or trust.
(b)	If the testator or settlor has nominated a custodian under G.S. 33A-3 to receive the custodial property, the transfer must be made to that person.
(c)	If the testator or settlor has not nominated a custodian under G.S. 33A-3, 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 G.S. 33A-9(a).
"§ 33A-6.  Other transfer by fiduciary.–(a) Subject to subsection (c), a personal representative or trustee may make an irrevocable transfer to the transferor or to another adult or trust company as custodian for the benefit of a minor pursuant to G.S. 33A-9, in the absence of a will or under a will or trust that does not contain an authorization to do so.
(b)	Subject to subsection (c), a guardian may make an irrevocable transfer to the transferor or to another adult or trust company as custodian for the benefit of the minor pursuant to Section 33A-9.
(c)	A transfer under subsection (a) or (b) may be made only if (i) the personal representative, trustee, or guardian considers the transfer to be in the best interest of the minor, and (ii) the transfer is not prohibited by or inconsistent with provisions of the applicable will, trust agreement, or other governing instrument.  If the value of the property transferred under subsections (a) or (b) will total more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000), whether in one or more transfers, that transfer must be authorized by the court.  If a transfer under subsections (a) or (b) is to the transferor then the transfer must be authorized by the court.
"§ 33A-7.  Transfer by obligor.–(a) Subject to subsections (b) and (c), a person not subject to Section 33A-5 or 33A-6 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 33A-9.
(b)	If a person having the right to do so under Section 33A-3 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 33A-3, 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 if the aggregate value of the property does not exceed ten thousand dollars ($10,000) in value.
"§ 33A-8.  Receipt for custodial property.–A written acknowledgement by a custodian of delivery authorized by this Chapter constitutes a sufficient receipt and discharge for custodial property transferred to the custodian.
"§ 33A-9.  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 North Carolina 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 (b);
(2)	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 North Carolina 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 North Carolina 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 North Carolina Uniform Transfers to Minors Act';
(4)	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 North Carolina Uniform Transfers to Minors Act';
(5)	an interest in real property is conveyed or devised to the transferor, an adult other than the transferor, or a trust company, whose name in the conveyance is followed in substance by the words:  'as custodian for __________ (name of minor) under the North Carolina Uniform Transfers to Minors Act';
(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 North Carolina 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 North Carolina Uniform Transfers to Minors Act'; or
(7)	an interest in any property not described in paragraphs (1) through (6) 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 (b).
(b)	An instrument in the following form satisfies the requirements of paragraphs (1)(ii) and (7) of subsection (a):
'TRANSFER UNDER THE NORTH CAROLINA
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 North Carolina 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 North Carolina 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.
"§ 33A-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.
"§ 33A-11.  Validity and effect of transfer.–(a) The validity of a transfer made in a manner prescribed in this Chapter is not affected by:
(1)	failure of the transferor to comply with G.S. 33A-9(c) concerning control;
(2)	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 G.S. 33A-9(a);
(3)	death or incapacity of a person nominated under G.S. 33A-3 or designated under G.S. 33A-9 as custodian or the disclaimer of the office by that person; or
(4)	the use of an abbreviation in referring to this Chapter or the equivalent act of another state.
(b)	A transfer made pursuant to G.S. 33A-9 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.
(c)	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.
"§ 33A-12.  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)	In dealing with custodial property, a custodian shall observe the standard of care that would be observed by a prudent person dealing with property of another and is not limited by any other statute restricting investments by fiduciaries.  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.  However, 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.
(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 or the custodian in the capacity of custodian 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 may be held with other owners if owned as tenants in common, provided that the property interest of the owners 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 North Carolina 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 legal representative of the minor, or by the minor if the minor has attained the age of 14 years.
"§ 33A-13.  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 the capacity of a custodian only.
(b)	This section does not relieve a custodian from liability for breach of G.S. 33A-12.
"§ 33A-14.  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.
(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.
"§ 33A-15.  Custodian's expenses, compensation, and bond.–(a) A custodian is entitled to pay from and to be reimbursed from custodial property for reasonable expenses incurred in the performance of the custodian's duties.
(b)	Except for one who is a transferor under G.S. 33A-4, 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 G.S. 33A-18(f), a custodian need not give a bond.
"§ 33A-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 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.
"§ 33A-17.  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 may be held personally liable:
(1)	on a contract properly entered into in the custodial capacity if 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 if 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.
"§ 33A-18.  Renunciation, resignation, death, or removal of custodian; designation of successor custodian.–(a) A person nominated under G.S. 33A-3 or designated under G.S. 33A-9 as custodian may decline to serve by delivering a written disclaimer to the person who made the nomination or to the transferor or the transferor's legal 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 G.S. 33A-3, the person who made the nomination may nominate a substitute custodian under G.S. 33A-3; 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 G.S. 33A-9(a).
(b)	A custodian at any time may designate a trust company or an adult other than the transferor under G.S. 33A-4 as successor custodian by executing and dating an instrument of designation before a subscribing witness other than the successor.  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.
(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 incapacitated without having effectively designated a successor 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 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.
(e)	A custodian who declines to serve under subsection (a) or resigns under subsection (c), 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.
(f)	A transferor, the legal 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 other than a transferor under G.S. 33A-4 or to require the custodian to give appropriate bond.
"§ 33A-19.  Accounting by and determination of liability of custodian.–(a) A minor who has attained the age of 14 years, the minor's guardian of the person or legal representative, an adult member of the minor's family, a transferor, or a transferor's legal representative may petition the court (i) for an accounting by the custodian or the custodian's legal 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 G.S. 33A-17 to which the minor or the minor's legal 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 Chapter or the presiding judge in any other proceeding, may require or permit the custodian or the custodian's legal representative to account.
(d)	If a custodian is removed under G.S. 33A-18(f), 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.
"§ 33A-20.  Termination of custodianship.–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 21 years of age with respect to custodial property transferred under G.S. 33A-4 or G.S. 33A-5, except that any transferor may have custodial property transferred to the minor at any time after the age of 18 and before the age of 21 by a designation in the following words or their equivalent:  'The custodian shall transfer this property to _______ (name of minor) when he reaches the age of ___ (age after 18 and before 21).';
(2)	the minor's attainment of age 18 with respect to custodial property transferred under G.S. 33A-6 or G.S. 33A-7; or
(3)	the minor's death.
"§ 33A-21.  Applicability.–This Chapter applies to a transfer within the scope of G.S. 33A-2 made after its effective date if:
(1)	the transfer purports to have been made under the Uniform Gifts to Minors Act of North Carolina; 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.
"§ 33A-22.  Effect on existing custodianships.–(a) Any transfer of custodial property as now defined in this Chapter made before the effective date of this Chapter is validated notwithstanding that there was no specific authority in the Uniform Gifts to Minors Act of North Carolina for the coverage of custodial property of that kind or for a transfer from that source at the time the transfer was made.
(b)	This Chapter applies to all transfers made before the effective date of this Chapter in a manner and form prescribed in the Uniform Gifts to Minors Act of North Carolina, except insofar as the application impairs constitutionally vested rights or extends the duration of custodianships in existence on the effective date of this Chapter.
(c)	G.S. 33A-1 and G.S. 33A-20 with respect to the age of a minor for whom custodial property is held under this Chapter shall not apply to custodial property held in a custodianship that terminated because of the minor's attainment of the age of majority and before the effective date of this Chapter.
"§ 33A-23.  Uniformity of application and construction.–This Chapter shall be applied and construed to effect its general purpose to make uniform the law with respect to the subject of this Chapter among states enacting it.
"§ 33A-24.  Short title.–This Chapter may be cited as the 'North Carolina Uniform Transfers to Minors Act.'"
Sec. 3.  This act shall become effective October 1, 1987. 
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 6th day of July, 1987.