Representation of trust beneficiaries.

Assemblymember Dixon's trust administration reform measure revises how beneficiaries may be represented in California trust proceedings by replacing existing indirect notice provisions with a comprehensive framework for authorized representation. The new provisions establish that notice given to an authorized representative satisfies legal requirements as if delivered directly to the beneficiary.

The legislation outlines specific parameters for representation, requiring written consent and prohibiting representatives with conflicts of interest from binding beneficiaries. Parents may represent minor children, conservators their conservatees, and trustees their beneficiaries, among other permitted relationships. The measure also addresses representation across successive interests, allowing current interest holders to bind future beneficiaries in certain circumstances. While fiduciaries acting on representations receive liability protection, they remain accountable for intentional breaches, gross negligence, or bad faith actions.

Represented persons retain the right to object before consents become effective, and the bill preserves existing requirements for special notice requests and court-appointed guardians ad litem. The provisions apply to all trust-related notices and documents, creating uniform standards for representation across trust administration proceedings.