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Became law HOUSE · SESSION 2026 · CHAPTER 2026-54

No. HB 895

Trustee Settlement and Discharge
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SPONSOR
Hodgers; Fabricio
FILED BY
Brian Hodgers — District 32, Republican [search donations]
Tom Fabricio — District 110, Republican [search donations]
EFFECTIVE
4/29/2026

Filed under Legal.

PROVIDED SUMMARY

Trustee Settlement and Discharge; Authorizing a trustee to obtain a settlement of his or her accounts and be discharged under certain circumstances; requiring a trustee seeking settlement and discharge to send a trust disclosure document to specified persons; providing that a trustee is discharged upon completion of distributions or transfers if no timely written objections are received and is discharged from all liability and claims arising out of any matter disclosed in the trust disclosure document, etc.

Full bill text →

Plain English Summary

AI-GENERATED
Trustees can settle accounts without a court if beneficiaries do not object.

Trustees of irrevocable trusts can now settle accounts and be discharged without a court order. This applies when the trust ends or the trustee leaves, provided they follow specific disclosure rules.

The trustee must send a detailed disclosure document to beneficiaries and other affected parties. This document includes the distribution plan, asset schedules, and any pending debts or taxes.

Beneficiaries have 60 days to file a written objection. If no objection is received, the trustee is legally discharged from all liability for matters disclosed in the document.

This process is only available if the trustee is in substantial compliance with existing duties to inform and account. It does not replace other rights a trustee may have to settle accounts.

KEY PROVISIONS
§ 1 Nonjudicial Settlement and Discharge majors. 736.10081(1)

AIAllows a trustee to settle accounts and be discharged without a court order if the trust terminates or the trustee resigns or is removed six months after acceptance.

“A trustee who is in substantial compliance with the duty to inform and account under s. 736.0813 may obtain a settlement of his or her accounts and be discharged pursuant to this” bill text, line 29 →
§ 2 Mandatory Trust Disclosure Document majors. 736.10081(2)

AIRequires the trustee to send a trust disclosure document, including a distribution plan and accounting, to qualified beneficiaries, cotrustees, and successors.

“A trustee seeking settlement and discharge pursuant to this section must send to the trust's qualified beneficiaries and any cotrustee, and the immediate successor trustee if the” bill text, line 36 →
§ 3 60-Day Objection Period majors. 736.10081(4)

AIPrevents nonjudicial discharge if any beneficiary or affected person submits a written objection within 60 days of receiving the disclosure document.

“This section does not apply if the trustee receives a written objection within 60 days after sending the trust disclosure document.” bill text, line 73 →
§ 4 Discharge from Liability majors. 736.10081(5)

AIDischarges the trustee from all liability and claims arising from matters adequately disclosed in the document, with the same effect as a final court order.

“the trustee is discharged upon completion of all distributions or transfers in accordance with the plan of distribution and is discharged from all liability and claims arising from” bill text, line 78 →
§ 5 Applicability to Irrevocable Trusts moderates. 2

AIApplies the new nonjudicial settlement and discharge process to all trusts that are irrevocable or become irrevocable on or after the effective date.

“This act applies to all trusts that are irrevocable or become irrevocable on or after the effective date of this act.” bill text, line 92 →
TIMELINE
4/30/2026
Chapter No. 2026-54
4/29/2026
Approved by Governor
4/21/2026
Signed by Officers and presented to Governor
2/26/2026
Ordered enrolled
2/26/2026
In Messages
2/26/2026
Immediately certified -SJ 463
2/26/2026
Passed; YEAS 37 NAYS 0 -SJ 446
2/26/2026
Read 3rd time -SJ 446
2/26/2026
Read 2nd time -SJ 446
2/26/2026
Substituted for CS/SB 786 -SJ 446
2/26/2026
Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading
2/26/2026
Withdrawn from Rules -SJ 446
2/18/2026
Received
2/18/2026
Referred to Rules
2/17/2026
In Messages
2/17/2026
Passed as amended; YEAS 110, NAYS 0
2/17/2026
Read 3rd time
2/17/2026
Added to Third Reading Calendar
2/17/2026
Amendment 322807 adopted
2/17/2026
Read 2nd time
2/10/2026
Bill added to Special Order Calendar (2/17/2026)
1/27/2026
Added to Second Reading Calendar
1/27/2026
Bill released to House Calendar
1/27/2026
Reported out of Judiciary Committee
1/27/2026
Favorable by Judiciary Committee
1/23/2026
Added to Judiciary Committee agenda
1/22/2026
Now in Judiciary Committee
1/22/2026
Reported out of Insurance & Banking Subcommittee
1/21/2026
Favorable by Insurance & Banking Subcommittee
1/16/2026
Added to Insurance & Banking Subcommittee agenda
1/14/2026
Now in Insurance & Banking Subcommittee
1/14/2026
Reported out of Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee
1/14/2026
Favorable by Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee
1/13/2026
1st Reading (Original Filed Version)
1/12/2026
Added to Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee agenda
1/5/2026
Now in Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee
1/5/2026
Referred to Judiciary Committee
1/5/2026
Referred to Insurance & Banking Subcommittee
1/5/2026
Referred to Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee
12/23/2025
Filed
34 EARLIER →
STATUTES IT CHANGES
s. 736.10081
+534 / −0
STAFF ANALYSES