# RCW 11.98.016: RCW 11.98.016: Exercise of powers by co-trustees

> Washington · Statutes · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T11_C98_S016

## Section

- **Citation:** RCW 11.98.016
- **Heading:** RCW 11.98.016: Exercise of powers by co-trustees
- **Jurisdiction:** Washington
- **Kind:** Statutes
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** Washington Code / Title 11 / Chapter 98 / Section 016

## Text

(1) Any power vested in three or more trustees jointly may be exercised by a majority of such trustees; but no trustee who has not joined in exercising a power is liable to the beneficiaries or to others for the consequences of such exercise; nor is a dissenting trustee liable for the consequences of an act in which that trustee joins at the direction of the majority of the trustees, if that trustee expressed his or her dissent in writing to each of the co-trustees at or before the time of such joinder. (2) Where two or more trustees are appointed to execute a trust and one or more of them for any reason does not accept the appointment or having accepted ceases to be a trustee, the survivor or survivors shall execute the trust and shall succeed to all the powers, duties and discretionary authority given to the trustees jointly. (3) An individual trustee, with a co-trustee's consent, may, by a signed, written instrument, delegate any power, duty, or authority as trustee to that co-trustee. This delegation is effective upon delivery of the instrument to that co-trustee and may be revoked at any time by delivery of a similar signed, written instrument to that co-trustee. However, if a power, duty, or authority is expressly conferred upon only one trustee, it shall not be delegated to a co-trustee. If that power, duty, or authority is expressly excluded from exercise by a trustee, it shall not be delegated to the excluded trustee. (4) If one trustee gives written notice to all other co-trustees of an action that the trustee proposes be taken, then the failure of any co-trustee to deliver a written objection to the proposal to the trustee, at the trustee's then address of record and within fifteen days from the date the co-trustee actually receives the notice, constitutes formal approval by the co-trustee, unless the co-trustee had previously given written notice that was unrevoked at the time of the trustee's notice, to that trustee that this fifteen-day notice provision is inoperative. (5) As to any effective delegation made under subsection (3) of this section, a co-trustee has no liability for failure to participate in the administration of the trust. Nothing in this section, however, otherwise excuses a co-trustee from liability for failure to participate in the administration of the trust and nothing in this section, including subsection (3) of this section, excuses a co-trustee from liability for the failure to attempt to prevent a breach of trust.

## Nearby sections

- [RCW 11.98.002 RCW 11.98.002: Definitions.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T11_C98_S002.md)
- [RCW 11.98.005 RCW 11.98.005: Trust situs and governing law.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T11_C98_S005.md)
- [RCW 11.98.008 RCW 11.98.008: Trust creation—Methods.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T11_C98_S008.md)
- [RCW 11.98.009 RCW 11.98.009: Application of chapter.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T11_C98_S009.md)
- [RCW 11.98.011 RCW 11.98.011: Trust creation—Requirements.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T11_C98_S011.md)
- [RCW 11.98.012 RCW 11.98.012: Trust creation—Other jurisdictions.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T11_C98_S012.md)
- [RCW 11.98.013 RCW 11.98.013: Trust creation—Allowable purposes.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T11_C98_S013.md)
- [RCW 11.98.014 RCW 11.98.014: Trust creation—Oral trusts.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T11_C98_S014.md)
- [RCW 11.98.015 RCW 11.98.015: Noncharitable trusts without ascertainable beneficiaries.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T11_C98_S015.md)
- [RCW 11.98.016 RCW 11.98.016: Exercise of powers by co-trustees.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T11_C98_S016.md)
- [RCW 11.98.017 RCW 11.98.017: Trusteeship—Accepting and declining—Powers without acceptance.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T11_C98_S017.md)
- [RCW 11.98.019 RCW 11.98.019: Relinquishment of powers by trustee.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T11_C98_S019.md)
- [RCW 11.98.029 RCW 11.98.029: Resignation of trustee.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T11_C98_S029.md)
- [RCW 11.98.039 RCW 11.98.039: Nonjudicial change of trustee—Judicial appointment or change of trustee—Liability and duties of successor fiduciary.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T11_C98_S039.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T11_C98_S016. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.