烏特馬法規(guī)下人身保險(xiǎn)合同所有權(quán)轉(zhuǎn)讓以保護(hù)未成年人再思考

1、 PAGE 24Protectting MMinorss by RReconssideraation of Liife InnsurannceContracct Ownnershiip Traansferrs Undder thhe UTMMAALT,ANTTHONY J.Americaan Jouurnal of Faamily Law，2010，Vol.224 ：1-6烏特馬法規(guī)下人人身保險(xiǎn)合同同所有權(quán)轉(zhuǎn)讓讓以保護(hù)未成成年人再思考考J.奧特.安斯斯瑞森美國家庭法雜志志，20100，第24卷卷：1-6頁頁烏特馬法規(guī)下人人身保險(xiǎn)合同同所有權(quán)轉(zhuǎn)讓讓以保護(hù)未成成年人再思考考示范法的目的是是雙重的：

2、（11）進(jìn)一步統(tǒng)統(tǒng)一各司法管管轄區(qū)（2）以以協(xié)助提供明明確的立法，保保護(hù)這些人（立立法者）的最最佳利益。一一個(gè)成功的模模式在很大程程度上是”轉(zhuǎn)移到未成成年人統(tǒng)一法法（烏特馬法法規(guī)）”，其已在48個(gè)個(gè)州以及哥倫比亞亞特區(qū)通過。該烏特特馬法規(guī)是Uniiform Giftss to MMinorss Act的的擴(kuò)大，該法法已在一些州州獲得形式通過過。烏特馬法法規(guī)是在信任任和監(jiān)護(hù)之間間的混合。同樣地，家家庭法律從業(yè)業(yè)者應(yīng)熟悉的的烏特馬法規(guī)規(guī)，可以允許許對未成年人有巨大好處的的行動(dòng)，但是是同時(shí)使對極極易受傷害的的未成年人的物產(chǎn)托管人人的疏忽或恣恣意地有害行行動(dòng)轉(zhuǎn)移至烏烏特馬法規(guī)之之下。 家庭法律師應(yīng)該該

3、詢問烏特馬馬法規(guī)下物產(chǎn)產(chǎn)是否存在烏特馬法規(guī)要求求一旦未成年年人達(dá)到要求求年齡, 托托管人肯定地地把監(jiān)護(hù)的財(cái)財(cái)產(chǎn)轉(zhuǎn)移到未未成年人。財(cái)財(cái)產(chǎn)托管人肯肯定要移交財(cái)財(cái)產(chǎn)的義務(wù)，如如人壽保險(xiǎn)的的歸屬政策一一樣，使未成成年人容易受受到不轉(zhuǎn)移財(cái)財(cái)產(chǎn)托管人的的侵害，無論論是由于疏忽忽或恣意。而非規(guī)定有義義務(wù)移交保管管的財(cái)產(chǎn)，烏烏特馬應(yīng)進(jìn)行行修改使未成年人達(dá)達(dá)到必要的年年齡時(shí)，將所所有權(quán)以及人人身保險(xiǎn)單的的占有權(quán)自動(dòng)動(dòng)轉(zhuǎn)交給未成成年人。但是是直到烏特馬馬被修改，律律師處理離婚婚和子女撫養(yǎng)養(yǎng)權(quán)訴訟時(shí)應(yīng)當(dāng)詢問未未成年人是否否為烏特馬法規(guī)下下的物主或者者壽險(xiǎn)受益人人，如果是這這樣，確保在在保單中列的的托管人會(huì)保保護(hù)未成

4、年人人的最大利益益，并在適當(dāng)當(dāng)?shù)臅r(shí)候轉(zhuǎn)讓讓保單或收益。 如果對被列的的財(cái)產(chǎn)托管人人在保護(hù)未成成年人最大利利益時(shí)有疑問問，參與子女女撫養(yǎng)權(quán)訴訟訟或離婚的律師師應(yīng)該尋求烏烏特馬法規(guī)保改變托管人人。這可以通過過托管人辭職職或任命后繼者者托管人或通通過訴請法院院來完成。對于處理離離婚訴訟律師師來講，查明未成年人人是否為人壽險(xiǎn)險(xiǎn)保單財(cái)產(chǎn)擁擁有人或根據(jù)烏特特馬法規(guī)下年金（或或任何烏特馬馬下的財(cái)產(chǎn)）享有人是重要要的，因?yàn)檫@這些財(cái)產(chǎn)是不不是托管人的的婚姻財(cái)產(chǎn)。因因此，它應(yīng)該該不會(huì)影響計(jì)計(jì)算的婚姻財(cái)財(cái)產(chǎn)的分配。1烏特馬法規(guī)下下監(jiān)管財(cái)產(chǎn)和和托管人義務(wù)務(wù)的創(chuàng)立烏特馬法規(guī)的第第九章規(guī)定，個(gè)個(gè)人能夠以轉(zhuǎn)轉(zhuǎn)移財(cái)產(chǎn)的形形式

5、給予未成成年人禮物。這這樣轉(zhuǎn)移的財(cái)財(cái)產(chǎn)或禮物僅僅僅局限于授授予未成年人人因財(cái)產(chǎn)所得得的利益，但但財(cái)產(chǎn)當(dāng)前情情況下要登記記于財(cái)產(chǎn)監(jiān)護(hù)護(hù)人之下，直直到未成年人人達(dá)到必須的的年齡。個(gè)人人可以轉(zhuǎn)移的的財(cái)產(chǎn)類型是是十分廣的。個(gè)個(gè)人能夠轉(zhuǎn)移移生命或捐款款保險(xiǎn)的所有有權(quán)或以所有有權(quán)人的的身身份命名未成成年人。通過過允許未成年年人被以生命命保險(xiǎn)所有人人命名，或者者類似保單的的所有權(quán)轉(zhuǎn)交交到未成年人人手中，烏特特馬法規(guī)承認(rèn)認(rèn)了持續(xù)很久久的概念，即即生命保險(xiǎn)合合同有“財(cái)產(chǎn)產(chǎn)的一般特征征”。因此，一一旦某人以所所有權(quán)人命名名未成年人或或轉(zhuǎn)交烏特馬馬法規(guī)下的生生命保險(xiǎn)合同同的所有權(quán)，那那么該未成年年人無可置疑疑的被授

6、予保保險(xiǎn)合同的所所有權(quán)。然而而財(cái)產(chǎn)監(jiān)護(hù)人人有權(quán)利、權(quán)權(quán)力以及必要要的義務(wù)來占占有和經(jīng)營財(cái)財(cái)產(chǎn)直到未成成年人達(dá)到必必須的年齡。不不過，財(cái)產(chǎn)監(jiān)監(jiān)護(hù)人沒有法法定權(quán)利獲取取生命保險(xiǎn)單單的所有權(quán)，直直到所有權(quán)歸歸屬于未成年年人。所以，一一個(gè)財(cái)產(chǎn)監(jiān)護(hù)護(hù)人也許應(yīng)該該確切的表述述為，代表未未成年人利益益而擁有保單單財(cái)產(chǎn)性利益益，而非擁有有真正的所有有權(quán)或所有權(quán)權(quán)利益。1.1 （財(cái)產(chǎn)產(chǎn)）轉(zhuǎn)交至未未成年人代表未成年人行行使財(cái)產(chǎn)性利利益時(shí)，財(cái)產(chǎn)產(chǎn)監(jiān)護(hù)人必須須以善良管理理人的標(biāo)準(zhǔn)要要求自己處理理財(cái)務(wù)事務(wù)。如如果托管人有有一項(xiàng)特殊的的技能或?qū)ｉT門知識(shí)，那么么他將被要求求運(yùn)用之。如如果未成年人人是唯一的受受益人，財(cái)產(chǎn)產(chǎn)監(jiān)

7、護(hù)人或許許會(huì)投資或在在保單上投入入很多保費(fèi)。一一旦未成年人人達(dá)到必須年年齡，烏特馬馬法規(guī)規(guī)定：“財(cái)產(chǎn)托管管人應(yīng)該以恰恰當(dāng)?shù)姆绞綄⑺O(jiān)管財(cái)產(chǎn)產(chǎn)轉(zhuǎn)交到未成成年人或其遺遺產(chǎn)。”“應(yīng)應(yīng)當(dāng)轉(zhuǎn)交”一一詞表明，在在烏特馬法規(guī)規(guī)下被轉(zhuǎn)讓保保單的財(cái)產(chǎn)監(jiān)監(jiān)護(hù)人有肯定定得義務(wù)將保保單所有和控控制權(quán)在未成成年人達(dá)到規(guī)規(guī)定的年齡是是轉(zhuǎn)交。通過設(shè)一個(gè)肯定定義務(wù)來促使使托管人向未未成年人轉(zhuǎn)交交保單，法律律強(qiáng)調(diào)的是，盡盡管未成年人人已經(jīng)毫無置置疑地被授予予保單上的合合法權(quán)利，卻卻沒有形成財(cái)財(cái)產(chǎn)從監(jiān)護(hù)人人到未成年人人的自動(dòng)轉(zhuǎn)交交。也就是說說，托管人必必須用“恰當(dāng)當(dāng)?shù)姆绞健睂⒈蔚呢?cái)產(chǎn)產(chǎn)權(quán)轉(zhuǎn)交給未未成年人。在在保單案例中中，

8、轉(zhuǎn)交保單單的“恰當(dāng)方方式”是讓托托管人簽署一一份所有權(quán)轉(zhuǎn)轉(zhuǎn)讓表格，監(jiān)監(jiān)護(hù)人由此放放棄對保單的的控制。這種種完成所有權(quán)權(quán)轉(zhuǎn)讓表格的的行為向保險(xiǎn)險(xiǎn)人表明，監(jiān)監(jiān)護(hù)人行使任任何權(quán)利，權(quán)權(quán)力或權(quán)威的的資格已經(jīng)終終止。伊利諾伊州的烏烏特馬法規(guī)明明確地在不動(dòng)動(dòng)產(chǎn)和個(gè)人財(cái)財(cái)產(chǎn)間做了區(qū)區(qū)分。對于不不動(dòng)產(chǎn)，有一一個(gè)自動(dòng)轉(zhuǎn)交交給未成年人人機(jī)制（托管管人沒有被要要求去促成財(cái)財(cái)產(chǎn)向未成年年人轉(zhuǎn)交）。但但對于個(gè)人財(cái)財(cái)產(chǎn)（包括保保險(xiǎn)單）而言言，沒有規(guī)定定財(cái)產(chǎn)向未成成年人自動(dòng)轉(zhuǎn)轉(zhuǎn)讓的權(quán)利。1.2 案例強(qiáng)強(qiáng)化除了法定的措辭辭之外，在涉涉及類似于人人壽保險(xiǎn)的個(gè)個(gè)人財(cái)產(chǎn)的判判例法也表明明，在未成年年人達(dá)到法定定年齡之時(shí)，個(gè)個(gè)人財(cái)產(chǎn)

9、所有有權(quán)不會(huì)自動(dòng)動(dòng)的從托管人人名下轉(zhuǎn)移到到該未成年人人名下。比如如，在里根訴訴康奈里一案案中，父親創(chuàng)創(chuàng)建了一個(gè)公公司，將966的股份給給予其子女，并并以托管人的的名義持有該該股份。根據(jù)據(jù)田納西州烏烏特馬法規(guī)，該該父親代表其其子女持有這這些股份是合合法的，但是是當(dāng)他的子女女成年之時(shí)，他他沒有將這些些股票轉(zhuǎn)移到到他的子女名名下。但法院院認(rèn)定托管人人沒有將所有有權(quán)轉(zhuǎn)移不會(huì)會(huì)影響到未成成年女子對于于股份的訴訟訟請求權(quán)。因因此，法院認(rèn)認(rèn)為，雖然當(dāng)當(dāng)未成年子女女達(dá)到法定年年齡之時(shí)有所所有權(quán)，但托托管人仍有必必要將財(cái)產(chǎn)所所有權(quán)轉(zhuǎn)移給給子女。沒有有監(jiān)護(hù)權(quán)的父父母不能作為為托管人。 在在estraa訴esttr

10、a案中，根根據(jù)康涅狄格格州烏特馬法法規(guī)，一位母母親為其女兒兒創(chuàng)建了一個(gè)個(gè)投資賬戶，并并作為其托管管人管理這些些資產(chǎn)。當(dāng)其其女兒達(dá)到法法定年齡時(shí)，這這位母親拒絕絕將其占有的的財(cái)產(chǎn)轉(zhuǎn)移給給其女兒。法法院根據(jù)烏特特馬法規(guī)，托托管人有義務(wù)務(wù)在未成年人人達(dá)到法定年年齡時(shí)將其占占有的財(cái)產(chǎn)轉(zhuǎn)轉(zhuǎn)移給該未成成年人，但這這種交付不是是自動(dòng)完成的的。這些案例例證明了烏特特馬法規(guī)明確確的要求托管管人有義務(wù)在在未成年人達(dá)達(dá)到法定年齡齡時(shí)將其占有有的財(cái)產(chǎn)轉(zhuǎn)移移給該未成年年人。而且，這這些案例還說說明了如果托托管人不作為為，未成年人人可以以違反反信托責(zé)任為為由，或者以以盜竊罪提起起訴訟。當(dāng)然然如果烏特馬馬法規(guī)規(guī)定，當(dāng)當(dāng)未成

11、年人達(dá)達(dá)到法定年齡齡時(shí)，無需托托管人的實(shí)際際轉(zhuǎn)移，財(cái)產(chǎn)產(chǎn)權(quán)即自動(dòng)轉(zhuǎn)轉(zhuǎn)移，就不需需要為了取得得財(cái)產(chǎn)權(quán)而提提起這些訴訟訟了。2 通過為保單單創(chuàng)建例外條條款來避免潛潛在的傷害壽險(xiǎn)保單在為保保險(xiǎn)公司和未未成年人在烏烏特馬法規(guī)（情情況）下產(chǎn)生生了一個(gè)特殊殊的問題。如如上所述，在在烏特馬法規(guī)規(guī)下，托管人人并不是轉(zhuǎn)讓或創(chuàng)創(chuàng)建壽險(xiǎn)保單單的持有人；托管人僅僅擁有一個(gè)個(gè)有關(guān)代表未成年人人的保險(xiǎn)合同同的合同權(quán)利利。但是由于于烏特馬法規(guī)規(guī)設(shè)定了一個(gè)個(gè)肯定得義務(wù)務(wù)給托管人，要要求其轉(zhuǎn)移個(gè)個(gè)人財(cái)產(chǎn)的占占有給未成年年人再然后通通過完成一份份所有權(quán)轉(zhuǎn)讓讓表格來實(shí)現(xiàn)現(xiàn)，保險(xiǎn)公司司在一份正確確的財(cái)產(chǎn)轉(zhuǎn)移移表格完成之之前是不會(huì)向向

12、未成年人轉(zhuǎn)轉(zhuǎn)移所有權(quán)的的。這樣的問問題大量存在在。 首先，托管人人永遠(yuǎn)不會(huì)完完成所有制形形式的轉(zhuǎn)讓，從而而永遠(yuǎn)不會(huì)轉(zhuǎn)轉(zhuǎn)讓保單給一一個(gè)已達(dá)到法法定年齡的未未成年人是可可能的。這個(gè)可能會(huì)會(huì)發(fā)生的原因因有很多：托托管人由于忽忽視而忘記填填寫表格；托托管人拒絕完完成所有制形形式的轉(zhuǎn)讓;或由于于過時(shí)的聯(lián)系系信息，保險(xiǎn)險(xiǎn)公司可能無無法滿足托管人或或剛成為成年年人的人。第第二，沒能成成功地促使托托管人去完成成所有制形式式轉(zhuǎn)讓的剛成成年的人必須須要付昂貴的訴訟訟費(fèi)。付出了一些些在烏特馬法法規(guī)的政策下下微小的特定定的優(yōu)惠后，剛剛成年的人采采取行動(dòng)反對對托管人從而而迫使托管人人轉(zhuǎn)讓這項(xiàng)政政策的占有權(quán)權(quán)或所有權(quán)可可

13、能不會(huì)花費(fèi)費(fèi)很多。第三三，托管人、未未成年人還有有保險(xiǎn)公司要要求其他托管人完完成所有權(quán)形形式轉(zhuǎn)讓來轉(zhuǎn)轉(zhuǎn)讓保險(xiǎn)政策策是不明智的的。這就要求托管管人聯(lián)絡(luò)合適適的保險(xiǎn)公司司，并完成必必要的形式。如果剛已成年的人忘了或者拒絕填寫表格，無論是訴訟還是其他的什么方式，他們接觸和迫使不合作的托管人去完成轉(zhuǎn)讓所有權(quán)形式，這對他們來說是一種負(fù)擔(dān)。如果剛成年的人在管轄范圍的實(shí)效內(nèi)未能成功的采取措施來反對托管人，那么他們可能一并失去這個(gè)政策的占有權(quán)。這也迫使保險(xiǎn)公司要么承擔(dān)發(fā)送給托管人表格后的后果，要么妥善地監(jiān)管這項(xiàng)政策，監(jiān)管方式為一旦未成年人成為成年人托管人不允許行駛保管財(cái)產(chǎn)的任何權(quán)利。2.1 電子注注解不管情形

14、如何，對托管人采采取積極地責(zé)責(zé)任來完成保保單所有制的的轉(zhuǎn)讓是沒有有必要的。首首先，無形的的個(gè)人財(cái)產(chǎn)的的所有權(quán)和占占有利益例如如人身保險(xiǎn)合合同不需要像像其他的個(gè)人人財(cái)產(chǎn)似的轉(zhuǎn)轉(zhuǎn)讓實(shí)際的物物體。因此，填填寫一個(gè)表格格并不是必須須的。該烏特特馬法規(guī)應(yīng)該該批準(zhǔn)一個(gè)由由保險(xiǎn)公司的的文件中制作作的電子注釋釋-當(dāng)未成成年人即將達(dá)達(dá)到法定年齡齡時(shí)，文件允允許自動(dòng)轉(zhuǎn)讓讓給他們。此此外，當(dāng)托管管人代表未成成年人時(shí)，他他并不是嚴(yán)格格意義上的保保單持有人。托托管人在作為為受托人/監(jiān)監(jiān)護(hù)人時(shí)，僅僅僅擁有占有有利益。因此此，所有制形形式的轉(zhuǎn)讓是是誤導(dǎo)，因?yàn)闉椋坏┪闯沙赡耆诉_(dá)到必必要的年齡后后，保險(xiǎn)政策策所有權(quán)沒有有轉(zhuǎn)讓

15、的情況況會(huì)發(fā)生。再再次，一旦未未成年人達(dá)到到必要的年齡齡后，烏特馬馬法規(guī)應(yīng)該允允許在內(nèi)部記記錄的保險(xiǎn)公公司簡單地做做一個(gè)電子注注釋未成年人是是一個(gè)充分行行使政策所有有權(quán)的團(tuán)體。這這樣可以避免免保險(xiǎn)公司不不得不試圖聯(lián)聯(lián)系疏忽或者者不配合的托托管人，避免免托管人不得得不完成一些些附加的表格格或近一步接接觸保險(xiǎn)提供供商，并允許許剛由未成年年人剛變成成成年人的人行行使他們?nèi)坎克袡?quán)和占占有權(quán)而沒有有任何昂貴的的訴訟費(fèi)，在在這項(xiàng)政策的的基礎(chǔ)上建立立全部的所有有權(quán)。2.2 建議對對烏特馬法規(guī)進(jìn)進(jìn)行修改為了保護(hù)未成年年人的最佳利利益，并為參參與的所有團(tuán)團(tuán)體得到更權(quán)權(quán)益的商業(yè)行行為，應(yīng)該做做個(gè)在烏特馬馬法規(guī)

16、下托管管人責(zé)任下做做出轉(zhuǎn)讓財(cái)產(chǎn)產(chǎn)的例外，在在未成年人達(dá)達(dá)到必要的年年齡后，自動(dòng)動(dòng)轉(zhuǎn)讓保險(xiǎn)政政策所有權(quán)應(yīng)應(yīng)該獲得準(zhǔn)許許。烏特馬法規(guī)的的第二十章將將做適當(dāng)?shù)男扌薷?，添加?nèi)容如下下：在一定程程度上，壽險(xiǎn)險(xiǎn)保單就是保保管好的財(cái)產(chǎn)產(chǎn)，無運(yùn)送或或運(yùn)送給未成成年人或他們們遺產(chǎn)，當(dāng)未未成年人達(dá)到到必要的年齡齡或未成年人人死后，終止止行使托管人人的權(quán)利是必必須的。直到做出這個(gè)例例外，當(dāng)未成成年人達(dá)到法法定年齡后，保保險(xiǎn)公司應(yīng)繼繼續(xù)要求托管管人完成轉(zhuǎn)讓讓所有權(quán)形式式。此外，職職業(yè)家庭法的的律師應(yīng)當(dāng)注注意烏特馬法法規(guī)下的托管管人通過不在在適當(dāng)時(shí)候轉(zhuǎn)轉(zhuǎn)交財(cái)產(chǎn)來濫濫用或違反其其義務(wù)事實(shí)發(fā)發(fā)生的潛在性性。參與子女女監(jiān)護(hù)訴

17、訟的的律師將會(huì)盡職地去詢問問是否有烏特特馬規(guī)定下的的財(cái)產(chǎn)存在，如如果存在，就要保證列列明托管人會(huì)會(huì)可信并且愿愿意保護(hù)未成成年人的最大大利益。如果果發(fā)生任何關(guān)于于托管人愿意意適當(dāng)?shù)匦惺故蛊渎氊?zé)的疑問，律師應(yīng)應(yīng)該通過撤換換和任命新的的托管人等方方式來采取防防范措施。3 結(jié)論烏特馬法規(guī)會(huì)成成為人們轉(zhuǎn)移移財(cái)產(chǎn)給未成成年人的有效效方式。即便便如此，對于于人壽保險(xiǎn)而而言需要托管管人完成去一一份令人迷惑惑的財(cái)產(chǎn)轉(zhuǎn)移移表格，進(jìn)而而才能轉(zhuǎn)移無無形的個(gè)人財(cái)財(cái)產(chǎn)的占有權(quán)權(quán)給剛剛成年年的人。這迫迫使未成年人人必須進(jìn)行訴訴訟反對托管管人以強(qiáng)迫他他們轉(zhuǎn)移財(cái)產(chǎn)產(chǎn)，該行為同同時(shí)也威脅未未成年人產(chǎn)生生因不提出在在限制法規(guī)之之內(nèi)

18、的訴訟而而丟失他們的的財(cái)產(chǎn)權(quán)利的的可能性。此此外，保險(xiǎn)公公司能容易地地在保險(xiǎn)單內(nèi)內(nèi)記錄托管人人權(quán)力的終止止日期。鑒于于烏特馬的根根本目的是促促進(jìn)安全轉(zhuǎn)移移財(cái)產(chǎn)和對未未成年人的占占有，烏特馬馬應(yīng)修改，允允許托管人監(jiān)監(jiān)管的財(cái)產(chǎn)在在未成年人達(dá)達(dá)到必要年齡齡時(shí)能夠自動(dòng)動(dòng)轉(zhuǎn)交。直到到烏特馬被修修改，涉及離離婚和子女撫撫養(yǎng)權(quán)訴訟的的律師應(yīng)保持持警惕，并確確定是否存在在烏特馬財(cái)產(chǎn)產(chǎn)，如果存在在要確保一個(gè)個(gè)合適的人作作為托管人。Protectting MMinorss by RReconssideraation of Liife InnsurannceContracct Ownnershiip Traansf

19、errs Undder thhe UTMMABY ANTHHONY JJ. ALTT DEPARTMMENTS CHILLDRENThe purrpose of moodel llaws is twwofoldd: (1) to ffurtheer unifoormityy amonng varriousjurisdiictionns andd (2) to heelp providde cleear leegislaation that proteects tthe beest innteressts off thosse to whom the llegisllationn willl a

20、pplly. One llargelly succcessfful moodel law iis theeUniformm Trannsferss to Minorrs Actt (UTMMA), wwhich has been adoptted inn 48 sstatess and theDistricct of Colummbia. The UUTMA is an exxpansiion off the Unifoorm Giftss to MMinorss Act, whicch hass been adoptted inn somee formm in everyy statte.

21、The UUTMA iis a mmix betweeen a trustt and a guaardiannship and ppermitts traansferrs of propeerty tto minnors bby vessting them with legall titlle andd equiitablee inteerest to thhe proopertyy, whilee grannting posseessoryy righhts, powerrs, annd dutties tto cusstodiaans of thhe proopertyy on bbeha

22、lff of mminorss. As such, the UTMA, withhwhich ffamilyy law practtitionners shoulld be familliar, permiits acctionss thatt can be offtremenddous benefiit to minorrs, buut simmultanneouslly makkes miinors vulneerablee to thhe neggligennce orr willlfullyy adverrse acctionss of tthe cuustodiians of prr

23、opertty traansferrred uunder the UTMA. Family law aattornneys sshouldd inquuire wwhetheer UTMMA proopertyy exissts. The UTMAs reqquiremment tthat ccustoddians affirmattivelyy trannsfer custoodial propeerty tto minnors oonce tthey rreach the rrequirred agge. A cuustodiians affirmattive dduty tto traa

24、nsferr custtodiall propperty, suchh as oownersship oof a llife iinsuraance policcy, leeaves a minnor suuscepttible to a custoodian who ffails to trransfeer thee propperty, whetther ddue too neglligencce or willffulnesss. Innsteadd of aan afffirmattive dduty tto traansferr custoodial propeerty, the U

25、UTMA sshouldd be mmodifiied too provvide ffor ann autoomaticc trannsfer of owwnershhip annd posssessiion off a liife innsurannce poolicy upon a minnors reachhing tthe reequisiite agge. Buut unttil thhe UTMMA is modified, attorrneys handlling ddivorcce andd chilld cusstody proceeedinggs shoould iinqu

26、irre wheether a minnor iss an oowner or beeneficiarry of a liffe inssurancce pollicy uunder the UUTMA aand iff so, ensurre thaat thee custtodiann listted onn the policcy willl prootect the bbest iintereests oof thee minoor andd trannsfer the ppolicyy or pproceeeds att the propeer timme. Iff it iis q

27、ueestionnable whethher thhe nammed cuustodiian off the propeerty wwill pprotecct thee bestt inteerestss of tthe miinor, an atttorneey invvolvedd withh divoorce oor chiild cuustodyy procceedinngs shhould seek to haave thhe UTMMA cusstodiaan chaanged. Thiss can be accommplishhed byy haviing thhe cusst

28、odiaan ressign aand a succeessor custoodian namedd or bby pettitionning tthe coourt. For aattornneys hhandliing a divorrce prroceedding, ascerrtainiing whhetherr a miinor iis an ownerr of aa lifee insuurancee poliicy orr annuuity uunder the UUTMA (or anny UTMMA proopertyy) is imporrtant sincee suchh

29、 propperty is noot marrital propeerty oof thee custtodiann.Thuss, it shoulld nott affeect caalculaating the ddistriibutioon of marittal prropertty. CREATIOON OF CUSTOODIAL PROPEERTY AAND CUSTOODIANS DUTTIESUNDER UUTMA Under 9 oof thee UTMAA, a ppersonn is abble too makee a giift too a miinor bby tra

30、ansferrring propeerty tto a mminor. Suchh a trransfeer or gift indeffeasibbly veests aa minoor witth intterestt in tthe prropertty, buut thee propperty is teemporaarily placeed undder thhe carre of a cusstodiaan insstead of thhe minnor12 unntil tthe miinor rreachees thee requuisitee age. The ttype o

31、of proopertyy thatt a peerson may ttransffer iss broaad. Inn factt, a ppersonn may transsfer aany “cconceiivablee legaal or equittable interrest iin proopertyy of aany kiind, iincludding iintanggible persoonal pproperrty.” One off the typess of pproperrty that a perrson mmay trransfeer to or vest in

32、 a minorr is aa lifee insuurance policcy. Thhe UTMMA expplicittly allowws forr a peerson to trransfeer ownerrship of orr to nname aa minoor as ann owneer of a liffe or endowwment insurrance policcy or annuiity. TThis mmay bee accoomplisshed by proovidinng thee namee of aa custtodiann withh the insur

33、rance or annnuityy provvider by inncludiing thhe wordss “as custoodian for (name of miinor) underr the Namee ofEnactinng Staate UUniforrm Traansferrs to Minorrs Actt” on the aappliccationn. By allowwing aa minoor to be naamed aas thee owneer of a liffe insurrance policcy or ownerrship of such a poll

34、icy tto be transsferreed to a minnor, tthe UTTMA reecogniizes the llong-sstandiing nootion that lifeinsurannce coontraccts haave “tthe ordinaary chharactteristtics oof proopertyy.” Thherefoore, oonce aa persson namess a miinor aas an ownerr or ransffers oownersship oof a llife insurrance contrract t

35、to a mminor underr the UTMA, the minorr is indeffeasibbly veested with ownerrship of thhe inssurancce conntractt.A sppecifiied cuustodiian, hhoweveer, assummes thhe rolle of a quaasi-trusteee in tthat tthe cuustodiian haas the rrightss, powwers, and ddutiess necesssary to poossesss and managge the p

36、policyy untiil thee minoor reaaches the rrequirred agge. Neeverthhelesss,a cuustodiian dooes noot havve leggal title to orr owneershipp of tthe innsurannce poolicy sincee it iis vessted wwiththe minnor. AA custtodiann may thereefore be prroperlly desscribeed as haaving a posssessoory innteresst to t

37、he iinsuraance ppolicyy on bbehalff of a minnor, rratherr thann a trrue owwnershhip innteresst or claimm. Transffer too the Minorr In eexerciising a posssessoory innteresst on behallf of a minnor, aa custtodiann mustt exerrcise the sstandaard off caree of aa reassonablly pruudent persoon in dealiing

38、 wiith thhe proopertyy.20 Iff a cuustodiian haas a sspeciaal skiill orr expeertisee, thee custtodiann is rrequirred too use that skilll or eexperttise. A cusstodiaan mayy inveest orr pay premiiums oon inssurancce polliciess if tthe miinor iis thee solee beneeficiarry. Onnce thhe minnor haas atttaine

39、dd the requiired aage, hhoweveer, thhe UTMMA inddicatees thaat “hee custtodiann shalll traansferr in aan apppropriiate mmannerr the custoodial propeerty tto thee minoor or to thhe minnors estatte.” The uuse off the wordss “shaall trransfeer” inndicattes thhat a custoodian of ann insuurancee poliicy

40、trransfeerred underr the UTMA has aan aff rmattive dduty to trransfeer cusstody and ccontrool of the ppolicyy to tthe miinor wwhen tthe miinor aattainns thee speccified aage. By plaacing an afffirmattive dduty oon a ccustoddian tto traansferr the policcy to the mminor, the statuute immpliess thatt,

41、altthoughh the minorr has alreaady beeen inndefeaasiblyy vested with legall titlle to the ppolicyy, theere iss not an auutomattic trransfeer of posseessionn fromm the custoodian to thhe minnor. TThat iis, thhe cusstodiaan musst delliver posseessionn of tthe poolicy to thhe minnor inn an “aapproppria

42、tee mannner.” In thhe casse of an innsurannce poolicy, the“approopriatte mannner” of trransfeerringg the policcy is for tthe cuustodiian too signn a trransfeer of ownerrship form, ttherebby rellinquiishingg custtodiall conttrol oover tthe poolicy. Thiss actiion off comppletinng a ttransffer off owne

43、ershipp formm indiicatess to tthe innsurannce prrovideer thaat thee custtodiannscapacitty to exerccise aany riights, poweers, ddutiess, or authoority has tterminnated. Requiriing thhe cusstodiaan to affirmattivelyy trannsfer persoonal pproperrty (aand inn the case of liife innsurannce too signn a tr

44、ransfeer of ownerrship form) is eevidennced bby thee UTMAA as aadopteed in varioous sttates. For exampple, tthe UTTMA ass adoppted iin Illlinoiss indiicatess that: (a) TThe cuustodiian shhall transsfer iin an approopriatte manneer the custoodial propeertyto the minorr or tto thee minorrs esstate upo

45、n the eearlieer of: (1) thhe minnors attaiinmentt of 221 yeaars off age wwith rrespecct to custoodial propeerty . . . (2) thhe minnors attaiinmentt of mmajoriity unnder tthe laaws off thiss Statte othher thhan thhis Acct witth resspect to cuustodiial prropertty . . ., oor (3) thhe minnors deathh. (b

46、) TTo thee exteent thhe cusstodiaal proopertyy is rreal pproperrty orr an iintereest inn reall propperty, no cconveyyance or deeliverry to the mminor or too the minorrs esstate is neecessaary too termminatee the powwers oor rigghts oof thee custtodiann uponn the minorrs attaiinmentt of aage 211 or 1

47、18 yeaars, aas thee casee may be, oor upoon thee minoors ddeath. The Illlinoiis UTMMA, thherefoore, eexpresssly mmakes a disstincttion bbetweeen reaal proopertyy and personnal prropertty. Foor reaal proopertyy, theere iss an aautomaatic ttransffer too the minorr (i.ee ., tthe cuustodiian iss not req

48、quiredd to eeffectt a trransfeer of the pproperrty too the minorr). Buut forr perssonal propeerty (incluuding insurrance policcies), therre is no auutomattic trransfeer of propeerty tto thee minoor. Case RReinfoorcemeent In addditionn to sstatuttory wordiing, ccase llaw inn situuationns invvolvinng

49、perrsonall propperty analoogous to a life insurrance policcy indiccates that theree is nno auttomatiic traansferr of ppersonnal prropertty froom a ccustoddian tto a mminor upon the mminors atttainmeent off the sstatuttory aage. FFor innstancce, inn Reagaan v. Conneelly , a faather creatted a corpoor

50、atioon andd gavee 96 sharees of stockk in tthe coorporaation equallly too his childdren bby hollding the ssharess as ccustoddian ffor his cchildrren. The ffatherr heldd the sharees on behallf of his cchildrren underr the Tenneessee UTMA. He faileed to delivver poossesssion oof thee stockk to hhis ch

51、hildreen, hooweverr,when thhey atttaineed thee age of majorrity. Neverrtheleess, tthe coourt held that the ffailurre of the ffatherr/ custoodian to deeliverr posssessioon did nnot afffect the cchildrrens claimm to leegal ttitle of thhe stoock. TThereffore, the ccourt recoggnizedd thatt, whilee the c

52、hilddren (turneed aduult) had llegal titlee to tthe prropertty, itt was sttill nnecesssary ffor thhe cusstodiaan to transsfer ppossesssion of thhe propeerty tto thee chilldren. A pareent wiithoutt custtody sshouldd be rremoveed as a custtodiann. Also, in Esstra vv. Esttra , a motther creatted ann in

53、veestmennt acccount for hher daaughteer undder thhe Connnectiicut UUTMA aand accted aas cusstodiaan forr the moneyy. Upoon thee daughhterss turnning tthe sttatutoory age, the mmotherr refuused tto delliver posseessionn of tthe prropertty to herdaughteer. Thhe couurt heeld thhat thhe UTMA requiired a

54、a custtodiann todeeliverr posssessioon of custoodial propeerty tto a mminor upon the minorrs atttainiing thhe reqquiredd age bbut thhat suuch deeliverry wass not ddone aautomaaticallly. WWithhooldingg suchh trannsfer of poossesssion iis groounds for cconverrsion. Thesse casses reeinforrce thhat thhe

55、 UTMA imposses ann affiirmatiive duty upon a cusstodiaan to transsfer posseessionn of ppersonnal prropertty upon a minnors attaiining the statuutory age. Furthher, tthese casess indiccate tthat aa custtodianns faailuree to efffect such a traansferr can serveeas grouunds ffor a minorrs brringinng a c

56、cause of acction basedd on conveersionn, breeach oof fiiduciaary duty, or ffilingg a coomplaiint wiith the sstate for llarcenny. Thhese ccausess of acction wouldd not need to bee broughht in orderr to oobtainn righhtful posseessionn of ppersonnal prropertty if the UUTMA pprovidded foor an autommatic

57、 transsfer oof succh proopertyy withhout rrequirring aan acttual transsfer bby thee custtodiann. AVOIDIING POOTENTIIAL FOR AABUSE BY CRREATINNG EXCEPPTION FORINSURANNCE POOLICIEES Life iinsuraance ppoliciies poose a parrticullar prroblemm undeer thee UTMA for iinsuraance ccompannies aand miinors. As

58、 iindicaated, a cusstodiaan is not aan ownner off a life insurrance policcy traansferrred or crreatedd undeer thee UTMAA; a custoodian merelly posssessees theecontracctual rightts perrtainiing too an innsurannce coontracct on behallf of thhe minnor. BBut beecausee the UTMA placees an affirmattive du

59、ty on a custoodian to trransfeer posseessionn of ppersonnal prropertty to thhe minnor annd to do soo by complletingg a trransfeer of ownerrship form with the iinsuraance proviider, an innsurannce coompanyy will not ttransffer owwnershhip too the mminor untill a prroper transsfer of owwnershhip foorm

60、 iss comppletedd. This requiiremennt creeates numerrous pprobleems. Firstt, it is poossiblle thaat a ccustoddian mmay neever ccompleete a transsfer oof ownnershiip forrm andd therreby nnever transsfer tthe poolicy to a minorr thatt has attaiined tthe sttatutoory agge. Thhis coould ooccur for aa mult