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<section article="get" article_name="Estates and Trusts" number="14.5-415" title_number="14.5" title_name="Maryland Trust Act" subtitle_number="4" subtitle_name="Creation, Validity, Modification, and Termination of Trust">
  <level label="a">
    <level label="1">
      <text>Subject to the provisions of paragraph (2) of this subsection, on petition by a trustee, personal representative, beneficiary, or party in interest, after notice as the court may direct to the trustees, personal representatives, beneficiaries, and parties in interest, and for good cause shown, a court may:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Divide a trust into two or more separate trusts; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Consolidate two or more trusts into a single trust.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>A court may divide a trust or consolidate trusts:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>On terms and conditions as the court considers appropriate; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>If the court is satisfied that a division of a trust or consolidation of trusts will not defeat or materially impair:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>The accomplishment of trust purposes; or</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>The interests of the beneficiaries.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>A court may pass orders that the court considers proper or necessary to protect the interests of:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>A trustee;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>A personal representative;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>A beneficiary; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>A party in interest.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>Subsection (a) of this section may not be construed to limit the right of a trustee or personal representative to divide a trust or consolidate trusts, without an order of a court, in accordance with the applicable provisions of the governing instrument.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <level label="1">
      <text>Subject to the provisions of paragraphs (2) and (3) of this subsection, if a trust instrument does not provide for the consolidation or division of a trust, a trustee may, without an order of a court:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Divide a trust into two or more separate trusts; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Consolidate two or more trusts into a single trust.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>A trustee may not divide a trust into two or more separate trusts or consolidate two or more trusts into a single trust if a beneficiary objects in writing within 30 days after the trustee provided notice under § 14.5–109 of this title.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>A trustee may divide a trust or consolidate trusts:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>On terms and conditions as the trustee considers appropriate;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>If the division of a trust or consolidation of a trust grants beneficial interests to the beneficiaries that, in the aggregate, are substantially similar to the interests the beneficiaries had before the division of the trust or consolidation of the trust; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>If the trustee is satisfied that a division of a trust or consolidation of trusts will not defeat or materially impair:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>The accomplishment of trust purposes; or</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>The interests of the beneficiaries.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
