Section 853.59. Residuary estate; basic will with trust.

  The following is the full text of the property disposition clause referred to in paragraph 2.3 of the Wisconsin basic will with trust, except that if a different age is specified by the testator in the Wisconsin basic will with trust, that specified age is substituted for 21 years in this section:

(a) TO MY SPOUSE IF LIVING; IF NOT LIVING, THEN IN ONE TRUST TO PROVIDE FOR THE SUPPORT AND EDUCATION OF MY CHILDREN AND THE DESCENDANTS OF ANY DECEASED CHILD UNTIL I HAVE NO LIVING CHILD UNDER 21 YEARS OF AGE.

(1)   If my spouse survives me, then I give all my residuary estate to my spouse.

(2)   If my spouse does not survive me and if any child of mine under 21 years of age survives me, then I give all my residuary estate to the trustee, in trust, on the following terms:

(A) As long as any child of mine under 21 years of age is living, the trustee shall distribute from time to time to or for the benefit of any one or more of my children and the descendants of any deceased child (the beneficiaries) of any age as much, or all, of the principal or net income of the trust or both, as the trustee deems necessary for their health, support, maintenance and education. Any undistributed income shall be accumulated and added to the principal. “Education" includes, but is not limited to, college, vocational and other studies after high school, and reasonably related living expenses. Consistent with the trustee's fiduciary duties, the trustee may distribute trust income or principal in equal or unequal shares and to any one or more of the beneficiaries to the exclusion of other beneficiaries. In deciding on distributions, the trustee may take into account the beneficiaries' other income, outside resources or sources of support, including the capacity for gainful employment of a beneficiary who has completed his or her education.

(B) The trust shall terminate when there is no living child of mine under 21 years of age. The trustee shall distribute any remaining principal and accumulated net income of the trust to my descendants by right of representation who are then living. If principal becomes distributable to a person under legal disability, the trustee may postpone the distribution until the disability is removed. In that case, the assets shall be administered as a separate trust under this Wisconsin basic will with trust and the net income and principal shall be applied for the benefit of the beneficiary at such times and in such amounts as the trustee considers appropriate. If the beneficiary dies before the removal of the disability, the remaining assets shall be distributed to his or her estate.

(3)   If my spouse does not survive me and if no child of mine under 21 years of age survives me, then I give all my residuary estate to my descendants by right of representation who survive me. If my spouse and descendants do not survive me, the personal representative shall distribute my residuary estate to my heirs at law, their identities and respective shares to be determined according to the laws of the State of Wisconsin in effect on the date of my death.

1983 a. 376 ; 1993 a. 304 ; 1995 a. 225 ; 1997 a. 188 . Trust B of the Wisconsin basic will may be a hazardous estate plan. Erlanger and Crowley, WBB January, 1986.