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HRS §557A-103

How fiduciaries must handle trust and estate money

This section tells the person managing a trust or estate how to split money between the main fund and the income it earns. They must follow the trust or will first, then the law, and be fair to everyone who benefits, unless the trust or will says otherwise.

personal representativestrustees

The statute, as written — Fiduciary duties; general principles

(a) In allocating receipts and disbursements to or between principal and income, and in any matter within the scope of articles 2 and 3, a fiduciary: (1) Shall administer a trust or estate in accordance with the terms of the trust or the will, even if there is a different provision in this chapter; (2) May administer a trust or estate by the exercise of a discretionary power of administration given to the fiduciary by the terms of the trust or the will, even if the exercise of the power produces a result different from a result required or permitted by this chapter, and no inference that the fiduciary has improperly exercised the discretion arises from the fact that the fiduciary has made an alteration contrary to the provisions of this chapter; (3) Shall administer a trust or estate in accordance with this chapter if the terms of the trust or the will do not contain a different provision or do not give the fiduciary a discretionary power of administration; and (4) Shall add a receipt or charge a disbursement to principal to the extent that the terms of the trust and this chapter do not provide a rule for allocating the receipt or disbursement to or between principal and income. (b) In exercising the power to adjust granted by section 557A-104(a) or a discretionary power of administration regarding a matter within the scope of this chapter, whether granted by the terms of a trust, a will, or this chapter, a fiduciary shall administer a trust or estate impartially, based on what is fair and reasonable to all of the beneficiaries, except to the extent that the terms of the trust or the will clearly manifest an intention that the fiduciary shall or may favor one or more of the beneficiaries. The exercise of discretion in accordance with this chapter is presumed to be fair and reasonable to all of the beneficiaries.
Read the official text at capitol.hawaii.gov ↗as published Jan 6, 2026our copy taken Aug 20, 2026

Sections this one refers to

§557A-104 When a trustee can move money between principal and income

LawTrove is not legal advice. The summary above is a computer-generated restatement — the authoritative text is the official version linked above.