Kansas Statutes Annotated

K.S.A. § 58a-802 (2026)

Duty of loyalty

✓ current as of May 2026
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58a-802. Duty of loyalty. (a) A trustee shall administer the trust consistent with the terms of the trust and solely in the interests of the beneficiaries.

(b) Subject to the rights of persons dealing with or assisting the trustee as provided in K.S.A. 58a-1012, and amendments thereto, a sale, encumbrance, or other transaction involving the investment or management of trust property entered into by the trustee for the trustee's own personal account or which is otherwise affected by a conflict between the trustee's fiduciary and personal interests is voidable by a beneficiary affected by the transaction unless:

(1) The transaction was authorized by the terms of the trust;

(2) the transaction was approved by the court;

(3) the beneficiary did not commence a judicial proceeding within the time allowed by K.S.A. 58a-1005, and amendments thereto;

(4) the beneficiary consented to the trustee's conduct, ratified the transaction, or released the trustee in compliance with K.S.A. 58a-1009, and amendments thereto; or

(5) the transaction involves a contract entered into or claim acquired by the trustee before the person became or contemplated becoming trustee.

(c) A sale, encumbrance, or other transaction involving the investment or management of trust property is presumed to be affected by a conflict between personal and fiduciary interests if it is entered into by the trustee with:

(1) The trustee's spouse;

(2) the trustee's descendants, siblings, parents, or their spouses;

(3) an agent or attorney of the trustee; or

(4) a corporation or other person or enterprise in which the trustee, or a person that owns a significant interest in the trustee, has an interest that might affect the trustee's best judgment.

(d) A transaction between a trustee and a beneficiary that does not concern trust property but that occurs during the existence of the trust or while the trustee retains significant influence over the beneficiary and from which the trustee obtains an advantage is voidable by the beneficiary unless the trustee establishes that the transaction was fair to the beneficiary.

(e) A transaction not concerning trust property in which the trustee engages in the trustee's individual capacity involves a conflict between personal and fiduciary interests if the transaction concerns an opportunity properly belonging to the trust.

(f) An investment by a trustee in securities of an investment company or investment trust to which the trustee, or its affiliate, provides services in a capacity other than as trustee is not presumed to be affected by a conflict between personal and fiduciary interests if the investment otherwise complies with the prudent investor rule of article 9 of this code. In addition to its compensation for acting as trustee, the trustee, or its affiliate, may be compensated by the investment company or investment trust for providing those services out of fees charged to the trust. If the trustee, or its affiliate, receives compensation from the investment company or investment trust for providing investment advisory or investment management services, the trustee shall at least annually notify the persons entitled to receive a copy of the trustee's annual report, under K.S.A. 58a-813, and amendments thereto, of the rate, formula or method by which that compensation was determined.

(g) In voting shares of stock or in exercising powers of control over similar interests in other forms of enterprise, the trustee shall act in the best interests of the beneficiaries and consistent with the terms of the trust. If the trust is the sole owner of a corporation or other form of enterprise, the trustee shall elect or appoint directors or other managers who will manage the corporation or enterprise in the best interests of the beneficiaries.

(h) This section does not preclude the following transactions, if fair to the beneficiaries:

(1) An agreement between a trustee and a beneficiary relating to the appointment or compensation of the trustee;

(2) payment of reasonable compensation to the trustee;

(3) a transaction between a trust and another trust, decedent's estate, or conservatorship of which the trustee is a fiduciary or in which a beneficiary has an interest;

(4) a deposit of trust money in a regulated financial-service institution operated by the trustee; or

(5) an advance by the trustee of money for the protection of the trust.

(i) The court may appoint a special fiduciary to make a decision with respect to any proposed transaction that might violate this section if entered into by the trustee.

History: L. 2002, ch. 133, § 59; L. 2004, ch. 158, § 11; L. 2006, ch. 23, § 11; July 1.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 9 cases (4 in the last 5 years), 2006–2023 · leading case: Culliss v. Culliss, 514 P.3d 376 (Kan. Ct. App. 2022).
Culliss v. Culliss, 514 P.3d 376 (Kan. Ct. App. 2022). · cites it 8× “58a-801 (the duty to 3 administer the trust in good faith and in accordance with the Kansas Uniform Trust Code); K.S.A. 2021 Supp. 58a-802 (the duty of loyalty to the trust beneficiaries); K.”
Roenne v. Miller, 475 P.3d 708 (Kan. Ct. App. 2020). · cites it 3× “Brad contends he did not violate his duty of loyalty under K.S.A. 2019 Supp. 58a-802 because transferring trust property to himself was authorized by the express provisions of the trust.”
Lyons Ex Rel. Lawing v. Holder, 163 P.3d 343 (Kan. Ct. App. 2007). · cites it 3× “On appeal, Lyons claims *136 Holder’s payment of his own fees was a breach of loyalty voidable under K.S.A. 2006 Supp. 58a-802, which provides: “(a) A trustee shall administer the trust consistent with the terms of the trust and solely in the interests of the beneficiaries.”
Case v. Hilgers Ex Rel. Blanche A. Hilgers Trust (In Re Hilgers), 352 B.R. 298 (Bankr. D. Kan. 2006). · cites it 2× “” Section 58a-802(a) reiterates, as part of the duty of loyalty, this duty to administer the trust consistent with the terms of the trust.”
Schaake v. City of Lawrence, 491 P.3d 1265 (Kan. Ct. App. 2021). “" K.S.A. 58a-802. Thus, a trustee is acting in the interests of others who are beneficiaries of the trust property, managing the trust properties for their benefit.”
Hemphill v. Shore, 239 P.3d 885 (Kan. Ct. App. 2010). · cites it 2× “In support of the breach of trust claim, Hemphill alleged that Jay’s actions were self-dealing and in violation of his obligations under K.S.A. 58a-802. Hemphill also complained that Jay breached the Trust by failing to furnish Hemphill with accountings and reports.”
Mead v. Small (Kan. Ct. App. 2021). · cites it 5× “Duty of loyalty Defendant also asserts William breached a duty of loyalty under K.S.A. 2020 Supp. 58a-802(a), which requires a trustee to "administer the trust consistent with the terms of the trust and solely in the interests of the beneficiaries.”
Macomber v. State (Kan. Ct. App. 2023). · cites it 2× “58a-801 and K.S.A. 2022 Supp. 58a-802 upon his release from incarceration.”
Ast v. Mesker, 480 P.3d 795 (Kan. Ct. App. 2020). “In that case, the district court held a bench trial in which it ultimately found that Bill had not breached his duty of loyalty under K.S.A. 58a-802. On appeal, we affirmed the district court's decision regarding the breach of the duty of loyalty claim as well as its ruling on…”
— K.S.A. § 58a-802(a) — 4 cases
Roenne v. Miller, 475 P.3d 708 (Kan. Ct. App. 2020). “Brad contends he did not violate his duty of loyalty under K.S.A. 2019 Supp. 58a-802 because transferring trust property to himself was authorized by the express provisions of the trust.”
Case v. Hilgers Ex Rel. Blanche A. Hilgers Trust (In Re Hilgers), 352 B.R. 298 (Bankr. D. Kan. 2006). “” Section 58a-802(a) reiterates, as part of the duty of loyalty, this duty to administer the trust consistent with the terms of the trust.”
Mead v. Small (Kan. Ct. App. 2021). “Duty of loyalty Defendant also asserts William breached a duty of loyalty under K.S.A. 2020 Supp. 58a-802(a), which requires a trustee to "administer the trust consistent with the terms of the trust and solely in the interests of the beneficiaries.”
Macomber v. State (Kan. Ct. App. 2023). “58a-801 and K.S.A. 2022 Supp. 58a-802 upon his release from incarceration.”
— K.S.A. § 58a-802(b) — 3 cases
Roenne v. Miller, 475 P.3d 708 (Kan. Ct. App. 2020). “Brad contends he did not violate his duty of loyalty under K.S.A. 2019 Supp. 58a-802 because transferring trust property to himself was authorized by the express provisions of the trust.”
Lyons Ex Rel. Lawing v. Holder, 163 P.3d 343 (Kan. Ct. App. 2007). “On appeal, Lyons claims *136 Holder’s payment of his own fees was a breach of loyalty voidable under K.S.A. 2006 Supp. 58a-802, which provides: “(a) A trustee shall administer the trust consistent with the terms of the trust and solely in the interests of the beneficiaries.”
Culliss v. Culliss, 514 P.3d 376 (Kan. Ct. App. 2022). “58a-801 (the duty to 3 administer the trust in good faith and in accordance with the Kansas Uniform Trust Code); K.S.A. 2021 Supp. 58a-802 (the duty of loyalty to the trust beneficiaries); K.”
— K.S.A. § 58a-802(b)(1) — 2 cases
Culliss v. Culliss, 514 P.3d 376 (Kan. Ct. App. 2022). “58a-801 (the duty to 3 administer the trust in good faith and in accordance with the Kansas Uniform Trust Code); K.S.A. 2021 Supp. 58a-802 (the duty of loyalty to the trust beneficiaries); K.”
Mead v. Small (Kan. Ct. App. 2021). “Duty of loyalty Defendant also asserts William breached a duty of loyalty under K.S.A. 2020 Supp. 58a-802(a), which requires a trustee to "administer the trust consistent with the terms of the trust and solely in the interests of the beneficiaries.”
— K.S.A. § 58a-802(c)(2) — 1 case
Mead v. Small (Kan. Ct. App. 2021). “Duty of loyalty Defendant also asserts William breached a duty of loyalty under K.S.A. 2020 Supp. 58a-802(a), which requires a trustee to "administer the trust consistent with the terms of the trust and solely in the interests of the beneficiaries.”
— K.S.A. § 58a-802(h) — 1 case
Lyons Ex Rel. Lawing v. Holder, 163 P.3d 343 (Kan. Ct. App. 2007). “On appeal, Lyons claims *136 Holder’s payment of his own fees was a breach of loyalty voidable under K.S.A. 2006 Supp. 58a-802, which provides: “(a) A trustee shall administer the trust consistent with the terms of the trust and solely in the interests of the beneficiaries.”
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