Ohio Rev. Code » Chapter 5806
Ohio Revised Code

Ohio Rev. Code § 5806.02 (2026)

Revocation or amendment of trust

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Effective:
September 12, 2008
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 499 - 127th General Assembly
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(A) Unless the terms of a trust expressly provide that the trust is irrevocable, the settlor may revoke or amend the trust. This division does not apply to a trust created under an instrument executed before January 1, 2007.

(B) If a revocable trust is created or funded by more than one settlor, all of the following apply:

(1) To the extent the trust consists of community property, either spouse acting alone may revoke the trust, but the trust may be amended only by joint action of both spouses.

(2) To the extent the trust consists of property other than community property, each settlor may revoke or amend the trust with regard to the portion of the trust property attributable to that settlor's contribution.

(3) Upon the revocation or amendment of the trust by less than all of the settlors, the trustee shall promptly notify the other settlors of the revocation or amendment.

(C) The settlor may revoke or amend a revocable trust by substantial compliance with a method provided in the terms of the trust or, if the terms of the trust do not provide a method, by any method manifesting clear and convincing evidence of the settlor's intent, provided that a revocable trust may not be revoked or amended by a will or codicil, regardless of whether it refers to the trust or specifically devises property that would otherwise have passed according to the terms of the trust unless the terms of the trust expressly allow it to be revoked or amended by a will or codicil.

(D) Upon revocation of a revocable trust, the trustee shall deliver the trust property as the settlor directs.

(E) An agent under a power of attorney may exercise a settlor's powers with respect to revocation, amendment, or distribution of trust property only to the extent expressly authorized by both the terms of the trust and the power.

(F) A guardian of the estate of the settlor or, if no guardian of the estate has been appointed, a guardian of the person of the settlor may exercise a settlor's powers with respect to revocation, amendment, or distribution of trust property only with the approval of the court supervising the guardianship.

(G) A trustee who does not know that a trust has been revoked or amended is not liable to the settlor or settlor's successors in interest for distributions made and other actions taken on the assumption that the trust had not been amended or revoked.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 6 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 2012–2021 · leading case: Rex v. Rex, 2016-Ohio-5788.
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Rex v. Rex, 2016-Ohio-5788. · cites it 12× “This division does not apply to a trust created under an instrument executed before January 1, 2007. Stark County, Case No.”
Dueck v. Clifton Club Co., 2017-Ohio-7161, 95 N.E.3d 1032. · cites it 2× “1984); R.C. 5806.02. {¶55} The Trust Deed “transfers only those rights which a grantor has at the time of the conveyance.”
WesBanco, Inc. v. Blair, 2012-Ohio-2337. “{¶ 17} While we agree that Davis allows a settlor to revoke or amend a trust by a last will and testament, Robert overlooks the plain language of R.C. 5806.02 (incorrectly cited as R.C. 5806.”
In re Est. of Zoltanski v. Zoltanski, 2020-Ohio-3908. · cites it 4× “Article IV states, “Pursuant to ORC 5806.02(A) this trust may be amended or revoked at any time by the grantor.”
Stein v. Baldwin, No. 21-01014 (Bankr. N.D. Ohio Sept. 1, 2021). · cites it 2× “” 58 Ohio Rev. Code § 5806.02(D) (2008). Therefore, the property is administered according to the terms of the trust agreement.”
Smith v. Hilt, 2016-Ohio-7340, 72 N.E.3d 1108. · cites it 2× “terminating the trust, pursuant to the Ohio Trust Code, as set forth in R.C. 5806.02, was met here. Appellee argues that “the current trustee of the Hilt Trust and the Guardian (and the Guardian’s attorney) consented to termination of the Trust.”
Ohio Rev. Code § 5806.02(A): 1 case
In re Est. of Zoltanski v. Zoltanski, 2020-Ohio-3908. “Article IV states, “Pursuant to ORC 5806.02(A) this trust may be amended or revoked at any time by the grantor.”
Ohio Rev. Code § 5806.02(B)(2): 1 case
Rex v. Rex, 2016-Ohio-5788. “This division does not apply to a trust created under an instrument executed before January 1, 2007. Stark County, Case No.”
Ohio Rev. Code § 5806.02(C): 1 case
In re Est. of Zoltanski v. Zoltanski, 2020-Ohio-3908. “Article IV states, “Pursuant to ORC 5806.02(A) this trust may be amended or revoked at any time by the grantor.”
Ohio Rev. Code § 5806.02(D): 1 case
Stein v. Baldwin, No. 21-01014 (Bankr. N.D. Ohio Sept. 1, 2021). “” 58 Ohio Rev. Code § 5806.02(D) (2008). Therefore, the property is administered according to the terms of the trust agreement.”
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