§ 57-1-22. Successor trustees -- Appointment by beneficiary -- Effect -- Substitution of trustee -- Recording -- Form.

(1)

(a) The beneficiary may appoint a successor trustee at any time by filing for record in the office of the county recorder of each county in which the trust property or some part of the trust property is situated, a substitution of trustee.

(b) The new trustee shall succeed to all the power, duties, authority, and title of the trustee named in the deed of trust and of any successor trustee.

(c) The beneficiary may, by express provision in the substitution of trustee, ratify and confirm action taken on the beneficiary's behalf by the new trustee prior to the recording of the substitution of trustee.

(2) A substitution of trustee shall:

(a) identify the trust deed by stating:

(i) the names of the original parties to the trust deed;

(ii) the date of recordation; and

(iii)

(A) the book and page where the trust deed is recorded; or

(B) the entry number;

(b) include the legal description of the trust property;

(c) state the name and address of the new trustee; and

(d) be executed and acknowledged by all of the beneficiaries under the trust deed or their successors in interest.

(3)

(a) If not previously recorded at the time of recording a notice of default, the successor trustee shall file for record, in the office of the county recorder of each county in which the trust property or some part of it is situated, the substitution of trustee.

(b) A copy of the substitution of trustee shall be sent in the manner provided in Subsection 57-1-26(2) to any:

(i) person who requests a copy of any notice of default or notice of sale under Subsection 57-1-26(1)(a); and

(ii) person who is a party to the trust deed to whom a copy of a notice of default would be required to be mailed by Subsection 57-1-26(3).

(4) A substitution of trustee shall be in substantially the following form:

Substitution of Trustee

(insert name and address of new trustee)

          is hereby appointed successor trustee under the trust deed executed by ____ as trustor, in which ____ is named beneficiary and ____ as trustee, and filed for record __________(month\day\year), and recorded in Book ____, Page ____, Records of ____ County, (or filed for record __________(month\day\year), with recorder's entry No. ____, ____ County), Utah.

(Insert legal description)

                               Signature_____________________________

(Certificate of Acknowledgment)

(5)

(a) A trustee of a trust deed may, in accordance with this Subsection (5), resign as trustee by filing for record in the office of the recorder of each county in which the trust property is located, a resignation of trustee.

(b) A trustee's resignation under this Subsection (5) takes effect upon the recording of a resignation of trustee.

(c) A resignation of trustee shall be in substantially the following form:
     "Resignation of Trustee
     (Insert name and address of trustee) hereby resigns as trustee under the trust deed executed by (insert name of trustor) as trustor, in which (insert name of the beneficiary) is named beneficiary and (insert name of trustee) as trustee, and filed for record (insert the month, day, and year the trust deed was recorded), and recorded in Book ___, Page ___, Records of ______________ County, (or with recorder's entry no.____, ______________ County), Utah.
(Insert legal description)
Signature ________________________
(Certificate of acknowledgment)"

(d)

(i) Within three days after the day on which a trustee resigns under this Subsection (5), the trustee shall deliver written notice of the trustee's resignation to each party in any legal action pending against the trustee that is related to or arises from the trustee's performance of a duty of a trustee.

(ii) Except as provided in Subsection (5)(d)(iv), within 10 days after the day on which a party receives a notice described in Subsection (5)(d)(i), the party may move the court to substitute the beneficiary of the trust deed as defendant in the action in the place of the trustee until a successor trustee is appointed. When a successor trustee is appointed, the successor trustee shall be substituted as defendant in place of the beneficiary.

(iii) Except as provided in Subsection (5)(d)(iv), if, after the expiration of the time described in Subsection (5)(d)(ii), a party does not move the court to substitute the beneficiary or the successor trustee in place of the trustee as defendant, the court shall dismiss with prejudice all claims against the withdrawn trustee.

(iv) Subsection (5)(d)(ii) and (5)(d)(iii) do not apply to a cause of action against a trustee that alleges negligent or intentional misconduct by the withdrawn trustee.

(e)

(i) The withdrawal of a trustee of a trust deed under this section does not affect the validity or the priority of the trust deed.

(ii) After a trustee withdraws under this part, only a qualified successor trustee appointed by the beneficiary under Section 57-1-22 may exercise trustee powers, including the power of sale.

Amended by Chapter 395, 2013 General Session