---
title: O.C.G.A. § 53-12-220. Resignation of trustee.
collection: code
id: 53-12-220
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 53-12-220 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/53-12-220
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/53-12-220.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/53-12-220/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t52-t53-(v40)-2021-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=d23ba203_0#page=875
date: 2025
status: active
corpus_version: 2025-supplement-89aa39ab3c68
license: CC0-1.0
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
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version: the only printed version
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly
heading_path: WILLS, TRUSTS, AND ADMINISTRATION OF ESTATES / TRUSTS / TRUSTEES / RESIGNATION AND REMOVAL
---

# O.C.G.A. § 53-12-220. Resignation of trustee.

(a) A trustee may resign:

(1) In the manner and under the circumstances described in the trust instrument;

(2) Upon at least 30 days’ written notice to the qualified beneficiaries, the settlor, if living, and all cotrustees; or

(3) Upon a trustee’s petition to the court.

(b) The petition to the court provided for in paragraph (3) of subsection (a) of this Code section shall be served upon all qualified beneficiaries. In approving a trustee’s resignation, the court may issue orders and impose conditions reasonably necessary for the protection of the trust property.

(c) The resignation of a trustee shall not relieve such trustee from liability for any actions prior to the resignation except to the extent such trustee is relieved by the court in the appropriate proceeding or to the extent relieved by the trust instrument.

(d) If the resignation would create a vacancy required to be filled, then the trustee’s resignation shall not be effective until the successor trustee accepts the trust and the resigning trustee shall remain liable for any actions until such acceptance, except as such liability may be limited by court order or the trust instrument.

## History

Code 1981, § 53-12-220, enacted by Ga. L. 2010, p. 579, § 1/SB 131; Ga. L. 2018, p. 262, § 17/HB 121.

## Law Reviews

For article on the 2018 amendment of this Code section, see 35 Ga. St. U. L. Rev. 219 (2018).