§44D-7-706. Removal of trustee.

(a) The grantor, a cotrustee or a beneficiary may upon petition request the court to remove a trustee, or a trustee may be removed by the court on its own initiative. In the case of a charitable trust, the Attorney General of West Virginia shall also have standing to petition the court to remove a trustee.

(b) The court may remove a trustee if the court finds by a preponderance of the evidence that:

(1) The trustee has committed a serious breach of trust;

(2) Lack of cooperation among cotrustees substantially impairs the administration of the trust;

(3) Because of unfitness, unwillingness or persistent failure of the trustee to administer the trust effectively, removal of the trustee best serves the interests of the beneficiaries; or

(4) There has been a substantial change of circumstances or removal is requested by all of the qualified beneficiaries, removal of the trustee best serves the interests of all of the beneficiaries, removal is not inconsistent with a material purpose of the trust, and a suitable cotrustee or successor trustee is available.

(c) Pending a final decision on a request to remove a trustee, or in lieu of or in addition to removing a trustee, the court may order appropriate relief under subsection (b), section one thousand one, article ten of this chapter as may be necessary to protect the trust property or the interests of the beneficiaries.