UTC
Abbreviation with 2 meanings
| Stands for | Coordinated Universal Time |
|---|---|
| Meanings | 2 |
| Categories | Units & Measurements, Law & Legal |
UTC has two meanings. It stands for Coordinated Universal Time (time zone) or Uniform Trust Code (estate and family law).
Meanings of UTC at a glance
| # | UTC stands for | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coordinated Universal Time | Units & Measurements › Time Zone |
| 2 | Uniform Trust Code | Law & Legal › Estate and Family Law |
1. Coordinated Universal Time
Units & Measurements · Time Zone Abbreviations
The primary time standard by which the world regulates clocks, kept within 0.9 second of mean solar time at 0° longitude by occasional leap seconds. Every time zone is defined as an offset from it, such as UTC−5 for New York in winter.
Example: The maintenance window is 02:00 to 04:00 UTC on Sunday.
The initials are a compromise between English CUT and French TUC (temps universel coordonne), chosen so that neither language was favored. UTC is derived from atomic clocks and never observes daylight saving time, which makes it the standard for aviation, spaceflight, servers and logs. Aviation and the military call it Zulu time. Leap seconds, used since 1972, are due to be discontinued by 2035.
2. Uniform Trust Code
Law & Legal · Estate and Family Law Abbreviations
Model law approved by the Uniform Law Commission in 2000 that provides comprehensive default rules for express trusts, including creation, modification, trustee duties, beneficiaries' rights to information and creditor claims. It has been enacted in more than 30 states and the District of Columbia.
Example: Under the state's version of the UTC, the trustee must send annual reports to qualified beneficiaries.
Most UTC provisions can be overridden by the trust instrument, though some mandatory rules, such as the trustee's duty to act in good faith, cannot. It codified procedures for modifying or terminating trusts by consent or court order. In timekeeping, UTC means Coordinated Universal Time.
Related abbreviations
More time zone abbreviations
- SST – Samoa Standard Time
- TAI – International Atomic Time
- TRT – Turkey Time
- UT1 – Universal Time 1
- WAT – West Africa Time
- WEST – Western European Summer Time
- WET – Western European Time
- WIB – Waktu Indonesia Barat (Western Indonesia Time)
See all 64 time zone abbreviations →
More estate and family law abbreviations
- AHCD – Advance health care directive
- CASA – Court Appointed Special Advocate
- CHINS – Child in need of services
- CLT – Charitable lead trust
- CPS – Child Protective Services
- CRT – Charitable remainder trust
- DAPT – Domestic asset protection trust
- dec'd – Deceased
See all 50 estate and family law abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not legal advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.