-
Subscribe
Subscribed
Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
The background to the appeal in Lambie v Addleman is encapsulated in [8] and [9] of the decision where the Supreme Court states as follows: The factual background is set out in Whose advice is it?; Rights to information prevail; and Disclosure request declined – 24 years a leap too far for a beneficiary who … Continue reading
Family financial arrangements are commonly not recorded in writing. For this reason questions as to whether a prior advance was a loan or a gift are not uncommon. Comins v Public Trust represents an unsuccessful application for a declaration that a sum of $50,000 was a gift, in circumstances where the deceased’s will provided that … Continue reading
The Trusts Act 2019 applies to all express trusts, including charitable trusts. Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand hosted a recent webinar with presenters from Charities Services and Vicki Ammundsen Trust Law Limited exploring the application of the Trusts Act to charitable trusts. See Sharing Knowledge Series: Trust Law Changes and Charities. What Do the … Continue reading
Memoranda of wishes are a common feature of trusts and are considered core documents for the purposes of the Trusts Act 2019 (see s 45(h). However, what has been less clear is whether letters or memoranda of wishes can be updated over time; and if so whether later wishes can over-ride earlier wishes. The matter … Continue reading
The Supreme Court decision in Erceg v Erceg is the seminal case regarding disclosure of trust information to beneficiaries. Against the backdrop of that case, wider matters involving the Erceg family provide further jurisprudential consideration. Sain v Erceg relates to an Epsom property registered formerly in the name of the late Millie Erceg and latterly … Continue reading
It is not uncommon for trustees to seek a release from beneficiaries prior to the final distribution of trust assets. However, where beneficiaries are reluctant or unwilling a trustee may quite properly be concerned to protect the trustee’s position in the event of a subsequent claim. The avenues to address such a consideration were canvased … Continue reading
Trustees looking for certainty regarding costs will commonly turn their minds to a Beddoe application. However, where costs are a live issue and the grounds for a Beddoe order may not be made out, an alternative course of action is to seek a prospective costs order. While this may appear largely the sole dominion of … Continue reading
Re Estate of Olive Ruby Piper relates to an application for an order declaring that a draft will prepared by Public Trust prior to Olive Piper’s death is her last will and testament pursuant to s 14 of the Wills Act 2007. The legislative basis is set out at [2] and [18] as follows: [2] … Continue reading
The purpose of a Beddoe application as set noted in Representation of X Trustees re D and E Trusts is to “.. provide certainty and protection to a trustee by predetermining the question of whether costs incurred in third party litigation were reasonable and should be borne out of the trust fund.” In considering whether … Continue reading
McGuire v Earl is a successful application for the following trust information: statements of accounts copies of all Minutes and Resolutions any documents pertaining to any distributions all documents pertaining to any gifting or debt incurred, and bank statements for all bank accounts. The trust in question was settled by Mr McGuire’s father and Mr … Continue reading
Matters of Trust 