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Blended families pose numerous challenges. On the death of a parent balancing the needs of that parent’s children and a surviving step-parent can be challenging. Add a trust and some last-minute asset and estate planning into the mix and the potential for conflict increases. Consider the position of the children who believe themselves to be … Continue reading
Death and taxes are often cited as the only certainties. While these can be prepared for, sometimes, things change. Even where a sensibly drafted will is in place, circumstances that might not have been foreseen can arise. Sometimes at a time where the will-maker can no longer intervene. Where the issue relates to the appointment of … Continue reading
Allegations of sham are commonly made, but rarely made out. Accordingly the case of Rosebud Corporate Trustee Limited v Bublitz makes interesting reading. The judge does not keep us in suspense long, coming out with his finding at p. 5 that the trust is a sham. One of the major players in this story is one … Continue reading
The Financial Markets Authority (FMA) has filed civil proceedings against Prince & Partners Trustee Company Limited (“the Trustee”) using the powers of section 34 of the Financial Markets Authority Act (see below). The Trustee was the trustee for finance company Viaduct Capital Limited, which collapsed in 2009. The FMA alleges that the Trustee breached the obligations it owed to … Continue reading
Beneficiaries are often disappointed in the actions and decisions of trustees. Sometimes with cause, sometimes without. However, few beneficiaries seek court assistance, despite their right to do so. It is presumed that this is for reasons that include the difficulties in galvanising classes of beneficiaries to take action, the cost of doing so; and in many … Continue reading
The Supreme Court decision in the Greenpeace appeal has been released. The judgment of the court is that: The appeal against the Court of Appeal’s determination that a political purpose cannot be a charitable purpose is allowed (by a 3:2 majority) The appeal against the Court of Appeal’s determination that purposes or activities that are … Continue reading
Discretionary family trusts can last, at present, for up to 80 years. While the Law Commission has suggested this should be extended to 150 years, in many circumstances just 80 years is too much. Trusts take management and prospective planning, and sometimes good management means making practical decisions that people might not like. It also means … Continue reading
The importance of getting wills right is obvious given that at some point, it will be the will-maker’s last words. However, it may not be well appreicated that the Wills Act 2007 contains a section allowing wills that otherwise do not meet the required formalities can be declared valid by the High Court. Since the … Continue reading
Caveats can be useful for preventing property being transferred when it might defeat the caveators real ability to recover a debt owing or the due return on an unregistered property interest. However, to maintain a caveat it is necessary to show not only a debt or interest, but also how this debt or interest is connected to … Continue reading
Vicki Ammundsen is presenting a webinar on Beneficiary Rights on 20 August 2014 at 10.30am. This webinar will provide an in-depth study of the often over-looked trust subject of beneficiaries and their rights. This webinar, which will conclude with a question and answer section, will utilise a case study to highlight beneficiary’s rights and how these … Continue reading
Matters of Trust 