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Discretionary

This category contains 9 posts

Beneficiary Hostility

In New Zealand Beddoe applications are governed in the first instance by the High Court Rules, which do not extend to prospective costs orders by beneficiaries. Representation of VG Trustee Limited re the B Trust (Re the B Trust) considers whether beneficiaries should have their costs met on account of a successful Beddoe application brought … Continue reading

Redundant

A final beneficiary has a contingent proprietary right, the value of which (if any) can only be determined on the final vesting date.    While such a right can be treated as simply a right to receive trust assets on a final vesting, the status of having such a right can elevate the position of a … Continue reading

Beddoes and beyond

By way of background in Vincent Family Corporate Trust Limited (as trustee of the ET and P Vincent Trusts) as noted by Van Bohemen J (above and below): In Vincent Family Corporate Trustee the parties were urged to find resolution. When this was not possible the court was required to determine matters. Helpfully, Van Bohemen … Continue reading

Turning of the tide?

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

A fishing we shall not go

Charlotte Gavin and Daniel Powell are siblings who have been engaged in sustained litigation relating to trusts settled for their respective benefit, together with other family members that are their effective inheritances with each only intended to have recourse to the other’s trust if their own trust fails (see Powell v Powell). Charlotte seeks to … Continue reading

Disclosure denied

In Jacomb v Jacomb Cooke J provides a considered assessment of disclosure in the context of a troubled and disenfranchised beneficiary. The case highlights the need for careful analysis of facts when seeking disclosure, the relevant principles, and importantly given that the Trusts Act 2019 will come into full force and effect on 30 January … Continue reading

Let the children be heard

Trusts and relationships can make for very poor bedfellows. The temptation to remove a former spouse or partner as trustee or beneficiary or to appoint or remove a professional presumed to favour one side over the other (whether or not this is the case) can be tempting. Similarly fraught can be involving children in the … Continue reading

Highly unusual – or not?

In the Matter of the Representation of Scarlett Investment Holdings Limited addresses an application for rectification by a de facto trustee in circumstances where the settlor of three trusts settled by declarations of trust dated 23 February 1982 had died and the original trustee, a BVI private company was believed to have been struck off from … Continue reading

Beneficiary rights – never the twain shall meet

In Little v Howick Trustee DL Limited a beneficiary sought a review of trustee decisions and the removal of a court appointed trustee.  Perhaps surprisingly, considering the position taken in the Law Commission’s draft Trusts Bill and the Trusts Bill currently before Parliament regarding beneficiary rights,  Brewer J found that a discretionary beneficiary had no standing to seek a … Continue reading

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