The background to FFP Trustee (NZ) Limited v Peng is complicated. There are two applications before the courts, on relating to a restructuring proposal and the other relating to forfeiture of certain trust assets and directions regarding service. By way of background: TFFP sought leave to commence the current application by way of originating application. … Continue reading
The background to Turvey v Vance relates to diametrically opposed intra-family division with respect to the FB Turvey Family Trust and the P Turvey Family Trust (the Trusts). The Trusts were mirror trusts and as such the settlor of each of the trusts was not able to benefit from the trust that person settled. In … Continue reading
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
Grammarist states that “The road to hell is paved with good intentions” means that it is not enough to simply mean to do well, one must take action to do well. A good intention is meaningless unless it is followed by a good action. It would be difficult to find a more comparable case as an example … Continue reading
Memoranda of wishes, also referred to as statements or letters of wishes, letters or memoranda of guidance and similar are a common feature of modern trusts. However, perhaps surprisingly there has been little guidance regarding the position of subsequent memoranda of wishes, specifically where subsequent wishes are inconsistent with earlier wishes do the most recent … Continue reading
The Trusts Act 2019 introduces a statutory presumption that trustees will make basic trust information available to every beneficiary or representative of a beneficiary. For the purposes of the Trusts Act: “beneficiary means a person who has received, or who will or may receive, a benefit under a trust (other than a trust for a permitted … Continue reading
In the matter of The Piedmont Trust and the Riviera Trust relates to an application for the Jersey Royal Court to approve the final distribution of trust assets in circumstances where the beneficiaries are in agreement regarding the termination of the trusts (but where there is disagreement regarding the allocation of the trust assets between … Continue reading
O’Dea v Rutten serves as reminder of the importance of respecting the legal framework of estates and trusts. For reasons that make no legal sense notwithstanding wills that provided for the residue of two estates to be distributed to trusts, the executors took the position that the trusts should be wound up and the trust … Continue reading
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
Being a trustee is increasingly more skittles than beer. “Beddoe orders” are an avenue for trustees to pursue or defend proceedings without facing personal liability. McCallum v McCallum concerns an appeal against partial Beddoe orders. At the opening of his novel Anna Karenina, the Russian novelist Tolstoy writes “All Happy families resemble one another, but … Continue reading