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In Stephens v Deans, which is an anonymised appeal from a decision of the Family Court, Anderson J upholds the Family Court decision that a statute barred debt remained a relationship property debt that could properly be deducted from the proceeds of sale of the property. The debt in question was a vendor loan of … Continue reading
Settling relationship property matters where this is a trust or trusts in the mix can be problematic where the record of agreement may not correctly reflect trust owned assets. In Willis v Willis, Duffy J was of the view that an agreement that purported to be made under s 21A of the Act could not … Continue reading
Rawson v Prescott, which relates to an unsuccessful application for summary judgment on a claim for vacant possession of trust property raises more questions than it answers. The key issue relates to whether trustees are bound to an agreement for the purposes of section 21 of the Property (Relationships) Act 1976, that the trustees were … Continue reading
Ryan v Lobb relates to the interpretation of a resettlement clause contained in the deed of trust for the Lothbury Trust (the Trust) that expressly provided for a resettlement on written notice in the event that the Settlors separated, or their marriage was legally dissolved. Such notice was given by Ms Ryan in 2017 following … Continue reading
The decision in Brkic v White considers whether Ms White has an interest in land that is “tantamount to ownership of the land”, such that the appellants can obtain a charging order that will enable the land to be sold to meet a debt owed by Ms White and her co-trustee of a separate trust. … Continue reading
Section 182 of the Family Proceedings Act 1980, provides that the court has the power to vary the terms of a nuptial settlement where the parties’ marriage or civil union comes to an end. The seminal cases on section 182 are Ward v Ward and Clayton v Clayton [Claymark Trust]. These cases have been clear … Continue reading
Trust “busting” is a topic of enduring interest and has been a feature of the trust landscape as long as trusts have been recognised as a valid form of asset ownership. Jane Phare’s Trust busting: Is it the beginning of the end for hiding relationship property? is a case in point. However, it is important … Continue reading
The application for leave in Little v Little (see A Little guidance on s 182) has been denied by the Supreme Court. the prime thrust of the appeal was that the trust in question was not a nuptial settlement. Reference was made to Te Aka Matua o te Ture/Law Commission (the Law Commission) recommendation that … Continue reading
Transferring assets that might otherwise comprise relationship property to a trust, might appear an attractive alternative to “I love you” but not enough to share my stuff with you. However, even if the relationship is not yet a qualifying relationship for the purposes of the Property (Relationships) Act 1976 (the Act); dispositions to trust can … Continue reading
In Preston v Preston the Court of Appeal notes an observation of counsel that “the matter has eaten its head off.” By way of background: The Grant Preston Family Trust (the Trust) was settled in 2004 three years before Mr Preston met Mrs Preston. The beneficiaries of the Trust included Mr Preston’s children from a … Continue reading
Matters of Trust 