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Trustee Resolutions

This category contains 24 posts

It’s not just about the money

Re Borthwick relates to an application by trustees to enter into a settlement agreement and to make the necessary variations of trust to effect the agreement. The background of the matter features a trust restructure that was challenged by a disaffected beneficiary. The application before the court calls upon the court’s supervisory capacity pursuant to section 124 … Continue reading

Not about doing wrong; but about being appointed right

Dewart v Lal relates to an application for summary judgment to set aside a trustee resolution removing and appointing trustees of the Sanatan Dharam Trust (the Trust), a registered charity. The decision is fact specific, but nevertheless provides excellent guidance regarding the interpretation of powers of appointment and removal. When interpreting a trust deed, as … Continue reading

Winding up trusts

Trusts are regularly wound up. However, in the absence of formal guidelines, the steps required are not always clear. Vicki Ammundsen is presenting a webinar on winding up trusts that will highlight matters to take into consideration to ensure that the trustees adopt a suitable decision making process, that any risks to trustees are identified … Continue reading

Disclosure vs Discovery

Is a beneficiary more entitled to trust information pursuant to an application for discovery, rather than pursuant to a an application for disclosure? As a basic principle, courts do not permit discovery as a “fishing expedition.” However, as noted in Gavin v Powell at [41] “… the trustees’ obligations as to disclosure and a beneficiary’s right … Continue reading

To gift or not to gift – that is the question

The case of The Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-Day Saints Trust Board v CIR considers whether donations made in connection with a missionary application are charitable gifts for the purposes of s LD1 of the Income Tax Act 2007. The crux of the matter for consideration is whether gifts made by church members … Continue reading

Costs bite when trustees fight

Trustees fall out, sometimes to the point where a working relationship is no longer possible. Applications to remove trustees are becoming an increasingly common occurrence. So, should trustees fight attempts to remove them? When is it appropriate to do so, and when not? And what are the potential consequences of misjudged opposition? The recent decision … Continue reading

More trustees sent to the naughty corner

Clement v Lucas concerns a family farming enterprise and illustrates the difficulties when beneficiaries cannot agree on how to give effect to the protections parents have put in place for the benefit of the beneficiaries. The contest at the heart of the matter was whether the trustees should distribute the trust assets equally between the … Continue reading

The curious story of the Angora cat

Para 438 in the decision of MezhProm Bank v Pugachev refers to a phenomenon in patent law known as the Angora cat problem first identified by Professor Franzosi, an eminent academic expert in the field: “Professor Mario Franzosi likens a patentee to an Angora cat. When validity is challenged, the patentee says his patent is … Continue reading

Disclosure request declined – 24 years a leap too far for a beneficiary who had already received 25%

This blog should be read together with the subsequent Court of Appeal decision.  See Rights to information prevail. As noted by Woolford J in para [1] Addleman v Lambie Trustee Limited relates to “an unfortunate dispute between sisters as to what level of disclosure is appropriate for the affairs of the Lambie Trust (the Trust)…” … Continue reading

How afraid should we be of Clayton?

The Supreme Court decision in Clayton v Clayton changed the trust landscape.  But how afraid should we be?  Are all trusts vulnerable to Clayton-style challenge?  Or just the ones that push the envelope?  And, if the latter, how far can one push before there is a problem? A recent decision of Moore J has provided … Continue reading

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