The Supreme Court has dismissed an appeal against the decision of the Court of Appeal (upholding the High Court decision) in Glover v Glover where the court found that a ruse was not a sham. Briefly a bare trust arrangement entered into to avoid a tax impost was found to have achieved its object and accordingly … Continue reading
Trustees do not always get on as well as is necessary to do the job of being a trustee. Friction in the trustee relationship can arise for many reasons, often, but not always, the friction relates to the break down of a family relationship. When trustees cannot get on the issue to be determined is … Continue reading
Trusts are the best long-term intergenerational form of asset protection. However, as litigation involving trusts increases, questions are reasonably asked regarding the “safety” of trusts. If you are looing for answers or guidance Vicki Ammundsen is presenting a webinar on February 19th discussing the fundamentals of trusts. Topics covered by the webinar include: Requirements of a valid trust Differentiation between … Continue reading
It is conceded that liberties have been taken with the heading due to space limitations. The point, that cannot be emphasised too much, is that at the most basic level trusts exist to hold, manage and protect, property, for the benefit of the beneficiairies. Not the trustees. A trustee’s liability between the trustee and the … Continue reading
A recent application for variation or rectification of the deeds of two mirror trusts highlights the need for careful consideration when drafting deeds of trust. The deeds in question define the Final Beneficiaries to include the husband/wife (as relevant) of each settlor. Some years later the husband and wife separated and their marriage was subsequently dissolved. The … Continue reading
The lesser known “common intention constructive trust” is a difficult construct to appreicate. However, this form of trust although formally “institutional” rather than “remedial” can provide a solution where no other legal construct can. Part one of the lesson – the constructive trust Constructive trusts often had their genesis in relationship breakdowns where a legislative … Continue reading
The recent High Court decision in Clayton v Clayton has been appealed and cross-appealed. Leave has also been given for certain appeals to be made out of time. The appeal will be heard on 14 July 2014. In the meantime, Mrs Clayton has served a bankruptcy notice on her former husband in respect of costs … Continue reading
I reviewed a couple of trust deeds today. Nothing unusual, it’s what I do. For the record when reviewing a deed of trust I start of with my trust review check list and I finish off with a summation of what I feel. While the check list elements are helpful in highlighting drafting errors and shaping my … Continue reading
It is a fundamental proposition of trust law that a valid trust requires that the settlor has a clear intention to create a trust. However, regardless of how clear those intentions or the terms of the trust are, a trust can later be varied even if in defiance of the settlor’s stated intentions. Where a … Continue reading