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Testamentary trusts arise in many circumstances and for many reasons. In Castle Trustees Limited the deceased provided for the residue of his estate to provide income for his children throughout their lives with a 1/4 share of the total residuary estate being distributed in equal shares to the grandchildren following the death of each child. … Continue reading
“Retaining” the trust when a relationship ends is often not as straight-forward as the relevant parties might consider. This is highlighted in Collinson v Collinson & Co Limited where orders were sought for variation to a trust to allow the inclusion of one the settlor’s child and a any future children with his new party. … Continue reading
Sherwin v JKA Holdings Limited & Ors relates to the Douglas Hilton Family Trust (the Trust), which was settled in 1985 by Dr Douglas Sherwin’s mother on terms that infer that Dr Sherwin, who was the source of the trust’s economic wealth, was the true settlor. This is addressed by Becroft J at [15] as … Continue reading
Middlemiss v Fidelis Trust Limited relates to an application for variation of a trust with a very limited class of beneficiaries including potential charities pursuant to a clause that what was described by Venning J as “speculative and ill-defined” with respect to the nature of any charitable beneficiaries. The relevant background is set out at … Continue reading
Re Candida Trust provides practical guidance as to the scope of section 125 of the Trusts Act 2019 and the use of the High Court’s inherent jurisdiction to permit trustees to sign a new restated trust deed that incorporates varied terms. Background facts Waiver pursuant to section 125 of the Trusts Act As set out … Continue reading
Wallace v Wallace relates to a decision of the trustees of the Ione Wallace Trust (the Trust) to bring forward the Trust’s vesting date. As set out at [4]: “The trustees wish to bring forward the vesting date and distribute the funds they currently hold to the six final beneficiaries named in the Trust. One … Continue reading
Re Peers relates to a trust with a 32 year vesting date that is now somewhat inconvenient due to the nature of the trust’s assets and a tax liability that will be incurred on the vesting day. The solution proposed was an amendment to the vesting date. Osborne J saw no detriment on behalf of … Continue reading
If the terms of a charitable trust whose purposes have become frustrated contain a power of variation the trustees are confronted with whether to vary pursuant to the terms or to seek approval for a scheme under Part 3 of the Charitable Trusts Act 1957. In Re Trevor Wilson Trustee Limited [2022] NZHC 2118 Dunningham … Continue reading
Muir J’s opening observation in Re Hugh Green Trusts is that “The spirit of philanthropy is no better demonstrated in New Zealand than by the Green family.” Matters involving the Hugh Green Trust and the Hugh Green Property Trust (the Trusts), came before the court for directions pursuant to section 133 of the Trusts Act … 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
Matters of Trust 