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Variation

This category contains 27 posts

Waiver and variation under the Trusts Act and the inherent jurisdiction

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

Rational

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

Premature Vesting

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

Variation or scheme?

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

The spirit of philanthropy

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

Sensible outcome – inexplicable decisions

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

Well intentioned

Miller v Cregten touches on the vexed issue as to settlor’s wishes to ensure that only identified beneficiaries benefit and that: “if a beneficiary is married, in order to protect the beneficiary from thepossibility of a matrimonial property claim in the event of a breakdownof his or her marriage, you should take into consideration the … Continue reading

Thank you, no thank you

Re W relates to the scenario of which movies are made where a relative leaves considerable wealth to a single individual. In this case the prior beneficiary of the deceased’s wealth was to be his sister, W’s mother. However, after the deceased became estranged from his sister, the deceased altered his will so as to … Continue reading

What the hell does this mean?

As the Trusts Act 2019 coming into full force and effect in 2021 gets closer, many reviews of trusts deeds are being carried out to determine what a presumption to notify each beneficiary of basic trust information will look like.   While for many trusts the issue is a wide class of beneficiaries, for others the … Continue reading

Termination – a bridge too far?

An Application by the Roman Catholic Bishop of the Diocese of Hamilton explores the question as to whether the Court has the power pursuant to its inherent jurisdiction to wind up a charitable trust (and by default the interplay between s 64 of the Trustee Act 1956 and s 33 of the Charitable Trusts Act 1957).  … Continue reading

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