Trust 11 - Trustee powers & Duties COPY Flashcards

1
Q

What is a power of appointment?

A

A right to choose who, from within a specified class of objects, receives property
Not a trust
If exercised, have absolute discretion as to who benefits
Must satisfy is/is not test

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

If a trustee is given a power of appointment, what kind of power is it, and the consequence? And if not a trustee?

A

Trustee = fiduciary power (don’t need to exercise but must consider doing so periodically)
Not Trustee = personal power (don’t need to consider exercising it)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What words suggest a discretionary trust vs power of appointment?

A

Discretionary: ‘must’
Power: ‘may’

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What words suggest a discretionary trust vs power of appointment?

A

Discretionary: ‘must’
Power: ‘may’

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What are discretionary trusts?

A

Trustees must exercise discretion and do so within a reasonable time

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

If trustees of a discretionary trust don’t exercise it, what can beneficiaries do (and not do)?

A

Can sue to enforce trust and ensure discretion is exercised
Cannot compel them to exercise it in their favour

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What trustee obligations are there for a discretionary trust?

A
  • Consider range of possible beneficiaries
  • Don’t require trustees to identify all people, just an appropriate survey of the class
  • Is/Is Not Test: trustee must be able to say with certainty whether any given individual is a member of the class or not
  • Requires conceptual certainty
  • For evidential certainty, it’s for C to prove that they’re within the class
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What happens with a discretionary trust and a power of appointment where the class of objects is too wide?

A

Discretionary = void
Power = remains valid

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What is the trustees’ duty of care?

A

Must exercise such care and skill as is reasonable
- Consider any special knowledge/experience a trustee has
- Standard of care higher for professional trustees
- Doesn’t apply to all acts of a trustee

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What is the power of investment for trustees?

A
  • A trustee may make any kind of investment they could make if absolutely entitled to the assets
  • Have a duty to invest where necessary
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What must trustees do if they exercise the power to invest?

A
  1. Consider standard investment criteria:
    (a) suitability (general [kind of investment] & specific [particular investment]), AND
    (b) diversification
  2. Take advice (unless reasonably conclude not needed)
  3. General duty of care
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What rules are there for taking advice when exercising power of investment?

A
  • not bound to follow the advice but can only ignore if a reasonably prudent trustee would do the same
  • obtain proper advice before exercising power & when reviewing instruments
    .
    Exception: don’t need to seek advice if reasonably conclude it’s unnecessary
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

When investing, what is the benefit the trustee must look to acheive?

A

Financial benefit (not political) but can take views of Bs into account.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What is the power to acquire land?

A
  • Trustees have statutory power to acquire freehold or leasehold in UK (not overseas)
  • Can be done for investment or wider purposes
  • If done for investment, relevant criteria apply
  • Statutory DoC applies
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What is the power of delegation?

A
  • Can delegate powers of investment and to acquire land, but cannot for distributive obligations
  • Can’t delegate to beneficiaries
  • Must be an appropriate agent, reviewed regularly with an agreement that complies with statute
  • For investment, must be evidenced in writing
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What is the duty to distribute?

A

must pay as soon as possible

17
Q

Who can trustees pay income to early

A
  • Minors
  • Not adults

Cannot be made where there is a prior interest (so where there is a life tenant with the child reminder, the trustees can’t pay maintenance out of income for the child because it belongs to the life tenant)

18
Q

Who can trustees pay capital to early

A
  • Minors
  • Adults

Can be made if there is a prior interest, but the trustees will need that person’s written consent

19
Q

Where there is a contingent subsequent interest (i.e. trust holds for A until 21 and if not for B), do the trustees need permission from B before making the payment?

A

No, B has a subsequent interest. Consent is only required for a prior interest.

20
Q

If requested, do trustees HAVE to make an advancement?

A

No. They MAY make an advancement.

21
Q

What is the power of maintenance s.31 Minor

A

Power to pay income
- Where a minor has a vested (or contingent) interest in trust, trustees can pay income as they think fit
- Must be used for primary benefit of minor
- does not apply if someone else has prior rights to income (successive interest trust)

22
Q

What is the power of advancement s.32 anyone

A

Power to pay capital
- A B who expects to receive capital from trust in future may wish to receive capital before it vests in possession
- Can be used by both adult and minor B, vested or contingent interests
- Trustees can pay up to 100% of entitlement before it vests at all but must get written consent of beneficiaries with prior interest, if they’re of age and of sound mind
- can be used to pay out where there is another beneficiary with a prior interest but that person must agree.
- Must be providing an immediate financial benefit, ensuring money is used for purposes it was provided for

23
Q

How much advancement can be made?

A

100% of capital

24
Q

Do trustees need to check what the B is actually spending the money on?

A

Yes, or else breach of duty

25
Q

Do adult beneficiaries have the right to income as it arises?

A

Usually yes

26
Q

Should the trustees make payment directly to the minor?

A

No, they cannot give good receipt

27
Q

Does the ability to pay maintenance to a child out of income apply to accumulated income?

A

Yes