Trusts Flashcards
What is the definition of a trust?
A fiduciary relationship in which a trustee holds legal title to specific property under a duty to manage, invest, safeguard and administer the trust assets and income for the benefit of designated beneficiaries, who hold equitable title
What are the 2 types of trust?
Express
Implied
What are the 2 types of express trusts?
Private and Charitable
What are the 3 types of private trusts?
Fixed Trusts, Discretionary Trusts and Purpose Trusts
What are express trusts?
Created by express intention of the settlor
What is an inter vivos trust?
A trust made during the settlors lifetime
What is a testamentary trust?
Declaring a trust in their will
How can an inter vivos trust be created?
By declaring themselves a trustee of a particular property or transferring property to one or more trustees to hold on trust
What is a private trust?
Trusts created for the benefit of certain ascertainable persons
What is a fixed trust?
Exists where the interests of the beneficiaries are defined by the settlor
What is an example of a fixed trust?
To T on trust for my husband for life, and at his death my children in equal shares.
What is a discretionary trust?
The trustee is given discretion in how to distribute the trust property, usually among members of an identifiable class
What is an example of a discretionary trust?
To T on trust for my children in such shares as T shall in his absolute discretion decide.
What is a purpose trust?
One set up for a purpose rather than for people.
What purpose trust will usually fail?
One that does not have defined boundaries
What is another name for purpose trusts?
Honarary trusts
What is an example of an honarary trust?
Trusts for the maintenance of particular animals.
What is a charitable trust?
Created for the benefit of an indefinite class of persons or the public in general
What is an example of a charitable trust?
A trust providing scholarship funds for needy students
What is an implied trust?
Where the intention of the settlor is not expressed, but a trust is presumed in equity to ensure an equitable result is received.
What are the 2 types of implied trusts?
Resulting trust and Constructive trust
When will a resulting trust arise?
- An interest under an express trust fails
- An express trust fails to exhaust the beneficial interest; or
- A person makes a voluntary transfer or purchase in the name of another
Where does the beneficial interest lie with a resulting trust?
Reverts to the settlor or the settlor’s estate
What is a constructive trust?
An equitable remedy imposed by the court to prevent the unjust enrichment of one person at the expense of another as a result of wrongful conduct.
What are the three certainties?
Certainty of intention
Certainty of subject matter
Certainty of beneficiaries
If one of the 3 certainties is missing, what effect with this have on the trust?
It will fail
What is the certainty of intention to create a trust?
The settlor must show by written or spoken works, or by conduct that they intend to subject the trustee to a binding obligation
What extent of communication is required to show certainty of intention?
No particular words are required and communication to the beneficiaries is not intended.
When must an intention to create a trust be expressed?
When the settlor owns the property prior to its transfer to another.
When must the settlor intend a trust to begin for a trust to be effective?
Immediately
Are precatory expressions enough to create a trust?
Not usually
What are precatory expressions?
Expressions of a hope, wish or mere suggestion that the property can be used in a certain way.
When would precatory expressions be considered as to the creation of a trust?
When the words are written in a professionally drafted trust deed, the courts will consider the document as a whole in order to determine the settlor’s meaning.
Can informal words or actions show intention to create a trust?
Yes however there is an issue with proof.
How could informal words or actions be proved to show intention to create a trust?
When there are independent witnesses, irrefutable evidence of conduct or words that were repeated frequently over a period of time
What type of repeated phrases would be considered as informal words that would show the intention to create a trust?
Your money is my money
Joint withdrawals from a sole bank account
Does the intention to create a trust need to include the word trust?
No, equity will look at the intention of the settlor, not the words used.
If the wording to create a trust is ambiguous or capable of different meanings, how will this be treated?
A trust is likely not created
What happens when a trust is void for uncertainty of intention?
The property passes as an outright gift to the person who would have been the trustee.
What is certainty of subject matter?
It must be clear what property is bound by the trust
Will fractional shares be enough to show certainty of subject matters?
Sometimes, if the trust is for a intangible asset yes (50% of shares) if for tangible assets will fail unless the trust have been segregated from the rest of the stock.
Can the trust property be property you expect to inherit at a later date?
No, future interest may be held in trust but an interest not yet in legal existence cannot be held in trust.
What are the requirements regarding beneficial entitlement?
This must be certain - e.g. reasonable income
What happens to the property if a trust is void for uncertainty?
The property reverts to the settor
What is the certainty of objects?
The beneficiaries of a trust must be defined with sufficient certainty
How can the beneficiaries of a trust be identified?
By name or referring to a class of beneficaries e.g. employees of a company
What would not be clear enough to satisfy the certainty of objects requirement?
My friends
What is the test for certainty of objects in a fixed trust?
Complete Lists Test
What is the complete lists test?
The trustee must be able to draw up a complete list of beneficiaries in order to complete the task and discharge their obligation.
Does the complete lists test require the beneficiaries to be in existence at the date of the trust?
Unascertained beneficiaries can be included (unborn baby) as long as they are ascertainable by the time their interests come into enjoyment
What requirements does the complete list have when there is a group of people who are described and not named?
The beneficiaries description must be conceptually certain and evidential certainty.
What is the test for certainty of objects in discretionary trusts?
Postulant test
What is the postulant test?
Whether it can be said with certainty that any given individual is or is not a member of the class.
What requirement within the description of the class of beneficiaries is required in the postulant test?
The description must be conceptually certain
Will evidential uncertainty cause a discretionary trust to fail?
No because the potential beneficiary who cannot prove they are within the class will have no right to be considered by the beneficiaries
Will the trustees inability to contact the potential beneficiaries affect the validity of a discretionary trust?
No, the fact the trustees are aware of some beneficiaries they cannot trace will not affect the validity
When will a discretionary trust fail?
If it is ‘administratively unworkable’ - where the objects are top wide to form a class
A discretionary trust will fail if it there is capriciousness - what is this?
Where there is a very large number of potential beneficiaries or when there is nothing to link the members of the class so as to enable the trustees to make a sensible choice between them
What is the remedy if the objects are uncertain in a trust?
A resulting trust in favour of the settlor or settlor’s successors is presumed
What is the beneficiary principle?
A trust cannot exist without someone to enforce it - it must have ascertainable human beneficiaries
What type of trusts does the beneficial principle not apply?
Charitable trusts - they are enforceable by the Attorney General on behalf of the public
Would a trust fail because a trustee dies?
No
Would a trust fail because a trustee refuses to accept appointment?
No
Would a trust fail if a trustee resigns?
No
What will happen if a trustee dies, resigns or refuses to act in a trust?
The court will appoint a successor trustee unless it was clear the settlor intended the trust to continue only so long as a particular trustee served
When will a trust be invalid for trustees?
When no trustee is appointed at the creation of the trust
What qualifications must a person have in order to be a trustee?
Anyone who has capacity to acquire and hold property for their own benefit and must not be a minor
What is the minimum number of trustees allowed?
There is none
What is the maximum number of trustees allowed?
There are none.
What are the benefits of appointing more than one trustee?
Can observe one another behaviour and highlight a breach of trust
How must decisions be made by the trustees?
In unanimity unless the trust deed allows for a majority
When are their restrictions on the number of trustees allowed?
In a trust for land
What are the minimum and maximum number of trustees allowed for a trust of land?
2-4
What are the rules against perpetuity?
Prevent a settlor from creating interests under trusts which will take effect long into the future, thereby tying up property for very long periods of time
What are the 2 elements to the rules of perpetuity?
- Remoteness of Vesting Rule
2. Inalienabilty Rule
What is the remoteness of vesting rule?
An interest under a trust is void if it does not vest within the perpetuity period. For trusts taking effect after 6 April 2010, the period is 125 years
What is the inalienability rule?
The following perpetuity periods are acceptable:
- A human life in being plus 21 years
- A fixed period of up to 21 years
- A period express as being ‘for as long as the law allows’ which will be taken as 21 years
- A period assumed to be 21 years when no period is permitted §
How can a trust be created?
Either by a person declaring themselves trustee for another or by the transfer of property to another with a declaration that the transferee holds as trustee
What are the requirements when a settlor declares themselves as a trustee?
Must demonstrate by words or conduct they intend to be legally bound. The requirements of certainty, beneficial principle and perpetuity rules must be in place.
What are the 2 elements that must be satisfied when the settlor transfer to another trustee?
- Settlor must transfer the trust property in the right and legal fashion
- The settlor must make a declaration of trust
What is a declaration of trust?
Settlor must demonstrate by words or conduct that they intend the trustee(s) to be legally bound, satisfying the requirements of certainty, the beneficiary principle and perpetuity
What are the formal requirements for a declaration of trust?
There are none however a trust of land is unenforceable unless there is written evidence of the declaration of trust signed by the settlor
What is the process of constitution?
Transferring the legal title to property from one party to another.
How must a settlor transfer land to a trustee?
Legal owner must execute a transfer deed, which must then be registered at HM Land Registry, usually by the transferee
How must a settlor transfer shares to a trustee?
The donor must sign a stock transfer form, which must then be registered with the company, by either the donor or the donee
How must a settlor transfer chattels to a trustee?
The owner must have the intention to transfer the chattels and must deliver them to the recipient. Alternatively, transfer can be made by deed.
How must a settlor transfer a bank account to a trustee?
By providing a signed, written notice of the transfer to the bank
What is the status of a trust before the appropriate transfer is made?
Incompletely constituted
What is the equitable maxim that ‘equity will not assist a volunteer’?
If an individual attempts to make a gift of some property to another but fails to transfer the legal title in the correct matter, equity will not normally come to the aid of the intended donee
What are the 5 exceptions to ‘equity will not assist a volunteer’?
- ‘Every effort’ test
- Donatio Mortis Causa
- Fortuitous Vesting
- Proprietary Estoppel
- Unconscionability
What is the ‘every effort’ test as an exception to ‘equity will assist a volunteer’?
If the donor has done everything required of them to transfer the property and has put the property outside the donor’s control, an imperfect gift is enforceable.
When would the every effort test not apply?
Where the settlor retained possession of the completed transfer
What is the donation mortis causa as an exception to ‘equity will assist a volunteer’?
A gift mortis causa (by reason of death) may be enforced if:
- the donor delivers the property to a donee while in contemplation of imminent death
- with the intention that the property be given to the donee if the donor dies and be returned if the donor survives
- the donor dies
When will donatio mortis causa not apply?
If the donor had not objective basis to believe that death is imminent
Will constructive delivery be enough for the creation of a trust?
Yes e.g. handing the keys to a car or title deeds to a house
What is fortuitous vesting as an exception to ‘equity will assist a volunteer’?
If the intending donee dies before the transfer is made, the donee becomes their personal respresentative the transfer is complete
When would the fortuitous vesting rule not be valid?
Where there is evidence to suggest that the donor changed their minds before they died.
What is proprietary estoppel as an exception to ‘equity will assist a volunteer’?
If the donee can prove that upon reliance, they have acted to their detriment based upon the assurance of the transfer
What is unconscionability as an exception to ‘equity will assist a volunteer’?
A gift may be enforceable if it would be unconscionable for the donor to change their mind and go back on their intention
How can a testamentary trust be formed?
Usual rule is that all of the terms of the trust must appear in the will. The requirements of certainty, beneficary principle and perpetuity rules must be satisfied
Is there a requirement to transfer the property in a testamentary will?
No as the property will be vested in the trustees by the death
What are secrets trusts?
Allows the testator to keep the beneficiaries out of the will
What are the 2 types of secret trusts?
Full secret and half secret trusts
What is a fully secret trust?
The entry in the will looks like an outright gift to a nominated person
What is a half secret trust?
Mentions a trust exists but keeps the identity of the beneficiary secret
How is a secret trust enforced?
The beneficiary must prove the terms of the trust by clear and convincing evidence.
Does communication to the trustee of a secret trust need to be before the will was made?
No can be at anytime before the testators death
When would a secret trust fail?
When the legatee expressly refused to accept the trust or did not know of the intended trust until after the testator’s death however if the legatee does not expressly reject then they are bound
How is a half secret trust enforced?
The beneficiary can enforce as long as their identity was communicated to the trustee at or before making the will and the language of the will is consistent with this communication
What is a fixed trust?
A trust under which the trustees have no freedom as to how the trust property is to be distributed between the beneficiaries