WS 5 - Running a trust Flashcards
s.36 Trustee Act 1925
Power of appointing new/additional trustees
• The person nominated in trust instrument for appointing trustees, or if not, the remaining trustee(s)/the PR of the last surviving trustee can, by writing:
• (1) Appoint a new trust in substitution, if a trustee is:
• Dead; Out of the UK for a year; Desires to be discharged from all or any of the trusts or powers reposed in or conferred on him, or refuses or is unfit to act therein, or is incapable of acting therein, or is an infant
• (6) Appoint additional trustees (only if not more than 3 trustees) by writing. No obligation to appoint unless trust instrument or statute provides to the contrary
s.36(1)
- (1) Appoint a new trust in substitution, if a trustee is:
- Dead; Out of the UK for a year; Desires to be discharged from all or any of the trusts or powers reposed in or conferred on him, or refuses or is unfit to act therein, or is incapable of acting therein, or is an infant
s.36(6)
• (6) Appoint additional trustees (only if not more than 3 trustees) by writing. No obligation to appoint unless trust instrument or statute provides to the contrary
s.40 TA:
Vesting of trust property in new or continuing trustees
• (1) Where by a deed a new trustee is appointed to perform any trust, then –
• (a) if the deed contains a declaration by the appointor to the effect that any estate or interest in any land subject to the trust, or in any chattel so subject, or the right to recover or receive any debt or other thing in action so subject, shall vest in the persons who by virtue of the deed become or are the trustees…vest in those persons as joint tenants
s.41 TA
Power of the court to appoint new trustees
• (1) When it is expedient to appoint a new trustee/trustees, and it is found inexpedient, difficult or impracticable so to do without the assistance of the court, the court can make an order appointing a new trustee/trustees either in substitution or in addition
Under what circumstances can a trustee retire without replacement?
• s.39 TA: A trustee can retire without replacement(new appointment) if:
o There are at least 2 trustees remaining or a trust corporation;
o He declares his discharge by deed
o The other trustees consent by deed to the discharge of the trustee and the vesting in the co-trustees alone of the trust property
What are the requirements for a beneficiary to be able to appoint or remove trustees?
• S.19 TLATA: beneficiaries can remove and appoint trustees by writing if:
o No one nominated for the purpose of appointing new trustees; and,
o Beneficiaries are of full age, capacity and taken together are absolutely entitled to the trust property
Power to appoint trustees is a crucial power:
- Potentially handling large values – honesty and judgement
* Cannot question exercise of discretion in absence of fraud, dishonesty or capriciousness
Settling £1m on discretionary trust in your lifetime. Might appoint following as trustees:
• Myself/solicitor/accountant/trusted and intelligent person
Why is it vital to know who is entitled to appoint the trustees?
• Appointment invalid if not made by persons entitled
Distinction between s.36(1) TA and s.36(6) TA?
- S.36(1) – power to appoint in substitution
* S.36(6) – power to appoint additional trustee
Distinction between retirement under s.36(1) and s.39?
- S.36(1) – retiring with replacement
* S.39 – retires without replacement (must leave at least two or trust corporation)
What do you look at to see who is entitled to appoint trustees?
S.36 TA and the trust instrument.
If there are only two trustees and one wants to retire, can he do so and under what legislation?
• s.36(1) TA – He would need to have a replacement as there would only be one remaining
If trustee dies, and the remaining trustee dies, and trust instrument makes no provision for the appointment of new trustees, who should make the appointment?
• S.36 (1)(b) TA – The personal representatives of the last surviving trustee
Seven circumstances in which an appointment may be made under s.36(1) TA 1925:
a) Trustee dies
b) Remains out of the UK for more than 12 months
c) Refuses to act
d) Unfit to act
e) Desires to be discharged
f) Incapable of acting
g) Trustee is an infant
Why are appointments and retirements (discharges) generally contained in a deed?
• To benefit from automatic vesting under s.40 but note that as regards stocks and shares title does not vest until names of trustees are on the company register (old trustees will have to sign and lodge stock transfer forms in favour of new trustees)
Three circumstances in which the beneficiaries might have a say in who should be appointed as a trustee
a) Trust instrument might give beneficiaries a say
b) S.19 TLATA in limited circumstances
c) In exceptional circumstances by application to court under s.41 TA
When can beneficiaries insist upon the removal of a trustee?
a) s.19 Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996 – allows B’s to give a written direction to a trustee or trustees to retire
b) Alternatively, or in addition, they can serve a written direction demanding the appointment of new trustee(s) of their choice. S.19 applies to trusts of personalty as well as land. Under s.19 all the Bs must be in agreement and must be sui juris (18 years or over and of sound mind)