Q&A

Does the beneficiary principle apply to gifts?

Does the beneficiary principle apply to gifts?

A gift can be made to persons…but it cannot be made to a purpose or to an object: so also, a trust may be created for the benefit of persons as cestuis que trust but not for a purpose or object be charitable. ‘ So far, so compatible with the strong version of the beneficiary principle.

What are the exceptions to the beneficiary principle?

The principle that, for a trust to be valid, there must be a human beneficiary capable of enforcing the trust. Exceptions to the beneficiary principle are charitable trusts and a limited number of purpose trusts.

What is meant by beneficiary principle?

The beneficiary principle is the concept that a private, express trust must be for the benefit of a beneficiary who the trustees can either ascertain or is at least ascertainable. As a general rule, a trust set up for a purpose instead of ascertained or ascertainable beneficiaries will be void.

What are the anomalous exceptions to the beneficiary principle?

There are two exceptions to the rule. The first one is specific animals as seen in the case of Re Dean (1889) 41 Ch. D 552. The second exception is when the trust is created to build or maintain a tomb or a monument as in the case of Re Hooper [1932] 1 Ch 38.

Does a purpose trust have beneficiaries?

A purpose trust is a type of trust which has no beneficiaries, but instead exists for advancing some non-charitable purpose of some kind.

Who can become a beneficiary?

9. Who may be beneficiary. —Every person capable of holding property may be a beneficiary.

Do we need the beneficiary principle?

General rule- a trust generally needs human beneficiaries unless it’s a Charitable Trust or a trust for purposes.

Can a purpose trust have beneficiaries?

A purpose trust is a form of trust which exists for advancing some non-charitable purpose, as for example holding an asset such as an aircraft. Such a trust would not have beneficiaries but are under the requirement to have an enforcer in Mauritius.

What is a secret trust in a will?

A secret trust arises when a testator makes a gift in a will to a donee, intending that the donee should receive the gift as trustee for an ultimate beneficiary or beneficiaries, under an express or implied agreement between the testator and the donee, made outside the will.

What is the purpose of the trust?

Trusts are established to provide legal protection for the trustor’s assets, to make sure those assets are distributed according to the wishes of the trustor, and to save time, reduce paperwork and, in some cases, avoid or reduce inheritance or estate taxes.

Can a trustor be a beneficiary?

The beneficiary is the legal entity that is entitled to the benefit of the Trust assets. A Trustor can be a beneficiary, but the Trustee can only be a beneficiary of a Trust if there is another beneficiary named in the Trust Agreement.

What is beneficiary income?

Beneficiary income is income which vests absolutely in a beneficiary during the income year in which it is derived by the estate or trust, or which is paid or applied to or for the benefit of the beneficiary within six months from the end of that year.

How to explain the beneficiary principle and perpetuity?

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Why is the beneficiary principle not used in trusts?

The corollary of the principle, as illustrated by the facts of Re Astors Settlement Trusts, is that English law does not like trusts for purposes as a general concept. There is a second reason for the law of trusts embodying the beneficiary principle. It is more of a legalistic reason.

Is the 125 year perpetuity period applicable to purpose trusts?

However, this is problematic for purpose trusts as the trust property will never vest in an ascertainable beneficiary. This means the property will remain inalienable i.e. it cannot be disposed of. Therefore, s 15 of the 2009 Act states that the 125 year perpetuity period does not apply in relation to purpose trusts.

Why is the beneficiary principle important in the Sanderson Trust case?

Because the Sanderson trust cases are set up in a situation where there are only a few beneficiaries and its more personal , there is more weight to the view that the settlor could have well intended that they benefit rather than the trust be invalid completely. It’s more likely that that interpretation would count.