Here you will find summarised trust law notes for the entire Monash University topic.
The summary notes are an excellent exam help, with steps to work through all topics. They contain relevant precedent and case citations for that HD answer, along with brief summaries of every case. They are short enough for use in an exam, but detailed enough that you will never miss a point....
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Statutory Formalities
If the relevant statutory formalities are not complied with, the trust may be void or at least unenforceable
Prevalence
Overlap of (b) and (a): (b) prevails over A DSS v James
If both comply (b) also applies to validity
(c) prevails over (b) (obiter – DSS v James)
Unsure as to the status of (a) and (c) (realistically require writing at same time)
53(1)(a)
No interest in land (NOT CHATTEL) can be created or disposed of except by writing signed by the person creating or conveying the same, or by his agent thereunto lawfully authorised in writing, or by will, or by operation of law.
Applies to: (no mention of “trust”)
All disposition of legal or equitable interests in land Adamson v Hayes
All creations of legal interests in land Adamson v Hayes
All creations of equitable interests in land, except where that interest is created by a declaration of trust Adamson v Hayes
Trusts by transfer, does not apply to declaration of trust as that would render (b) useless DSS v James
Must be signed at the time
Creation: bringing into existence a new interest
Disposition: movement of an existing interest e.g. selling
Interest in land: means legal and/or equitable interest in land Adamson v Hayes
If not complied with, the trust is void
53(1)(b)
A declaration of trust respecting any land (NOT CHATTEL) or interest therein must be manifested and proved by some writing signed by some person who is able to declare such a trust or by his will
Applies to creation of equitable interests in land by declaration of trust
Declaration of trust can be oral and later reduced to writing – until it is reduced to writing, it is not enforceable (but it is still valid)
Writing must be done by the person who declares the trust, not an agent
Can read a combination of documents together to meet requirements
Who can manifest and prove by some writing?
Owner of the property (the settlor)
The trustee if it’s a trust by declaration and settlor is incapable of signing it (limited to facts) Shouldn’t be able to use the statute of frauds as an instrument of fraud. When there is a third party involved (not just trustee and beneficiary) probably won’t be allowed Hagan v Waterhouse
How do you manifest and prove by some writing?
Can be informal
Can be contained in various documents
Essentially terms of the trust must be clear (as long as 3 certainties are clear)
53(1)(c)
A disposition of an equitable interest or trust subsisting at the time of the disposition must be in writing signed by the person disposing of the same, or by his agent thereunto lawfully authorised in writing or by his will
Applies to both real and personal property (PT Ltd v Maradona Pty Ltd)
What is a subsisting equitable interest?
An equitable interests that already exists at time of disposition
A beneficial interest
A partnership interest
An equitable mortgage over land
Doesn’t apply when A owns property both legally and beneficially and transfer B to B
Three methods of voluntarily disposing an equitable interest Grey v IRC Must be clear on facts they have done this Howard Smith
Declaration of a sub-trust Grey v IRC
Where there has been a declaration of a sub-trust, is it a disposition (c), or does it create a trust (b)? Must comply with both requirements BT & V
Is the B simply a conduit who is cutting themselves out of the equation (given equitable interests away? Likely to be called a disposition and (c) will apply
OR
Does the B want to become trustee and hold is equitable interest on trust for someone else (and they will still have obligations) - perhaps not a disposition thus (c) wouldn’t apply
Manifestation of an immediate intention to give the interest away
A final direction given to the trustee to hold the trust property on trust for a 3rd party Howard Smith
Must be more than a revocable mandate– if you tell your attorney who is also your executor that you want this, you would easily be able to chance your mind
Must intend to take effect straight away
Must be certain about what is being given away
Does NOT include when there is a direction to a trustee to transfer trust property to a 3P so that 3P holds both legal & beneficial estate (this results in the transfer of legal estate and not of subsisting equitable interest, so no writing needed under this section) Vandervell v IRC
If not complied with, trust is void
Other sections
Sec 53(2) – This section shall not affect the creation or operation of resulting, implied or constructive trusts E.g. Halloran v Minister Administering National Parks
Sec 55 – Nothing in the last two preceding sections (53, 54) shall
(a) Invalidate any disposition by will…
(d) affect the operation of the law relating to part performance
Summing that up, lack of compliance with s 53 won’t invalidate resulting, implied or constructive trusts, or a testamentary disposition, or a contract enforceable because it has been partly performed
Partially Performed Contract: Let’s say you enter into a contract for the sale of land, but do so orally and not writing, and pay money to vendor for land. If we apply the statute of frauds strictly, the contract would be unenforceable. That would let the vendor walk away with the money you pay him, and the statute of frauds be used as an instrument of fraud. It's not unenforceable because of the effect of section 53
Constructive trust: One of the remedies for breach of fiduciary duty is a constructive trust. It would be ridiculous if the statute of frauds came along and said it was not enforceable because it was not in writing. It would undermine equity's remedial skills if a CT had to be in writing.
Examples
S transfers Torrens land in writing to T, telling T to hold on trust for B. What formalities need to be complied with if B wants to enforce trust?
S T must be in writing for (a)
If the settlor never put it in writing, the trust would be unenforceable, and the beneficial ownership would go back...
Buy the full version of these notes or essay plans and more in our Trusts Notes.
Here you will find summarised trust law notes for the entire Monash University topic.
The summary notes are an excellent exam help, with steps to work through all topics. They contain relevant precedent and case citations for that HD answer, along with brief summaries of every case. They are short enough for use in an exam, but detailed enough that you will never miss a point....
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