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Trusts

The laws relating to trusts have evolved over many centuries. Much of their complexity and obscurity relates to their long history and the fact that much trust law depends on decided cases, some of which are very old, rather than more accessible acts of Parliament.

We prepare deeds for discretionary trusts, unit trusts, hybrid trusts, post death testamentary trusts, charitable trusts and trusts established for particular purposes.

We also advise accountants and other solicitors on a wide range of trust issues.

What is a trust?

A trust is a relationship by which a party (the trustee) holds property for the benefit of other people (the beneficiaries) on certain terms and conditions. The trustee has the legal interest in trust property and the beneficiaries have the equitable interest.

Trusts come in various forms with the most common being:

  • Bare trusts; the trustee generally has no active duties to perform and the beneficiaries can call for a transfer of the trust property to them at any time
  • Unit trusts; the trustee holds property on behalf of the unit holders who own units in the trust. Unit trusts can be fixed for the purposes of the NSW Land Management Act and have access to the land tax threshold.
  • Discretionary trusts; commonly known as family trusts, give the trustee a discretion to decide which of a number of beneficiaries is to receive the income of the trust each year as well as a discretion to decide which of the beneficiaries can receive capital from the trust either during the trust’s existence or when it ends.
  • Testamentary trusts; are trusts created by someone’s’ Will. Testamentary trusts are excellent estate planning vehicles with tax advantages and, if structured correctly, good asset protection. and
  • Self-managed Superannuation funds; are a form of trust by which the trustee holds the assets of the fund on behalf of the members of the fund. The members cannot access the funds until certain conditions of retirement are met.

If you need any assistance contact one of our lawyers at [email protected] or call 6942 1655 for a no-obligation discussion and for expert legal advice.