Legal Tip 193: Declaration of Trust

Discussion in 'Legal Issues' started by Terry_w, 3rd Apr, 2019.

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  1. Terry_w

    Terry_w Lawyer, Tax Adviser and Mortgage broker in Sydney Business Member

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    Legal Tip 193: Declaration of Trust


    A declaration of trust happens when the legal owner of an asset declares that they now hold that asset on trust for another person or persons.


    A more technical definition is found in legislation, for example in section 8(3) of the Duties Act 1997 NSW which has:

    "declaration of trust" means any declaration (other than by a will or testamentary instrument) that any identified property vested or to be vested in the person making the declaration is or is to be held in trust for the person or persons, or the purpose or purposes, mentioned in the declaration although the beneficial owner of the property, or the person entitled to appoint the property, may not have joined in or assented to the declaration.


    Example

    Homer owns 123 Smith Street. He is the legal and beneficial owner. One day he decides he wants to begin holding that property but for the benefit of his son Bart. Homer makes a declaration of trust that from this day forward he holds the property as trustee for Bart.

    Homer is still the legal owner, but now Bart is the beneficial owner of the property. If Homer goes bankrupt the property is, at face value, not his property and not available to creditors (but…). If Homer dies this property is not one that can pass via his will. If the property is rented out the income will be taxed in the hands of Bart etc.


    There are also various tax and duty consequences to making a declaration of trust and I will cover these in a future post.

    Posted on Structuring.com.au at 29 Mar 18

    http://www.structuring.com.au/terry/trusts/declaration-of-trust/
     
    Paul@PAS and Simon Moore like this.

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