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WHAT IS TRUST
Trust, like a corporation, is a creature or fiction of the law. Greta Grandmother has her lawyer prepare a legal document called a Trust. Greta then transfers Php 1M to her daughter, Debby, as trustee of the trust. Debby is required by the terms of the trust document to invest the Php 1M in a certificate of deposit and use all of the interest each year to pay for Medical school expenses for her two children, Greta's grandchildren. When the youngest of Debby's two children reaches 30 years old, Debby is instructed to divide the money in the trust equally and distribute it to each of them. The foregoing example best illustrates the time periods in a trusts' existence: 1. The trust is formed by having a legal document prepared and signed. This document is a contract between the grantor, who sets up the trust and the trustee, who administers the trust. 2. The assets are transferred to the trust. This step completes the establishment and funding of the trust. 3. The trust is administered for its duration. 4. When the trust has fulfilled its purposes, the money and assets it holds are distributed and the trust is terminated. Acc. To Bogert, a trust is a fiduciary relationship in which one person is the holder of the title to property subject to an equitable obligation to keep or use the property for the benefit of another.
History of Trust
Some writers trace the modern trust concept to the Roman Emperor Augustus who promulgated the law on fidei commissum (property in trust). Other writers say that it stems from the very base of civilization itself: under the Old Testament God appointed Moses, trustee of the people of Israel and gave him instructions to lead them out of bondage. In Egypt, 254 B.C. , an influential person named Uah, left a formally witnessed will appointing his wife executor of his estate and a friend as the guardian of his son. Wills naming executors were in use by the close of the 12th century, as shown by the will of Henry II made in 1182 wherein he named one set of executors for his property in England, another set for his property in Normandy, Main and Anjou. It was customary at first for the executor to receive the testator's assets in his own right and not until 1802 did the English courts fully recognize the executor as trustee and not owner of the assets taken over by him. During the reign of Edward I (1272-1307), executors became the recognised personal representative of the decedent. With this recognition, the probate practice came into being in England. During the Crusade (1095-mid 15th century) and the Wars of the Roses (1455 to 1487), the conveyance of property for the use became general. A crusader, upon leaving on an expedition, would convey his land to a friend for the use of his children and wife or sister. In 1535, the Statute of Uses was adopted, but this Statute did not apply to a use upon a use situation: A conveyed land to B for the use of C for the use of D. The first use was executed causing B to drop out but the second use was not executed and C found himself holding the land for the use of D. This second use came gradually to be called Trust.
Note: The above example indicates why the same person cannot be the only trustee and the only beneficiary. There would be no split of legal and beneficial title, which is essential for a trust. If the legal and beneficial
interests merge, or become one by law, the trust could be invalidated. 4. Beneficiary The beneficiary is the person/s who will receive the benefits and advantages of the property transferred to the trust. It is important that the persons who are beneficiaries can be determined, meaning, the description should be clear and certain. If you name my descendants as beneficiaries, there must be a time for making the determination of who your descendants are, otherwise, it is impossible to know when to make the decision. Beneficiaries can also be charities. 5. Intent of Trust Every trust has a purpose or intent which motivates the grantor to set up the trust in the first place. Apart from the obvious requirement that the intent must be legal, there are few restrictions on what the trust should be for. The intent can relate to benefiting a particular beneficiary or achieving certain tax benefits or providing for the management of certain assets. The intent of the trust should be spelled out in detail in the trust document.
TRUST Not insured by PDIC Covered by Sec. 55.1 (b) RA 8791 No guarantee/fixity Relates to specific property Conveyance TRUST Covers real and personal property Legal title is transferred Equitable rights Fiduciary relations
CASA (depositor accounts) Insured by PDIC Covered by RA 1405 (Secrecy of Bank Deposits) Principal and interest are guaranteed Obligation is to repay Contract Bailment Covers only personal property Legal title is retained Legal rights Not a fiduciary relation
After the trustee has accepted the trust and qualified by taking an oath, giving bond and taken any other steps required by law or the trust instrument, he has a duty to examine the trust terms to ascertain the property comprising its subject matter, the identity of the beneficiaries, and his when duties as trustee. A person is of course not bound to accept any trust but once he accepts, he has the duty to administer the same. 1. Obtaining the Property The trustee has the duty to take tangible real and personal property into his possession and to take the steps necessary to secure the ownership papers thereof such as TCT, CCT, stock certificates and the like. As part of his duty to assume control over the assets, the trustee has the duty to collect notes, bonds, check or to sue for replevin or other contract or tort claims which are part of the trust estate. 2. Caring for the Assets A trustee must use reasonable care and prudence in caring for the trust assets. He must see that deeds are
recorded, carry adequate insurance on insurable property and the like. 3. Management of the Assets A trustee must see to it that his investments are within the legal list of permissible investments. He has the responsibility to make the trust property produce income. 4. Loyalty to the Beneficiaries Undivided loyalty is absolutely required and the penalties visited upon the disloyal trustee can be uncommonly severe. The trust must be administered solely for the benefit of the beneficiaries and the trustee is not permitted to take any position which could conceivably be adverse to theirs. The trustees must never obtain any personal advantage at the expense of the trust estate. Self-interest rules are so strict that a corporate trustee cannot invest trust funds in its own stock, for example. Most Fundamental Duty: Loyalty to beneficiaries. Steer away from self-dealing transactions and self-serving transactions. 5. Use of Discretion The trustee is generally considered to have discretion as to whether or not to use his powers of discretion. If, however, the trustee is required to take certain actions, he has no discretion at all and must exercise the power conferred. If he fails or refuses to exercise his discretion, the court may direct him to do so. 6. Delegation of Authority A grantor chooses a trustee because of confidence in his judgment and integrity. From this premise evolved the rule that a trustee cannot delegate the performance of his trust duties unless the grantor expressly provides that the trustee may delegate the powers. Exception: the trust may delegate the authority to perform a purely mechanical or ministerial act but a rather high standard of prudence is required in the selection of employees and agents.
Essential Requirements:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Capacity of Settlor Intent of Trust (certainty in words, action or intention or certainty as to subject matter and objects) Consideration Transfer of Property Acceptance by Trustee and Beneficiary Acceptance by Trustee It is not necessary to the creation of trust unless the trust was intended to be personal (1445, NCC). Maxim: Equity will not allow a trust to fail for want of a trustee.
Acceptance by Beneficiary This is always necessary. Nevertheless, if the trust imposes no onerous condition upon the beneficiary, his acceptance shall be presumed if there is no proof to the contrary (1446, NCC). But in order that the named beneficiary may be the owner of an equitable interest in the trust property and the holder of an equitable claim against the trustee, the beneficiary's acceptance must be shown. Trust cannot be forced on the beneficiary without his approval. The beneficiary must accept within reasonable time after he is notified of the settlors actions of the trust creation.
6. Merger of Obligations Where after the trust has been created, the interests of all beneficiaries pass by operation of law or by conveyance to the trustee, the equitable and legal interests merge, no purpose of the settlor can thereafter be accomplished through the trust and it terminates. (Sec. 151, Bogert)
Consequence of Termination
The trustee has the power and duty to retain possession of the trust property, safeguard and manage it and to perform such other acts as are reasonably necessary to the winding up of the trust affairs: to prepare his accounting, distribute trust property and secure his discharge.
Remedies of Aggrieved Beneficiaries: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Accounting Damages Criminal action for estafa Recover on the bond for faithful performance of trust duties Equitable lien on the product of breach Information and inspection of trust records Injunction or settling aside of wrongful acts Specific performance Tracing of trust property 10. Removal of trustee