The Law of Trust - Page 368

THE LAW OF TRUST 347

VI. Powers of the Beneficiaries

  1. Is a trustee liable for breach of trust by his predecessor ? He is not.

  2. Is a trustee liable for the breach of trust committed by a Co-trustee ?

He is not except in the following cases:—

(i) Where he has delivered trust-property to his Co-trustee without seeing to its proper application.

(ii) Where he allows his Co-trustee to receive trust property and fails to make due inquiry as to the Co-trustee’s dealings therewith or allows him to retain it longer than the circumstances of the case reasonably require.

(iii) Where he becomes aware of a breach by a Co-trustee and conceals it or does not take proper steps to protect the property.

  1. Breach of Trust jointly committed by Co-trustees.

What is the liability for each ? Is it for the whole ? Each is liable for the whole to the beneficiary. There will be a right of contribution from the rest.

  1. Liability for Payment by a Trustee to a person who is not the person in whom the beneficiary’s interest is not vested.

Trustee is not liable, provided :

(i) He had no notice that the interest had vested in another person.
(ii) That the person to whom payment is made was a person who was entitled to payment.

XIII. Protection to Trustees

* (1) General Protection.
*XIII (2) Statute of Limitation.