International Trust Law: Disclose or withhold?

Gillian Coumbe QC discusses a recent case where the New Zealand Supreme Court considered the principles governing disclosure of trust information to beneficiaries ‘There is no absolute right to any trust document. However, where the request is made by a close beneficiary for access to core documents such as the trust deed and accounts there …
This post is only available to members.

Clayton v Clayton [2016] NZSC 29

Wills & Trusts Law Reports | July/August 2016 #161

Mr and Mrs Clayton were married in 1989, had two daughters who were born in 1990 and 1994, separated in 2006 and were divorced in 2009. By the time of the separation Mr Clayton had built up a significant saw milling and timber processing business, which operated from land and buildings in Vaughan Road, Rotorua. By declaration of trust dated 14 June 1999 (VRPT) Mr Clayton settled the land and buildings, with himself as sole trustee, on discretionary trusts for the benefit of a class of beneficiaries that included Mr Clayton as ‘principal family member’, Mrs Clayton as his wife or former w...