Trustees of a Trust – What are their Powers and Duties?

There are many different types of trusts which can be established. If you have been appointed as the trustee it is important to know your responsibilities and obligations.

As a trustee, you are required to manage the assets of the trust for the benefit of the beneficiaries. This includes handling the assets with the same reasonable care, diligence and skill you would use in managing your own affairs.

Some specific duties of a trustee are as follows:

1. to carry out the trust in strict compliance with the terms of the trust deed;
2. to ensure trust property is vested in your name as trustee;
3. to carry out the trust personally and not delegate your duties;
4. to keep proper financial records of all trust dealings;
5. to keep your personal finances separate from those of the trust; and
6. to pay and transfer income to the right beneficiary.

There are also a wide range of powers conferred on a trustee by the Trusts Act 1973 (Qld), such as the power to:

1. sell trust property;
2. lease trust property;
3. invest trust funds;
4. mortgage trust property and borrow money;
5. repair and improve trust property;
6. insure trust property; and
7. exchange trust property for that of a similar nature.

Your powers as a trustee may also depend upon the terms of the trust deed.

It is crucial to understand your responsibilities and obligations as a trustee, as the failure to act properly could result in a claim against you by the beneficiaries for any losses sustained.

If you are looking to establish a trust or have been appointed as trustee, we would be happy to help you with any queries or concerns you may have.

In the Office of my Divorce Lawyer Brisbane: When it is over

You are in the offices of a divorce lawyer Brisbane.  “Do you take this man/woman to be your husband/wife till deaths do us part?” Most of us expected the fairy tale ending of “and they lived happily ever after”. Reality, however, is that divorce rates are increasing by the year. Many people feel that it is better to get the help of a divorce lawyer Brisbane than be trapped in a miserable and unhappy marriage. One party has to file a petition with the court asking for a divorce, even if both parties agreed to divorce. The petition will state the grounds of the divorce.

Why do marriages fail and what grounds are there for a divorce? Some of the major reasons why marriages fail are because of adultery, lack of commitment, lack of physical attraction and lack of communication. Joseph Guttmann, author of Divorce in Psycho-social Perspective, found in his research that couples getting divorced after five to seven years of marriage are mostly because of high conflict. He also found that marriages that lasted ten to twelve years and then end up as divorce cases are the result of loss of intimacy and connection. Paul R. Amato found in his research that personal problems such as hurt, jealous, poor money-management skills, easy to get angry and having had an affair are the major causes of divorce cases. Your divorce lawyer will refer to the grounds of a divorce as “irreconcilable differences.”

Parties need to try and negotiate their differences. If a couple have no children and little debt the process is less involved than a divorce where the parties have been married for a longer period with minor children and a significant amount of debt. In both cases it remains wise to obtain the services of a divorce lawyer Brisbane. Your divorce lawyer Brisbane will file a petition with the court asking for a divorce.  If the parties disagree on child custody and visitation, the court may order mediation. Other issues that need to be negotiated are the property division and spousal support. If the issues cannot resolve between the parties, it will be decided at trial. The legal process of a divorce requires the expertise of a divorce lawyer Brisbane.

A reputable divorce lawyer Brisbane or trusted family lawyer Brisbane can deliver services with the highest of quality and professionalism and guide you every step of the way through the process of getting divorced.

As an Executor, do I need Probate of a Will in Queensland?

Do I need Probate of a Will in Queensland? An executor has the responsibility of carrying out the terms of a will when the person died. The property of the deceased is commonly referred to as an estate. If you are appointed as the executor, you may have to apply for Probate of a Will in Queensland, which is the court’s recognition that the will is legally valid and that you are authorized to deal with the estate. An executor has many duties and it is highly recommended that you consult an Estates Lawyer Brisbane that has the expertise and experience of dealing with deceased estates in Queensland.

The Supreme Court will issue a grant for Probate of a Will in Queensland once it is confirmed and the court is satisfied that the will is the last will of the deceased. The best option remains to consult an Estates Lawyer Brisbane for assistance, as there are many complexes and difficult factors to deal with, such as the probate can be granted in another state, but assets are in Queensland or real estate is to be transferred to a beneficiary named in the will. Before you can apply at the Supreme Court for Probate of a Will in Queensland, you will have to notify all necessary persons of the death of the deceased, identify beneficiaries and apply for a death certificate.

Deceased Estates in Queensland also require an executor to lodge tax returns, finalise tax affairs, advertising for any debts owing and transferring movable (vehicles) and immovable (real estate) property according to the will. Seek the service of an Estates Lawyer Brisbane, because you can be held accountable for any losses.

With the expertise of an Estates Lawyer Brisbane a Probate of a Will in Queensland can be granted approximately four weeks after submitting the request to the Court. If there are any problems, your Estates Lawyer Brisbane has the expertise to deal with it.