Trustee Act (Northern Ireland) 2001

Trustee Act (Northern Ireland) 2001

2001 CHAPTER 14

Commentary on Clauses

Part VI: Appointment and Retirement of Trustees

Section 34: Appointment or retirement of trustee at instance of beneficiaries

Section 34(1) sets out the circumstances in which the beneficiaries are to have this new power. The power is available where there is no person nominated in the trust instrument to appoint new trustees and the trustees are of full age and capacity and, taken together as a group, are absolutely entitled to the trust assets. By section 34(2) such beneficiaries have power to direct any trustee to retire from the trust, or to arrange the appointment of a new, named, trustee. In those circumstances, the trustee is required to retire as directed, subject to three conditions being satisfied. Firstly, reasonable arrangements must be made to protect his interests. Secondly, after his retirement there must be a trust corporation or at least two persons left to act as trustees. And thirdly, either the full complement of trustees is to be maintained by the appointment of another person in his place or the continuing trustees consent to his retirement. By section 34(4) trustees are required to do whatever is necessary to vest the trust property in the continuing or new trustees following a retirement.