The nature of the beneficiary’s interest in English, Japanese and Quebec trusts

Lee, J. (2021) The nature of the beneficiary’s interest in English, Japanese and Quebec trusts. European Review of Private Law, 29(4), pp. 611-632.

[img] Text
249525.pdf - Accepted Version

472kB

Publisher's URL: https://kluwerlawonline.com/journalarticle/European+Review+of+Private+Law/29.3/ERPL2021032

Abstract

In the English trust, the beneficiary is viewed as the substantive owner of property held under trust, even as the trustee holds legal title to the property and is the only party who is able to perform the legal functions associated with ownership. In the mixed legal systems of Quebec and of Japan, the juristic pathways to the beneficiary’s substantive ownership are vastly different. In the case of Japan, arguably the ‘patrimony’ conception is applicable, whereas in Quebec the new ‘ownerless’ trust departed significantly from the problems associated with the trustee’s ‘ownership’ of property under the old trust. The article submits that the ability of the beneficiary to enforce his interests independently from other parties is crucial to the trust’s ability to achieve broadly similar effects to English law. From an English perspective, it is vital that civilian trusts recognize and accommodate the differences inherent in the beneficiary’s rights to due administration and to the economic enjoyment of property.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Lee, Dr Joyman
Authors: Lee, J.
College/School:College of Social Sciences > School of Law
Journal Name:European Review of Private Law
Publisher:Kluwer Law International
ISSN:0928-9801
ISSN (Online):1875-8371
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 20211 Kluwer Law International BV
First Published:First published in European Review of Private Law 29(4):611-632
Publisher Policy:Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher

University Staff: Request a correction | Enlighten Editors: Update this record