About the Lawcards Series

Trusts Lawcards Glossary

Click on the glossary term to see the definition

Chapter 1

Administrator (Feminine: administratrix)
The person who administers the estate of someone who had died intestate.
Beneficiary
Person for whose benefit property is held on trust.
Beneficiary Principle
For a trust to be valid there must be somebody in whose favour the court can decree performance.
Bequeath
To leave property other than freehold land by will.
Bona fide
Good faith.
Bona vacantia
Property which is not in the ownership of any person and so goes to the Crown.
Cestui que trust
term for beneficiary.
Common law
Judge-made law made by the courts of common law.
Constructive trust
Trust imposed by the courts where it would be unconscionable for the legal owner of property to assert his/her own beneficial interest and deny that of another.
Cy-près
Applying property as close as possible to the donor's original wish
Damages
Compensation paid to an injured party.
Devise
To leave freehold land by will (same as bequeath but in respect of land)
Executor (Feminine executrix)
Person who administers the estate of someone who has left a will.
Express trust
Trust expressly created.
In loco parentis
In the place of the parent.
Injunction
Equitable remedy which either commands that an action be done or prevents the carrying out of an action.
Inter vivos
During the lifetime
Intestate
Dying without leaving a will
Laches
Equitable principle under which delay in claiming an equitable remedy can mean that the claim is defeated.
Locus standi
Right to bring an action
Mortis causa
On the death of
Obiter dicta
That part of a judgement which is not part of the actual reason for the decision but which can form a valuable guide in similar cases.
Pari passu
On an equal footing; proportionally.
Personalty
Personal property i.e. property other than freehold land.
Private trust
Trust for the benefit of individuals as distinct from a public trust which is for purposes.
Realty
Real property i.e. freehold land.
Rescission
Equitable remedy restoring the parties to their pre contract position.
Rectification
Equitable remedy rectifying a contract to make it accord with the intentions of the parties.
Residuary estate
Property left by will which is anything not disposed of specifically.
Resulting trust
A trust which is implied by the court which has the effect of returning property to the settler.
Settlor
Creator of an inter vivos trust.
Specific performance
Equitable remedy which commands the carrying out of contractual obligations.
Sui juris
Of full age and capacity.
Testator (Feminine Testratrix)
Person who executes a will which may contain a trust.
Tracing
The process of identifying assets against which an equitable remedy may be sought
Trustee
A person who holds property in a fiduciary capacity for the benefit of another.
Trustee in bankruptcy
A person who acts on behalf of creditors.
Unjust enrichment
Means by which a defendant who has been unjustly enriched at the expense of the claimant is compelled to restore property.
Ultra vires
Beyond the powers.
Volunteer
Person who is promised property without having provided consideration.