Trustees Responsibilities And Duties

The role of the Trustee is a crucial one in administering trusts. The Trustee will hold property for the benefit of the beneficiaries of the trust and must carry out the powers and duties as required by the trust document and by law.

Generally anyone can act as a trustee as long as they are over the age of 16 years and have the mental capacity to do so.

General Duties

Trustees owe a fiduciary duty to the beneficiaries of a trust. That means they must act honestly and in good faith and must not let their personal interests conflict with those of the beneficiaries. There are many general duties that a trustee must fulfil, which are listed below:-

1. Comply with the terms of the trust – trustees should fully inform themselves of the terms of the trust and strictly comply with the duties and directions set out in the trust instrument.