Preventing Trustees From Withholding Information

Although Blades v Isaac is primarily a costs decision, it raises interesting issues as to executor accountability and access to information where an estate passes on wide discretionary trusts.

Background

The case concerns the estate of Mrs Valerie Mary Lee, who died on 19 June 2013 in tragic circumstances.

She left a will directing that the whole of her estate – some £903,574 – be left on discretionary trusts for a class of beneficiaries including her younger daughter ('Mrs Blades'), Mrs Blades' husband and children and her domestic cleaner.

She named three individuals to act at executors and trustees of whom only one, Mr Isaac (a partner in the firm of solicitors – Tanners – responsible for drafting the will), was willing and able to act. He appointed a fellow partner, Mr Alexander, to be his co-trustee.