PRACTICE DIRECTION 64A – ESTATES, TRUSTS AND CHARITIES
This Practice Direction supplements Part 64
Contents of this Practice Direction
I CLAIMS RELATING TO THE ADMINISTRATION OF ESTATES AND TRUSTS
Examples of claims under rule 64.2(a)
1 The following are examples of the types of claims which may be made under rule 64.2(a) –
(1) a claim for the determination of any of the following questions –
(a) any question as to who is included in any class of persons having –
(i) a claim against the estate of a deceased person;
(ii) a beneficial interest in the estate of such a person; or
(iii) a beneficial interest in any property subject to a trust;
(b) any question as to the rights or interests of any person claiming –
(i) to be a creditor of the estate of a deceased person;
(ii) to be entitled under a will or on the intestacy of a deceased person; or
(iii) to be beneficially entitled under a trust;
(2) a claim for any of the following remedies –
(a) an order requiring a trustee –
(i) to provide and, if necessary, verify accounts;
(ii) to pay into court money which he holds in that capacity; or
(iii) to do or not to do any particular act;
(b) an order approving any sale, purchase, compromise or other transaction by a trustee (whether administrative or dispositive); or
(c) an order directing any act to be done which the court could order to be done if the estate or trust in question were being administered or executed under the direction of the court.
Determining certain claims under rule 64.2(a) without a hearing
1A.1 Where a claim is made by a trustee for a remedy within paragraph 1(2)(b) (including a case where the remedy sought is approval of a transaction affected by conflict of interests or duties), the court may be requested to determine the claim without a hearing.
1A.2 The claim form in such a case may be issued in accordance with rule 8.2A (Issue of claim form without naming defendants), and no separate application for permission under rule 8.2A need be made.
1A.3 The claim form must be accompanied by –
(a) a witness statement setting out the material facts justifying determination without a hearing and in particular –
(i) identifying those affected by the remedy sought and
(ii) detailing any consultation of those so affected and the result of that consultation;
(b) the advice of a lawyer having a 10-year High Court qualification within the meaning of section 71 of the Courts and Legal Services Act 1990 on the merits of the claim;
(c) a draft order for the remedy sought;
(d) a statement of costs.
1A.4 If the court considers that the case does not require an oral hearing, it will proceed to consider the claim on the papers.
1A.5 If the court considers that an oral hearing is required, it will give appropriate directions.
1A.6 If the court considers it appropriate, it will make the order sought and may direct that the claimant must –
(a) serve notice of the order on the interested parties in accordance with rule 19.8A, and
(b) file a certificate of service within 7 days of doing so.
Applications by trustees for directions
2 A separate practice direction contains guidance about applications by trustees for directions.
Administration orders – rule 64.2(b)
3.1 The court will only make an administration order if it considers that the issues between the parties cannot properly be resolved in any other way.
3.2 If, in a claim for an administration order, the claimant alleges that the trustees have not provided proper accounts, the court may –
(1) stay the proceedings for a specified period, and order them to file and serve proper accounts within that period; or
(2) if necessary to prevent proceedings by other creditors or persons claiming to be entitled to the estate or fund, make an administration order and include in it an order that no such proceedings are to be taken without the court's permission.
3.3 Where an administration order has been made in relation to the estate of a deceased person, and a claim is made against the estate by any person who is not a party to the proceedings –
(1) no party other than the executors or administrators of the estate may take part in any proceedings relating to the claim without the permission of the court; and
(2) the court may direct or permit any other party to take part in the proceedings, on such terms as to costs or otherwise as it thinks fit.
3.4 Where an order is made for the sale of any property vested in trustees, those persons shall have the conduct of the sale unless the court directs otherwise.
Applications under the Variation of Trusts Act 1958 – rule 64.2(c)
4.1 Where children or unborn beneficiaries will be affected by a proposed arrangement under the Act, the evidence filed in support of the application must –
(1) show that their litigation friends or the trustees support the arrangements as being in the interests of the children or unborn beneficiaries; and
(2) unless paragraph 4.3 applies or the court orders otherwise, be accompanied by a written opinion to this effect by the advocate who will appear on the hearing of the application.
4.2 A written opinion filed under paragraph 4.1(2) must –
(1) if it is given on formal instructions, be accompanied by a copy of those instructions; or
(2) otherwise, state fully the basis on which it is given.
4.3 No written opinion needs to be filed in support of an application to approve an arrangement under section 1(1)(d) of the Act (discretionary interests under protective trusts).
4.4 Where the interests of two or more children, or two or more of the children and unborn beneficiaries, are similar, only a single written opinion needs to be filed.
Applications under section 48 of the Administration of Justice Act 1985 – rule 64.2(d)
5 A Part 8 claim form for an application by trustees under section 48 of the Administration of Justice Act 1985 (power of High Court to authorise action to be taken in reliance on legal opinion) may be issued without naming a defendant, under rule 8.2A. No separate application for permission under rule 8.2A need be made.
Prospective costs orders
6.1 These paragraphs are about the costs of applications under rule 64.2(a).
6.2 Where trustees have power to agree to pay the costs of a party to such an application, and exercise such a power, rule 44.5 applies. In such a case, an order is not required and the trustees are entitled to recover out of the trust fund any costs which they pay pursuant to the agreement made in the exercise of such power.
6.3 Where the trustees do not have, or decide not to exercise, a power to make such an agreement, the trustees or the party concerned may apply to the court at any stage of proceedings for an order that the costs of any party (including the costs of the trustees) shall be paid out of the fund (a ‘prospective costs order’).
6.4 The court, on an application for a prospective costs order, may –
(a) in the case of the trustees' costs, authorise the trustees to raise and meet such costs out of the fund;
(b) in the case of the costs of any other party, authorise or direct the trustees to pay such costs (or any part of them, or the costs incurred up to a particular time) out of the trust fund to be assessed, if not agreed by the trustees, on the indemnity basis or, if the court directs, on the standard basis, and to make payments from time to time on account of such costs. A model form of order is annexed to this Practice Direction.
6.5 The court will always consider whether it is possible to deal with the application for a prospective costs order on paper without a hearing and in an ordinary case would expect to be able to do so. The trustees must consider whether a hearing is needed for any reason. If they consider that it is they should say so and explain why in their evidence. If any party to the application referred to in paragraph 6.1 above (or any other person interested in the trust fund) considers that a hearing is necessary (for instance because he wishes to oppose the making of a prospective costs order) this should be stated, and the reasons explained, in his evidence, if any, or otherwise in a letter to the court.
6.6 If the court would be minded to refuse the application on a consideration of the papers alone, the parties will be notified and given the opportunity, within a stated time, to ask for a hearing.
6.7 The evidence in support of an application for a prospective costs order should be given by witness statement. The trustees and the applicant (if different) must ensure full disclosure of the relevant matters to show that the case is one which falls within the category of case where a prospective costs order can properly be made.
6.8 The model form of order is designed for use in the more straightforward cases, where a question needs to be determined which has arisen in the administration of the trust, whether the claimants are the trustees or a beneficiary. The form may be adapted for use in less straightforward cases, in particular where the proceedings are hostile, but special factors may also have to be reflected in the terms of the order in such a case.
II CHARITY PROCEEDINGS
Role of Attorney-General
7 The Attorney-General is a necessary party to all charity proceedings, other than any commenced by the Charity Commissioners, and must be joined as a defendant if he is not a claimant.
Service on Charity Commissioners or Attorney-General
8 Any document required or authorised to be served on the Commissioners or the Attorney-General must be served on the Treasury Solicitor in accordance with paragraph 2.1 of Practice Direction 66.
Applications for permission to take charity proceedings – rule 64.6
9.1 The claim form for an application under section 33(5) of the Act must state –
(1) the name, address and description of the applicant;
(2) details of the proceedings which he wishes to take;
(3) the date of the Commissioners' refusal to grant an order authorising the taking of proceedings;
(4) the grounds on which the applicant alleges that it is a proper case for taking proceedings; and
(5) if the application is made with the consent of any other party to the proposed proceedings, that fact.
9.2 If the Commissioners have given reasons for refusing to grant an order, a copy of their reasons must be filed with the claim form.
Appeals against orders of the Charity Commissioners
10 Part 52 applies to any appeal against an order of the Charity Commissioners. Section III of Practice Direction 52 contains special provisions about such appeals.
Appendix
Model form of prospective costs order (PDF - opens in new window)
