Trusts and Trustees Act (Cap. 331)
Trusts and Trustees Act (Cap. 331), article 18
18. (1) Trustees are appointed by, or as provided in, the trust
instrument, and in such number as may be so provided.
The fact that there may not be a trustee in office at any time
shall not operate as a cause of invalidity or termination of an y
trusts and in such cases the ma tter shall be determined by the terms
of the trust and the provisions of this article.
(2) A trustee may be a natural person provided he is of full age
and legal capacity and not under any legal impediment to so act . A
trustee may also be a juridical person the objects of which inc lude
acting as a trustee.
(3) Where there is no trustee or there is a vacancy among the
trustees which cannot otherwise b e filled, the last former trus tee or
any trustee, or any beneficiary or the Attorney General may app ly
to the court for the appointment of a new trustee.
(4) The court -
(a) upon being satisfied that an application made by
beneficiary has been served on the last former trustee
or on at least one of the other trustees, if any; and
(b) having heard the repres entations made by the said
trustee or trustees, or by any beneficiary; and
(c) having ascertained that th e trustee indicated for the
purpose in the application or otherwise intended for
appointment as the new tr ustee is willing to act,
may make an order appointing a new trustee.
(5) Subject to the terms of the trust, a trustee appointed as a
new trustee under this article shall have the same powers,
discretions and duties as if he had originally been appointed
trustee.
(6) On the appointment of a new trustee anything requisite for
vesting the trust property in or under the control of the trust ee for
the time being shall be, and may be required by the trustee or any
beneficiary to be, done.
(7) In the case of death of a trustee, his heirs or testamentary
executor shall be bound to immedi ately transfer all trust prope rty to a
successor trustee appointed in ter ms of the trust instrument or by the
Court.
(8) In the case of the insolvency, dissolution or winding up of a
trustee set up as a company, any person having authority to bin d the
trustee being a director, liquidator, provisional administrator or
similar functionary shall be bound to immediately transfer all trust
property to a successor trustee, and this irrespective of any
proceedings or formalities applicable upon such events.
(9) Without prejudice to the generality of sub-articles (7) and
(8), until such time as such obligation is performed, all perso ns in
control of trust property shall be obliged to preserve the trus t assets
and shall be bound by fiduciary obligations towards the
beneficiaries.
18 CAP. 331.] TRUSTS AND TRUSTEES
Acceptance of
trust.
Amended by:
XIII. 2004.18;
XIII. 2007.18;
XI. 2014.10.
Text read from the consolidated PDF published by Legislation Malta. Tables, figures and marginal notes may be incomplete or out of place: the official PDF is authoritative. General information, not legal, tax or accounting advice.