We advised the trustees of a family trust, established by a
deceased US resident settlor, in respect of several potential
scenarios due to a lack of clarity in the trust instrument's
original drafting, further complications caused by the settlor's
testamentary legacies to the trustees and claims from potential
beneficiaries in contradiction to the deceased principal
beneficiary's wishes. In particular our advice focused on (1)
whether the trust period had expired, (2) whether the default
trusts were valid and if so had the principal beneficiary properly
exercised their powers thereunder, (3) whether or not the
acceptance of assets by the trustee pursuant to the reversionary
interests under the settlor's last will and testament created new
trusts and (4) practical and technical advice as to how the
trustees should proceed.