Jump to content

Allhusen v Whittell: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Content deleted Content added
m new redirect
 
Replacing Royal_Coat_of_Arms_of_the_United_Kingdom_(1952-2022).svg with File:Royal_Coat_of_Arms_of_the_United_Kingdom_(St_Edward's_Crown).svg (by CommonsDelinker because: File renamed: [[:c:COM:FR#FR3|Cri
 
(11 intermediate revisions by 6 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Use British (Oxford) English|date=August 2017}}
#REDIRECT [[Rule in Allhusen v Whittell]]
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2017}}
{{Infobox court case
| name = Allhusen v Whittell
| court = Chancery Division
| image = File:Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (St Edward's Crown).svg
| caption =
| date decided = 28 June 1867
| full name =
| citations = (1867) LR 4 Eq 295<br />[1861-1873] All ER 149<br />36 LJ Ch 929<br />16 LT 695
| judges = [[William Wood, 1st Baron Hatherley|Page Wood]] [[Chancellor of the High Court|VC]]
| prior actions =
| subsequent actions =
| opinions =
| transcripts =
| keywords = Trusts, life tenant, remainderman
}}
'''''Allhusen v Whitell''''' (1867) LR 4 Eq 295 is an [[English trusts law]] case which lays down a rule of [[Equity (law)|equity]] which requires the [[trustee]] of a [[Trust law|trust]] to strike a fair balance between the [[beneficiary (trust)|beneficiaries]] who are [[life tenant|tenants for life]] and those who are [[remainderman|remaindermen]] in respect of payment of the debts of an estate. The life tenant under a [[will (law)|will]] is entitled to income earned after the [[testator]]'s [[death]], but it often takes some time to ascertain and settle all of those debts. In the meantime the assets of the estate are earning income for tenant for life, whereas the life tenant should only receive income from the estate net of the debts; the rule in ''Allhusen v White'' requires the life tenant to make a contribution.

==Facts==
{{Empty section|date=July 2010}}

==Judgment==
[[File:1stLordHatherley.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Page-Wood VC.]]

The judgment of the Court was given by the Vice Chancellor, Sir [[William Wood, 1st Baron Hatherley|William Page Wood]].

==The rule==
The rule was summarised by [[Robert Romer|Romer LJ]] in ''Corbett v Commissioners of Inland Revenue'' [1938] 1 KB 567 as follows:

{{cquote|For the purposes of adjusting rights as between the tenant for life and the remainderman of a residuary estate, debts, legacies, estate duties, probate duties and so forth, are to be deemed to have been paid out of such capital as the testator's estate as will be sufficient for that purpose, when to that capital is added interest on that capital from the date of the testator's death to the date of payment of the legacy or debt, or whatever it may have been interest, interest being calculated at the average rate of interest<ref>As to which, see ''Re Wills'' [1915] 1 Ch 769 and ''Re Oldham'' (1927) 71 SJ 491</ref> earned by the testator's estate during the relevant period.}}

The rule may be excluded by an expression of contrary intent, or where its application would not be appropriate.<ref>''Re McEuen'' [1913] 2 Ch 704; ''Re Derby'' Ch 905</ref>

The rule has been described as "complex, fiddlesome and resulting in a disproportionate amount of work and expense"<ref>23rd Report of the Law Commission of England & Wales, at para 3.31</ref> and the rule is often either excluded under a well drafted will, or simply ignored.

The Law Commission of England & Wales has consulted on the rule's abolition.

==Footnotes==
{{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rule In Allhusen V Whittell}}
[[Category:Common law rules|Allhusen v White]]
[[Category:English trusts case law]]
[[Category:1867 in case law]]
[[Category:1867 in British law]]
[[Category:Court of Chancery cases]]

Latest revision as of 00:04, 5 May 2024

Allhusen v Whittell
CourtChancery Division
Decided28 June 1867
Citations(1867) LR 4 Eq 295
[1861-1873] All ER 149
36 LJ Ch 929
16 LT 695
Court membership
Judge sittingPage Wood VC
Keywords
Trusts, life tenant, remainderman

Allhusen v Whitell (1867) LR 4 Eq 295 is an English trusts law case which lays down a rule of equity which requires the trustee of a trust to strike a fair balance between the beneficiaries who are tenants for life and those who are remaindermen in respect of payment of the debts of an estate. The life tenant under a will is entitled to income earned after the testator's death, but it often takes some time to ascertain and settle all of those debts. In the meantime the assets of the estate are earning income for tenant for life, whereas the life tenant should only receive income from the estate net of the debts; the rule in Allhusen v White requires the life tenant to make a contribution.

Facts

[edit]

Judgment

[edit]
Page-Wood VC.

The judgment of the Court was given by the Vice Chancellor, Sir William Page Wood.

The rule

[edit]

The rule was summarised by Romer LJ in Corbett v Commissioners of Inland Revenue [1938] 1 KB 567 as follows:

For the purposes of adjusting rights as between the tenant for life and the remainderman of a residuary estate, debts, legacies, estate duties, probate duties and so forth, are to be deemed to have been paid out of such capital as the testator's estate as will be sufficient for that purpose, when to that capital is added interest on that capital from the date of the testator's death to the date of payment of the legacy or debt, or whatever it may have been interest, interest being calculated at the average rate of interest[1] earned by the testator's estate during the relevant period.

The rule may be excluded by an expression of contrary intent, or where its application would not be appropriate.[2]

The rule has been described as "complex, fiddlesome and resulting in a disproportionate amount of work and expense"[3] and the rule is often either excluded under a well drafted will, or simply ignored.

The Law Commission of England & Wales has consulted on the rule's abolition.

Footnotes

[edit]
  1. ^ As to which, see Re Wills [1915] 1 Ch 769 and Re Oldham (1927) 71 SJ 491
  2. ^ Re McEuen [1913] 2 Ch 704; Re Derby Ch 905
  3. ^ 23rd Report of the Law Commission of England & Wales, at para 3.31