The duties of a trustee need not be onerous, but a failure to carry out those duties may, in a worst case scenario, result in a claim against you by a beneficiary who has suffered a loss as a result of your actions or omissions. For those readers who have consented to act as a trustee for a friend or family member without really understanding what that role entails – the list below, while not exhaustive, sets out some of the most important trustee duties. The duty of efficient management • Whether you are an original, substitute or additional trustee you must first become familiar with and abide by the terms and conditions of the Trust Deed. November 2009 – January 2010 Page 4 of 4 © 2009 • Know the extent of the assets and liabilities of the trust and make sure that these are properly held in the name of the trustees. • Ensure that the trust is managed and administered properly and that the trustees meet to discuss and agree on issues. Do not be a rubber stamp of the settlor’s wishes. Take minutes of these meetings and record all resolutions. • Make sure that the administration costs of the trust are kept to reasonable levels. The duty to keep and render accounts to beneficiaries • Make sure that a clear audit and paper trail is kept of all decisions and transactions. This will involve secure storage of the trust deed, minutes of meetings and resolutions, financial accounts, correspondence and other trust documents. • If the beneficiaries request information, the trustees have a duty to make certain information available, such as the trust deed, financial statements and investment strategies. The duty to act personally • Carry out your trustee duties personally. • You may instruct an agent to carry out your decisions but you must make your own decisions and not be dictated to by other trustees, the settlors or beneficiaries. • Trustee resolutions must be unanimous. The duty of loyalty • Always act in the best interests of both present and future beneficiaries and be impartial between beneficiaries. • Avoid conflicts of interest. • Do not benefit or profit from your position as trustee unless authorised to do so. • You must always protect the interests of the beneficiaries. In all things, a trustee’s standard of care is measured against that of an ordinary prudent business person managing the affairs of others. Of course a higher standard is required if the trustee is a professional person such as a lawyer or accountant. The management of trusts often come under scrutiny and all of the benefits of having a trust may be lost if the trust records and procedures do not meet the required standard. It is therefore important to keep a clear audit and paper trail and to bear the above trustee duties in mind. It is also important to insist that you, as a trustee, are kept up to date with all of the trust’s affairs.