| 委托人 | 丈夫之父(设立 Farah 信托与 Yearling 信托) |
|---|---|
| 设立地 | Jersey(信托设立与受托人所在地) |
| 准据法 | 泽西法 |
| 受托人 | 泽西受托人(判决书中含 Farhad受托公司等安排,均为离岸专业受托人) |
| 保护人 / 委任人 | 设有 protector(实践中按设立人及其子意愿行事) |
| 受益人 | 丈夫及其直系亲属(含其子)为主要对象,各子基金分设受益人 |
| 置入资产 | 跨国投资组合与房产等(Farah 信托内丈夫指定子基金;Yearling 信托为受益人专项资金) |
| 关键条款 | 全权信托;protector 同意权;设立人意愿书对子基金分配留有相当弹性 |
Farah 信托由丈夫之父在泽西设立,受益人包括其诸子;丈夫名下有 designated fund,另有 Yearling 信托为孙辈专项。设立人生前实际按子女意愿调拨子基金,protector 惯常照办。
婚姻破裂后,妻子在英格兰法院申请附随经济救济。一审 Baron J 依 s.25(2)(a) MCA 1973 认定:信托资产属于丈夫'在可预见将来可能取得的资源',据此作出大额裁决,命令向丈夫支付并在其不付款时对信托实施干预。
丈夫与其子上诉。其核心攻击是 Charman v Charman 确立的'likelihood test':他们认为对'王朝信托'(dynastic trust)须适用更严的检验——妻子须证明受托人'将会'(will)付款,而非仅仅'可能'(likely)。
Black LJ 驳回了'接近确定性'的说法:s.25(2)(a) 本身要求法院评估的是当事人'在可预见将来很可能拥有的'财产与资源;Charman 案的问题始终是受托人'是否可能'(would be likely to)按请求拨付,此为概率判断而非确定性判断。
就'施压受托人'(improper pressure)的指控,Black LJ 指出压力实际落在丈夫而非受托人身上——命令要求的是向丈夫付款而非直接向妻子付款。Lewison LJ 补充:既然事实上一贯是受托人与 protector 按丈夫所请行事,继续照此行事谈不上施压。上诉被驳回。
| Principal Registry of the Family Division | Whaley v Whaley [2010](一审 financial remedy) · Baron J 2010 信托资产计入丈夫资源,作出大额支付与信托干预命令 |
|---|---|
| England and Wales Court of Appeal (Civil Division) | [2011] EWCA Civ 617 · Ward LJ、Black LJ、Lewison LJ 2011-05-25 驳回上诉:Charman likelihood test 适用于王朝信托,无不当施压 |
Black LJ 指出,把检验标准拔高到'接近确定性'与成文法文本不符:MCA 1973 s.25(2)(a) 要求法院考虑的是当事人'在可预见将来很可能取得的'财产与资源,Charman 案的提问方式正是'受托人是否很可能立即或在可预见将来拨付资本'——这是平衡概率上的判断。
对'王朝信托须另设检验'的主张,法院认为没有任何先例要求对不同性质的信托适用不同测试;问题始终如一,只是答案会因信托的实际情况(设立、受益人、义务、条款、运作实践)而异。本案中设立人生前的运作方式与受托人照办的惯性,使答案不难得出。
Lewison LJ 从全权受益人'无财产权益但有资源'的角度补充:s.25 看的是资源而不只是所有权,故受益人是否有衡平权益并不相干;重要的是'取得的可能性'。既然实践中受托人一贯照办,法院的命令谈不上对受托人施压,更谈不上不当施压。
Such an approach would not be consistent with s 25(2)(a) Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 which refers to the property and other financial resources which each of the parties to the marriage 'is likely to have in the foreseeable future' and it is not in line with the authorities which contemplate a finding (which will obviously be made on the balance of probability) that the trustees are likely to comply with what is requested of them.
那种做法不符合 1973 年婚姻诉讼法 s.25(2)(a)——该条指向的是婚姻各方'在可预见将来很可能拥有'的财产与其他财务资源;也与诸先例不符:先例所设想的正是(显然按盖然性权衡作出的)'受托人很可能按对其所请行事'的认定。
—— Black LJ, [2011] EWCA Civ 617 para 41
Furthermore, it has not been established that the authorities dictate the application of a distinct and different test when determining whether resources from a 'dynastic trust' should be treated as part of the husband's resources for the purposes of s 25(2)(a). Whatever the nature of the trust, this issue is always approached by asking the question set out by Wilson LJ in Charman v Charman.
此外,并未证明先例要求在判断'王朝信托'的资源是否应计入丈夫的资源(s.25(2)(a))时适用一套独特而不同的检验。无论信托性质如何,这一争点始终按 Wilson LJ 在 Charman v Charman 中所设的问题来处理。
—— Black LJ, [2011] EWCA Civ 617 para 55
As I have said, a discretionary beneficiary has no proprietary interest in the fund. But under section 25 the court looks at resources; not just at ownership. ... The question is not one of control of resources: it is one of access to them.
如我所述,全权受益人对信托基金没有财产权益。但依第 25 条,法院看的是资源,而不只是所有权。……这不是对资源的'控制'问题,而是对资源的'获取'问题。
—— Lewison LJ, [2011] EWCA Civ 617 para 114
Since the judge found that in practice the trustees and the Protector did as the husband asked them, it can hardly be said that to continue along the same course amounts to 'pressure' on them; let alone 'undue pressure'.
既然一审已查明实践中受托人与 protector 一贯按丈夫所请行事,那么要求他们继续照此行事,很难说是对他们施'压'——更遑论'不当施压'。
—— Lewison LJ, [2011] EWCA Civ 617 para 120
| 来源等级 A · 法院/官方原文 | BAILII:Whaley v Whaley [2011] EWCA Civ 617 判决全文 |
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| 来源等级 A · 法院/官方原文 | BAILII:同案判决全文([2011] 2 FLR 899 报告对应文本) |