Knight v Knight (1840) 3 Beav 148

Facts

  • The case addressed the requirements for the creation of a valid private express trust within English equity law.
  • The court considered the doctrine of trusts and the necessity for a clear legal framework to ensure effective and equitable administration of trusts.
  • The central question was whether a purported trust failed for not meeting essential criteria, leading to its invalidity and unenforceability.

Issues

  1. Whether the creation of a private express trust requires specific legal criteria to be satisfied to be valid in equity.
  2. Whether the absence of one or more of these requirements would render a trust invalid or unenforceable.
  3. How the certainty of intention, subject matter, and objects operates in the assessment of trust validity.

Decision

  • The court identified and confirmed that three certainties—certainty of intention, certainty of subject matter, and certainty of objects—are required for the creation of a valid trust.
  • Absence of any of these certainties results in the trust failing and being unenforceable in equity.
  • The court discussed how each certainty operates and provided guidance on their practical application in subsequent cases.

Legal Principles

  • Certainty of intention requires a clear and objectively demonstrated intention to create a trust, rather than merely a moral obligation or wish.
  • Certainty of subject matter means the property to be held on trust must be clearly defined and ascertainable with sufficient specificity.
  • Certainty of objects requires that beneficiaries be clearly identified or ascertainable, with distinct requirements for fixed and discretionary trusts.
  • The "complete list" test applies to fixed trusts, requiring the possibility of compiling a full list of beneficiaries.
  • The "is or is not" test, applicable to discretionary trusts, necessitates that it be clear whether any individual is or is not a member of the class of beneficiaries.
  • If any one of these certainties is missing, the trust is not valid or enforceable under law.

Conclusion

Knight v Knight (1840) 3 Beav 148 is foundational in trust law, establishing the necessity for certainty of intention, subject matter, and objects for the validity of private express trusts; these principles ensure clarity, enforceability, and fairness in the administration of trusts and continue to shape equitable doctrine.

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