Common intention constructive trusts: An agreement unravels

Professor Sukhninder Panesar considers a case where the court was required to consider whether a common intention construction trust arose on a transfer of property that was made under mistake Having established that the defendant did not have an interest under a common intention constructive trust, the question was what relief the court would grant …
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O’Neill v Holland [2020] WTLR 1397

Wills & Trusts Law Reports | Winter 2020 #181

This was a second appeal against the decision of HHJ Pelling to overturn the trial judge’s order declaring inter alia that A was a 50% beneficial owner of A and R’s former home (the property) under a common intention constructive trust.

The trial judge had found that A’s father had bought the property in 1998 with the intention that it should be A and R’s family home. In 2008, A’s father had transferred the property to R for nil consideration. The trial judge had found that A’s father intended A to have a beneficial interest in it and had originally planned to transfer it into A a...

Common Intention Constructive Trusts: The role of illegality

Sukhninder Panesar examines a case where one of the beneficiaries to a common intention constructive trust of land had been involved in an illegal purpose ‘O’Kelly provides an excellent example of when a constructive trust will be imposed in cases where the legal title is taken in the sole name of one of the cohabiting …
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Gallarotti v Sebastianelli [2012] EWCA Civ 865

Wills & Trusts Law Reports | November 2012 #124

Mr Gallarotti (G) and Mr Sebastianelli (S) had been friends since 1988. They moved to London to make their careers and habitually rented flats together, both contributing towards the outgoings. In 1997 they took the step of buying a flat (the flat) together, although it was transferred into S’s sole name. The total cost was £188,287.44. S contributed £86,500 and G contributed £26,896.20. The remainder was met by a mortgage taken out by S and against which G agreed to postpone any interest he might have.

No written agreement existed to establish an express declaration of trus...