{"id":18442,"date":"2026-10-20T18:21:15","date_gmt":"2026-10-20T07:21:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chuatan.com.au\/family-trust-roles-control-australia\/"},"modified":"2026-10-20T18:23:32","modified_gmt":"2026-10-20T07:23:32","slug":"family-trust-roles-control-australia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chuatan.com.au\/en\/family-trust-roles-control-australia\/","title":{"rendered":"Who Controls a Family Trust? Settlor, Trustee, Appointor, Protector and Investment Committee"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"ct-article\" data-no-translation>\n<p>Families often describe a trust as &#8220;our trust&#8221;, but legally a trust is a relationship in which a trustee holds assets for beneficiaries under the terms of a deed. Who can make decisions, and who can replace the decision-makers, is set by the deed. Understanding these roles is essential, both for good governance and to avoid unintended consequences in tax, family law and succession.<\/p>\n<h2>The main roles<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Settlor.<\/strong> The person who establishes the trust. In Australian family trusts the settlor is often a nominal figure with no ongoing role. In offshore trusts, the founder who contributes the wealth is often the economic settlor.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Trustee.<\/strong> Holds legal title and makes decisions, often through a company whose directors are family members or a professional trust company.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Appointor or principal.<\/strong> Can remove and appoint the trustee. In practice this is often the real seat of control.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Protector.<\/strong> Common in offshore trusts. Must consent to key decisions, such as distributions, changes to beneficiaries or changes of law.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Beneficiaries.<\/strong> Under a discretionary trust they have no fixed entitlement, only the right to be considered and to proper administration.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>The trustee&#8217;s duties<\/h2>\n<p>Subject to the deed, trustees must act honestly and in good faith, avoid conflicts of interest, take reasonable care, preserve and safeguard the trust property, and account to beneficiaries. When investing, Victorian trustees must consider matters such as the suitability of investments and the need for diversification, review investments, and obtain advice where appropriate.<\/p>\n<h2>Tools families use to retain oversight<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Reserved powers.<\/strong> The deed may reserve investment decisions to the founder or another person. The trustee then retains a core duty to act honestly and in good faith, but not responsibility for those investment choices. Reserved powers must be used carefully: too much retained control can expose the structure to challenge as a sham or as the founder&#8217;s own property, and can change its tax treatment.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Delegation to an investment manager.<\/strong> The trustee appoints a professional manager but must select, monitor and, where necessary, intervene.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Exoneration and &#8220;anti-Bartlett&#8221; clauses.<\/strong> Where a trust holds shares in a family company, a clause may relieve the trustee from monitoring or intervening in the company&#8217;s management, except where it knows of dishonesty. These clauses are usually drafted broadly and can extend to newer asset classes such as digital assets. See <a href=\"\/en\/trustees-crypto-digital-assets-australia\/\">trustees and digital assets<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Investment committees.<\/strong> A formal committee of family principals, family office executives and independent professionals oversees investments, with clear rules for appointment and removal. Trustee representatives and advisers may attend as non-voting observers.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Investment policy.<\/strong> A written policy setting asset allocation, risk appetite, prohibited investments, preferred advisers, and a framework for reporting and resolving disputes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>When control is too concentrated<\/h2>\n<p>In Australian family law, assets of a discretionary trust can be treated as the property of a spouse who effectively controls it, as the High Court held in Kennon v Spry (2008). In tax, Chinese and Australian rules both examine who controls and funds a structure. Good governance therefore means control that is real but shared, documented and subject to checks. See <a href=\"\/en\/family-office-governance-maker-checker\/\">maker-checker governance for family offices<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2>Succession of control<\/h2>\n<p>Many family trust disputes arise because no one planned who would become appointor or director of the trustee company after the founder&#8217;s death or loss of capacity. The deed, the company constitution, the founder&#8217;s will and enduring powers of attorney must work together. See <a href=\"\/en\/family-trust-control-after-death\/\">control of family trusts after death<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2>How we assist<\/h2>\n<p>We review and amend trust deeds, advise trustees and appointors on their powers and duties, prepare investment committee and governance documents, and plan the succession of control. We act in English, Mandarin and Cantonese. Justin Chua is a Nationally Accredited Mediator and an Affiliate member of STEP, the worldwide professional body for trust and estate practitioners.<\/p>\n<div class=\"ct-faq\">\n<h2>Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n<h3>Who really controls a family trust?<\/h3>\n<p>Usually the trustee makes day-to-day decisions, but the appointor, who can remove and replace the trustee, often holds ultimate control. The deed determines who holds each power.<\/p>\n<h3>What is a reserved powers trust?<\/h3>\n<p>A trust in which the deed reserves certain powers, often investment decisions, to the founder or another person. It allows the family to keep influence over investments, but retaining too much control can create legal and tax risks.<\/p>\n<h3>What is an anti-Bartlett clause?<\/h3>\n<p>A clause that relieves a trustee holding shares in a family company from the duty to monitor or intervene in the company&#8217;s management, except where the trustee knows of dishonesty. It is common where the family runs the business.<\/p>\n<h3>Can a family trust be treated as one spouse&#8217;s property in a divorce?<\/h3>\n<p>Yes, in some cases. If one spouse effectively controls a discretionary trust, the Family Court may treat its assets as available for division.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><em>Chua Tan Associates advises families, executors, trustees and their professional advisers on estate planning, estate administration and estate disputes, in Australia and across borders. To arrange a confidential consultation, please contact our Melbourne office on +61 3 9602 3988 or submit an <a href=\"#ct-enquiry\">enquiry<\/a>. Advice is available in English, Mandarin and Cantonese.<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"ct-byline\"><em><a href=\"\/en\/justin-chua\/\">Justin Chua<\/a> (\u8521\u667a\u52cb), lawyer and mediator, Chua Tan Associates, Melbourne. General information only, not legal or tax advice. Victorian law unless stated otherwise.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div id=\"ct-enquiry\" class=\"ct-eq\" data-no-translation>\r\n<style>.ct-eq{background:#f4f1ea;border:1px solid #e3ddd0;border-radius:10px;padding:22px 24px;margin:32px 0;font-size:16px;line-height:1.6}.ct-eq h2,.ct-eq h3{margin:0 0 6px}.ct-eq p{margin:0 0 12px}.ct-eq form{display:grid;grid-template-columns:1fr 1fr;gap:12px}.ct-eq label{display:block;font-size:14px;font-weight:600;margin-bottom:4px}.ct-eq input,.ct-eq select,.ct-eq textarea{width:100%;box-sizing:border-box;padding:10px 12px;border:1px solid #cfc6b4;border-radius:6px;font-size:16px;background:#fff}.ct-eq .full{grid-column:1\/-1}.ct-eq button{background:#8a6a3b;color:#fff;border:0;border-radius:6px;padding:12px 22px;font-size:16px;cursor:pointer}.ct-eq .hp{position:absolute;left:-9999px}.ct-eq small{color:#5f5a50}.ct-eq .ok{background:#e7f3e8;border-left:4px solid #3c8d40;padding:12px 16px}.ct-eq .bad{background:#fbeaea;border-left:4px solid #b03a2e;padding:12px 16px}.ct-eq .ct-direct{display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:10px;margin-top:14px}.ct-eq .ct-direct a,.ct-eq .ct-direct button{background:#fff;color:#2b2b2b;border:1px solid #cfc6b4;padding:9px 14px;border-radius:6px;text-decoration:none;font-size:15px}@media(max-width:640px){.ct-eq form{grid-template-columns:1fr}}<\/style>\r\n<h3>Tell us about the estate<\/h3>\r\n<p>A short message is enough. We reply in English, Mandarin or Cantonese, and quote fees in writing before any work starts.<\/p>\r\n<form method=\"post\" action=\"https:\/\/chuatan.com.au\/wp-admin\/admin-post.php\">\r\n<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"action\" value=\"ct_estate_enquiry\">\r\n<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"ct_ts\" value=\"1792603635\">\r\n<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"ct_lang\" value=\"en\">\r\n<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"ct_page\" value=\"https:\/\/chuatan.com.au\/en\/family-trust-roles-control-australia\/\">\r\n<div class=\"hp\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><label>Website<input type=\"text\" name=\"ct_website\" tabindex=\"-1\" autocomplete=\"off\"><\/label><\/div>\r\n<div><label for=\"ct_name\">Your name *<\/label><input id=\"ct_name\" name=\"ct_name\" required maxlength=\"120\"><\/div>\r\n<div><label for=\"ct_email\">Email<\/label><input id=\"ct_email\" name=\"ct_email\" type=\"email\" maxlength=\"160\"><\/div>\r\n<div><label for=\"ct_phone\">Phone, WeChat or WhatsApp<\/label><input id=\"ct_phone\" name=\"ct_phone\" maxlength=\"80\"><\/div>\r\n<div><label for=\"ct_language\">Preferred language<\/label><select id=\"ct_language\" name=\"ct_language\"><option>English<\/option><option>Mandarin<\/option><option>Cantonese<\/option><\/select><\/div>\r\n<div><label for=\"ct_type\">What do you need help with?<\/label><select id=\"ct_type\" name=\"ct_type\"><option value=\"\">Please choose<\/option><option>Someone has died and there is a Will<\/option><option>Someone has died and there is no Will<\/option><option>Someone has died and I am not sure if there is a Will<\/option><option>Making or updating a Will or estate plan<\/option><option>Executor or trustee question<\/option><option>A dispute about an estate<\/option><option>Other<\/option><\/select><\/div>\r\n<div><label for=\"ct_state\">Where are the assets?<\/label><select id=\"ct_state\" name=\"ct_state\"><option value=\"\">Please choose<\/option><option>Victoria<\/option><option>New South Wales<\/option><option>Queensland<\/option><option>Western Australia<\/option><option>South Australia<\/option><option>Tasmania<\/option><option>ACT<\/option><option>Northern Territory<\/option><option>More than one state<\/option><option>Overseas as well<\/option><option>Not sure<\/option><\/select><\/div>\r\n<div class=\"full\"><label for=\"ct_time\">Best time to contact you (optional)<\/label><input id=\"ct_time\" name=\"ct_time\" maxlength=\"120\"><\/div>\r\n<div class=\"full\"><label for=\"ct_msg\">Brief details (optional)<\/label><textarea id=\"ct_msg\" name=\"ct_msg\" rows=\"4\" maxlength=\"3000\"><\/textarea><\/div>\r\n<div class=\"full\"><button type=\"submit\">Send enquiry<\/button><br><small>We use your details only to respond to your enquiry. Sending this form does not create a lawyer\u2013client relationship. <a href=\"\/privacy-policy\/\">Privacy<\/a><\/small><\/div>\r\n<\/form>\r\n<div class=\"ct-direct\"><strong style=\"width:100%\">Or contact us directly<\/strong>\r\n<a href=\"tel:+61396023988\">Call +61 3 9602 3988<\/a>\r\n<a href=\"mailto:chuatan@tpg.com.au\">chuatan@tpg.com.au<\/a>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/wa.me\/61490369102\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">WhatsApp +61 490 369 102<\/a>\r\n<button type=\"button\" class=\"ct-wechat\" data-msg=\"WeChat ID copied\">WeChat: chuatan262<\/button>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\t\n\n<div class=\"ct-guides\" data-no-translation><style>.ct-guides{margin:28px 0}.ct-guides ul{display:grid;grid-template-columns:repeat(auto-fit,minmax(230px,1fr));gap:10px;list-style:none;padding:0;margin:10px 0 0}.ct-guides li{margin:0}.ct-guides a{display:block;padding:12px 14px;border:1px solid #e3ddd0;border-radius:6px;text-decoration:none;background:#fff;height:100%}<\/style><h3>Estate guides<\/h3><ul><li><a href=\"\/en\/do-i-need-probate\/\">Do I need probate? 2-minute check<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"\/en\/what-to-do-when-someone-dies\/\">What to do when someone dies: 30-day checklist<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"\/en\/letters-of-administration-victoria\/\">No Will? Letters of administration and who inherits<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"\/en\/estate-planning-victoria\/\">Estate planning: Will, power of attorney, medical decisions<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"\/en\/testamentary-trusts\/\">Testamentary trusts<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"\/en\/superannuation-and-your-will\/\">Superannuation and your Will<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"\/en\/executor-disputes\/\">Executor problems and disputes<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"\/en\/professional-executor-trustee\/\">Professional executor &amp; trustee services<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"\/en\/%E5%AE%A2%E6%88%B7%E8%AF%84%E4%BB%B7\/\">Client reviews<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The roles in a family trust, who really controls it, and the tools families use to keep oversight of investments: reserved powers, investment committees and investment policies.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","_wpcom_ai_launchpad_first_post":false,"_jetpack_hide_featured_image":false,"_jetpack_featured_image_duplicate_dismissed":0,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[25,787516595,106],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-18442","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-25","category-cross-border-families","category-trusts"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v21.2 (Yoast SEO v28.7) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Who Controls a Family Trust? 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