Cestui Que Trust

Cestui que trust refers to the individual or entity who benefits from a trust arrangement. This principle arises in the context of trust law, ensuring that the rights and interests of beneficiaries are protected.

The term has its roots in common law, emerging during the establishment of the trust as a legal concept in England in the Medieval period. The phrase is derived from Latin, where it encompasses the idea of a beneficiary.

In modern law, the principle of cestui que trust is key in determining the rights of beneficiaries in various types of trusts. It requires trustees to act in the best interests of the beneficiaries, adhering to fiduciary duties and ensuring proper administration of trust assets.

• A parent creates a trust for their child's education, making the child the cestui que trust.
• In a charitable trust, the organization or cause that benefits from the trust acts as the cestui que trust.

• Saunders v. Vautier (1841)