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Trustee Act 1958
19Power to compound liabilities
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19 Power to compound liabilities
S. 19(1) amended by Nos 55/1987 s. 57(3)(Sch. 5 item 61), 45/1994 s. 42(Sch. item 12.5).
(1) A personal representative, or two or more trustees acting together, or, subject to the restrictions imposed in regard to receipts by a sole trustee, not being a trustee company, a sole acting trustee where by the instrument (if any) creating the trust, or by statute a sole trustee is authorized to execute the trusts and powers reposed in him, may, if and as he or they think fit—
(a) accept any property, real or personal, before the time at which it is made transferable or payable; or
(b) sever and apportion any blended trust funds or property; or
(c) pay or allow any debt or claim on any evidence that he or they think sufficient; or
(d) accept any composition or any security, real or personal, for any debt or for any property, real or personal, claimed; or
(e) allow any time for payment of any debt; or
(f) compromise, compound, abandon, submit to arbitration, or otherwise settle any debt, account, claim, or thing whatever relating to the testator's or intestate's estate or to the trust; or
(g) by writing waive or vary any right exercisable by him or them which arises from a failure to comply at or within the proper time with any term of any agreement for sale mortgage lease or other contract; or
(h) without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing powers, where a leasehold is vested in him, or them, and the property is subject to onerous covenants of such a nature that it would not be in the interests of the beneficiaries to retain the property, may surrender or concur in surrendering the lease—
and for any of those purposes may enter into, give, execute, and do such agreements, instruments of composition or arrangement, releases, and other things as to him or them seem expedient, without being responsible for any loss occasioned by any act or thing so done by him or them in good faith.
(2) The powers conferred by this section shall apply both to property of whatever description that belonged to or was vested in a deceased person in succession to whom the property is held by a personal representative or trustee or trustees, and also to property of whatever description that becomes vested in a personal representative or trustee or trustees in the course of the administration of an estate or trust.
No. 5770 s. 20.