Are Constructive Trusts Institutional or Remedial?

Constructive Trusts and Proprietary Estoppel
⇒ While a constructive trust is institutional rather than remedial, estoppel may be remedial. ⇒ Proprietary estoppel requires the elements of representation, reliance and detriment.

Are constructive trusts remedial?

A remedial constructive trust, as I understand it, is different. It is a judicial remedy giving rise to an enforceable equitable obligation: the extent to which it operates retrospectively to the prejudice of third parties lies in the discretion of the court.

What is a institutional constructive trust?

An institutional constructive trust is one that arises by operation of the principles of equity and whose existence the Court simply recognises in a declaratory way. ... A remedial constructive trust is one imposed by the Court as a remedy in circumstances where, before the order of the Court, no trust of any kind existed.

James H. Sterling

James H. Sterling

Environmental Science & Climate Journalist

James Sterling reports on renewable energy developments, climate policy, ecological conservation, and green tech innovations around the globe.