Exercising discretion in an ever-changing world

Exercising discretion when paying death benefits can be challenging for trustees. In this briefing note, we consider the position of a trustee of a pension or life assurance scheme who has to try to unravel the deceased’s personal circumstances in order to make a death benefit or dependant’s pension payment.

It is only very recently that phrases like ‘silver splicers’, ‘silver splitters’ and ‘blended families’ have entered general usage. What each phrase demonstrates is how society is changing from the once-perceived norm of the nuclear family. In this briefing note, we consider the position of a trustee of a pension or life assurance scheme who has to try to unravel the deceased’s personal
circumstances in order to make a death benefit or dependant’s pension payment.

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