LAWS OF GUERNSEY GORDON DAWES MA (Oxon), Dip. Law Certificat d'Etudes Juridiques Francises et Normandes of Middle Temple, Barrister Advocate of the Royal Court of the Island of Guernsey With a foreword written by the Bailiff of Guernsey •HART- • PUBLISHING ... • OXFORD 2003 Contents Foreword xjji Acknowledgements xv Abbreviations xxj Table of Cases xxiii Table of Laws, Statutes and other Legislative Materials xxxvii Table of Orders of the Royal Court, Rules, Practice Directions etc. lxxvii Bailiffs of Guernsey from the Restoration lxxxiii INTRODUCTION 1 1 SOURCES OF GUERNSEY LAW AND THE FORCE OF PRECEDENT . 5 Historical background 5 Customary law 6 Other sources for Guernsey Law 1 \ The rule of precedent in Guernsey Law 13 2 THE CONSTITUTION OF THE BAILIWICK OF GUERNSEY 17 The constitutional position of the Channel Islands 17 The Bailiff 23 The States of Deliberation 26 Party politics and the executive 29 The legislative process in Guernsey 30 States and States' Committees procedural rules 32 The constitution and administration of Alderney 34 The constitution and administration of Sark 37 Sark legislation 39 The Bailiwick of Guernsey and the European Union 39 The Court structure of the Bailiwick 41 The Ecclesiastical Court 42 3 THE REVIEW OF ADMINISTRATIVE DECISIONS 45 4 THE HOUSING CONTROL AND RIGHT TO WORK LEGISLATION 51 The Housing (Control of Occupation) (Guernsey) Law 1994 51 The Law in Practice 53 Appeals 55 Other provisions of the Housing Law 59 The Right to Work (Limitation and Proof) (Guernsey) Law 1990 60 vi Contents Alderney and Sark 61 Immigration 62 5 CONTROL OF DEVELOPMENT 63 The Detailed Development Plan 63 Planning Control 64 Ancient Monuments 69 Draft Land, Planning and Development Law 70 Wrecks and military remains 76 Alderney development law 76 Sark development law 76 6 FAMILY LAW 79 Formation of marriage and aspects of legitimacy 79 Family proceedings in the Magistrate's Court 80 Financial provision in the Magistrate's Court 80 Custody and access 81 Domestic violence 83 Miscellaneous powers of the Magistrate's Court 86 Applications for domestic violence protection in the Royal Court 89 Affiliation proceedings 89 The Separation Maintenance and Affiliation Proceedings (Alderney) Law 1964 91 The Matrimonial Causes Law 1939 92 The Matrimonial Causes Division of the Royal Court 92 Ancillary jurisdictions 99 Matrimonial Causes Rules 1952 102 Married Women's Property Law 1928 107 Child Protection: The Children and Young Persons (Guernsey) Law 1967 108 The Child Protection (Guernsey) Law 1972 113 The Protection of Children (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Law 1985 114 The Children and Young Persons (Secure Accommodation) (Guernsey) Law 1997 114 Adoption 115 Guidance for interim measures in respect of children matters 118 7 GUARDIANSHIP (TUTELLE AND CURATELLE) 123 Tutelle in customary law 123 Statutory guardianship of minors 127 Law Reform (Age of Majority and Guardianship of Minors) (Guernsey) Law 1978 127 Guardianship of minors in Alderney 131 Care proceedings 131 Curatelle 131 8 LAW OF TRUSTS; THE TRUSTS (GUERNSEY) LAW 1989 137 The Guernsey trust 137 Provisions of general application to Guernsey trusts 140 Appointment and retirement of trustees 142 Contents vii Trustee duties 143 Failure, lapse and termination of trusts 148 Variation of trusts 149 Application for directions 150 Orders for the execution, administration or enforcement of a trust 152 Rectification of trust instruments 152 Trustee liability 157 Constructive trusts 161 Innocent recipients 162 The outgoing trustee 163 Directors'liability 164 Retrospective effect 165 The Public Trustee 165 9 SUCCESSION LAWS OF THE BAILIWICK 167 Origins of Bailiwick Laws of Succession 167 Meubles and immeubles 170 Governing law 172 Propres and acquets 173 Preconditions for the making of a valid will 176 Formal requirements in the Island of Guernsey 177 Formal requirements in the Island of Alderney 178 Formal requirements in the Island of Sark 178 Professional fees 179 Guernsey testate succession 179 Guernsey intestate succession 182 Alderney testate succession 186 Alderney intestate succession 188 Sark succession 190 Avoidance 195 Prescription 197 Winding up of estates 198 Rectification of wills and testamentary trusts 198 Conclusion 199 10 INCOME TAX 201 Introduction 201 Liability to Guernsey Income Tax 202 Double taxation relief 208 Taxation of non-residents via their agents 210 The taxation of partnerships 212 The taxation of persons under guardianship 213 The taxation of trustees 213 Revocable settlements and settlements on children 214 Personal representatives 215 Taxation of spouses 215 Social security 218 viii Contents 11 INSOLVENCY 219 Desastre 219 The Commissioner 221 The Law relating to Debtors and Renunciation 1929 230 Powers of the Court to re-schedule debt and interest 239 Saisie 240 12 SECURITY INTERESTS 251 Introduction 251 The Law of Property (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Guernsey) Law 1979 252 The Security Interests (Guernsey) Law 1993 254 13 CONTROL OF BORROWING 261 The Borrowing (Control) (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Law 1946 261 The Control of Borrowing (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Ordinance 1959 262 Summary 265 14 FINANCIAL SERVICES REGULATION IN THE BAILIWICK 267 Introduction 267 The Protection of Investors (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Law 1987 269 The Banking Supervision (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Law 1994 272 The Regulation of Fiduciaries, Administration Businesses and Company Directors, etc. (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Law 2000 274 The Insurance Laws 2002 285 The Insurance Business (Financial Guarantee: Special Provisions) (Guernsey) Law 1996 297 Financial services ombudsman 297 The future 297 The Data Protection (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Law 2001 298 15 GUERNSEY COMPANY LAW 299 Formation of a Guernsey company 299 The day to day requirements in the life of a Guernsey company 303 Protection of share capital and shareholder rights 310 Directors' duties and liabilities 312 Minority shareholder protection 314 Ending the life of a company 317 The protected cell company 327 Companies limited by guarantee 328 The amalgamation of companies 329 The migration of companies 330 The Companies (Financial Assistance for Acquisition of Own Shares) Ordinance 1998 332 The Companies (Purchase of Own Shares) Ordinance 1998 333 Limited partnerships 334 Partnership Law 337 Contents be 16 EMPLOYMENT LAW 339 Introduction 339 Contractual rights 340 Statutory rights: The Conditions of Employment (Guernsey) Law 1985 342 Statutory rights: The Employment Protection (Guernsey) Law 1998 344 Procedural fairness 357 Board of Industry advice and codes of practice 358 Compensation for unfair dismissal 359 Private international law and the 1998 Law 361 Proposals for reform 361 Sunday shop working 362 Restraint of trade and the protection of confidential information 362 17 HEALTH AND SAFETY AT WORK LAW 363 Introduction 363 Sources for Guernsey health and safety law 363 The Health, Safety and Welfare of Employees Law 1950 367 The Safety of Employees (Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance 1952 367 The Quarries (Safety) Ordinance 1954 367 The Safety of Employees (First-Aid and Welfare) Ordinance 1954 367 The Safety of Employees (Growing Properties) Ordinance 1954 368 The Safety of Employees (Electricity) Ordinance 1956 368 The Safety of Employees (Woodworking Machinery) Ordinance 1959 368 The Safety of Employees (Ionising Radiations) (Guernsey) Ordinance 1967 369 The Safety of Pits Ordinance 1973 369 The Health and Safety at Work etc. (Guernsey) Law 1979 369 The Health and Safety at Work (General) (Guernsey) Ordinance 1987 369 Employers Liability (Compulsory Insurance) (Guernsey) Law 1993 373 Summary 373 18 CIVIL COURTS AND PROCEDURE 375 Introduction 375 Sources of Bailiwick procedural law 377 Bailiwick Courts and their civil jurisdiction 379 The Royal Court 384 The Court of Appeal (Civil Division) 386 The ludicial Committee of the Privy Council 394 Prescription 396 Personal injury claims 401 Fatal accidents legislation 407 Loi par rapport aux Tierces Parties (Droits contre Assureurs) 1936 409 Uninsured drivers, untraced drivers and unsatisfied judgments 410 Royal Court civil procedure 419 Registration of claims 429 Security for costs 430 Affidavits 444 Summary judgment 445 x Contents Preparing for trial 457 Recusation 464 Trial 466 The Royal Court (Costs and Fees) Rules 1990 474 The Royal Court (Costs and Fees) Rules 2000 474 Requete civile 476 Enforcement of judgments 476 Enforcement of foreign judgments in Guernsey 477 Non-contentious applications 483 19 INJUNCTIONS, ARRETS AND THE CLAMEUR DE HARO 485 The Clameur de Haro 485 The arret 487 Injunctions 494 Mareva injunctions 499 Anton Piller orders 503 20 CONFLICT OF LAWS 507 21 CRIMINAL COURTS AND PROCEDURE 511 Introduction 511 Bailiwick Courts of summary jurisdiction 512 The Administration of Justice (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Law 1991 517 Mode of trial 521 Guilty pleas and summary trial in Courts of summary jurisdiction 522 Committal Proceedings 522 Plea and Directions Hearing 525 Royal Court trial: The respective roles of the Bailiff and Jurats 527 Sentencing 528 Rights of appeal 538 Misuse of drugs 545 The Misuse of Drugs (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Law 1974 545 The Customs and Excise (General) Provisions (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Law 1972 549 Drug sentencing 552 The Drug Trafficking (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Law 2000 557 The Vienna Convention 562 Money laundering and related legislation 567 The Criminal Justice (Fraud Investigation) (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Law 1991 568 Disclosure of information 571 False documents and domicile 572 The Criminal Justice (Proceeds of Crime)