The Law of Trusts: How Equity Jurisdiction took over the Common Law.

The development of the law of trusts in England was influenced by a number of historical events, including the growth of the equity jurisdiction of the court of chancery. Equity refers to a body of legal principles and rules that complement and supplement the common law, and it developed in England as a response to the inflexibility and harshness of the common law. The earliest recorded instances of equity being applied to trusts date back to the 16th century, and over time, the equity jurisdiction of the court of chancery came to play a significant role in shaping the law of trusts. The process of equity taking over the common law with respect to trusts was a gradual one, and it was not until the 19th century that the courts fully embraced the principles of equity in their treatment of trusts. Today, the law of trusts is largely a creature of equity, and the principles and rules governing trusts are largely the product of the development of equity jurisdiction over time.