英國已於1986年1月10日簽署海牙信託公約，嗣於1989年11月17日批准海牙信託公約，成為海牙信託公約1992年1月1日正式生效之最初締約國；內國法制部分，英國國會亦於1987年制定信託承認法，將海牙信託公約相關條文內容引致成為英國內國法律，亦即將海牙信託公約國內法化。惟在英國簽署海牙信託公約及信託承認法生效前，英國司法實務運作上，早已存在若干與涉外信託法律適用相關之判例法則，這些判例法原則，與海牙信託公約或信託承認法不相抵觸部分，在英國法制上仍具有法律效力。可確認者，無論傳統判例法或海牙信託公約之規範，尊重委託人創設信託之正當合法意願，均為法律適用之最高指導原則，此一點實足堪我國往後制定、適用、解釋法律之重要依循標準。本文分別論述英國簽署海牙信託公約並制定信託承認法前之跨國信託法律適用判例法則以及英國簽署海牙信託公約並制定信託承認法後之跨國信託法制。

This article examines, inter alia, the interrelationship between English trusts law and conflict of laws as well as their application. It purports to introduce the law applicable to transnational trusts in the United Kingdom before and after its joining the Hague Trusts Convention (”The Convention”). UK is one of the first three Member States of The Convention. Notably, its Parliament has implemented The Convention by the Recognition of Trusts Act 1987, soon after UK's signing The Convention in 1986. Yet, trusts institution has been flourishing in British history for several centuries. Trusts principles per se have been as stable as other law-patterns, such as contract, tort, marriage, or property etc., within English legal system. Therefore, traditional trusts law principles, not inconsistent with The Convention, derived from both Equity Chamber and Common Law Court, remain applicable to modern trusts disputes.In terms of the law applicable to trusts, no matter traditional or modern, domestic or international, testamentary or inter vivos, there is a crystal clear principle that the fulfillment of the Settlor's justified intention, which is manifestly the common core substantive value of trusts law, is the most important consideration with regard to dispute resolution. It is along this line of thought that the author of this article urges the courts or other related authorities to make reference to this substantive value when dealing with a transnational trusts dispute.