Trust services

Pharmacy unit trust.

When two or more pharmacists own a pharmacy together, a unit trust gives each of them a defined, transferable interest, while still satisfying the ownership restrictions that apply to pharmacies in Victoria.

Lawyer prepared

Deeds drafted and settled by a lawyer, not a form generator.

Fast turnaround

Standard deeds prepared within one business day of instructions.

Fixed fee, quoted first

Fixed fee quoted first, with any duty payable set out up front.

Compliant documents

Trustee Act, Duties Act and ATO practice considered on every deed.

How a pharmacy unit trust is structured.

Units are held by pharmacists or by their permitted structures, with the deed restricting who may hold units and how they may be transferred. Trustee control is kept in pharmacist hands, and unit transfer clauses require compliance before registration.

We prepare the deed, unit register and certificates, the corporate trustee, and a unitholders agreement dealing with exits, valuation, deadlock and what happens if a partner loses registration.

Deal with the exit terms at the start. A pharmacy partnership without agreed valuation and buy-out mechanics is the most common source of costly disputes in the sector.

Why it pays to have this done properly.

Clear ownership shares

Units make each pharmacist's stake, income entitlement and exit value transparent from day one.

Compliant transfer controls

The deed prevents units passing to a person who cannot lawfully hold an interest in a pharmacy.

Partnership terms documented

A unitholders agreement covers decision-making, drawings, restraint and buy-out, the issues that actually cause trouble.

Is this you?.

  • Two or more pharmacists are buying a pharmacy together
  • A pharmacist partner is buying in or exiting
  • Your existing structure was never properly documented
  • A lender requires a defined ownership structure

If any of these sound familiar, a short conversation will tell you whether this is the right document, and what it costs, before you commit.

How it works.

  1. 01

    Tell us what you need

    Start online or call us. We take short instructions, names, roles, structure and timing, and confirm this is the right document for what you are actually trying to achieve.

  2. 02

    We check the detail

    We confirm eligibility, consents, existing documents and any tax or duty consequence before drafting, so nothing is discovered after lodgement.

  3. 03

    We prepare and lodge

    We draft the unit trust deed, unit register and unitholders agreement, send it for signing with clear instructions on who signs what and when, and attend to any ASIC, State Revenue Office or ATO lodgement.

  4. 04

    You get a complete file

    You receive executed documents, registers and confirmations in a single organised pack, plus a short note on what to keep and what happens next.

Fees.

Fixed fee for the deed and establishment pack, with the unitholders agreement quoted alongside it. Duty and trustee company fees are itemised at cost.

Request a fixed-fee quote

FAQs

Frequently asked questions.

Still unsure? Call us on (03) 9008 7224 and speak to a lawyer, not a call centre.

Can units be held by a family trust?
Only where the legislation permits a pharmacist-controlled structure to hold the interest. The deed must restrict holders accordingly.
What happens if a partner loses registration?
A compliant deed and unitholders agreement provide for compulsory transfer within a set period, which is why the clause matters.
How are units valued on exit?
By an agreed formula or independent valuation set out in the unitholders agreement, so the argument is had before there is a dispute.

Ready to get started with pharmacy unit trust?.

Start online or book a consultation with a CMK Legal commercial lawyer in Richmond, Melbourne.