Constructive trusts occupy a unique and powerful position in common law. They are one of equity’s most potent tools for resolving property disputes. At the same time, the incremental and siloed way in which constructive trust doctrines have developed has generated significant confusion, both in their internal rationales and in their cross‑border applications. This article argues that, by approaching constructive trusts systematically – starting with a clear definition that distinguishes them from express and resulting trusts; analysing them as replicative, reflective or transformative constructive trusts; and then applying that analytical framework to the institutional and remedial constructive trust debate, as well as to choice of law matters – we can begin clearly to see patterns and principles that were previously obscured.