Author:Alexandra ErlangerUpdated:28 May 2026
Trust decanting is a practical way for trustees to refresh an existing trust without starting from scratch. By transferring assets into a newly structured trust, provisions can be updated to reflect changing family situations, legal requirements, or financial strategies. This is especially valuable for offshore trusts, which often span multiple jurisdictions and generations. When used carefully, decanting preserves the trust’s original purpose while keeping it flexible and compliant for the long
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Author:Alexandra ErlangerUpdated:18 May 2026
A letter of wishes provides trustees with guidance on how a settlor hopes a trust will be managed and how assets should be distributed. While it is not legally binding, it offers insight into family priorities, long-term goals, and values. Trustees often use it to make discretionary decisions in line with the settlor’s intentions. Regularly updating the letter ensures it remains relevant and effective alongside the formal trust deed.
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Author:Alexandra ErlangerUpdated:11 September 2026
Nevis trusts are a powerful way to protect assets, manage wealth, and plan for the future with privacy and flexibility. They offer strong legal safeguards, but setting one up comes with costs, complexity, and compliance responsibilities. Different types of trusts can be tailored to suit your goals, from estate planning to cross-border asset management. Working with experienced professionals ensures that the trust is legally compliant and effectively protects your wealth.
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Author:Alexandra ErlangerPublished:24 February 2026
Establishing an offshore trust company can help individuals and families manage cross-border wealth more effectively. These structures are commonly used for asset protection, estate planning efficiency, and jurisdictional diversification. When properly structured, they provide a long-term legal framework for preserving and governing wealth across generations.
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Author:Alexandra ErlangerPublished:20 February 2026
Offshore trusts are often misunderstood as tax-free structures, but taxation depends largely on the residency of the settlor, trustee, and beneficiaries. Many countries apply anti-avoidance rules that can attribute income back to the settlor or tax distributions to beneficiaries. Proper structuring and compliance are essential to avoid unexpected tax exposure.
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Author:Alexandra ErlangerUpdated:08 July 2026
A will and a trust serve different roles in estate planning, and the strongest plans often use both. A will provides clear instructions after death, while a trust offers control, continuity, and privacy during life and beyond. The right choice depends on your assets, family situation, and long-term goals. Understanding how these tools work together helps avoid gaps and unintended outcomes.
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Author:Alexandra ErlangerUpdated:08 July 2026
A professional protector is a strategic oversight role in a Nevis trust, ensuring trustees act in line with the trust’s purpose. They approve major decisions, such as trustee changes, distributions, or amendments to the trust deed. Unlike family or personal protectors, professionals bring clarity, consistency, and legal expertise, which improves governance and banking credibility. Well-designed protector powers help trusts remain robust, adaptable, and resilient over the long term.
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Author:Alexandra ErlangerPublished:23 January 2026
Offshore trusts don’t fit neatly into civil-law systems, and recognition is rarely automatic. Courts, banks, and tax authorities focus less on labels and more on who controls assets, who benefits, and how the trust is actually run. This article explains how civil-law recognition works in practice, where offshore trusts most often run into trouble, and which structures tend to hold up better under scrutiny.
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Author:Alexandra ErlangerPublished:21 January 2026
Offshore trusts under common law are built on the same legal foundations as traditional trusts, with additional tools designed for cross-border families and assets. Their effectiveness depends less on jurisdiction and more on governance, behaviour, and proper administration. Offshore does not remove tax or disclosure obligations, and excessive control is where most trusts unravel. When structured realistically and maintained properly, offshore trusts can provide long-term clarity and stability r
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Author:Alexandra ErlangerPublished:13 November 2025
A trust can own a membership interest in a Limited Liability Company (LLC), a common and often effective structure used for estate planning, ensuring ownership continuity, privacy, and potential asset protection. The actual transfer involves the membership interest, not the underlying company itself, which the trustee then manages for the benefit of the beneficiaries according to the trust agreement. The choice between a revocable trust, which is simpler for inheritance and probate avoidance, an
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