Wealth Preservation
Asset Protection
& Trust Services
Sophisticated legal structures engineered to preserve your wealth, protect your assets, and secure your family legacy for generations.
Protect Your AssetsWhy Asset Protection
Safeguard What You've
Worked Hard to Build
In today's litigious and unpredictable environment, protecting your assets is not just prudent — it is essential. Whether you are a business owner, investor, or high-net-worth individual, our asset protection strategies provide a legally robust shield around your wealth from third party claim.
Creditor Protection
Legally separate your personal assets from business liabilities and potential claims, creating a robust barrier against creditors.
Family Succession
Ensure your wealth is transferred according to your wishes, minimising probate complications and estate taxes.
Privacy & Confidentiality
Trusts and offshore structures maintain a high degree of privacy, keeping your financial affairs out of the public domain.
Legal Separation
Create clear legal boundaries between your personal wealth and business operations, reducing exposure and risk.
Trust Structures
Types of Trusts You Can Establish
Our trust consultants work with a broad range of trust structures, each tailored to achieve specific objectives within your overall wealth plan. Authorised Trustees are then engaged to provide essential trustee services.
Discretionary Trust
The trustee has full discretion to distribute assets among beneficiaries. Ideal for family wealth and succession planning with maximum flexibility.
Learn MoreFixed Interest Trust
Beneficiaries have a defined entitlement to income or capital, providing certainty and clear succession planning outcomes.
Learn MoreCharitable Trust
Established for charitable purposes, offering tax advantages and the ability to create a lasting philanthropic legacy.
Learn MoreAsset Protection Trust
Specifically designed to shield assets from potential creditors or litigation, with robust legal structures across favourable jurisdictions.
Learn MorePurpose Trust
Created for a specific non-charitable purpose, such as holding shares in a family company or facilitating a commercial transaction.
Learn MoreInternational Trust
Cross-border trust structures leveraging international jurisdictions to maximise privacy, tax efficiency, and legal protection.
Learn MoreSelf-Administered Trust (International Only)
Empowers the settlor or a designated administrator to retain day-to-day control over trust assets and decisions, combining flexibility with personal oversight while maintaining the legal protection of a trust structure.
Learn MoreGroup Investment Trust Wrapper
A collective trust structure designed to pool assets from multiple investors under a single wrapper, enabling shared investment management, consolidated administration, and enhanced economies of scale.
Learn MorePrivate Trust Company (PTC)
A purpose-built private company that acts as trustee of one or more family trusts, allowing the family to retain control over trustee decisions while benefiting from the legal protections and governance framework of a corporate trustee structure.
Learn MoreDomestic Structures
UK Trusts &
Onshore Planning
UK trusts are governed by the Trustee Act 2000 and a well-established body of English trust law, making them a reliable and respected vehicle for domestic wealth planning, inheritance tax mitigation, and family succession.
Whether you are looking to protect assets for future generations, manage a family estate, or structure a charitable legacy, UK trust law provides a comprehensive framework with clear legal precedent and HMRC-recognised tax treatment.
Our advisers work alongside UK solicitors and tax specialists to ensure your onshore trust is correctly structured, registered with HMRC's Trust Registration Service (TRS) where required, and administered in full compliance with UK legislation.
Trust Registration Service (TRS)
Since September 2022, most UK express trusts must be registered with HMRC's Trust Registration Service, regardless of whether they have a UK tax liability. We guide clients through registration and ongoing compliance obligations.
Inheritance Tax & UK Trusts
UK trusts can be powerful IHT planning tools. Discretionary trusts are subject to the relevant property regime — a 6% periodic charge every 10 years and an exit charge on distributions — but can still offer significant long-term IHT savings when structured correctly.
Combining UK & Offshore Structures
For internationally mobile clients, a combination of a UK onshore trust and an offshore structure can provide optimal flexibility, privacy, and tax efficiency. Our advisers specialise in cross-border trust planning.
Bare Trust
The simplest form of UK trust — the beneficiary has an absolute right to the assets and any income generated. Commonly used for holding assets for minors until they reach 18.
Interest in Possession Trust
A beneficiary (the life tenant) has the right to receive income from the trust as it arises. Capital passes to remainder beneficiaries on the life tenant's death.
Discretionary Trust
Trustees have full discretion over how income and capital are distributed among a class of beneficiaries. Highly flexible for family wealth planning and inheritance tax mitigation.
Accumulation Trust
Trustees can accumulate income within the trust rather than distributing it. Often used to build up a fund for future beneficiaries such as grandchildren.
Will Trust
Created by a Will and comes into effect on the death of the testator. Allows assets to be held and managed for beneficiaries rather than passing outright on death.
Charitable Trust
Established for exclusively charitable purposes recognised under UK law. Benefits from significant tax reliefs including exemption from income tax, CGT, and IHT.
Mixed Trust
Combines elements of different trust types — for example, an interest in possession for one beneficiary and discretionary powers for others. Useful for complex family arrangements.
Parental Settlement Trust
A trust created by a parent for their minor unmarried child. Subject to special anti-avoidance rules — income is treated as the parent's for tax purposes until the child turns 18.
Common Intention Trust
A constructive trust arising where two or more parties share a common intention to hold a beneficial interest in property — most frequently arising in co-habitation and property disputes. Recognised by English courts where one party has contributed financially but is not named on the legal title.
Family Asset Protection Trust
A UK-governed trust structure specifically designed to ringfence family wealth from third-party claims, care home fee assessments, divorce proceedings, and beneficiary creditors. Assets are transferred into trust and managed for the benefit of family members, while being legally separated from their personal estates.
Need guidance on UK trust structures?
Our advisers can help you identify the right onshore trust for your circumstances and ensure full HMRC compliance.
Side-by-Side
Trust Structure Comparison
Compare international and UK trust structures side-by-side across key planning criteria to identify the solution that best aligns with your wealth objectives.
| Trust Type | Settlor Control | Beneficiary Certainty | Asset Protection | Privacy | Tax Efficiency | Succession | Complexity | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
International Structures— Offshore & Cross-Border | ||||||||
| Discretionary Trust | Family wealth & succession | |||||||
| Fixed Interest Trust | Defined succession outcomes | |||||||
| Charitable Trust | Philanthropy & tax planning | |||||||
| Asset Protection Trust | Creditor & litigation defence | |||||||
| Purpose Trust | Commercial & holding structures | |||||||
| International Trust | Cross-border wealth planning | |||||||
| Self-Administered Trust | Hands-on asset oversight | |||||||
| Group Investment Wrapper | Pooled investment management | |||||||
| Private Trust Company | Family governance & control | |||||||
UK Onshore Structures— Governed by Trustee Act 2000 & HMRC | ||||||||
Bare TrustUK | Holding assets for minors | |||||||
Interest in PossessionUK | Life tenant income rights | |||||||
UK Discretionary TrustUK | Flexible family IHT planning | |||||||
Accumulation TrustUK | Building funds for future beneficiaries | |||||||
Will TrustUK | Estate & succession on death | |||||||
UK Charitable TrustUK | Philanthropy & tax relief | |||||||
Mixed TrustUK | Complex multi-beneficiary families | |||||||
Parental Settlement TrustUK | Gifts to minor children | |||||||
Common Intention TrustUK | Co-habitation & property disputes | |||||||
Family Asset Protection TrustUK | Protecting family assets from care & divorce | |||||||
Ratings are indicative and based on typical structures. Individual outcomes depend on jurisdiction, drafting, and personal circumstances. Always seek professional advice before establishing a trust.
Fiduciary Excellence
Professional
Trustee Services
Acting as professional trustees, each trustee assumes full fiduciary responsibility for the administration and management of trust assets. Each trustee team brings decades of experience, ensuring your trust operates in full compliance with all relevant laws and regulations.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a trust and a company for asset protection?
A trust holds assets on behalf of beneficiaries without the need for shareholders, providing greater flexibility and privacy. A company creates a separate legal entity that can own assets, offer liability protection, and facilitate operational activities. Many of our clients use a combination of both.
How quickly can a trust be established?
A straightforward trust structure can typically be established within 2-5 business days once all required documentation and due diligence information has been received. Complex multi-party or multi-jurisdictional structures may take longer.
Which jurisdictions offer the strongest asset protection laws?
Jurisdictions such as The Bahamas, Nevis, Cayman Islands, BVI, Isle of Man, and Jersey have particularly robust asset protection legislation. The optimal choice depends on your specific circumstances, domicile, and assets.
Can existing assets be transferred into a trust?
Yes, assets can be transferred into a trust through a process known as "settlement." We advise on the timing, valuation, and legal mechanics of transferring various asset classes into trust structures.
Protect Your Future
Secure Your Wealth & Assets Today
Speak with our trust consultants for a confidential review of your asset protection needs and discover the structures best suited to your circumstances.
Book a Consultation