In 1989 the Cook Islands became the first country to enact a comprehensive set of laws protecting the assets of trusts from 3rd party creditors. Although many jurisdictions have now copied parts of our law, these are piecemeal, and incomplete, leaving transfers of assets exposed to challenge. 

Cook Islands law is internationally recognised as giving a Settlor the highest level of protection of any jurisdiction, with more than 30 years of Court decision defining what can and cannot be done. Unlike other offshore jurisdictions, asset protection trusts dominate all other offshore business in the Cook Islands. 

Family trusts are used in most English law jurisdictions to provide protection of core wealth across generations against financial misadventure. This objective is continually under threat from new law extending creditor rights and remedies. Investors may lose not only the funds they invested in a project, but also expose other unrelated assets and wealth to creditor action.

Cook Islands law is old law, several years behind the law of more developed countries, and this time difference gives considerable advantage to a trust settled in the Cook Islands. The International Trusts Act 1984 codifies much of this older Cook Islands law, at the same time as insulating it from newly developing doctrines which are not appropriate in the Cook Islands. This legislation was unique at the time and has withstood the test of time despite numerous challenges in both Cook Islands and foreign courts.

We provide specialist services to international clients in this area, both in advising on establishment of trusts and in acting as a professional trustee.

There are several structures designed to allow the settlor to continue investment via the APT with confidence.  

Sole Trustee holding assets directly

T&F act as sole trustee, holding investment accounts with a bank or brokerage house outside of the onshore jurisdiction. Any assets attracting liability are held via an LLC or IBC.

Co-trustees

T&F act as a co-trustee together with an onshore person selected by the settlor. The duties of the co-trustees may be divided between them. There are 2 relationships given statutory recognition:

• Custodian/Managing Trustee – The custodian trustee (normally T&F) holds title to trust assets, while the managing trustee (normally the settlor or his advisor) is responsible for managing the investment activity of the trust.
• Advisory Trustee – An advisory trustee (normally the settlor or his advisor) is authorised to give advice to the trustee on any matters, but does not qualify as a trustee. Meanwhile the other trustee is excused from liability if it acts in accordance with the advice of the advisory trustee.