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A practical partner for tax advisers, estate planners and family offices International wealth planning is becoming increasingly complex. Families are moving between countries, businesses are expanding internationally, and clients are looking for ways to protect wealth and provide for future generations.

A Cook Islands asset protection trust is designed to help preserve and manage assets in accordance with the settlor’s wishes. An important feature of many trusts is the appointment of a Trust Protector.

The Trust Mistake That Leaves Assets Unprotected Asset Protection Trusts (APTs) are often marketed as a bulletproof solution for shielding your wealth from creditors, lawsuits, and unforeseen financial threats. However, a common and critical mistake is assuming that simply setting up an APT is enough to protect your assets. Without properly transferring (or “settling”) your assets into the trust, it remains an empty legal shell, offering no real protection. This oversight can leave you vulnerable and defeat the entire purpose of having an APT. In this article, we’ll explore why your APT isn’t protecting your assets if you haven’t formally

For foreigners living in the United States, building wealth is only half the battle. The bigger challenge often lies in protecting that wealth and transferring it efficiently to the next generation—without it being eroded by lawsuits…

The Cook Islands APT is already recognized for its strong asset protection features. However, incorporating a Cook Islands LLC adds another layer of security and flexibility…

The assets of a business are often exposed to litigation and because of this most businesses are owned by limited liability companies. This protects the members from judgments against the business flowing through to them. However…

Part 4 of 4 – Matrimonial courts are inherently suspicious of trusts because of the potential for a dominant party (often the settlor) to use powers contained in the trust to abuse a subordinate party. For this reason, a number of provisions in the Act are designed…

Part 3 of 4 – The International Relationship Property Trust Act (2021) aims to safeguard family businesses from forced sales often triggered by divorce or separation.

Part 2 of 4 – What are the key differences between an IRPT and a prenuptial agreement?
Contrasting an IRPT with a Prenuptial Agreement. While both relate to how assets are dealt with in case of relationship breakdowns…

Part 1 of 4 – Key Benefits and Challenges of the International Relationship Property Trust Act (2021) Here are some benefits and challenges presented by the International Relationship Property Trust Act (2021): Benefits:   Protection from Asset Division: The Act offers a way for couples to identify and protect parts of their assets from being divided in the event of separation or divorce, ensuring that the assets remain within the trust and are used according to the trust’s terms. This is especially important given the increasing tendency of courts to treat trust assets as matrimonial property in divorce proceedings. Preservation