Offshore Asset Protection Trusts
An offshore asset protection trust is the most robust, secure, and legally-tested vehicle for protecting your wealth. It is the pinnacle of personal asset protection, designed to shield your assets from frivolous lawsuits, future creditors, and forced heirship claims.
As the pioneers of the Cook Islands trust legislation, Southpac provides unrivaled expertise in structuring these solutions.
Choose Southpac for Security & Peace of Mind
High-net-worth individuals, entrepreneurs, and many professionals face a level of risk that requires a sophisticated defense. A properly structured offshore trust, established in a premier jurisdiction, moves your assets beyond the reach of domestic courts.
Protection from Frivolous Lawsuits
Secure your assets before a claim arises. A trust can deter litigation before it even begins.
Deterrence of Foreign Judgments
Premier jurisdictions like the Cook Islands and Nevis do not recognize or enforce foreign court orders, meaning a new trial is required in the jurisdiction your trust is formed in - a near-impossible hurdle for a creditor.
Avoidance of Forced Heirship
Grant you true testamentary freedom, allowing you to distribute your assets according to your wishes, not the mandated rules of your home country.
Unmatched Privacy
Trust details are not public. Strict privacy laws make it an offence to disclose information to a third party unless authorized by law to do so, protecting the confidentiality of the settlor and beneficiaries.
Our Premier Trust Jurisdictions
The jurisdiction is the most critical choice in your trust's strategy. We have built our legacy on the two most powerful and stable jurisdictions in the world.
The Cook Islands Trusts
We are the first Cook Islands trust company. We were instrumental in developing the legislation that created the modern asset protection trust, which remains the most secure, tested, and formidable in the world.
- Key Feature: The highest “impossibility” burden for creditors.
- Best For: U/HNWI seeking the absolute highest level of protection and legal precedent.
Nevis Trusts
Nevis offers a powerful combination of trust law (modeled on the Cook Islands) and corporate flexibility. It is renowned for its Nevis LLC, which is often combined with a trust for a multi-layered asset protection strategy.
- Key Feature: Strong corporate privacy and charging order protection for LLCs.
- Best For: Entrepreneurs and clients who need to combine asset holding with operational flexibility.
New Zealand Trusts
For clients seeking a "mid-shore" solution, a New Zealand foreign trust offers a modern approach. It combines New Zealand's stable, OECD-member reputation as one of the most transparent and least corrupt nations on earth with favorable trust laws.
- Key Feature: Modern, reputable legal system and world renowned stability
- Best For: Wealth management, succession planning, and clients from non-traditional jurisdictions.
Why Choose Southpac as Your Fiduciary?
When you partner with Southpac, you are not just a client; you are part of a legacy. As the pioneers of the Cook Islands trust, we have a depth of institutional knowledge that no other provider can claim. Our team of qualified professionals, lawyers, and fiduciaries ensures your structure is not only compliant but fit for purpose and built to endure.
As the pioneers of the Cook Islands trust legislation, Southpac provides unrivaled expertise in structuring these solutions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Offshore Asset Protection Trusts
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A domestic trust is governed by the laws of your home country, making it vulnerable to local court orders. An offshore trust is governed by the laws of its own jurisdiction, which (in the case of the Cook Islands and Nevis) is specifically designed to not recognize foreign judgments.
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Yes. Offshore trusts are a legitimate and long-standing legal tool for succession planning and asset protection. We adhere to all global compliance and reporting standards for our clients.
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For asset protection, yes. Many domestic irrevocable trusts have been successfully penetrated by creditors. The primary danger of a standard irrevocable trust is that it offers a false sense of security. The legal hurdles in jurisdictions like the Cook Islands are exponentially higher.
Request a Confidential Consultation
The most effective asset protection strategy is one built long before it is needed. We invite you (or your legal counsel) to request a confidential, no-obligation consultation with one of our senior specialists to determine the most appropriate structure for your unique situation.
