Swiss Trustee
Switzerland and trusts
For over four decades, our independence has allowed us to provide unbiased, tailored financial solutions with the utmost precision and care. Trust in our rich heritage and Swiss craftsmanship to secure your financial future with integrity and excellence.
- Switzerland is one of the largest trust administration centres in the world.
- Swiss trustees are licenced and supervised by the Swiss Financial Market Authority (FINMA).
- Switzerland does not have its own substantial law on trusts and there are no Swiss domestic trust. However, a trust may be established according to a foreign law, whereby the governing law (e.g. U.K., Guernsey etc. ) may be chosen by the settlor.
- Switzerland has ratified the Hague Trust Convention on the Recognition of Trusts in 2007, which essentially provides that trusts are recognised and enforced in Switzerland in accordance with the laws chosen to govern a trust. The introduction of specific clauses in various Swiss legal acts provides certainty for a settlor that the trust will be recognised and respected in Switzerland.
- Most international trust laws allow for a service provider from another jurisdiction to act as trustee. It is therefore possible to combine the advantages of a flexible and well recognised common-law trust with the advantages attached to Swiss professional service providers acting as trustee.
Reasons to establish a trust in today’s compliant and transparent world
cross-border inheritance
Cross-border inheritance can be an extremely time-consuming and costly process until the deceased person’s property can be finally distributed.
The transfer of the assets under a trust avoids a lengthy and expensive probate process and eases jurisdictional differences between countries. With a trust solution the management of the assets as well as the access to the assets may be granted without interruption.
lifestyle planning
On their death or separation, unmarried-couples or persons living in non-standard family arrangements are often not adequately catered by the legal systems in many countries.
With the transfer of assets under a trust, the assets can be put under a predefined governance according to the wishes of the deceased.
asset protection
Heirs may be financially unexperienced, be seduced by a sudden inheritance or have a lack of a the long-term view. They are prone to fraudsters or might be wasted by the inherited assets.
With a trust, the settlor is able to plan for the family beyond his/her death and to state exactly how and when the descendants receive their inheritance.
vulnerable persons
Planning ahead for vulnerable dependants can make all the difference. The limited flexibility of traditional tools does usually not offer sufficient comfort for this.
A trust can be designed to provide for a variety of needs such as to pay the costs of education of minors, the health costs of seniors, manage the assets for descendants with disabilities and take care of their needs even after the death of their parents.
preservation of a business
A business may be endangered when it comes to succession. The heirs may not be able to grant a successful continuance of the business due to missing managerial abilities, different objectives from the original owner or amongst themselves.
With the transfer of the business under a trust, it can be put under a predefined business and family governance inclunding a framework for family involvement, dispute prevention and resolution and compensation payments.
consolidation of wealth
Assets held in its own name are usually wide-spread and it is difficult to have a clear overview. The management of these assets causes a lot of costs and is inefficient.
With the transfer of assets under trust, the assets can be consolidated with the trustee. The settlor has a single point of contact. The consolidation simplifies the management, accounting, reporting and monitoring of the assets.
relocation planning
The emigration of a wealthy family often brings unexpected problems due to adaption to the foreign regimes. The relocation offers attractive planning opportunities and incentives.
With the establishment of a trust unexpected consequences as well as the administrative burden to amend the various ownership registers and titles may be avoided.
philanthropy
Wealthy people often are grateful for what they have had in life and want to do something good. They have their specific conception of what and how they want to contribute their assets.
In the form of a charitable trust, assets may be donated to a non-profit-organisation or for charitable purposes and specific conditions may be set for the contribution which may be supervised by the trustee.
flexibility
If an inheritance contract or a last will once have been established, they are quite stare and may no longer be adapted after death.
To the contrary, the trust offers a flexible instrument to adapt to an ever-changing world and needs of beneficiaries. The trustee is able to adapt to circumstances by its everyday active trust management and under certain conditions the trust documents may be amended.
How may we help you?
Each situation is different and influenced by various external factors.
Find out how you will benefit from a trust!
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