A Private Trust is a legal arrangement in which a person (the settlor) transfers assets to a trustee to manage and protect for the benefit of selected individuals. It provides structure, security, and long-term planning for personal wealth. Private Trust services typically include drafting the trust deed, appointing and overseeing trustees, managing investments or property held in the trust, distributing assets according to the settlor's instructions, ensuring legal and tax compliance, and maintaining ongoing reporting and administration. This structure can take several forms.
- Family Trusts - For wealth preservation and succession planning
- Will Trusts - Created under a will to manage assets after death
- Living Trusts (Inter Vivo Trusts) - Established during the settlor's lifetime
- Special Needs Trusts - For beneficiaries with disabilities
- Charitable Trusts - For philanthropic purposes
- Setting up the trust structure
- Appointing a professional trustee
- Managing and protecting personal assets
- Distributing assets to beneficiaries according to your instructions
- Handling taxes, reporting, and compliance
Private Trusts work by transferring ownership of assets—such as cash, property, or investments—to the trust, where a trustee manages them under a legally binding set of instructions. The trustee can be a professional fiduciary, trust company, or trusted individual, and they must always act in the beneficiaries' best interest. These trusts are ideal for families with significant assets, individuals wanting structured inheritance planning, parents of minors or dependents with special needs, people seeking privacy and probate avoidance, philanthropists, and anyone wanting long-term protection and strategic distribution of their wealth
- Families wanting long-term financial protection
- Parents ensuring financial support for children
- Individuals with generational wealth
- Anyone wishing to avoid probate or keep affairs private
Family Trusts help with wealth preservation and succession planning, ensuring assets pass smoothly across generations while offering protection from probate or disputes.
Will Trusts take effect only after death and manage assets outlined in a will, providing controlled inheritance—especially for minors or vulnerable beneficiaries.
Living Trusts (Inter Vivos Trusts) are created during the settlor's lifetime, allowing flexible asset management, probate avoidance, and support if the settlor becomes incapacitated.
Special Needs Trusts protect the financial wellbeing of beneficiaries with disabilities, allowing them to receive supplemental support without losing access to government benefits.
Charitable Trusts support long-term philanthropic goals, enabling structured giving, legacy planning, and potential tax benefits.