Asset Protection & Estate Planning
Bahamas, New Zealand & US Trusts
A trust separates legal ownership of assets from their enjoyment — the foundation of serious asset protection and multi-generational planning. We design and implement trusts in three jurisdictions chosen for strength, reputation, and practicality.
How a Trust Protects You
When you settle assets into a trust, they are no longer legally yours — they belong to the trust and are managed by a trustee for the benefit of the people you name. Because the assets are not in your name, they are far harder for future creditors, litigants, or unstable governments to reach.
A well-drafted trust also answers the estate question: assets pass to your beneficiaries according to the deed, privately and without probate, across generations if you wish.
The three key roles are the settlor (you, who creates and funds the trust), the trustee (who holds and manages the assets), and the beneficiaries (who benefit). Many clients add a protector — a trusted person with power to oversee or replace the trustee.
At a Glance
- Jurisdictions
- Bahamas · New Zealand · United States
- Setup Time
- Typically 1–3 weeks once documents are ready
- Best For
- Asset protection, estate planning, privacy, forced-heirship planning
- Typical Assets
- Bank and investment accounts, company shares, real estate, insurance
- Trustee
- Licensed professional trustee — see our trustee services
Compare Jurisdictions
Where Should Your Trust Live?
The right jurisdiction depends on what you are protecting, from whom, and how much weight you give to reputation versus raw statutory strength.
Maximum Asset Protection
The Bahamas
- Purpose-built asset-protection trust legislation
- Short window for creditors to challenge transfers into the trust
- No recognition of foreign forced-heirship rules
- Long-established trust industry with experienced licensed trustees
- No Bahamian tax on trust assets or distributions to foreign beneficiaries
Reputation & Stability
New Zealand
- A respected OECD member — not a stereotypical tax haven
- Deep English common-law trust tradition with modern legislation
- Strong, independent courts and rule of law
- Well suited to clients who value optics as much as protection
- Practical for holding international investments and bank accounts
Practical & Accessible
United States
- Domestic asset-protection trust statutes in states such as Nevada and South Dakota
- Familiar legal system, English documentation, US-based trustees
- Straightforward banking and investment access
- Often the practical choice for clients with significant US ties
- Can complement an offshore structure rather than replace it
What Our Trust Service Includes
- Structure design tailored to your family and asset situation
- Professional drafting of the trust deed
- Arrangement of a licensed or professional trustee
- Guidance on your letter of wishes
- Optional protector provisions for added oversight
- Support transferring assets into the trust
- Coordination with your tax advisor on reporting
- Ongoing administration through our trustee services
How It Works
Confidential Review
We map your assets, family situation, and objectives — protection, succession, privacy, or all three.
Design & Draft
We recommend the jurisdiction and structure, then draft the trust deed and supporting documents.
Execute & Fund
The trust is signed with the trustee in place, and we assist with retitling and transferring assets into it.
Administer
The trustee manages the trust per the deed and your letter of wishes, with annual reviews as your life evolves.
A note on compliance: GCC Offshore assists exclusively with lawful international structuring. Offshore structures are legal when properly reported; clients remain responsible for meeting the tax and disclosure obligations of their home country, and we encourage every client to work with a qualified tax advisor. We conduct standard due diligence on all new clients.
Ready to Get Started?
Every trust we build starts with a confidential conversation about what you want to protect and for whom. Begin yours today.