The Cayman Islands is a leading jurisdiction for the
establishment and administration of trusts. It has a sophisticated
and mature local trust industry which is ably supported by a highly
experienced judiciary.
Cayman Islands trusts are primarily governed by the Trusts Act
(2021 Revision) (as amended) (Trusts Act) and
common law principles.
This briefing provides a guide to different types of Cayman
Islands trusts and how they may be established.
What is a trust?
A trust is a contractual arrangement whereby a person transfers
certain property which they personally own
(Settlor) to a person who agrees to hold the legal
title to such property on certain terms (Trustee)
for the benefit of certain persons which may include the Settlor
(Beneficiaries). The assets held under such an
arrangement (Trust Fund) may include cash, bank
accounts, shares in a company, real estate, investments, loans and
various other types of assets.