Guernsey Trusts For Private Clients

By St John Robilliard, Head of Ozannnes’ Trusts

Just over a year ago a survey illustrated that there were some 60,000 trusts administered in Guernsey. It is reasonable to assume that the largest proportion of these have been set up by private clients.

Take the example of a private company. An individual has built it up over his lifetime and owns the shares outright. He has three children. Without a trust:

(a) the shares are part of his estate on his death and it may be that they must pass to each of his children equally under the applicable law of inheritance;

(b) his heirs may or may not be interested in the company, may or may not get divorced, may or may not become insolvent,