The term: "Family Office" is becoming harder to define these day’s. Originally, we had the "Single Family Office", now with many opting to merge with other Ultra-Rich Families, commonly called "Multiple Family Offices" which again becomes further confusing with "Top-End" wealth management companies turning themselves into Multiple-Family Offices.

Liechtenstein will enact the new law on asset management (VVG) as at 1 January 2006. This makes Liechtenstein fully compliant with the EU Directives 2004/39/EG of the European Parliament and European Council dd. 21 April 2004 on markets for financial instruments (to amend earlier EU Directives 85/611/EWG and 93/6/EWG and 2000/12/EG and to cancel the EU Directives 93/22/EWG).

The Liechtenstein law provides for foundations of two kinds: private law (privatrechtliche) and public law (öffentlichrechtliche). The present overview is confined to family foundations established under private law.

A small economic miracle has turned Liechtenstein into an economic metropolis. The secret of its success? Entrepreneurship, networks, and innovation.

The trust in Liechtenstein law may be set up for an indefinite period. It can be used in the same way as a foundation, but permits more flexible arrangements as its purpose is not limited in any way, as is the case under foundation law (there may be certain restrictions as to the purpose trust).

Liechtenstein has long occupied a distinctive position in European and international private wealth structuring, because its trust, unlike many civil law instruments that merely approximate fiduciary ownership or contractual asset administration, is embedded in the Persons and Companies Act (PGR) as a flexible, statutory, internationally recognisable legal form which, while historically inspired by the Anglo-Saxon trust tradition, has developed into a characteristically Liechtenstein solution for asset protection, succession planning, family governance, philanthropy and cross-border wealth continuity.

Private wealth is changing faster than many legal structures were designed to accommodate, because internationally mobile families, founders, investors, family offices and philanthropists are now expected to reconcile succession planning, asset preservation, tax transparency, family governance, bank compliance, reporting duties, charitable impact, digital assets and reputational risk...

For founders, family offices, internationally mobile entrepreneurs, private investors and corporate groups that need a durable legal architecture for wealth, succession, control and continuity, the Liechtenstein private foundation remains one of the most sophisticated instruments in European private client and corporate structuring

The agreement and the implementation guidelines will define them thoroughly. The definition should be identical to that one in Switzerland as Liechtenstein will not be in a position to introduce an own definition on the grounds of electronic data processing performed by banks.

The rise of crypto assets has created a new category of private and entrepreneurial wealth that often differs fundamentally from traditional financial holdings.

With today‘s worldwide <B>mobility</B> and the great number of ways to access information quickly, the world has become considerably "smaller", and local and foreign authorities and organizations have more and more means to access the privacy of any individual or corporation.

Der Aufstieg von Krypto-Assets hat eine neue Kategorie privaten und unternehmerischen Vermögens hervorgebracht, die sich oft grundlegend von klassischen Finanzanlagen unterscheidet.

Over the last 20 years foundation law has been developed mainly by court decisions. On April 1, 2009 however a new Liechtenstein foundation law has been implemented.

Liechtenstein foundations are a very well-known family planning instrument as they can easily be set up and maintained. However in the international tax and civil law field, especially where the assets are not only located in Liechtenstein, some additional concern should be given by the founders and/or beneficiaries.