About Services Enterprise Solutions Financial Services Private Clients Fintech Solutions Islamic Finance Desk Insights Case Studies Contact
EN | FR | ES | HI | ZH | VI

Private Wealth

Structures Built Around your Family

We structure trusts, foundations, and succession plans for families whose wealth spans multiple jurisdictions, asset classes, and generations, choosing the vehicle that fits the family, not a standard package.

Overview

Overview

Wealth Structuring & Succession covers the legal vehicles a family uses to hold, protect, and transfer its wealth, trusts, Charitable and Non-Charitable Foundations, together with the succession planning that determines how that wealth moves to the next generation.

The right vehicle depends on the family's legal background as much as its assets: trusts are the more familiar structure for common law families, while Non-Charitable Foundations, with their own legal personality, are often more intuitive for families from civil law jurisdictions. We advise on the structure, or combination of structures, that fits.

Tailored
Structure Matched to the Family
A trust, a foundation, or a combination, chosen to fit each family's background and objectives rather than a single default option.
Freedom of Choice
Not Bound by Forced Heirship
Offshore structures such as Mauritius trusts can offer protection against forced heirship claims from a settlor's home jurisdiction, but their effectiveness depends on the specific rules of that jurisdiction and the nature of the assets involved — some jurisdictions apply public-policy or clawback doctrines against offshore structures that defeat forced heirship rights.
Private Entities
No Public Register of Beneficiaries
Trust deeds are generally not filed with any public registry in Mauritius; a foundation's charter is not fully public either, though limited particulars (name, purpose, registered office) appear on the public Register of Foundations, keeping family wealth structures confidential in substance.

What We Provide

Key Features

01
Vehicle Selection
Advising on a trust, a Charitable or Non-Charitable Foundation, or a combination, based on the family's assets, jurisdictions, and legal background.
02
Succession Integration
Aligning the chosen structure with wills, powers of attorney, and family constitutions, so the structure and the succession plan work together.
03
Civil & Common Law Fluency
Structuring options for both trust-based (common law) and foundation-based (civil law) family backgrounds.
04
Cross-Border Asset Coverage
Structures built to hold and transfer assets across multiple jurisdictions and currencies.
05
Governance Alignment
Coordinating the structure with the family's broader governance framework, where one exists.
06
Ongoing Administration
Trustee, council, or foundation administration once the structure is in place.

What We Structure

Structures We Establish

Trusts
Mauritius trust structures under the Trusts Act 2001, covering discretionary, fixed, and purpose trusts, used for asset protection, confidentiality, and cross-border succession.
Learn More about Trusts →
Charitable Foundations
Foundations structured for philanthropic purposes, combining legal personality with a governance framework built around the family's giving objectives.
Learn More about Charitable Foundations →
Non-Charitable Foundations
A hybrid vehicle combining trust-like flexibility with company-style legal personality, commonly used by clients from civil law jurisdictions.
Learn More about Non-Charitable Foundations →
Succession Planning
Holistic wealth transfer planning, including will drafting, powers of attorney, and family constitutions.
Learn More about Succession Planning →

Process

How It Works

01
Objectives & Background Assessment
Understanding the family's assets, jurisdictions, and legal tradition to guide the choice between a trust, a foundation, or a combination.
02
Structuring Proposal
Recommending the vehicle, or combination of vehicles, that fits the family's circumstances.
03
Documentation Preparation
Drafting the trust deed, foundation charter, or succession documents required.
04
Registration & Formation
Establishing the structure with the relevant Mauritius registry or authority.
05
Service Provider Appointment
Appointing trustees, council members, or a protector, as the structure requires.
06
Ongoing Administration & Review
Administering the structure and reviewing it periodically as the family's circumstances evolve.

Practical Considerations

Requirements & Eligibility

When This Service Applies

  • A family's wealth spans multiple jurisdictions, asset classes, or generations and needs a formal structure rather than direct personal ownership
  • A family wants asset protection and confidentiality around how its wealth is held
  • A family from a civil law background wants a Non-Charitable Foundation rather than a trust
  • A family wants its succession plan, wills, powers of attorney, family constitution, coordinated with the structure holding its wealth

What You'll Need

  • Clarity on the assets and jurisdictions the structure needs to cover
  • Standard KYC/AML documentation for the settlor, founder, or principal, and any beneficiaries
  • A view on trust vs. foundation, or a willingness to be guided on which fits
  • Any existing wills, powers of attorney, or succession documents, for review and alignment

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

A trust separates legal and beneficial ownership without creating a new legal entity, and is the more familiar vehicle in common law jurisdictions. A Non-Charitable Foundation combines trust-like flexibility with its own legal personality, similar to a company, which makes it more intuitive for clients from civil law jurisdictions. We advise on which fits a family's background and objectives.
Yes, trusts and foundations are commonly used alongside holding companies, particularly where the family also runs an operating business. We structure the two together so ownership, control, and succession are all aligned.
No, it's available to any family, but it tends to be a more intuitive fit for those from civil law jurisdictions, where the concept of a trust is less familiar than that of a legal entity with its own personality.
The trust or foundation holds and governs the assets; the succession plan, wills, powers of attorney, a family constitution, sets out intent and process around it. We coordinate both so they work together rather than as separate, disconnected documents.
In many cases, yes, subject to the requirements of both the originating jurisdiction and Mauritius law. We advise on redomiciliation and coordinate the structuring work involved.
Trust deeds are not filed with any public registry, so trust beneficiaries and terms remain fully private. Foundations file limited particulars, such as name, purpose, and registered office, on the public Register of Foundations, though the full charter and beneficiary details are not public. Every engagement is handled with the discretion expected at the family-office level.

Continue Exploring

Related Services

Private Wealth
The full private wealth practice, spanning structuring, family office, and residency services.
Learn More about Private Wealth →
Family Office & Governance
The operating infrastructure and governance frameworks a family's structures need to be integrated with.
Learn More about Family Office & Governance →
Financial Services Entities
For families whose wealth includes licensed investment vehicles such as funds or investment dealer structures.
Learn More about Financial Services Entities →

Structuring Wealth for the Long Term?

Speak with our private client specialists about which structure fits your family's assets and objectives.

Request a Consultation