4 September 2026
Open a Trust in Jersey
Learn how to open a trust in Jersey and what it can be used for, such as asset protection and succession planning. Our specialists can guide you.
Opening a trust in Jersey in 2026 is a process that can be easily handled with the help of our agents. Our specialists in company formation in Jersey can assist interested parties during the process of creating a trust.
| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Jersey trust uses | Asset protection, succession planning, forced heirship, division of assets prevention, spending control, etc. |
| Governing law | Trusts (Jersey) Law 1984 (“Trusts Law”), with its subsequent amendments |
The settlor | The party granting the management of the assets. He can also be a beneficiary, although not the sole beneficiary |
| The trustee | The party entrusted with the management of the assets, acting in good faith and with due diligence, in the interest of the beneficiaries |
| The beneficiary | The parties that will benefit from the assets placed in the trust |
| The protector | Appointed when the settlor wishes to control |
| Discretionary trusts in Jersey | The most commonly used form, allows the trustee the power to administer the assets on behalf of the beneficiaries |
| Settlor reserved power trusts | The settlor reserves certain powers to himself under the trust deed, including the power to change the terms of the trust |
| Non-charitable purpose trusts | The trust can have non-charitable purposes and can be used for private wealth issues |
| Jersey trust privacy | Created by a private document which does not need to be filed with a public body, nor made accessible to the general public (only the beneficiaries) |
| Trust taxation in Jersey | The trust is a tax neutral structure. Tax implications apply at the level of the settlor and the beneficiary |
| Trust termination | The trust in Jersey can be revocable or irrevocable. The latter is generally the preferred form |
| Trust period | Can be limited or unlimited. Its duration is stipulated in the incorporation documents. |
| Reasons to open a trust in Jersey | Jersey has a developed and qualified professional trust sector, a modern trust legislation, and good financial services supervision |
| Asistance for setting up a trust in Jersey | Our Jersey company formation agents assist investors who wish to set up a trust for asset management and protection or commercial purposes |
What is a trust?
A trust is an agreement or arrangement between parties for the purpose of managing different types of assets. Essentially, it is a binding relationship between the parties, and it can be used for different purposes, from private wealth management to asset protection, or to charitable purposes.
The most common types of assets that are put in a Jersey trust are intellectual property rights, cash and company shares, insurance policies and valuable movable assets.
Who are the parties involved in a Jersey trust?
Our agents specialized in company formation in Jersey list the parties (or persons) involved in a trust:
- the settlor: the party that decides to set up a trust in Jersey, the one who will place the assets into the trust;
- trustee: the individual (or company, see below) entrusted with holding the assets for the settlor, as indicated;
- the beneficiary: the person who will benefit from the assets in due time, as instructed by the settlor;
- the enforcer and the protector: the former ensures that the trust purposes are fulfilled while the latter monitors the activities of the trustee and, as needed, can provide guidance; a protector is optional, while an enforcer is mandatory for a non-charitable purpose trust.
What are the steps needed to open a trust in Jersey in 2026?
If you are interested in setting up a trust in Jersey, here are the steps you need to follow:
- you decide why the trust is being created, such as for asset protection, succession planning, family wealth management, charitable purposes or holding company shares;
- you decide whether the trust will be discretionary, fixed interest, charitable or a non-charitable purpose trust;
- you appoint a professional Jersey trust company, especially when the trust holds valuable or complex assets;
- you name the beneficiaries such as individuals, family members, future descendants, companies or other categories of persons;
- you draft the trust deed that sets out the rules of the trust, including the trustee’s powers, the beneficiaries’ rights, the distribution rules, the duration of the trust and any powers reserved by the settlor;
- you transfer the assets to the trustee to be held under the terms of the trust;
- after the trust is created, the trustee must manage the assets according to the trust deed and Jersey law.
What are the documents needed to open a trust in Jersey?
If you consider setting up a trust here, you will need the following documents:
- identity documents and proof of address for the parties involved in the trust;
- details about the settlor, including tax residence and background information;
- details about the beneficiaries, whether they are named persons or a class of persons, such as family members or future descendants;
- information about the trust assets, such as cash, shares, investment portfolios, real estate or business interests;
- source of funds documents, showing where the assets transferred into the trust come from;
- source of wealth documents, explaining how the settlor accumulated the wealth;
- the trust deed, which sets out the trust terms, the trustee’s powers, the beneficiaries’ rights and the rules for managing and distributing the assets.
The exact list of documents for opening a trust in Jersey can differ depending on the appointed trustee, the type and value of the assets, the parties involved and Jersey compliance requirements. Our team of local agents is here to assist you. Similar documents are required in case you want to register a trust in the Isle of Man, but it’s always best to contact a specialized local firm who can handle this entire process for you, such as our reliable partners – IsleofManCompanyFormation.com.
Other services
Our team assists foreign investors who wish to open different types of companies in Jersey throughout all of the pre- and post-incorporation phases. You can reach out to us for more information about the available business forms.
We can also help those interested open a bank account in Jersey.
Guernsey is one of the Channel Islands and company formations in this jurisdiction are popular among investors who use them for various trading and asset management purposes. Investors who wish to incorporate in Guernsey, the Other Bailiwick that makes up the Channel Islands along with Jersey, can reach out to our agents specializing in Guernsey company formation.
Contact us if you want to open a trust in Jersey in 2026!