In what was billed by several newspapers last year as the “world’s most expensive divorce,” a local court in Geneva, Switzerland awarded a judgment of $4 billion in favor of Elena Rybolevlev against her husband, Dmitry. The court took issue with the fact that Dmitry had availed himself of an offshore asset protection trust to maintain ownership of $8 billion …
Official Text: The Nevis International Exempt Trust (Amendment) Ordinance, 2015
Lighthouse Trust is pleased to publish for the legal community the official text of the Nevis International Exempt Trust (Amendment) Ordinance, 2015. The Amendment was approved for enactment by the Nevis Island Assembly on May 27, 2015. Directors and staff of Lighthouse Trust participated in the research and preparation of the Amendment along with a committee of experienced estate and …
The 2015 Lighthouse Swiss Conference: September 17-18
September 17-18, 2015 Zürich, Switzerland & Vaduz, Liechtenstein We are pleased to announce the 2015 Lighthouse Swiss Conference to take place in the cities of Zürich, Switzerland, on September 17 and Vaduz, Liechtenstein on September 18. This year’s conference permits our clients and their advisors the opportunity to meet with Lighthouse staff and visit our banking partners in a distinctly …
2015 Amendments to the Nevis International Exempt Trust Ordinance
In 1996, the Nevis Island Assembly enacted the Nevis International Exempt Trust Ordinance, Cap. 7.03 (“NIETO”), to bring certainty and clarity to international trust planning. A number of provisions in the NIETO catered to the needs of lawyers and their clients engaged in asset protection planning, including: Preclusion of the Statute of Elizabeth principles governing the determination of a fraudulent …
Lighthouse Opens New Trust Office in Nevis
We are pleased to announce that Lighthouse Trust has opened a Nevis office to provide trust and company formation services. This represents the fourth country in which Lighthouse maintains offices and personnel and the second country that offers explicit asset protection legislation for entities established within the jurisdiction. Nevis is a popular choice among lawyers practicing in offshore trust and company planning. …
Court Rules Parents Liable for Facebook Posts
The Wall Street Journal recently reported on a ruling from a Georgia Appeals Court that threatens to open a Pandora’s box of personal liability for families throughout the United States. In a nutshell, the appeals court found that parents of a minor may be found to be negligent in failing to supervise a child who defames someone over the internet. The …
Asset Protection for Real Estate and Commercial Interests
Asset protection for cash and marketable securities is easy enough: You can set up a foreign asset protection trust or LLC with a bank account to hold your liquid assets. While this approach works for those things that can be conveniently transferred by bank wire or a secure message between brokerage firms, what can be done to protect the things …
LSWA Named as Member to Swiss Registered Investment Advisors Association
We are pleased to announce that Lighthouse Swiss Wealth Advisors AG has become a member of the Swiss Registered Investment Advisors Association. The SRIAA serves as a platform whereby members can obtain information and guidance on matters relevant to serving as U.S. SEC-registered investment advisors. U.S. clients can also obtain information on Swiss-based SEC-registered investment advisors from the SRIAA. For …
Why We Like Belize Trust Law: Superior Asset Protection
For generations, families have used foreign trusts to protect assets from creditors, relying on foreign law or the foreign legal climate, or a combination of both, to serve as a barrier between the creditor and family wealth. The Isle of Man developed a cottage industry in asset protection trusts after its courts, in the 1859 decision of Corlett v. Radcliffe, held that fraudulent transfer claims would …
Domestic Asset Protection Trusts Continue to Falter
Last year, we warned practitioners about the passage of Ohio’s domestic asset protection trust law, which purports to protect assets held in the name of a trustee based in Ohio. Mississippi has recently joined the bandwagon, selling DAPTs as if the courts of the State of Mississippi will go to the ends of the earth to defend a New York …