iTrust Global Shield
International Asset and Estate Protection
Key Features of iTrust Global Shield
iTrust Global Shield is designed for clients and families with meaningful international connections, including overseas assets, foreign-resident beneficiaries, expatriate or mobile lifestyles, or planning needs that cross more than one legal or tax jurisdiction.
An English-law discretionary trust for families whose assets, beneficiaries or future plans cross jurisdictions, combining professional trustee governance with coordinated international asset, succession and reporting review.
Benefits
Helps Coordinate Cross-Border Succession
Suitable assets can be administered under an English-law trustee framework, with local advice obtained where forced-heirship or mandatory succession rules may affect the asset or intended beneficiaries.
Foreign Property Planning
Overseas real estate remains under the ownership and law of the country where it is situated rather than being transferred directly into the standard UK Trust. Global Shield can coordinate succession and later receive suitable net sale proceeds, company interests or other transferable value, subject to Trustee acceptance and the relevant UK and local legal and tax review.
Holds Offshore Accounts and Investments
Can hold suitable foreign bank, custody and investment assets through approved providers, subject to trustee acceptance, provider onboarding, local regulation and applicable tax/reporting requirements.
Relocation-Aware Planning
The trust can continue when family members move, but changes in residence can alter tax, reporting and administration, so the structure is reviewed when circumstances change.
International Reporting Support
The Trustees assess and administer applicable TRS, FATCA, CRS and Automatic Exchange of Information requirements, including tax-residence documentation where required.
English-Law Trust with Coordinated Local-Law Review
Global Shield provides an English-law trust framework while foreign assets remain subject to the property, tax, succession and reporting laws applying in the relevant jurisdiction.
Allows Family Use of Luxury Items
Trustees can hold suitable moveable assets such as art, vehicles or collections and may permit use by eligible Beneficiaries where appropriate, subject to the trust terms, local law, insurance, tax and administration.
International Assets
International assets can be considered for lifetime trust planning, but the UK Inheritance Tax treatment depends on the Settlor’s residence history, the asset involved, the value transferred and the law applying at the time.
International Asset Administration
Jurisdiction-by-Jurisdiction Asset Review
Each material foreign connection is checked so that ownership, transfer, tax, succession, reporting and local legal requirements are understood. Foreign land and buildings are recorded for coordination but are not directly accepted into the standard UK Trust; suitable cash, investments, company interests and other transferable assets can be considered separately.
International Asset Register
The Trustees maintain a structured record of accepted international assets, including jurisdiction, ownership route, value/currency, transfer documentation and any ongoing local requirements.
Cross-Border Trust Planning
Cross-border trust planning must be assessed against the client’s residence history and the relevant asset. Global Shield provides the governance framework, while UK and local tax consequences are reviewed before material assets are transferred.
Additional Features
Included with your trust at no extra cost
Advanced International Planning
Family Branches & Jurisdictions
Where genuinely required, Trustees can consider separate funds, Receiving Trusts or coordinated local structures for different family branches or jurisdictions, subject to legal and tax review.
Replacement or Receiving Trust Structures
Where circumstances require, the Trustees may consider transferring suitable assets to a replacement or receiving trust structure, subject to the deed, beneficiary protections and jurisdiction-specific advice.
Go Beyond Borders with iTrust Global Shield
Global Shield provides an English-law trust framework for cross-border planning. Overseas land and buildings ordinarily remain locally owned rather than being transferred directly to the UK Trust. The structure does not disapply foreign property, tax, succession or reporting laws, and specialist local advice may be required before transferable assets or realised value are settled or distributions are made.
Cross-border trust planning must be assessed against the client’s residence history and the relevant asset. Global Shield provides the governance framework, while UK and local tax consequences are reviewed before material assets are transferred.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Global Shield?
Global Shield is used where the client, beneficiaries, trustees or assets have significant connections with more than one country.
Does a UK trust override foreign law?
No.
Different jurisdictions have different tax, succession and trust-recognition rules.
The purpose is to coordinate the family plan while obtaining appropriate advice in the countries involved.
What if a beneficiary moves overseas later?
Tell the trustees before a significant distribution.
Their country of residence can materially affect the tax treatment of trust payments.
Why do US connections require particular care?
US tax and reporting rules can apply by citizenship and residence as well as by asset location.
A US settlor, trustee or beneficiary therefore requires specific consideration rather than ordinary generic international wording.
Important information
Important information: The benefits described are general illustrations of how the relevant iTrust may operate when appropriately structured and funded. Actual legal, tax and asset-protection outcomes depend on individual circumstances, the assets involved, the terms of the trust and any supplemental instruments, effective implementation and applicable law at the relevant time. Trustee decisions remain subject to the trust deed and their legal duties. Tax treatment and protection from third-party claims cannot be guaranteed and specialist advice may be required.
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