Foundations and trusts
Panamanian private interest foundation, VISTA trust in the British Virgin Islands.
Updated on 29 October 2026 · Published under the responsibility of Jason Pivron, director · Who we are
Foundations and trusts: prices by jurisdiction
Starting prices excluding tax, government fees included.
What the service covers
- Prior review of the merits, with a lawyer and against your succession law.
- Drafting the constitutive deed and the letter of wishes.
- Appointing the foundation council or trustee.
- Transferring assets and setting up the follow-up.
In practice
A private interest foundation is a legal person without members: its assets belong to the foundation, and its beneficiaries do not own them. A trust is not a legal person: the trustee holds the assets on behalf of the beneficiaries, under the trust deed. In both cases, what you transfer stops being yours, and protection depends on the date and terms of the transfer. The tax law of your country of residence may treat these structures in its own way, wherever they are set up.
Framework and documents
Panama: the private interest foundation falls under Law 25 of 1995 and is entered in the Registro Público. British Virgin Islands: the VISTA trust falls under the Virgin Islands Special Trusts Act 2003. Documents usually requested: identity and proof of address of the founder or settlor, origin of the funds and assets transferred, identity of the beneficiaries. The Panamanian foundation has a foundation council and may appoint a protector; the VISTA trust lets the trustee hold the shares of a British Virgin Islands company without running its business.
Recorded on 1 October 2026; to be checked for each file.
What we tell you before we start
Never as a package and never without a lawyer. A badly constituted trust offers no protection and can be recharacterised, with heavy tax consequences.
Foundations and trusts: frequently asked questions
Foundations and trusts: how much does it cost?
From 1,500 €, excluding tax; the price depends on the jurisdiction and is fixed in a firm quote.