You want to protect your wealth, and that means more than just choosing the strongest asset protection strategy. It also means finding effective tools that fit your budget. To do that, you need to understand how much asset protection tools tend to cost.
One of the most popular and effective asset protection tools is an offshore trust based in Nevis. These trusts can help keep your assets safe from creditors, lawsuits, and even divorce.
So, how much does a Nevis trust cost? Read on to find out:
- Why Choose Nevis for Your Trust?
- Breakdown of Nevis Trust Costs
- Factors That Influence a Nevis Trust’s Cost
- Are Nevis Trusts Expensive Compared to Other Trusts?
- Is a Nevis Trust Worth the Cost?
Why Choose Nevis for Your Trust?
You have a few quality options available when selecting an offshore asset protection trust—namely, the Cook Islands, Belize, and Nevis. Offshore asset protection trusts (OAPTs) in each of these jurisdictions are virtually impenetrable.
You might consider choosing a Nevis trust for its:
- Strong legal protections: Creditors must post a large bond, often more than $100,000, to file a claim against a Nevis trust.
- Confidentiality: When you create a trust in Nevis, you don’t have to make any public disclosures. Creditors will have to locate your trust without the help of the Nevis government.
- Immunity to U.S. court rulings: Nevis trustees can ignore U.S. court rulings, forcing creditors to retry their case in Nevis.
Breakdown of Nevis Trust Costs
Let’s look at how much a Nevis trust costs. The actual expenses of setting one up will vary based on a variety of factors, but the fees you pay will typically fall into these categories and ranges:
- Setup fees: You will usually spend between $20,000 and $30,000 setting up a Nevis trust. These expenses cover the cost of drafting a trust deed, establishing associated entities (like offshore banking accounts and limited liability companies), and working with an asset protection planner.
- Annual maintenance fees: Nevis requires trust settlors to pay renewal fees of $3500 to $7500 each year. These fees keep your trust current and compliant in the eyes of Nevis authorities.
- Registered agent and trustee fees: You need a licensed trustee to manage your trust. This cost is included in the setup and renewal fee.
- Additional costs of a Nevis trust: You have the option to appoint a protector, who oversees the trustee. Doing so typically costs somewhere between $1,000 and $3,000 annually.
When you add these fees together, assuming the inclusion of a protector, you can expect to pay between $20,000 and $30,000 for the initial setup of your Nevis trust. From there, it takes between $3,500 and $8,000 annually to maintain the trust.
Keep in mind that the above figures are general estimates of how much a Nevis trust costs. It is based on the prices as of this writing and may vary in the future. The complexity of your trust structure may cause these costs to rise or fall outside of the typical estimate range.
Factors That Influence a Nevis Trust’s Cost
- Complexity: The more layers your trust structure includes, such as LLCs, protectors, and offshore bank accounts, the more it costs to establish.
- Type and location of assets: Some assets, such as real estate, must go through special processes like equity stripping before they can gain trust protection. These processes require the assistance of an asset protection planner and can add to the overall cost of establishing a trust.
- Customization: Hiring a professional to tailor your trust will increase its cost but greatly improve the level of protection the trust provides.
Are Nevis Trusts Expensive Compared to Other Trusts?
You may feel that a Nevis trust is expensive, especially when compared to a domestic asset protection trust. However, the cost of establishing a Nevis trust is roughly in line with, and in many cases less costly than, setting up other offshore jurisdictions.
While a domestic asset protection trust may be less, a well-structured Nevis trust offers far better protection. The tradeoff in cost is worth it when you consider that a Nevis trust costs less than many other offshore asset protection trusts.
Is a Nevis Trust Worth the Cost?
In many cases, yes. If you’re trying to protect a few hundred thousand dollars or more, the value is hard to ignore. You might be an ideal candidate for a Nevis trust if:
- You’re a physician or business owner with a high risk of being sued.
- You’re planning to pass wealth across generations and want to avoid losing it in a lawsuit.
- You want to proactively defend your assets against divorce or disputes with a business partner.
- You hold assets in multiple jurisdictions and need a single tool that can protect them all.
In each of these situations, a Nevis trust helps secure your assets where U.S. courts can’t easily reach. And in long-term planning, the trust can preserve wealth for children, grandchildren, or charitable giving—without the risk of creditors interfering.
Set Up a Nevis Trust for a Reasonable Cost with Asset Protection Planners
You deserve a cost-effective trust that can protect your assets. An offshore trust set up by Asset Protection Planners provides exactly that. Our team will handle the entirety of the trust-establishment process for you and keep you updated on any factors that could influence your Nevis trust’s cost.
Get a free consultation today to find out how much a Nevis trust costs for you.
