No its not necessary. Information and documents can be provided by email or fax can the originals and hardcopies can follow by post or courier. We do like to meet with clients so you are welcome to visit to setup up a Trust.
Yes you can because we are licenced and regulated by the Seychelles International Business Authority. In Seychelles the business of corporate services providers and the provision of trustees is highly regulated and the authority does not tolerate any illegal and unethical behaviour. An aggrieved client (beneficiaries and protectors in the case of a Trust) can easily file a compliant with the authority who would then investigate us. For serious wrongdoings, the authority has the power to suspend or to cancel our licence which would put us out of business. We would not put our business at risk by doing anything illegal or unethical. Even for relatively minor issues the protectors and co-trustees will be able to change to another resident trustee in Seychelles or they may even transfer the trust to another truste in another country. You could also appoint an intermediary you know and trust such as your lawyers or accountants overseas (not in Seychelles) to co-manage the Trust as a co-trustees.
A proof of address is any document issued by an independent body, in original form or certified as a true copy of the original, that shows the name of the person or entity we will be dealing with and the address of that person or entity. When a copy is provided it must be a good quality copy. The person certifying the copy should then sign the certification and add their full name, title, address and the date that they certified the documents. The certifier must have seen the original document. The copy and certification must be done by one the following persons (in order of preference): A notary publicA consular or embassy official from your consulate or embassyA police officerA Commissioner of OathsA Justice of the PeaceA Mayor / Maire (but not the deputy)A member of staff at a major international bank (with the bank’s stamp)A qualified lawyer or solicitor who is subjected to anti-money laundering regulations in a regulated jurisdiction and who can state a bar numberA qualified accountant or auditor who is subjected to anti-money laundering regulations in a regulated jurisdiction and who can state an international association membership reference We can also accept certification and verification from a registered professional intermediary client who is also a regulated person. A regulated person is someone or an entity who is subjected to anti-money laundering regulations and who is reporting entity under such regulations. Also, if you are in Seychelles we can make a copy of the documents when you are in our offices and we can then certify the copies. We usually accept the following documents (in order of preference): A utility service bill (gas, electricity, water, land-line telephone, but NOT mobile phone)A statement from a major bank or building societyA credit card statement from VISA, MasterCard, American Express or DinersA certified photocopy of your Drivers License, which should clearly show your name and principal residential address. If you send a certified copy, please copy the front and back of the documentA letter from a Consular Official, or higher, from your Embassy or High Commission. This letter must bear the official stamp or seal and show the official’s name and signatureA government-issued National Identity card
Any individual person of any age, and any organization whether incorporated or not can be a beneficiary. Associations and charities can be beneficiaries. Even a pet can be a beneficiary. A cause or an activity could also be a beneficiary.
The resident trustee must be a licenced corporate trustee in Seychelles. The resident trustee is a full trutee and has all the duties and responsibilities of a trustee but it also represents the trust in Seychelles and also acts as an intermediary between the rest of the trust and the authorities in Seychelles.
Yes but the sole settlor cannot also be the sole trustee. In general it is not recommended for a settlor be a trustee. Even if there are other trustees, a settlor acting as a trustee can introduce doubt that the assets are really under control of the settlor-trustee and that the Trust is a sham.
Yes but a sole settlor should not also be the sole beneficiary.
The trustees can, plus anyone they authorize including bank signatories. Trustees can appoint agents and delegate some work to other persons. Generally the trustees are expected to sign on behalf of a Trust.
No but we ask that it should at least be 1 unit of an internationally recognized currency. Many settlors pay 100 United States dollars to us before we register the trust to ensure a valid Trust exists at the time of registration. The rest of the assets can then be transfer some time after.
Technically all types of assets can be transferred into a trust but because of the limitations we face in Seychelles we can only accept company shares and cash held in bank accounts. Other assets such as boats, real-estate or jewelry must be owned by a company owned by the trust but we may require accounts from the company from time to time.
