International estate and succession planning : holding, trust and fiduciary
We structure and organize family and business assets to protect wealth, plan for succession, and operate internationally with banking and compliance services. Boutique approach, confidential and fully documented.
Protection and order: segregated assets, clear rules, and continuity
Frictionless succession: family planning and estate governance
Defensible structures: documentation, fiscal consistency and banking
What is Estate Planning?
Determine the legal form or structure that I will use to acquire, own, and transfer each asset that makes up my estate, in order to meet my planning objectives and at the same time mitigate the risks that affect my estate.
What does a well-designed asset structure solve?
A sound asset structure isn't about "paying less tax." It's about avoiding problems and gaining control: protecting, organizing, planning, and sustaining banking/operations over time.
Asset and risk protection
Separate personal assets from operational or legal risks.
Estate planning
Avoid conflicts, accelerate transitions, and respect family rules.
Governance and asset control
Define who decides, how it is distributed, and what happens in critical scenarios.
Banking and operational structure
Improve document organization for investment or operating accounts.
Main advantages of Estate Planning
Avoid having to go through a probate process.
It provides confidentiality.
It provides continuity throughout the life of the deceased and after their death, avoiding disruptions, liquidity problems, etc.
It allows for the protection of minor and/or vulnerable heirs and the resolution of complex family issues.
It allows for the coordination of succession plans.
It eliminates the problem that arises when assets appear that the deceased forgot to include in their will or that they acquired after preparing it.
It provides a high degree of asset protection against third parties, whether they are legitimate heirs or not.
It makes it possible to avoid limitations inherent in regimes that have forced heirs.
In principle, it should not be modified when a person moves to another country.
When is it indicated?
Existence of assets in multiple jurisdictions.
Due to liquidity problems.
The address of the asset owner is unclear.
There is a preference for leaving certain assets to certain people.
When there are risks that need to be mitigated and are related to the lack of legal security in the country of residence of the deceased, or to the lack of privacy that characterizes the current world.
The existence of an heir who has a disability or some other type of problem.
When the main asset, or one of the main ones, is a family business.
Existence of fights (current or potential) in the family.
Important differences between heirs.
The existence of potential conflicts with third parties.
Objectives of Estate Planning
Legal certainty
Security | Personal Integrity
Tax optimization
Privacy
Protection against third parties
Inheritance issues
Vulnerability | Incapacity
Family Governance | Legacy
Macro trends
Weakening of property rights.
Increasing use of technology in the sector.
Demonization of wealth.
Lower birth rate.
Less privacy.
Greater voracity and tax cartelization.
Longer life expectancy.
Main Myths (or Excuses)
Estate planning depends on the political situation.
You have to be rich to plan for wealth.
The ultimate goal is to pay less tax.
It makes more sense to think about these issues as one gets older.
Bankers are our friends and they will help us when one of the account holders passes away.
It's expensive and takes a long time.
Why plan if the law already says everything ?
Most common mistakes
Postpone planning indefinitely
Relying exclusively on local structures
Not having a reliable professional team
Neglecting family governance
Ignoring the impact of international successions
Do not include disability plans
Not considering actual tax residence
Typical tools / structures
1
Trust (depending on applicable jurisdiction)
What it is used for:
Separation of assets, rules of administration and succession, and functional protection (according to the legal framework).
It is usually convenient when:
structured family continuity is desired
There is risk/volatility or heirs with diverse and complex situations
A more comprehensive “framework of rules” is sought
Critical point:
Selecting a jurisdiction, trustee, and rules; and ensuring tax consistency in the country of residence. Higher cost and complexity.
2
Holding company
What it is used for:
Centralize ownership of companies, investments or real estate under a single vehicle, streamline control and facilitate succession.
It is usually convenient when:
There are several companies/assets
You want a "layer" of control and order
You're looking for corporate governance and clear reporting
Planned succession with a more bankable and simpler structure.
Critical point:
Tax design based on the residence of the final beneficiary + documentation.
3
Trust (Uruguay or other jurisdictions)
What it is used for:
Management of assets for a specific purpose, creating a separate estate according to applicable law. Same concept as a trust.
It is usually convenient when:
You are looking for a “civil” legal scheme with clear rules of administration and succession, with protection.
You want to separate assets for a purpose (family, investment, collateral, etc.)
Critical point:
Drafting and designing the contract, defining roles, and managing the actual administration. Higher cost and complexity.
4
Wills
Purpose: A will is a document used to express wishes regarding the distribution of assets and rights after death, under the law and jurisdiction chosen by the testator. It prevents the estate from being subject to the mandatory laws of the country of origin and ensures that assets reach the correct beneficiaries.
It is usually convenient when:
There are assets in several countries and a predictable inheritance law is desired.
There are heirs in different jurisdictions with different legal ties
The aim is to complement a holding company or trust with clear instructions on what happens upon death.
The aim is to avoid family conflicts by establishing distribution rules now.
Critical point: A will does not protect assets acquired during one's lifetime, nor does it circumvent the inheritance rights of the country of origin if that country applies its own laws. For complex estates, a will is always combined with a trust or holding company established during one's lifetime. This results in higher costs and greater complexity when assets are located in multiple jurisdictions.
How to choose the structure
Before choosing a holding/trust, we resolve 7 variables:
Main objective : protection / succession / investment / operation
Type of assets : companies, real estate, investments, IP, cash
Risk : operational exposure, litigation, family conflicts
Countries involved : tax residence and location of assets
Banking : need for investment/operating account and compliance profile
Government : who decides, how is it replaced, what powers exist
Transparency and reporting : what documentation do you need to keep
A heritage structure is good when it is sustainable, not when it is 'ingenious'.
How do we do it?
Step 1 — Asset diagnosis
Asset map, tax residency, family goals and risks.
Step 2 — Structure design
Selection of tools (holding/trust) and jurisdictions when applicable.
Step 3 — Government and documentation
Clear rules: control, beneficiaries, succession, powers and contingencies.
Step 4 — Implementation and banking
Constitution/contracts + compliance folder for banks and third parties.
Step 5 — Annual Maintenance
Updates, minutes/reports, compliance and adaptation to family changes.
Typical property cases
Family with companies in several countries (holding + government + succession)
Assets with real estate and cash (order + continuity)
Entrepreneur with high operational risk (separation and functional protection)
Heirs with different realities (rules, distribution, administration)
Planning for international investment (banking + structure)
Reorganization of existing structures (cleaning and coherence)
Required Documentation and Information
For company formation, banking, and KYC, we require the following information about Directors, Shareholders, and Beneficiaries:
Current economic activity and history of shareholders and beneficiaries (detailed).
Percentage of shares held by each shareholder and complete corporate organizational chart (up to UBO)
If married, full name and passport or identity document number of spouse.
Origin of the funds that the company will receive.
Full names, addresses and contact information (telephone, email).
Required documentation:
Proof of address.
Signing the provided forms.
Copy of identity document/passport.
FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
-
What is Wealth Planning?
Determining the legal form or structure that I will use to acquire, hold, and transfer each asset that makes up my estate, in such a way that I can achieve my planning objectives while at the same time mitigating the risks that affect my assets.
-
What is the difference between a fiduciary arrangement (fideicomiso) and a trust? What is more suitable: a holding, trust, or fideicomiso? When is a trust preferable over a holding?
A fideicomiso is a Latin American civil law structure where a settlor transfers assets to a fiduciary for a specific purpose. A trust is an Anglo-Saxon legal structure with greater international flexibility and privacy. Both are used for asset protection and succession planning, but the choice depends on the jurisdiction and the client’s objectives.
It depends on the objective (protection/succession/control), assets, tax residence, and banking needs. In the diagnostic phase, we define the appropriate tool and jurisdiction.
A trust is preferable when the main objective is asset protection against litigation, discreet succession planning, or the management of assets for future beneficiaries. A holding is preferable when the objective is operational: control of companies, tax optimization of dividends, and consolidation of business structures. In many cases, they are complementary.
-
How much wealth is needed to justify an international wealth structure? Is this only for very large families?
No. It is used for both medium and large estates when there are companies, operational risks, or a need to organize succession.
It is even more advisable to plan at a young age (greater risks of litigation, family conflicts, incapacity, disputes with third parties who may declare someone incapable), and due to the costs involved in some alternatives, it is justified even with relatively lower amounts. For entrepreneurs with active businesses in multiple countries, it may be justified with less if the operational flow is significant. We conduct an initial assessment to evaluate whether the structure adds value in your case.
-
Can I do this only with a holding company without a trust/fideicomiso? Can I start simple and make it more sophisticated later?
In many cases, yes. A good level of control can be achieved through bylaws, share classes, and agreements; it depends on the level of governance desired.
Many structures are designed in stages: first order and control, then additional tools as the structure grows.
-
Does a wealth structure work if I also operate a business?
Yes. In fact, one of the most common uses is to separate asset ownership from operational risk. Some people mix business operational risks with personal assets in order to defer personal tax payments in their country of tax residence, since in most countries, if an active company is located in a jurisdiction that is not considered a tax haven, taxation is deferred until profits are distributed, unlike passive companies which generally report results annually and trigger personal taxation in the country of tax residence (there are alternatives to also defer these distributions).
-
What is a holding and what is it used for?
A holding is a company that controls or holds participations in other companies or assets. It is used to centralize asset ownership, optimize dividend taxation, facilitate succession planning, and isolate risks across different activities. It is ideal for entrepreneurs with multiple businesses or assets in different countries.
