When the objective is genuine asset protection, two jurisdictions dominate the conversation: Nevis and the Cook Islands. Both are deliberately designed to frustrate creditor claims against foreign plaintiffs, but they are built around different vehicles and serve different purposes.
The Nevis LLC is a company — an operating and holding vehicle with a strong charging-order shield that protects you against claims against your personal assets. It is efficient, familiar to US-trained lawyers, and its protection statute has been successfully tested in US courts. For professional-advice and structuring clients, it is often the more practical first tool.
The Cook Islands trust is the ultimate fortress. Foreign judgments are effectively unenforceable, limitation periods are short, and the jurisdiction's courts have repeatedly upheld the protective legislation. The trade-offs are cost — structures are a five-figure proposition — and a degree of surrender: you must place assets genuinely beyond your own control to gain the protection.
Advanced planners frequently combine both. The decision depends on the size of the estate, the nature of the exposure and the client's tolerance for control surrender. We map these trade-offs with you in a structured consultation before recommending a route.
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This article is general information, not advice. If your situation resembles anything discussed here, write to us and we will respond with a clear, practical assessment — free of charge.
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