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Our Services Trust & fiduciary

Guernsey’s popularity as an historic location for establishing family and business trusts is well known and there are numerous trust and fiduciary companies located on the island.  Many are Channel Islands based companies with associations and parent companies in other international jurisdictions.

Trusts A brief history

Trusts have been in existence in Britain from the Middle Ages when knights departing for the crusades used them to protect their interests and look after their wives and children. 

These objectives have been no less a priority for families and individuals in more recent times, commonly being used in Wills and frequently wrapped around life assurance policies. 

Harbour and Skyline of Saint Peter Port Guernsey

Anti-avoidance crackdowns New legislation

However, trusts are controversial and politicians of all colours have made promises to prevent them from being used as vehicles for tax avoidance.      As with other asset owning structures, trusts are best managed by professionals who understand the compliance requirements of record keeping and filing returns, keeping up with new legislation and other anti-avoidance crackdowns.  

The 2017 BBC exposure of the ‘Paradise Papers’ comprising some 13.4 million documents which appeared to highlight the world of offshore finance and included examples of using trusts connected to tax evasion was the latest onslaught against companies and trusts registered offshore.   Many of these were historic arrangements set up with the perfectly legal aim of managing and protecting family assets for future generations but the named parties of many have led to investigations where it is essential to obtain legal advice at the earlier opportunity. 

Raymond Ashton is a member of the Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Specialists and also a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners and is therefore well versed to advise on matters of trust and family law.

Guernsey beach Fermain bay channel Islands.
The Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners

Read about STEP


The Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Specialists

Read ACTAPS’ Code of Conduct


DiscoverMore services

Tax Investigation & Enquiries

Tax evasion is now major business for HMRC which makes sense when every pound counts. 

Financial Crime – International & Cross Border Work

The Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 creates a number of separate criminal offences of money laundering, which include obtaining, hiding, converting and removing criminal property.

Saint Peter port, Guernsey

Corporate Mergers & Acquisitions

Whether acquiring, merging or disposing of business assets, Raymond Ashton has had many years experience of advising business owners small or large.

Insolvency

Sound legal advice is recommended with help pulling together the cash flow statements and assessing the balance sheet.  

Trusts

Raymond Ashton is a member of the Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Specialists and also a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners and is therefore well versed to advise on matters of trust and family law.

Forensic Accounting & Dispute Resolution

The central tenet of the various specialist services provided by Ashton & Co is undoubtedly that of forensic accounting.

+44(0)1481 753300
enquiries@raymondashton.com

Ashton & Co
Suite A5, Hirzel Court
Hirzel Street
St Peter Port
Guernsey GY1 2NN

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