The Trusts Act 2014 ("the Act") is one of Samoa's newest innovation in its quest to provide exceptional wealth management solutions.
A trust under the act can be in any language which is a first for Samoa. The type of trusts permitted under the Act include charitable trust and purpose Trusts.
The salient features of the Act are as follows:
- Anti-forced heir-ship provisions;
- Fraudulent trusts or disposition to it: 2 year rule for sensible or legitimate asset protection;
- Perpetuity: a perpetual trust is the default provision, total flexibility as to fixed period trusts and perpetual trusts.
Trusts:
- Trustees' powers: Statutory duty of care introduced, Special provisions for Trustees' powers of investment, delegation, remuneration and insurance
- Retention of Control: Reserved powers to a Settlor, to a Protectors, default powers, provision for "prescribed directions"
- Non-enforcement of foreign judgments
- SISTA -Samoa International Special Trust Arrangement (similar to VISTA in BVI and LST in Labuan)
- Parties to a Trust: Protectors and Enforcers specifically provided for. Default powers for Protectors
- Confidentiality and the provision of information
- Accumulation of income throughout the continuation of a trust
- The liability of Trustees and their protection from liability is extended to Protectors & Enforcers
- Variation, termination & migration
- Favorable treatment of Trusts for taxation