The draft Charities (Jersey) Law 201- (the "Charities
Law") received Privy Council approval yesterday. It is
now awaiting registration in the Royal Court, after which it will
be brought into force on a staged basis. This legislation forms
part of the Island's initiative to develop Jersey's
position as a centre of excellence for philanthropic wealth
management.
Trusts and foundations are the two key structures used for
philanthropy in Jersey, with the Trusts (Jersey) Law 1984 and the
Foundations (Jersey) Law 2009 both placing a strong emphasis on the
importance of flexibility, allowing for the creation of structures
tailored to meet individual client requirements. The
Charities Law will complement these two pieces of legislation by
offering a system of registration in the Island, for those wishing
to register structures as charities.
Jersey is an attractive jurisdiction in which to establish
philanthropic structures for a variety of reasons. As well as
allowing clients to pursue philanthropic ventures tailored to their
own particular passions, the Island offers:
- stability (politically, economically and geographically);
- a robust and highly regarded regulatory regime;
- a well-respected judicial system with adherence to the rule of law; and
- a depth and breadth of experience amongst its professional advisers.
Added to this list is the fact that Jersey is readily accessible
from the UK (with several daily flight connections and a flying
time to London of under an hour) so that, for clients with business
interests or family connections in London or elsewhere in the UK,
choosing the Island also makes logistical and practical
sense.
Please see our
briefing in relation to charities registering under the
Charities Law.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.