Malta: Trusts

Mr Liao Wang is a successful Chinese businessman who lives in Beijing with his wife. At 55, family remains central to his life. Their two children study in Europe, one in Amsterdam and the other in Madrid, and the couple visits them every six to eight weeks. Since both children have finished school and have continued their studies abroad, the Wangs are considering a move of residence.

The Financial Intelligence Analysis Unit (FIAU) has issued updated Implementing Procedures Part I, introducing significant changes to beneficial ownership identification requirements and employee screening obligations. These amendments affect how subject persons must conduct due diligence on beneficial owners of trusts and legal arrangements, while also modifying the documentation requirements for employee vetting processes.

Malta holds a respected position in international wealth planning, offering a legal framework that combines robust asset protection, strategic flexibility, and EU-aligned regulatory oversight.

By virtue of the Trusts and Trustees Act (Register of Beneficial Owners) (Amendment) Regulations, 2025 (Legal Notice 133 of 2025), a number of amendments have been made to the Trusts and Trustees Act (Register Of Beneficial Owners) Regulations (the "Regulations") in order to transpose Article 74 of Directive.

In a well-functioning financial market, especially one that includes the issuance of publicly traded debt instruments such as bonds, the ability to safeguard the interests of investors is a foundational requirement.

The Trusts and Trustees Act (Register of Beneficial Owners) (Amendment) Regulations, 2025 (the "Amending Regulations") came into effect on 11 July 2025, following their publication under Legal Notice 133 of 2025.

The opportunity to carry on the family's legacy is one of the unique competitive advantages of family businesses. It is evidence of the value that the family has contributed to the business over multiple generations.

Trusts and foundations are often thought of or addressed together, most likely because they are both used by practitioners for asset protection purposes, ...

Under Trust law, once the settlor has settled property on trust, he relinquishes any ownership rights on the trust property since the ownership would be transferred from the settlor to the trustee.