Trusts we set up and manage
We help families and business owners across South Africa choose, set up and run the right trust for their situation. From Sandton to clients meeting online nationwide, we explain the process in plain language and support the paperwork that keeps a trust working properly.
How this trusts section helps you choose
Not every trust is meant for the same job. Some are used to hold family assets and plan how value passes between generations, some are used in business structures, and some only come into effect after a death because they are created through a will.
This section gives you a practical starting point before you move into the more detailed pages. We explain the main trust types we work with, what they are generally used for, and what day to day administration usually involves. Each case depends on the facts, the assets involved and the people who will act as trustees, so final decisions should always be made on advice for your own situation.
The main trusts we set up and manage
Our work focuses on family, business and testamentary trusts. In many matters we also continue helping after setup by supporting trustees, keeping trust records up to date, preparing resolutions and minutes, and working with the client accountant on annual trust paperwork.
- Family trusts: often used to hold investments, property or other assets for the benefit of family members, with rules set out in the trust deed.
- Business trusts: used where a trust forms part of a business or investment structure and needs proper governance, records and trustee decisions.
- Testamentary trusts: created under a will and usually considered where assets must be managed for beneficiaries after a death.
Some clients come to us before a trust exists, while others already have a trust and need help checking whether it is still suitable. We can assist with both, and with the ongoing admin that people often underestimate at the start.
A practical comparison before you decide
If you are unsure which route to explore first, the questions below usually help narrow it down. They do not replace legal or tax advice, but they are useful for an initial discussion.
- Family trust: usually considered when the main aim is to hold and manage family assets over time.
- Business trust: usually considered when trust ownership or control forms part of a trading, investment or asset holding structure.
- Testamentary trust: usually considered when the arrangement should only start after death under the terms of a will.
- Set up now or later: inter vivos trusts are created during your lifetime, while testamentary trusts are created by your will and come into operation later.
- Ongoing work: all trusts need proper trustee decisions, records and compliance steps, but the documents and timing can differ from one matter to the next.
Where there is a will in place, it is also worth looking at how the will and the proposed trust fit together. Small mismatches in wording can create admin problems later, so joined up planning matters.
What setup usually involves
Setting up a trust is more than signing a deed. Before the documents are prepared, we usually talk through the purpose of the trust, the assets likely to be placed in it, who the trustees may be, who the beneficiaries are likely to be and how decisions should be made. We also discuss how the trust will be run in practice because that is where many avoidable issues start.
Once the structure is clear, we guide the process step by step in plain terms. The exact documents and sequence depend on the facts, and there can be extra requirements where property, company interests or cross border elements are involved. We keep legal and tax points general at this stage, then point clients to get advice on the details for their own position.
Managing the trust after setup
A trust only works properly if it is administered properly. Trustees need clear records of decisions, and the trust file should reflect what has actually happened rather than trying to catch up later. This is especially important where the trust holds assets that change over time or where more than one trustee is involved.
- Preparing or updating trust minutes and resolutions.
- Keeping key trust records in order.
- Supporting trustees with practical admin steps.
- Liaising with the client accountant on annual trust paperwork.
- Helping review whether the trust deed still suits the current situation.
For clients based in Sandton and across South Africa, we offer both in person and online meetings. That makes it easier to keep matters moving when trustees live in different towns or family members are spread across provinces.
When a review is better than a new trust
Sometimes the right answer is not a brand new trust. Clients often come to us with an older trust that has not been actively managed for some time, or with a structure that no longer matches the family or business reality. In those cases, a review can be the more sensible starting point.
We can look at the trust deed, the trustee setup, the records on hand and the practical purpose the trust still serves. From there we explain the options in straightforward language, including whether the trust can continue with better administration or whether a different plan should be considered. The aim is clarity, not complication and where needed we work alongside your other advisers so everyone is looking at the same documents.
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Questions we get asked
What is the difference between a family trust and a testamentary trust?
A family trust is usually created during your lifetime, while a testamentary trust is created by your will and generally only starts operating after death. Which one suits you depends on your assets, your planning goals and who will act as trustees.
Can you help if we already have a trust?
Yes. We can review an existing trust, help organise records, prepare minutes and resolutions, and support trustees with the ongoing admin needed to keep the trust properly run.
Do you only assist clients in Sandton?
No. We are based in Sandton and meet clients there, but we also help families and business owners across South Africa through online and in person meetings.
Talk to us about your trust or estate
Send a short note through our contact form about the trust, will or estate you need help with, and we will set up a first meeting.
Open the contact form