Panama has long been recognised as a one of the pioneers in the world of international wealth structuring, having introduced the concept of the Private Interest Foundation in 1995, inspired by Liechtenstein’s model but adapted to suit global needs and civil law jurisdictions. This innovative, hybrid legal structure combines the most advantageous features of a trust and a company, offering a flexible and effective solutions for private estate planning, asset protection, and family wealth management. A Panama Foundation is a distinct legal entity, separate from its founder, which can hold a wide variety of assets in its own name, including shares in companies, real estate, and investment portfolios. This legal separation provides a robust shield for the assets, protecting them from claims against the founder. One of the primary attractions of a Panama Foundation is the high level of confidentiality it affords; the foundation's regulations, which detail the beneficiaries and their entitlements, are a private document and are not publicly registered.
Furthermore, Panamanian law offers strong protection against forced heirship claims from other jurisdictions, ensuring that the founder's wishes regarding the distribution of their assets can be faithfully executed. These enduring features have made the Panama Foundation a popular and trusted choice for international families and entrepreneurs for decades. Zetland Fiduciary Group provides end-to-end support for the establishment and administration of Panama Foundations, ensuring that your structure is built on a foundation of practical governance, clear documentation, and robust operational controls that meet the highest standards of international compliance.
Our comprehensive service ensures that your Panama Foundation is established efficiently and administered with the highest degree of professionalism. The process begins with a detailed consultation to design the foundation's purpose and governance structure. We then manage the preparation of the Foundation Charter, which is the public document required for registration, and the private foundation regulations, or by-laws, which set out the detailed operational rules and beneficiary provisions. We oversee all the founding formalities, including the initial funding of the foundation's patrimony, to ensure it is correctly constituted from the outset. A critical part of our role is to manage the onboarding of the foundation with international banks and custodians.
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Zetland provides full support for the establishment and ongoing management of Panama Foundations, including:
Documentation Preparation
Ongoing Administration
Governance & Oversight
Zetland Fiduciary Group operates a global network of offices to support clients across key international financial hubs. Whether you are seeking guidance on company formation, trust administration, accounting, or cross-border transactions, our local experts in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Singapore, and London are ready to assist.
Contact any of our offices directly for tailored advice and seamless service.