Professional Trustee Services in Mauritius
A licensed, independent trustee based in Mauritius — exercising genuine fiduciary oversight, ensuring regulatory compliance and protecting beneficiary interests.
Appointing a professional trustee is one of the most consequential decisions in the establishment of a trust. The trustee holds legal title to trust assets, exercises discretionary powers over distributions and acts as the fiduciary anchor of the entire structure. In Mauritius, acting as a trustee for third parties requires a licence issued by the Financial Services Commission (FSC). Our licensed trustee service provides clients with a credible, independent and professionally resourced trustee that can withstand scrutiny from tax authorities, courts and counterparties in any jurisdiction.
What a professional trustee provides
Licensed and regulated status
Our trustee entity holds an FSC licence authorising it to act as trustee. This provides the structure with regulatory legitimacy — important for tax treaty access, banking relationships and international recognition.
Independence from the settlor
A professional trustee provides genuine independence. This is critical for asset protection purposes: courts in many jurisdictions will look at whether the trustee exercised real independent judgment. A licensed trustee with its own governance structure and documented decision-making provides that independence.
Experienced fiduciary governance
We manage trustee decisions through a formal trustee committee. All material decisions — distributions, asset transactions, changes to investment policy — are documented by trustee resolution and retained on the trust file.
Compliance and AML oversight
As a licensed entity, we maintain full AML/CFT procedures, conduct ongoing KYC reviews and fulfil all regulatory reporting obligations including CRS, FATCA and any FSC-mandated filings.
Continuity and institutional stability
Unlike an individual trustee, a corporate professional trustee provides continuity of service regardless of personnel changes. The trust is never without a trustee, and succession within the trustee entity is seamlessly managed.
Protector co-ordination
Where the trust deed appoints a protector, we work constructively with the protector — respecting their powers while maintaining the trustee's independent judgment. We prepare all materials required for protector consultations.
Trustee appointment process
Initial assessment
We review the proposed trust structure, the nature of the assets, the parties involved and the jurisdiction of the settlor to confirm that we are able to accept the appointment.
KYC and due diligence
Full KYC is completed on all parties: settlor, beneficiaries, protector and any underlying entities. We may request source of wealth documentation and third-party references.
Trust deed review
We review and negotiate the trust deed to ensure the trustee's powers, protections and indemnities are properly documented. Where required, we co-ordinate with the drafting solicitor.
Formal acceptance
On satisfactory completion of due diligence and agreement on the deed, the trustee formally executes the trust deed and issues an acceptance letter to the settlor and their advisers.
Asset transfer and onboarding
Assets are transferred into the trust. We co-ordinate with custodians, banks and legal counsel to ensure the transfer is properly documented and recorded.
Requirements for trustee appointment
- Completed trustee onboarding questionnaire
- Full KYC documents for all principals (settlor, beneficiaries, protector)
- Source of wealth and source of funds documentation
- Draft or executed trust deed for review
- Schedule of assets to be transferred into trust
- Details of any existing professional advisers (lawyers, accountants, investment managers)
- Identification of any US persons or other high-risk classifications
Indicative trustee fees
| Item | Indicative range |
|---|---|
| Trustee acceptance / onboarding fee | USD 1,500 – 3,000 |
| Annual trustee fee (standard) | USD 5,000 – 15,000 |
| Annual trustee fee (complex / high-activity) | USD 15,000 – 30,000+ |
| Trustee committee resolution (per event) | USD 350 – 700 |