Foreign Asset Protection Trusts: What You Need to Know
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A Foreign Asset Protection Trust (FAPT) — like a Cook Islands trust — is established offshore in a jurisdiction known for strong creditor protection laws. These are often used for higher-risk profiles where maximum legal barriers matter.
A Self-Settled Irrevocable Trust allows you to be a beneficiary of your own trust while still protecting assets — but it must be structured correctly to work.
A Domestic Asset Protection Trust (DAPT) is formed within certain U.S. states that allow self-settled protection under state law. It offers strong protection, but it operates under U.S. jurisdiction.
The key isn’t just choosing a trust.
It’s choosing the right structure for your risk level, assets, and long-term strategy.
In this YouTube breakdown, Attorney Stuart Green explains how these strategies actually work — and when each one makes sense.
Protect what you’ve built. Structure matters.
This is not legal advice. Use this for educational purposes only.
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Stuart Green Law combines modern South Dakota trust law with integrated estate planning, wealth management, and fiduciary services for families throughout the United States and internationally. The firm’s approach is built around selecting the strongest legal framework available, maintaining continuity of planning judgment, and bringing every part of the family’s wealth strategy into alignment with its long-term objectives.
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