Cook Islands Trust Cost (2025): First-Year & Annual Fees

How Much Does a Cook Islands Trust Cost?

A Cook Islands trust usually costs $20,000 to $35,000 in the first year when you combine U.S. legal fees with trustee onboarding and the first annual service. Complex builds that add multiple entities, special banking, or a professional protector can exceed $40,000.

Ongoing trustee service commonly runs $3,000 to $8,000 per year, depending on the trustee and the activity level.

Our Pricing

We charge a flat $15,000 legal fee for a standard Cook Islands asset protection trust. The trustee charges are separate and depend on the licensed Cook Islands trustee you choose.

Most clients also budget for the trustee’s first-year acceptance and the first annual service.

First-Year and Annual Costs At a Glance

Cost component	What it covers	Typical 2025 range
U.S. legal setup	Fact development, strategy, drafting, trust deed, and ancillary documents, coordination with trustee, implementation	$15,000–$25,000
Trustee acceptance / onboarding	Due diligence, trust registration, file opening	$1,000–$3,000
Annual trustee service	Ongoing administration, communications, and standard filings in the Cook Islands	$3,000–$4,500 per year
Banking (optional)	Opening an offshore account for the trust when needed	$1,000–$5,000+ depending on bank
Protector (optional)	Professional third-party oversight role	$2,000–$5,000 per year

A realistic first-year total for a standard build with our firm is $20,000 to $30,000 all-in. The lower end assumes a straightforward trustee selection and no optional banking or protector. The upper end reflects added entities or non-standard banking requirements.

What Drives the Price

Price is driven by structure, trustee selection, and how much implementation help you need.

A single-trust structure with a simple account setup is the least expensive. Adding an accompanying LLC, a professional protector, or complex banking increases cost. Trustee schedules vary by provider and by activity.

The more transactions and bespoke actions the trustee performs each year, the closer you get to the higher end of annual fees.

First-Year vs. Ongoing Costs

Your first year includes legal work, trustee acceptance, registration, and usually the first annual trustee service.

After year one, the ongoing expense is primarily the trustee’s annual fee. Most clients do not pay recurring U.S. legal fees unless they need changes, additional entities, or litigation support.

Do You Need a Bank Account in the Trust’s Name?

An offshore trust protects your cash and investments only if they are themselves located offshore at an international bank. Opening a new offshore account adds both time and cost. If an offshore account is appropriate, we coordinate the due diligence and introductions.

Do You Need a Trust Protector?

A protector is optional. The role adds oversight and certain approval rights, but it adds an annual cost.

We design the trust with strong built-in controls and reserve powers so that a professional protector is not necessary. When facts require a protector, we explain the cost and control trade-offs in plain terms.

U.S. Tax and Reporting

A Cook Islands trust is an asset protection tool. It does not eliminate U.S. tax or U.S. reporting.

U.S. owners must ensure that the trust files required U.S. information returns and that any foreign bank accounts are reported when thresholds are met.

We can coordinate with your CPA and can refer you to a CPA with offshore entity experience when needed. The Cook Islands does not impose its own tax on your trust.

Timeline

Most clients can establish a Cook Islands trust in two to four weeks after providing due diligence documents.

The longest lead item is often banking, if you elect to open a new offshore account.

Is a Cook Islands Trust Worth the Cost?

For clients facing significant liability risk, the deterrent effect and practical difficulty that creditors encounter in the Cook Islands often justify the cost. If your risk profile or net worth does not warrant an offshore trust, we will say so. In those cases, domestic tools such as multi-member LLCs, Florida homestead planning, and exempt bank accounts may achieve your goals at lower cost. We help you compare options before you commit.

Frequently Asked Questions