Nevis Foundations (MFFs)

Flexible Form. Lasting Control. Robust Planning Across Different Legal Systems.

Overview & Benefits

A Nevis Multiform Foundation (MFF) is a unique, highly flexible legal entity designed to meet the needs of clients from both civil and common law jurisdictions. Governed by the Nevis Multiform Foundations Ordinance (2004), an MFF blends the protective features of a trust with the structural clarity and legal personality of a traditional foundation or company — making it ideal for estate planning, asset consolidation, and cross-border wealth protection, especially in civil law countries where recognition of trusts may be limited.

Unlike traditional foundations, an Nevis Foundation can change its legal form over time — adopting the characteristics of a trust, company, partnership, or foundation — all without losing its legal identity.

Key Benefits of a Nevis Foundation

No Shareholders or Owners

Assets belong to the foundation, not individuals. A foundation is, at its most basic, a way of giving legal personality to an asset.

Form Transformation

Change between trust, company, LLC or foundation form.

Civil Law Compatibility

Recognized legal personality, unlike common-law trusts.

Strong Asset Protection

Nevis courts do not recognize foreign judgments.

Ideal for Complex Planning

Consolidate entities, layer with LLCs or IBCs, or support philanthropic goals.

Private and Secure

No public register of beneficiaries, council members, or founders.

Nevis Foundation Setup Process

We manage the entire process remotely, with secure digital onboarding. Nevis Foundations can be registered and operational within a few business days.

Planning Consultation

Identify purpose, governance structure, and initial legal form. Choose the entity’s name, that will be reserved for 10 days while documents are prepared.

Documentation & Due Diligence

Provide KYC documents and confirm the names of council members, guardian (if any), and founder. Due diligence documents must prove your name, address, source of wealth, and source of the funds to be invested in the IBC. Bank and commercial references will normally be required.

Charter & Bylaws Drafting

We prepare a customized Foundation Charter and internal Bylaws, along with resolution templates.

Registrar Filing

Foundation is filed with the Nevis Registrar of Foundations, gaining legal personality.

Delivery & Support

We provide you with company documents (issued in digital format), and optional legal commentary. If a legal opinion is required, we coordinate with qualified external attorneys. These documents serve as additional proof of the MFF's registration and provide legal clarity. For an extra fee, we can also obtain certified and apostilled paper copies of any documents required, to be despatched to you by courier.

Typical timeline: 2–3 business days from submission to delivery.

Ongoing Management & Compliance

While Nevis Foundations are designed for flexibility and long-term use, they must remain in good standing under Nevis law.

Annual Requirements

Renewal of registered agent and government fees. This ensures that the Nevis Foundation remains in good standing with the Nevis authorities.
Maintenance of a registered office in Nevis. A registered office is required for receiving legal correspondence and official notices. This is provided by the Registered Agent, although it is technically a separate service.
No requirement to file financials or disclose stakeholders publicly. This maintains the confidentiality of the Nevis Foundation´s financial information and ownership structure. You must however file a 2 page annual information return, form CT-101. Generally the Registered Agent will assist you with this.
Financial Statements: although you are not required to file financial statements anywhere, it is important to prepare them - for example, your bank might ask for them, or you might need them as part of your personal tax return in your country of residence.

Bookkeeping & Records

Nevis Foundations should maintain internal financial records and resolutions. Proper record-keeping is essential for transparency and compliance. Book-keeping is a legal obligation.
Outsourcing bookkeeping can help ensure accurate and efficient financial management. You can also choose to do your own book-keeping using online software, such as Xero, which makes preparation of reports at any time very easy.

Legal Compliance

Our job is to ensure your Nevis Multiform Foundation stays in good standing with local regulators. Ongoing legal compliance is crucial for avoiding penalties and maintaining the entity's legal standing. Besides making the regular payments on time, it is important to keep up to date on changing legislation and regulatory norms.
Optional extra documents for your Nevis Foundation are always available: such as Certificates of Good Standing, Certificates of Incumbency, amending company documents, changing managers, passing resolutions, issuing powers of attorney etc. This provides flexibility to adapt the corporate structure as needed.

TrustNevis.com can provide foundation council services, registered office support, and periodic compliance reviews to ensure your structure remains current and effective.

Build for the Long Term

Create Your Nevis Multiform Foundation

Important Notice

TrustNevis.com does not provide tax, legal, or financial advice related to your local obligations.

Clients are responsible for consulting independent legal and tax advisors in their country of residence or domicile to understand disclosure or reporting requirements related to offshore foundations.

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes a Multiform Foundation different from a trust?

A Multiform Foundation is a legal entity, not a fiduciary relationship. It owns its assets in its own name and is easier to classify and report in civil law jurisdictions. It can function similarly to a trust — but with added flexibility, formal governance, and no reliance on common-law principles.

Can I use a Multiform Foundation to consolidate other structures?

Yes. The MFF Ordinance allows for mergers, continuations, and re-domiciliations. You can consolidate LLCs, IBCs, foreign foundations, and even trusts into a single MFF — reducing complexity and improving administrative efficiency.

Is a Multiform Foundation compatible with civil law countries like France and Spain?

Yes — that’s one of its greatest strengths. Unlike trusts, which are often misunderstood or even rejected in civil systems, MFFs are fully statutory entities with legal personality. This makes them particularly attractive to clients with assets or business in France, Spain, Italy, and Latin America.

Can I change the foundation’s form later?

Absolutely! You can switch between company form, trust form, foundation form, or partnership form at any time, without winding up the structure. This feature is unique to Nevis MFFs and adds long-term strategic value.

Can the foundation hold other entities or accounts?

Yes — an MFF can own Nevis or foreign LLCs, IBCs, bank or brokerage accounts, real estate, or intellectual property. Many family offices use an MFF as a top-tier holding vehicle to centralize their structures. A Foundation may also serve on the Foundation Council of another Foundation, or serve as Trustee of a Trust.

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This website and the TrustNevis.com brand are operated by Fiduciary Generation LLC (“FG”) on behalf of a network of independent professional service providers (the “Principals”). In particular regarding services regulated in Nevis, LLC and IBC services are provided by Spectrum Management and Consulting Ltd, and Nevis Trust and Foundation services are provided by Lighthouse Trust Nevis Limited. Any amounts billed or collected by FG to clients are charged in its capacity as payment collection agent on behalf of the Principals.