Asset Protection Counsel Since 1991 · Flat Fee · No Commissions
Offshore Trust Attorneys
Attorneys Jon Alper and Gideon Alper design and implement offshore asset protection trusts for clients in all 50 states. All consultations and planning are handled virtually from start to finish.
We do not receive commissions from trustees or banks and we do not charge annual legal fees. Our role is to evaluate your risk, design a compliant structure, and tell you candidly whether an offshore trust is the right tool for your situation.
Request a free confidential consultation to evaluate your situation and determine whether offshore planning is appropriate.
You will receive our pricing and timeline materials and a scheduling link by email.
Why an Offshore Trust?
The strongest legal structure for protecting assets from lawsuits and creditors
Cook Islands trusts are widely regarded by legal professionals as the most effective asset protection tool available under any jurisdiction. Here is why.
Foreign Judgments Are Not Recognized
Cook Islands law does not recognize or enforce U.S. court judgments. A creditor with an American judgment cannot simply register it offshore — they must start over in Cook Islands courts under Cook Islands rules.
The Burden of Proof Is on the Creditor
Under Cook Islands law, the creditor must prove — beyond a reasonable doubt — that the trust was funded with intent to defraud that specific creditor. This is the highest standard of proof in civil law and is extremely difficult to meet.
Short Statute of Limitations
Creditors have a maximum of two years from the date of the transfer to challenge it — or one year from when the cause of action arose, whichever is shorter. After that window closes, the transfer is beyond legal challenge.
Duress Protection Built Into Law
If a U.S. court orders you to repatriate trust assets, the trustee is legally required to refuse. Cook Islands law treats court-compelled repatriation as duress, which means the trustee cannot comply — even if you want them to.
Offshore Trust Fee Summary
Pricing for trust setup and ongoing trustee administration.
| Legal Fees | Trustee Fees (Annual) | Total Setup Cost | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Offshore Trust Only | $15,000 | $5,000 | $20,000 |
| Offshore Trust + LLC | $20,000 | $5,000 | $25,000 |
Clients pay $5,000 to get started. The remaining legal fees are due only after trustee due diligence is complete.
What legal fees cover
Legal fees include all attorney consultations, trust agreement drafting customized to your situation, trustee coordination and due-diligence preparation, guidance on funding strategies for your specific asset types, and compliance guidance for IRS reporting obligations.
What trustee fees cover
Trustee fees cover onboarding and annual administration, financial account opening and maintenance, reasonable transfers, consultations, and most transactions.
Is This Right for You?
Offshore trusts are designed for people with meaningful assets and real exposure to lawsuits
Our typical clients include physicians, surgeons, and medical practice owners; real estate investors and developers; business owners in litigation-prone industries; executives and high-net-worth professionals; and individuals facing or anticipating significant legal claims.
Most clients who engage us have a net worth of $1 million or more in assets that are not already protected by exemptions, retirement accounts, or insurance. If you are unsure whether your situation warrants offshore planning, that is exactly what the initial consultation is designed to evaluate — at no cost.
Why Alper Law
What makes our approach different
Years of Focused Practice
Alper Law has specialized in asset protection since 1991. This is not a sideline — it is all we do.
Annual Legal Retainer
We do not lock clients into recurring legal fees. Most clients need no ongoing legal services after formation.
Commissions or Referral Fees
We do not receive commissions from trustees or banks. Our advice is independent: we recommend what is best for you.
No Sales Pitch
We do not upsell services, recommend unnecessary structures, or pressure clients. If an offshore trust is not the right fit, we will tell you.
As featured in
New York Times · Wall Street Journal · Bloomberg · CNN · Dateline NBC · Fox Business
Our Process for Forming an Offshore Trust
Confidential attorney consultation
We evaluate your lawsuit exposure, pending or anticipated claims, asset types, and overall financial picture. We then advise whether a Cook Islands trust is appropriate for your situation and explain the next steps if so.
Trustee due diligence
We prepare your trustee application and assemble required documentation: identity verification, proof of address, source of funds narrative, and tax residency certification. We handle all communication with the trustee.
Structure design and drafting
We draft the trust agreement and any related operating agreements based on your specific situation, including protective provisions such as duress clauses, flight clauses, spendthrift protections, and distribution standards.
Finalization
Once the trustee approves the application, final documents are executed and the trust is registered with the Cook Islands Registrar.
Funding and compliance guidance
We advise on how to fund the trust based on your asset types and walk you through IRS reporting requirements, so your tax advisors have what they need from the start.
Ongoing support
Day-to-day administration is handled by the trustee. Our attorneys remain available for future legal questions related to your trust structure, whether involving new circumstances, litigation threats, or interactions with other planning.
Typical Timeline
The time required to establish an offshore trust depends on trustee due diligence, banking compliance, and the assets being transferred. Legal drafting is usually completed quickly, but account opening and funding often control the overall schedule.
Initial consultation: 1 day
Application and Due Diligence: 1–2 weeks
Trust Creation: 1 week
Funding: 2–6+ weeks, depending on the institution and asset type
Our Offshore Trust Attorneys
Jon Alper
Attorney Jonathan Alper has nearly five decades of legal experience and is nationally recognized for his work in asset protection law. He has been licensed to practice since 1976. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University, a master’s degree from Harvard University, and a Juris Doctor degree (with honors) from the University of Florida Levin College of Law.
Jon’s involvement in BankFirst v. UBS Paine Webber, Inc. helped establish foundational principles in Florida asset protection law. He has published articles in the Florida Bar Journal, presented at Florida Bar seminars, and has been featured as a legal expert by the New York Times, Bloomberg, the Wall Street Journal, Dateline NBC, and the Washington Post.
Gideon Alper
Gideon Alper has over 15 years of experience as a Cook Islands trust attorney and leads the firm’s offshore planning practice. He has advised thousands of clients on asset protection strategies and offshore trust formation. He received a bachelor’s degree from the University of California and a Juris Doctor degree (with honors) from Emory University School of Law.
Before entering private practice, Gideon served as an attorney for the IRS Office of Chief Counsel in their international business division — experience that gives him a practical understanding of how the IRS evaluates foreign trust structures and reporting compliance. He has been quoted by CNN, Fox Business, the Wall Street Journal, and Daily Business Review on asset protection planning topics.