Structuring & Estate Planning in St. Barths
Organize today what you will pass on tomorrow, with peace of mind.
Free, no commitment
Holding assets well is already passing them on. The structure you choose today shapes what your family will receive.
ST-BARTH PRIVATE OFFICE advises families and business owners in St. Barths on how their wealth is held and passed on: holding companies, real estate companies, gifts, inheritance, split ownership, life insurance. St. Barths levies no inheritance tax on assets that fall under its tax system, but France may tax an heir who lives there. The first thirty-minute consultation is complimentary, and fees are then quoted before you commit.
Who it is for
- You own several properties or a business.
- You want to protect your spouse or your children.
- You are planning a gift or preparing your estate.
Our solutions
Holding companies
Grouping your shareholdings in one company, to manage and pass them on more simply.
Real estate companies
Owning property with others and organizing its transfer, knowing the rules specific to the island.
Gifts and inheritance
Anticipating what your heirs will pay, in St. Barths and in France.
Split ownership
Giving the bare ownership and keeping the usufruct: passing assets on early while keeping their use and income.
Life insurance and beneficiary clauses
Deciding who receives what, and wording the clause so it applies as you intend.
Heirs living in France
A child who lives in France changes the tax on the whole estate. It should be planned for.
Business succession
Preparing the handover or the sale, as a family and in the right order.
Family protection
Shielding your loved ones if the unexpected happens: marital regime, clauses, insurance.
Fees quoted after an initial conversation. Regulatory framework
Wealth across two territories.
St. Barths and France do not apply the same rules, and a single link to France is enough to trigger French tax. Every transfer is looked at from both sides, with your notary.
Free, no commitment
A simple method, in four steps.
First conversation
Thirty complimentary minutes to understand your situation and your goals.
Wealth review
Assets, income, taxes: everything laid out clearly.
Tailored strategy
Clear, quantified recommendations. You decide.
Ongoing guidance
Your life changes. Your strategy adapts.
Frequently asked questions
Are inheritance rules the same as in mainland France?
No. St. Barths levies no inheritance tax on assets that fall under its tax system, and only taxes gifts of real estate on the island or of shares in a company that owns some. France may still tax an heir who lives there, as well as assets located in France. Read the article
Are gifts taxed in St. Barths?
Only if the gift is real estate located on the island, or shares in a company that owns some. A gift of cash, or of shares in a company with no real estate, is not taxed locally, but may be taxed in France depending on where the donor or the recipient lives. Read the article
Is the first consultation free?
Yes. The first conversation lasts thirty minutes. It is complimentary and comes with no commitment.
Let’s talk about your wealth, here, in St. Barths.
Free, no commitment