Our website uses  cookies for statistical purposes.

Our Articles

Open a Trust in Croatia

Open a Trust in Croatia

If you want to set up a trust in Croatia, you can ask for the services offered by our local specialists. You can browse this article and discover information about what a trust is, how to register it, and what steps to follow are, helped by our experts in company formation in Croatia.

Types of trusts available in Croatia

The following types of trusts are accepted in Croatia:

  • discretionary trusts,
  • charitable trusts,
  • fixed trusts.

What is a trust in Croatia, and what legislation applies?

A trust in Croatia is a legal arrangement most often used for estate planning, ownership transfer of assets, tax minimization, asset protection, and many other purposes. The Civil Obligations Act and the Family Law in Croatia are the basis for the creation of a trust. You can find out more about this agreement from our Croatian agents. The same specialists can also help you with the formalities for opening a company in Croatia.

What does a trust in Croatia include, and who does it involve?

Setting up trusts in Croatia can be done through a trust deed or agreement, where the responsibilities of the parties involved must be clearly specified. In this sense, the following aspects are relevant:

  • A trustee is appointed for this legal arrangement. He or she is in charge of managing the trust, considering the terms and conditions mentioned and agreed upon.
  • The beneficiaries can be both natural persons and entities mentioned in a trust. They benefit from the trust in question and, more precisely, from the rights stipulated in this document.
  • Once a trust deed in Croatia has been drafted and signed, it must be registered with the relevant authorities in order to be legally recognized, in full transparency.

If you want estate planning through trusts in Croatia, we recommend that you work with our local agents. We can guide you in this process, and also when you want to set up a company in Croatia. We can also help you establish a company in the Netherlands, through our local affiliates.

What can a trust in Croatia hold?

A trust in Croatia can hold real estate properties, company shares, and other types of assets, as long as they are accepted by the laws of this country. This trust deed must include precise information about how one can benefit from these assets and under what circumstances.

Taxation of trusts in Croatia

Trusts in Croatia are taxed as follows, but circumstances and other conditions are also taken into account:

  • Income tax ranges between 15% and 35.4%.
  • The inheritance tax is 4% in Croatia.

What other interesting information do you need to know about trusts in Croatia?

Trustees can offer fiduciary services in Croatia when a legal agreement, such as a trust, is established. This trustee is directly responsible for acting in the best interest of the beneficiaries of the trust in question. On the other hand, it is good to know that there are cases in Croatia in which a trust can be challenged in a court of law. Such a situation may arise due to poor trust management or disagreements between beneficiaries. If you are faced with such legal and administrative situations, you can always opt for the services offered by our Croatian lawyers, with whom we can put you in contact.

In addition to fiduciary services for opening a trust in Croatia, we remind you that we can help you start a business in this country. We can also provide you with the services of our accountants in Croatia from the very beginning. Among these, payroll services in Croatia are quite important. You can contact our specialists in company incorporation in Croatia and find out more about the services offered to local and foreign investors.