UBO determination for trusts and foundations
Trusts and foundations break the mental model of “shareholders with percentages”. Ultimate Beneficial Owner (UBO) determination here centres on roles, discretionary powers, and who effectively directs or benefits — with careful citation of governing instruments.
By Noah Böker — Regulatory Strategy, Transparify
Last updated: Content is reviewed on a ~90-day cycle while AMLR implementation evolves through 2027.
Map roles before percentages
Identify settlor/founder, trustees/board, protectors, and beneficiaries (including classes). Note discretionary vs fixed interests. Many UBO conclusions in this domain are control- or role-based rather than ownership-percentage-based.
Evidence and special cases
Governing deeds, board bylaws, and side letters are primary evidence. Where instruments are foreign-law, document the assumption set and escalate for legal interpretation — software should not silently invent a local analogue.
Link to AMLR preparation
As AMLR approaches direct applicability on 10 July 2027, firms that already document trust/foundation logic with audit trails will adapt faster than those relying on ad-hoc memos.
Related reading
Primary sources
- Regulation (EU) 2024/1624 (AMLR)Anti-Money Laundering Regulation — directly applicable from 10 July 2027.
- Directive (EU) 2024/1640 (AMLD6)Sixth Anti-Money Laundering Directive — national transposition obligations.
- Geldwäschegesetz (GwG) — Germany
Run a structured UBO determination workflow
Transparify guides capture, threshold checks, and documentation — your firm confirms decisions.