For decades, Liechtenstein was the ultimate golden sanctuary for private wealth. However, a major legal reform taking effect on 1 July 2026 is about to disrupt this peaceful landscape. Therefore, the new amendment introduces a mandatory watchdog for every single private-benefit trust. This step effectively ends the era of absolute internal secrecy. This newly created figure is known as the information rights holder. Furthermore, the structure must include a designated successor.
This role is far from passive. For instance, the holder acts as a statutory guardian equipped with extensive oversight powers. Specifically, they will gain full access to secret resolutions, bank accounts, and asset books. Moreover, they must perform a mandatory annual check-up of the structure. Consequently, if the trustee steps out of line, the holder is legally bound to report them directly to the Liechtenstein Regional Court.
Naturally, existing wealth structures are not exempt from these changes. Instead, they face a strict countdown until 31 December 2027 to comply. Adjusting current trusts will follow a tricky cascade process. If the settlor is alive, they can quickly fix the paperwork. Otherwise, trustees must dig into historical archives to find the settlor’s true intent. Alternatively, they can pass the control rights directly to the beneficiaries. On the other hand, the worst-case scenario involves a court-appointed external auditor taking over the monitoring role. Meanwhile, charitable trusts face an even tighter deadline expiring on 31 December 2026. In addition, non-compliance fines can reach 50,000 CHF. For this reason, family offices must act swiftly to keep control of their legacy.