How Much Does a Cook Islands Trust Cost? (2025 Price Guide)

If you call a US asset protection attorney today and ask for a Cook Islands Trust, you will likely be quoted between $25,000 and $40,000.

If you call a licensed trustee directly in the Cook Islands, the price is significantly lower.

Why is there such a massive gap? And what should you actually pay to protect your assets?

In an industry famous for opaque billing and “it depends” answers, we are pulling back the curtain. Here is the honest breakdown of where your money goes, and how to stop paying the “Middleman Tax.”

The “Lawyer Markup” Explained

The single biggest misconception in asset protection is that you need a US lawyer to “create” your offshore trust.

In reality, most US-based asset protection lawyers do not set up the trust themselves. They are intermediaries. They act as a sales agent between you and the actual trustee in the Cook Islands.

Here is the typical cost breakdown when you hire a traditional US law firm:

1. You pay the Lawyer: $30,000+
2. The Lawyer keeps: $20,000 (as a “consultation, design, and drafting fee”)
3. The Lawyer pays the Trustee: $10,000 (to do the actual registration and compliance work)

You are essentially paying a 200% markup for a middleman to forward your emails and use a standard template.

The “Direct-to-Provider” Model

At Wealth Web, we operate differently. We are not a US law firm billing by the hour. We are a specialized offshore services provider with a direct presence in New Zealand and the Cook Islands.

Because we have direct wholesale relationships with the licensed trustee companies, we cut out the middleman entirely.

• Our Price: $10,000 flat.
• What You Get: The exact same trust structure, utilizing the exact same licensed trustees that the expensive US lawyers use.

What Does the $10,000 Cover?

Whether you pay $10,000 or $40,000, the final deliverable – the legal structure to protect your assets – is identical. Our flat-fee package includes every critical component required to establish a compliant, defensible trust:

• Trust Deed Drafting: We customize the legal document to your family’s needs, ensuring specific provisions for “Duress” and estate planning are included.
• Government Registration Fees: All initial filing fees paid directly to the Cook Islands government.
• Due Diligence: Comprehensive KYC (Know Your Customer) and AML (Anti-Money Laundering) compliance checks to ensure your structure is bulletproof.

Are There Hidden Costs?

Transparency is key to our business. While the establishment fee is a one-time cost, an offshore trust is a living legal entity that requires maintenance.

You should budget for:

• Annual Renewal: Approximately $4,000 – $5,000 per year. This covers the professional trustee’s responsibility and government renewal fees.
• IRS Compliance (For US Citizens): You will need a CPA to file Forms 3520/3520-A annually. This is paid to your accountant, not us, but is a necessary part of the strategy.

Don’t Be Over-charged and Under-served

Asset protection shouldn’t be a mystery, and it shouldn’t cost the price of a luxury car just to get started. When you hire a high-priced US firm, you are paying for their marble floors, their marketing, and their billable hours. When you work with Wealth Web, you are paying for the Trust itself.

Wealth Web was founded by Connor Steens and John Evans, two professionals with deep roots in the offshore services industry and a shared vision to raise the standard of what clients can expect from international wealth solutions, particularly in the South Pacific. What began as a conversation about how to better serve clients quickly and efficiently evolved into a network focused on delivering and growing the offshore services industry in the Cook Islands and Nevis.

We are committed to provide trusted, future-ready offshore solutions with speed, precision, and care, while helping shape the future of the jurisdictions we know best.

If you are ready to secure your wealth without the markup, let’s have a candid conversation.