Transferring assets into a trust

· 17 Jumada I 1439 AH1 min readFatwa 39520English

Question

Is it permissable to transfer all of one's assets into an "inter vivos discretionary trust", for estate and tax planning.

And if permissable, how will the Islamic law of inheritance apply.

Answer

In the Name of Allaah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

It is permissible to use the intervivos discretionary trust facility for estate and tax planning. You should add a clause in the trust stating that in the event of your demise, your estate should be distributed according to the Shari’ah laws of Inheritance and Succession. We advise to have the trust examined by a Mufti to ensure that no clause of the trust is against Shari’ah.

And Allaah Ta’aala Knows Best

Muhammed Al-Ameen Bin Moulana Ismail Akoo

Student, Darul Iftaa

Newcastle; KZN, South Africa

Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.

Answered by
Muhammed Al-Ameen Bin Moulana Ismail Akoo
Checked & approved by
Mufti Ebrahim Desai
Questions about this ruling, answered only from the archive with sources.

Where scholars differ, it’s safer to take the more cautious view.

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