The Liechtenstein establishment as a legal entity

The establishment in Liechtenstein is an independent legal entity under private law and is not to be confused with the public-law institutions of other states. The special feature of the Liechtenstein establishment is its flexibility: it can be set up as a foundation or a corporation. Due to this flexibility, the establishment in Liechtenstein has many possible applications, both in the fields of succession planning, asset preservation and asset protection, as well as in commercial and entrepreneurial areas.

How does a Liechtenstein establishment work?

Liechtenstein company law allows for the following types of Liechtenstein establishments:

non-commercial or commercial establishment
capital divided into shares or non-divided capital
establishment with founder’s rights or without founder’s rights

In the case of an establishment with founder's rights, the holder or holders of the founder's rights constitute the supreme body, whereas in the case of an establishment without founder's rights, the board of directors constitutes the supreme body. This legal body has powers comparable to those of the general meeting of a stock corporation. The founder's rights are transferable, but cannot be pledged or otherwise encumbered.

Setting up an establishment?

The legal setup of an establishment can be carried out by a professional fiduciary, e.g., through us as wealth preservation experts. The Liechtenstein establishment must be entered in the Public Register in order to be legally established. The register entry essentially contains information on the date of registration, company wording, nominal capital, registered office and purpose.