Renowned for its progressive and cutting-edge trust laws, South Dakota is consistently ranked among the best trust jurisdictions in the United States by industry publications, law review articles, white papers, and surveys of leading trust and estate professionals.

South Dakota fiduciary law gives clients access to some of the most advanced asset protection and dynasty trust capabilities in the United States as well as the ability to hold non-traditional assets in trusts. In addition, South Dakota’s confidentiality provisions and directed trust statutes are among the best in the country, allowing a client to confidentially work with financial advisors or investment managers of their choosing in the administration of trust assets while delivering tremendous direction and control back to settlors of trusts, beneficiaries, and their advisors.

Click the links below for more information on specific topics and areas of law that render South Dakota a leading U.S. trust jurisdiction:

• Asset Protection Trusts
• Charitable Trusts
• Community Property Trusts
• Decanting
• Directed Trusts
• Fiscal Soundness
• Modern Trust Laws
• Privacy Trust Laws
• Purpose Trusts
• Special Purpose Entity
• Trust Protector
• Trust Taxation

Best U.S. Trust Jurisdiction

Bridgeford Trust Company produced a well-researched chart comparing the leading U.S. trust jurisdictions, with a particular emphasis on areas that clearly distinguish South Dakota as the superior trust jurisdiction in the overall analysis. You can access this trust jurisdiction comparison to learn more about the progressive trust topics and laws that distinguish South Dakota as the superior trust jurisdiction.

You can also learn more about the power of South Dakota trust law, by exploring this detailed educational brochure that addresses important modern trust law concepts.