European UnionI set up a trust but EU anti-money laundering rules require registration. What must I disclose?
You must register your trust in the EU’s central beneficial ownership register and disclose the settlor, trustee, beneficiaries, and any protector — including their names, birth dates, nationalities, and countries of residence.
What the Law Says
The EU’s anti-money laundering framework mandates transparency for express trusts with connections to the EU. Key obligations stem from the Fourth and Fifth Anti-Money Laundering Directives, as transposed into national law across all Member States.
Under the Fourth Anti-Money Laundering Directive (4AMLD), EU Member States were required to establish central registers of beneficial ownership for corporate and trust entities. The Fifth Anti-Money Laundering Directive (5AMLD) significantly expanded these requirements to trusts.
5AMLD introduced a legal obligation for trustees of express trusts governed by EU law—or with at least one trustee resident or established in the EU—to obtain and hold adequate, accurate, and current information on beneficial owners. This includes the settlor, trustee(s), protector (if any), beneficiaries, and any other natural person exercising ultimate control over the trust.
Trusts must be registered in a central, national beneficial ownership register accessible to competent authorities, financial intelligence units, and—under strict conditions—to members of the public with a legitimate interest.
Statutory TextMember States shall ensure that trustees of express trusts, whose trustees are resident or established in their territory, obtain and hold adequate, accurate and current information on the beneficial owners of the trust.
— Directive (EU) 2015/849, Art. 3a(2) — Fifth AMLD
Statutory TextBeneficial owner means any natural person who ultimately owns or controls the trust and includes the settlor, the trustee, the protector (if any), the beneficiaries or the class of persons in whose main interest the trust is established.
— Directive (EU) 2015/849, Art. 3a(1) — Fifth AMLD
Statutory TextMember States shall ensure that information on beneficial ownership is held in a central register… and retained for at least five years after the trust has ceased to exist.
— Directive (EU) 2015/849, Art. 31(4) — Fifth AMLD
What to Do
Identify whether your trust falls under EU jurisdiction (e.g., an EU-resident trustee or governing law)
Collect full personal data for all beneficial owners: name, month/year of birth, nationality, country of residence, and nature of control
Register the trust with your Member State’s central beneficial ownership register within 30 days of creation or when a new beneficial owner arises
Update the register within 30 days of any change in beneficial ownership information
Retain records for at least 4 years after the trust ends
Sources
Not legal advice. This article is general information based on publicly available sources, written for educational purposes. Laws change and individual situations vary. Consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction before acting on anything you read here. Last reviewed: 2026-06-08.