Beneficial Ownership Register

A beneficial ownership register (UBO register) is a public or restricted-access government registry that records the natural persons who ultimately own or control a corporate entity, trust, or other legal arrangement. UBO registers are now operational in the EU, UK, and many other jurisdictions, with varying degrees of public access.

For family offices, UBO compliance is operationally significant. Every entity in the structure — holding companies, trusts, foundations, partnerships — must determine and report its UBOs under the applicable jurisdiction's rules. Definitions of "control" vary: typical thresholds are 25% direct or indirect ownership, but lower thresholds and "significant control" tests apply in some regimes.

Public access to UBO registers is controversial and contested. The EU Court of Justice's 2022 ruling restricted public access in member states; the UK has retained broader access. Privacy-conscious families increasingly review their structures against the access regime in each jurisdiction of incorporation.