Choosing the right jurisdiction: what matters most to family offices

As more families relocate internationally, family offices are increasingly establishing a presence across multiple jurisdictions. New research from Ocorian shows that the growing movement of family members across borders is the key driver behind this trend.

Our latest global study of family members and senior family office employees, representing combined wealth of more than $119 billion, found that 87% have opened offices in additional jurisdictions over the past five years, with around 24% of them having opened two or more. That's a significant increase from 60% reported in our 2025 research.
 

Family mobility is reshaping family office structures

In the study across 16 countries and territories, 84% of respondents said the expansion of their family office footprint was driven by family members relocating to different countries. Meanwhile, 61% reported an increase in family members holding multiple citizenships or living across multiple jurisdictions during the past five years.

This trend shows little sign of slowing, with more than three-quarters (77%) expecting family expatriation and cross-border living to increase further over the next five years.
 

Tax, regulation and geopolitical considerations remain important

While family mobility is the leading driver, it is far from the only factor influencing location strategy. Almost half of respondents (49%) said tax and regulatory considerations played a role in opening offices in additional jurisdictions. Meanwhile, around a third (31%) pointed to geopolitical concerns, including political instability, conflict or changes in government policy. Just over a fifth (22%) said expanding and increasingly sophisticated investment portfolios were a driver, down markedly from 75% who cited this reason in Ocorian's study the previous year.

These findings highlight how family offices are increasingly balancing a range of priorities. Alongside family mobility, tax and regulation, geopolitical issues and investment diversification are all influencing decision-making.
 

What family offices look for when choosing a jurisdiction

The research also provides insight into how family offices assess potential locations.

Access to professional services and infrastructure ranked as the most important consideration when establishing a new office. Respondents also identified the strength of the regulatory framework and legal structures as key factors, followed by immigration rules and the availability of investment visas. Reputation, operating costs, and access to skilled professionals were also important considerations.

Taken together, the findings suggest that family offices consider a range of operational, regulatory and practical factors when assessing potential jurisdictions. Access to professional services, legal and regulatory frameworks, immigration rules, reputation, operating costs and talent all play an important role in location decisions.
 

A more global future for family offices

Ocorian’s research suggests that decisions about where to establish a family office are becoming increasingly multidimensional. Family mobility remains the dominant driver, but tax and regulation, geopolitical factors, investment diversification, professional infrastructure, and access to talent all influence where family offices choose to establish a presence.

For family offices planning for the future, understanding how these priorities intersect will be increasingly important as families continue to expand internationally. Ocorian's latest research examines the factors influencing location decisions, expansion plans and jurisdiction selection across a global sample of family office professionals and family members. Access the full report here.

Research note: In February 2026, Ocorian commissioned independent research company PureProfile to survey 200 family office participants, including family members and full-time employees of family offices. Respondents represented a total wealth of $119.37 billion across 16 jurisdictions.