Within startups, a common business structure is to register a company and let business owners individually hold shares in their own name. What is a declaration of confidence? A declaration of trust, also known as a Nominee declaration, is a document that transfers assets by the legal owner to be held in trust, with the legal owner retaining all rights and being able to terminate the contract at any time. If your shares are held through a trust and your business is sued, your assets may not be accessible to creditors. First of all, it is important to check that you can transfer your shares. For example, check your shareholders` agreement, as these agreements often contain clauses that prohibit shareholders from transferring shares.