Setting up a patrimonial fund (“fondo patrimoniale”) can be worthwhile in property matters when you want to protect your assets from possible debts, the risk of seizure or creditors’ claims — for example in the event of separation or divorce, or to protect a minor’s assets. The patrimonial fund is a legal instrument through which assets, such as a property, are transferred into a patrimony separate from the owner’s personal one, in order to shield them from creditors’ claims.
In practice, the patrimonial fund is a set of assets separate from the owner’s personal wealth: the owner keeps the availability and enjoyment of them, but not ownership. In the event of separation, for instance, the fund can protect the property from the possibility that a spouse or creditor might seize it or demand its sale.
When a minor is involved in the patrimonial fund, the law imposes constraints and protections in the minor’s interest, so that any decision affecting the assets takes their protection into account.
The fund is established by notarial deed, and it’s advisable to assess whether it suits your circumstances case by case with a professional.
This article is for general information and refers to Italian law; for your specific situation, always rely on a notary or qualified professional.