A declaration of trust in the context of an offshore company is a written undertaking by the nominee shareholder to the beneficial owner (You) to hold shares on Your behalf in the capacity of a nominee, or trustee. Such document would clearly state You as the real owner, and would also reiterate, that the nominee cannot transfer, deal with or dispose the shares otherwise, than under express written instructions of the beneficial owner. It would also state that all rights, dividends, profits and other benefits potentially deriving from such shares belong to the beneficial owner, and not to the nominee.