International Estate Planning
We frequently advise clients from common law jurisdictions in all matters connected with international estate planning, including, but not limited to:
- Reviewing existing wills
- Designing and drafting international wills and German testaments
- Structuring foreign trusts to avoid or minimize German inheritance tax (Erbschaftssteuer) liabilities
- Advising on the use of Payable on Death accounts and the appointment of successor beneficiaries to allow for the transfer of assets outside of probate
- Advising on foreign estate and inheritance taxes (e.g. English IHT, U.S. federal estate tax, Canadian CGT) and Double-Taxation Treaties
- Preparing living wills (Patientenverfügung) and health care proxies for foreign nationals / domiciliaries.
News
- German Inheritance Tax: Tax-free Exemptions in 2023
- German Federal Civil Court: Application of English law can violate the German Public Policy
- German Federal Fiscal Court Ruling on Gift Tax triggered by Distributions from a Foreign Trust
- German Federal Fiscal Court: Assets titled in Trust to which the Grantor has reserved comprehensive Powers are to be considered owned by him for German Inheritance and Gift Tax Purposes
- Cologne Court of Appeal: Application of English law can violate the German Public Policy