German-Canadian Estate Planning

Our lawyers and specialist lawyers for inheritance law advise German-Canadian families or individuals resident in Canada with assets in Germany on German-Canadian estate planning, taking into account German and Canadian taxes. We often work with our clients' Canadian estate planning attorney or other advisor. Upon request, we can also recommend Canadian estate planning attorneys in Canada, particularly in Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal.

Services

We offer comprehensive German-Canadian estate planning services. Planning tools include, for example

• Testament (last will and testament);
• Joint bank accounts (Gemeinschaftskonten);
• Joint tenancy (Gesamtgut mit Anwachsungsrecht);
• German payable on death account (Vertrag zu Gunsten auf den Todesfall);
• German transfer on death accounts (Vertrag zu Gunsten auf den Todesfall);
• joint accounts with right of survivor (e.g. joint tenancy);
• joint tenancy;
• Life insurance policies (Lebensversicherungsverträgen);
• Retirment accunt (Altersvorsorgepläne); 
• Annuities (Rentenversicherungen);
• Canadian (tax-priviledged) retirement plans (e.g. RRIF, RRSP);
• Canadian pension plan (pension plan);
• Canadian (tax-advantaged) savings plans (e.g. TFSA);
• Canadian trusts;
• German trust-equivalents; 
• Health care proxy (Vorsorgevollmacht);
• Trans-mortem power of attorney (Vollmacht über den Tod hinaus);
• Living will (Patientenverfügung);
• (revocable) Lifetime gifts (Schenkungen) with or without retained life estate (Nießbrauch).

We take into account German inheritance tax (Erbschaftsteuer) and Canadian Capital Gains tax (on deemed disposition on death). We also take into account German income tax.

In-Person Consultation and Remote Consultation

We provide In-Person consultation in Berlin. Otherwise, we provide advice via remote communication (Zoom, telephone, e-mail). If it makes sense for the matter to be dealt with in a personal meeting on site (which is sometimes appropriate for estate planning), we will let you know and look for a sensible solution (e.g., supplementary/leading local advice from a notary or lawyer).