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.
Upon request, we offer consultation via Zoom. For general information on how to join an instant meeting through an email invite, please visit the Zoom website.
News
- Germany: Amendment to the Rules on the Taxation of Lifetime Benefits from Foreign tax-priviledged Retirement Assets
- Tax Court of Münster: Distributions upon the Termination of a Trust may be Subject to German Income Tax
- BFH: A legacy of German Real Estate is not subject to limited inheritance tax liability
- BFH: The Treaty does not prevent Germany from imposing Inheritance Tax on the Acquisition of a U.S. citizen beneficiary resident of Germany even if he has stayed no longer than 10 years in Germany
- German Inheritance Tax: Tax-free Exemptions in 2023
- German Federal Civil Court: Application of English law can Violate German Public