International Estate Planning

Services

We advise international families and Germans with assets abroad on estate planning, taking into account the tax consequences (estate planning). If necessary, we work together with our partner law firms or our clients' personal advisors. Planning tools include, for example

• Testament (last will and testament);
• Foreign trusts;
• German trusts / trust equivalents; 
• 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);
• Foreign payable on death accounts and transfer on death accounts; 
• Life insurance policies (Lebensversicherungsverträgen);
• Retirment accunt (Altersvorsorgepläne); 
• Annuities (Rentenversicherungen);
• Health care proxy (Vorsorgevollmacht);
• Living will (Patientenverfügung);
• (revocable) Lifetime gifts (Schenkungen) with or without retained life estate (Nießbrauch).

We take into account German inheritance (Erbschaftsteuer) and foreign death taxes. We also take into account foreign and 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).