Inheritance

Estate planning, or estate planning, goes beyond simply drafting a will. Together with you, we make your estate transparent and ensure that it is arranged in the most advantageous and thorough manner.

Estate planning can result in drafting/modifying a cohabitation agreement, partnership agreement or prenuptial agreement, as well as drafting/modifying your will. Furthermore, estate planning or gift planning may be involved.

For the unexpected situation that in the future you will no longer be able to express your wishes during your lifetime, due to your incapacity, we can record your wishes in a living will.

A living will gives certainty about your wishes not only to you, but also to those involved, such as doctors and family members. This makes the situation - however unpleasant and sad - still easier for those involved, and it provides assurance that your wishes will be known and carried out.

A normal will takes effect upon death. The living will comes into effect upon incapacity to will. The living will establishes preferences and wishes, particularly regarding medical care, business and daily management, the home, finances, the appointment of an administrator and a variety of other practical matters.

A will is a document that defines what should happen to the estate when you die unexpectedly.

Not always is the way the law allows assets to be inherited consistent with wishes. It is possible to deviate from the law by drawing up a will. This is customized work; after all, every situation is different. The wishes and options will be discussed in a personal interview. Over time, wishes may change as personal circumstances change. For example, young people with children may want to arrange guardianship and older people may want to include their grandchildren in the inheritance.

It is therefore wise to check, over time, whether the wills drawn up still reflect current wishes. If they do not, an addition to the existing will can be made or an entirely new will can be drafted.

Gifting, transferring assets during life to the next generation, is often a smart move. Not only is it much more fun for parents to gift with "the warm hand" (and see that the children can put the money to good use), it will also save on future inheritance taxes. A good gifting plan takes the parents' age and ability to pay into account.

By spreading out gifts over a number of years, the annual gift tax exemptions can be taken full advantage of. Also, by making gifts, the progression in the inheritance tax rate can be mitigated, so much less inheritance tax is owed than if everything were inherited at once.

That we die is one thing that is certain. If the legal law of succession is followed or if a will has been made, it is also clear to whom the estate will end up. The only thing that remains unclear are the amounts inherited and how much inheritance tax is involved.

The issue and need for numerical insight will come into play when the client is intentional about the estate for whatever reason, such as by having a will drawn up and/or when it is likely that he/she or a loved one will pass away in the foreseeable future.

After the death of a loved one, in addition to dealing with the emotions, many arrangements must be made to settle the estate. We can handle the settlement of the estate from beginning to end (taking into account all legal, administrative, financial and tax matters).

After the death, we make an inventory of the estate as soon as possible. Furthermore, authorities are informed, claims and insurance payments are collected and tax returns are prepared.

By engaging a registered executor, the next of kin can focus on all emotional and practical matters. In this we are impartial and independent. In combination with clear, transparent and open communication, we prevent unnecessary tension, stress and conflicts between the heirs.