WISHES · ASSETS · ESTATES
Make personal decisions.
Plan succession.
Passing on assets means making decisions about people and values. We support your succession planning and address legal questions following a death, for heirs, beneficiaries and business-owning families.
Discuss your matterWills. Estates. Representation.
YOUR MATTER
The wishes of the person making arrangements must be distinguished from the later positions of heirs and other beneficiaries. Interests can diverge even within a family. We clarify whom we represent and the objective of the engagement.
We structure the transfer of your assets around your personal wishes. Family relationships, existing dispositions, property and shareholdings are considered. For lifetime transfers, we also assess your own financial security and possible rights to reclaim assets.
Following a death, we help heirs, legatees and persons entitled to a compulsory share assess their respective positions. We clarify the estate's assets, obligations and information requirements. In disputes, we represent the instructing party in negotiations and proceedings.
Business succession connects ownership, management and family interests. We align inheritance provisions with corporate agreements and the intended continuation of the business. We advise transferors and successors on their respective rights and obligations.
OUR SERVICES
Planning ahead and dealing with an estate after death have different starting points. We connect personal objectives with the legal options and examine claims as well as corresponding obligations.
Record your wishes clearly and effectively.
We advise those making arrangements on appointing heirs, legacies, conditions and substitute provisions. We assist beneficiaries or parties bound by an inheritance contract in assessing existing dispositions. We review family circumstances, previous binding arrangements and formal requirements. We align the draft with the intended distribution of assets; any necessary notarial involvement is coordinated separately.
Plan the transfer and your own security together.
We assist transferors with retained rights of use, rights to reclaim assets and securing their livelihood. We advise recipients on conditions, assumed obligations and future use. We structure asset transfers and align them with existing inheritance arrangements. Property and company shares require additional coordination; tax matters are referred for separate specialist advice.
Distinguish entitlement, value and payment.
We assist persons entitled to a compulsory share with information requests, valuations and assessment of their payment claim. We advise heirs on their duties to provide information and make payment, and on evaluating claims made against them. Estate assets, earlier gifts and family status are assessed separately. We prepare negotiations or proceedings and consider the need for expert valuations.
Administer and divide a jointly inherited estate.
We support co-heirs with administration, use of assets and preparation for division of the estate. A person wishing to take over particular assets has different objectives from someone seeking a cash payment or sale. We assess these positions against inheritance shares, dispositions and estate liabilities. Agreements concerning property, businesses and other assets are negotiated from the respective client's perspective.
Assess assets and obligations in good time.
We advise prospective heirs on the information available about the estate and the decisions to be made. Assets, debts, declarations already made and deadlines are considered together. We assess acceptance, disclaimer and other options in the individual case. Where minors or representatives are involved, we also clarify responsibilities and any approvals required.
Define the remit and oversight clearly.
We help those making arrangements decide whether executorship suits their objectives and how the duties should be defined. We advise heirs on their rights in relation to the executor. In separate engagements, we assist executors with powers, documentation and claims made against them. The respective role and potential conflicts of interest are clarified in advance.
Consider the business and family together.
We advise business owners transferring assets on the distribution of shareholdings and retained influence. We support successors with acquisition terms and future responsibilities. The corporate agreement, will and other family arrangements should work together. We assess the legal requirements for the intended continuation of the business and possible claims by other family members. Notarial and tax advice are coordinated separately.
Clarify positions through documents and evidence.
We represent heirs and other beneficiaries in disputes over dispositions, estate assets and claims. We assess the basis of a claim as well as possible defences. Interpretation of a will, evidence of heirship and the factual background may be decisive. Negotiation, settlement or court action is guided by the specific objective of the engagement.
WORKING TOGETHER
We distinguish lifetime planning from dealing with an estate following a death. Personal objectives, existing binding arrangements and timing requirements determine the process.
We discuss family relationships, assets and existing dispositions. Following a death, we first assess your legal position and urgent deadlines.
We review the relevant documents and evaluate the options. We agree the scope of review, further information needed and fees.
We prepare agreements or declarations and support negotiations or proceedings. We agree notarial steps and supplementary valuations with you.
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
An initial guide to common questions. Your legal position, the documents and the facts determine the assessment of your individual case.
Legal information: 1 November 2026
For a holographic will, the law generally requires a declaration written and signed entirely by hand. A printed text with a signature does not satisfy this requirement. Other statutory forms of making a will also exist. We assess which form and arrangements suit your circumstances.
A compulsory share generally gives rise to a claim against the heir, rather than automatic membership of the community of heirs. It is calculated by reference to the value of the statutory inheritance share and the specific entitlement. We assess the beneficiary's position and questions of information and payment for either potential client side.
The disclaimer period is generally six weeks, or six months in certain international cases. Its start depends on knowledge of the inheritance and the basis of entitlement; for testamentary succession, notification by the probate court also matters. The deadline and formal requirements should be checked individually at an early stage.
Yes. We clarify whether we can advise one participant or several people with compatible interests. A shared inheritance does not automatically mean a shared legal position. Potential conflicts of interest are checked before we accept instructions.
Yes. Changes in family circumstances, assets or business structure may make a review useful. We consider existing binding arrangements and the possibility of amendments, as well as interpretation of a disposition following a death.
Yes. Inheritance dispositions are aligned with corporate law requirements and the intended management of the business. Tax implications and specialist valuations are addressed through separate advice. We clarify the input required and the scope of our engagement.
Describe your relationship to the deceased, the documents available and known dates. We first establish the most urgent matters requiring review. Detailed work and its cost framework are agreed separately.
