Family governance and Family charters

How to Implement strong Family Governance?

By Jérôme Barré | Family governance and Family charters, Foundations and Trusts | 5 min read

When dealing with family governance, family advisors should keep in mind the following steps: establishing a proper diagnosis of the family needs, implementing appropriate tools and increasing involvement toward family. Implementing strong family governance First,...

How to transfer the family business to next generations?

By Philip van Hilten | Family governance and Family charters, Foundations and Trusts, Protection of wealth and family assets | 6 min read

Steps to successfully transfer family businesses, art collections and houses to a next generation are explained. Timely and properly transferring family assets requires careful planning and training of successors and documenting the rights and obligations of all...

Premarital and Postmarital agreements – Legal and Tax considerations

Legal and Tax considerations The primary objective of a premarital agreement is to settle property rights in case of divorce or at death and maintenance in the case of divorce. Except for child support, a couple is free to enter into any type of agreement they wish. There are many important issues to consider, such as: Choice of Marital Regime: In some jurisdictions( e.g., France), the...

May foreigners acquire real estate in Switzerland?

The “Federal Act on Acquisition of Real estate by Persons living abroad” restricts the acquisition of real estate in Switzerland by foreigners. The acquisition of real estate by persons abroad is restricted by the Federal Act on the Acquisition of Real estate by Persons living abroad (“Bundesgesetz über den Erwerb von Grundstücken durch Personen im Ausland”, hereinafter “the Act”). This Act...

French tax residency, the myth of 183 days

The dangers of assessing French tax residency by solely considering whether an individual is spending more than 183 days in France. Contrary to a popular belief, the French tax authorities and French tax courts do not uniquely assess French tax residence by considering the number of days spent in France; they also take into account the economic and social ties with France, potentially leading...

Common Tax Pitfalls with Real Estate Investments

Structure your real estate investments to preserve your assets on a tax-effective basis In a variety of real estate investments, you can avoid common pitfalls and take full advantage of opportunities by using appropriate structures to preserve your assets and do so on a tax-effective basis. Investing Through Limited Partnerships I recently advised David, a successful real estate investor and...

Accrual of inheritance involving assets abroad often underestimated

Accrual of inheritance involving assets abroad often underestimated An international accrual of inheritance is given when for example a German testator holds assets abroad or vice versa a foreign testator holds assets in Germany. Due to the different national regulations in each country the international assets of e.g. Germans involve significant civil and fiscal-law risks if not structured...

Can I Create A Trust Under Swiss Law?

Switzerland does not have a law relating to trusts. However, it ratified the Hague Convention regarding trusts and agreed therefore to recognise trusts that are created in accordance to the convention. Switzerland, as a civil law country, does not have a law relating to trusts. The creation of a trust under Swiss law is, therefore, not possible. It is noteworthy, however, that in 2018 the...

How to Implement strong Family Governance?

How to transfer the family business to next generations?

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