Wills, Probate and Inheritance

Overview

Many people pass away without leaving a valid will, often assuming that the law will “take care of things” or that their wishes are obvious to those close to them. In practice, this can mean that the people you most want to protect are left exposed, that your assets are not distributed as you intended, and that avoidable disputes or tax burdens arise at an already difficult time. This risk is even greater where there are “reserved portions” (minimum entitlements for certain heirs), second families, or assets spread across multiple countries with different succession and tax rules.

Our team helps clients structure their wills and wider inheritance planning so that their wishes are respected as far as the law allows, their loved ones are provided for appropriately, and cross‑border and tax issues are carefully managed. We take time to understand your family, financial position and long‑term aims, then translate these into clear, practical documents and arrangements.

Importance of wills and inheritance planning

A valid, well‑structured will or inheritance planning is one of the most effective tools for preserving wealth, protecting vulnerable family members and reducing the risk of disputes. Without one, the default rules of inheritance apply, which may:

• Allocate your estate in a way that does not reflect your personal relationships or moral expectations.
• Fail to recognise unmarried partners, step‑children or other important people in your life.
• Trigger higher tax liabilities or unnecessary administrative burdens.
• Create uncertainty where you own property in more than one country, each with its own rules on succession and “forced heirship” or reserved portions.

Thoughtful inheritance planning allows you to take control of these questions in advance, rather than leaving them to be resolved in stressful and sometimes contentious circumstances after your death.

Our services

We provide comprehensive advice and drafting services tailored to each client’s circumstances and priorities. Our work typically includes:

• Preparing new wills and updating existing wills where family or financial circumstances have changed.
• Coordinating wills and succession planning across multiple jurisdictions where you hold property or have family connections abroad.
• Advising on the interaction between national succession rules, reserved portions and your freedom to dispose of assets.
• Integrating inheritance planning with broader wealth, business, and asset‑protection strategies.
• Working alongside tax advisers (where relevant) to ensure your plan is as tax‑efficient as possible within the applicable legal frameworks.

Throughout, we focus on clarity, enforceability and practicality, making sure that your executors and family members have a clear roadmap to follow.

International and cross‑border succession matters

Modern families and assets are often international in nature: you may live in one country, hold citizenship of another and own real estate or investments in several more. This can significantly complicate succession planning.

We assist clients in understanding and managing:

• Which country’s law will apply to different parts of their estate, including real estate and movable assets.
• How EU and other international rules on applicable law to succession can be used to align outcomes with your wishes, where possible.
• The effect of owning property in countries that impose reserved portions or forced heirship rules that limit your freedom to allocate assets.
• Practical coordination between wills in different jurisdictions, so that documents work together rather than conflicting with each other.

Our goal is to create an integrated inheritance plan that recognises the realities of your cross‑border life and reduces the risk of parallel disputes or inconsistent outcomes.

Family structures, reserved portions and relationship planning

Many clients have family structures that do not fit the traditional model, or they wish to treat certain beneficiaries differently for good reasons. At the same time, succession law frequently grants “reserved portions” or minimum entitlements to particular heirs.

We advise on:

• The impact of reserved portions on your freedom to leave assets to specific people or causes, and what room there is to achieve your aims within these constraints.
• Inheritance planning for marriage, civil partnerships, long‑term cohabitation and blended families, including step‑children and children from previous relationships.
• Reflecting moral and practical considerations (for example, greater support for a financially dependent child or partner) in a way that is legally robust and as resistant to challenge as possible.
• Aligning your wills with pre‑nuptial, post‑nuptial or cohabitation agreements, and explaining how such agreements may influence or interact with succession outcomes.

By addressing these issues in advance, you reduce the scope for disputes between heirs and the risk that a court or authority will override part of your wishes.

Tax, Residence, Domicile and Asset Protection

Inheritance planning cannot be separated from tax and status questions, especially where international elements are present. Poorly structured arrangements may result in greater tax burdens or delays for your beneficiaries.

Our team helps you navigate:

• The tax consequences of different inheritance structures, working with specialist tax advisers where needed.
• How your residence, domicile or tax residency status may affect the taxation of your estate and the treatment of particular assets.
• Options for lifetime gifts, trusts or other arrangements where appropriate, and their impact on future inheritance tax or analogous charges.
• Mechanisms to protect young family members or beneficiaries with disabilities, ensuring that they receive appropriate support without unnecessary administrative complexity or loss of state benefits where relevant.

We aim to balance tax efficiency with simplicity, transparency and compliance, so that your arrangements are sustainable and understandable for those who will administer them.

Protecting Vulnerable and Young Beneficiaries

Where beneficiaries are minors, have disabilities or require additional support, standard will structures may not be sufficient. We work with clients to:

• Design structures that ensure long‑term financial support and decision‑making safeguards.
• Appoint suitable guardians, executors and, where relevant, trustees or other fiduciaries.
• Build in flexibility so that those managing the assets can respond to changes in circumstances, while still respecting your overall intentions.

This allows you to provide for vulnerable loved ones in a manner that is both compassionate and legally sound.