Succession and Property

Protecting wealth, shaping succession

Succession planning requires a customised strategy to optimise the transfer of assets and businesses. We support you with all inheritance law matters, including wills, gifts, succession, inheritance contracts, matrimonial property regimes and asset protection. We develop tailor-made succession plans for family businesses, using structures such as foundations, trusts and family constitutions.

We provide advice on inheritance tax, asset structuring and management to help you secure your inheritance in the long term.

From private asset structuring to charitable foundations and communities of heirs, our expertise in foundation law and asset planning enables us to create long-term solutions for generational change.

Consulting services in detail

Asset succession and inheritance law

Drafting contracts for anticipated succession, taking into account family structures, company law and tax requirements, including for minor beneficiaries (appointment of supplementary guardians, court approvals)
Advice on structuring larger assets, taking into account inheritance, family, tax, company and foundation law aspects
Drafting, amending and revoking wills and inheritance contracts, including for foreign assets and taking into account tax implications at home and abroad, including digital inheritance
Executing wills, advising and representing executors
Drafting powers of attorney and living wills
Advice and legal representation after inheritance, assertion and defence of inheritance claims (sole heir, communities of heirs, legatees, beneficiaries of compulsory portions, probate proceedings, estate distribution)

Support for fundraising organisations in estate administration and inheritance fundraising
Assumption of mediation tasks between parties involved

Succession of assets with international implications

Advice on international matters relating to holiday properties or relatives living abroad
Handling of inheritance cases abroad, advising foreign clients with financial interests in Germany
Proven network of partners beyond Europe's borders

Business succession

Analysis of asset and business structure
Development of business succession concepts
Advice on legal, tax and economic aspects

Strategies for the sustainable organisation and allocation of family assets
Implementation in accordance with tax, inheritance and family law considerations

Family law

Drafting of marriage contracts and agreements for unmarried partners, taking into account legal relationships with children, asset structures and matrimonial property consequences

Support during adoption proceedings
Transfer of assets to minor children

Foundation law and non-profit organisation law

New foundations

Advice on setting up family foundations, charitable foundations and charitable organisations
Structuring corporate social responsibility activities
Preparing the founding documents and coordinating with authorities
Taking into account the financing structure, including aspects relating to donation law
Incorporating the establishment of the foundation into asset succession planning

Ongoing consulting

Advising and representing foundations, associations and non-profit organisations in dealings with public authorities
Planning, designing and supporting non-profit projects, collaborations and funding agreements
Value added tax law for non-profit organisations
Representation in disputes and liability cases vis-à-vis foundation supervisory authorities and tax authorities
Preventive advice on investment guidelines and service billing between non-profit organisations
Preparation and auditing of annual financial statements and tax returns
Implementation of tax compliance management systems for non-profit entities

Structural changes in foundations and non-profit organisations

Advice on restructuring non-profit organisations
Planning, design and obtaining binding information
Structural advice for associations and public-private partnerships, including mergers
Support with amendments to articles of association from a tax and foundation law perspective

Training events

Training courses for employees of non-profit organisations on accounting, donation law, fundraising, and legal and tax issues
In-house workshops for clients
Training courses for tax advisors and solicitors on foundation and non-profit law

Your contacts

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Rankings and awards

Handelsblatt / Best Lawyers 2025

ESCHE is recognised by Handelsblatt and Best Lawyers as one of Germany’s leading law firms in succession and wealth matters in the Hamburg metropolitan ranking.

JUVE Handbuch 2024/2025

The JUVE Handbuch lists ESCHE among the top law firms in northern Germany.

brand eins 2024

According to brand eins, ESCHE is once again one of Germany's best commercial law firms.

Our areas of expertise

Tax Consultancy

Auditing Services

Integrated Consulting