Since the final rule of August 2026, only foreign companies registered in a U.S. state report their non-U.S. beneficial owners to FinCEN. Banks, the IRS, New York and the Common Reporting Standard still identify the owners of family structures.
Washington, DCLos AngelesMunich
Our Services
Ashford International Law P.C. advises on cross-border estate planning, tax planning, trust administration and estate settlements in matters connecting the United States and Western Europe, from offices in Washington DC, Los Angeles and Munich.
Families and Individuals
Fiduciaries and Financial Institutions
The firm’s attorneys are licensed in Washington DC, Virginia, Maryland, California and Germany.
Estate Planning Packages
Depending on the complexity of your situation one of our Estate Planning Packages may be a good fit for you.
Essential International Estate PlanComprehensive International Estate Plan
Complex International Estate Plan
Private Client Estate Plan
Estate planning with non-US assets
Estate planning for non-US citizens
Tax Compliance with Foreign Financial Assets
Foreign financial assets have to be reported yearly to US authorities.
Gifts or inheritances from abroadForeign income
Foreign financial accounts
Interest in foreign businesses
Tax Planning and Asset Planning
International families often require careful and comprehensive tax and estate planning.
US persons with assets abroadNon-US residents with US assets
Joint titles
Gifts
Retirement assets
Asset protection
Marital property regimes
Estate Settlements
We advise fiduciaries on settling estates in Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia, California and Germany.
Non-US decedentsNon-US assets
Non-US beneficiaries
Estate settlements in the US
Estate settlements in Germany
Gift and Death-Related Taxes
We advise asset owners and estate beneficiaries on all US tax-related matters.
Gift Tax for Non-US CitizensEstate Tax in the United States
Estates of Nonresident Non-US Citizens
Dying without a Will: Statutory Succession Rules
Who inherits your assets if you have not set up an estate plan.
MarylandVirginia
District of Columbia
California
Germany
Trusts
Depending on your situation one or several trusts might be advisable.
Types of trustsRevocable trusts vs. irrevocable trusts
Taxation of trusts
Do you need a trust?
Business Succession
Handing over a business requires careful planning.
Closely-held businesses in the USClosely-held business interests in Germany
Business valuation
Taxation of the transfer proceeds
Financial Institutions
We assist financial institutions in advising their international clients.
US-situs vs. non-US situs assetsDistributions to foreign beneficiaries
Withholding requirements
Estate Planning Differences Between Continental Europe and the United States
Continental Europe and the United States answer the same succession questions differently: forced heirship, joint titles and beneficiary designations, notaries, trusts, marital property, inheritance tax against estate tax, and the settlement of the estate.
