Category Archives: Wills and Trusts

Estate Planning Overview

  For families with assets in several countries or non-US citizenships, comprehensive estate planning is essential to ensure that the planned transfer of all assets works well under the laws of the affected countries and the various components of the estate plan do not counteract each other. Regarding the laws of other countries, we partner with competent advisers in these

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What is Probate? An Introduction for Foreign Nationals

Probate is the official process, supervised by the local district court, of winding down the estate of a deceased person and transferring the assets to the heirs and other beneficiaries. In most cases, ownership of the deceased’s assets does not pass automatically to the heirs upon death. One very important exception is joint ownership with right of survivorship, in which

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Estate Planning for Diplomats in the United States

Diplomats in the United States are considered non-resident aliens. Many US laws do not apply to them. Some of their assets located in the United States, however, pass according to the local law.  In certain cases it is advisable for married couples to hold real estate as tenants by the entirety. Thus, the surviving spouse becomes the sole owner by

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Estate Planning Differences between Europe and the United States

Europeans who live in the United States are often surprised when they learn that many assets in the United States do not pass through wills, or the court-supervised probate process. Probate is the formal proceeding through which the local court names a personal representative of the estate and supervises this person as he settles the estate: pays the debts of

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Spousal Inheritance Rights in Virginia

I was recently asked whether spouses can be disinherited in Virginia. I found this question quite amusing. While in this country parents may disinherit even their minor children (for whose well-being and very existence they bear responsibility), married couples may not disinherit each other. I find this quite ironic, given the 50% divorce rate. And it is my conviction that

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Estate Planning Packages

We advise on: US federal laws (for example federal tax laws, or immigration and citizenship), including their application to international clients or foreign assets. The laws of the jurisdictions where we are licensed to practice law, currently Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia and Germany; The laws of the European Union; International conventions; Bilateral treaties entered into by the United

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