Foundations
To perpetuate your life’s work in line with your vision and objectives, for asset protection purposes (e.g., to guard against marital property claims or forced heirship), or for tax reasons (such as minimizing income-tax burdens or avoiding exit taxation), a family foundation offers an effective vehicle for structuring your succession.
We advise you not only on the most tax-efficient transfer of your assets into a family foundation but also on governance matters—that is, how to safeguard your control rights without incurring adverse tax consequences.
If you wish to transfer assets into a foreign foundation—such as a Liechtenstein family foundation or an Austrian private foundation—we collaborate with our renowned international partner firms to ensure that the foundation’s charter will be recognized by the German tax authorities.
Naturally, we also support you in all communications with fiscal and supervisory authorities.
Should you lack a natural successor and wish to establish a charitable foundation or corporate foundation, we will develop a bespoke structure that fully aligns with your objectives and— in most cases—does not create additional tax liabilities.