Succession Planning
Succession is where wealth is most often lost — to tax, to fragmentation, to conflict. We engineer the trusts, foundations and estate structures that move assets to the next generation cleanly across borders, with control, privacy and tax efficiency preserved.
In short: Succession planning is the process of arranging how family wealth and control pass to the next generation. For international families it typically combines trusts or foundations, holding companies, wills and shareholder agreements to transfer assets efficiently, minimise estate and inheritance tax, avoid forced-heirship and probate problems, and keep the family's assets consolidated and privately held across jurisdictions.
What succession planning includes
Trusts & foundations
Design and establishment of trusts, private foundations and prescribed structures that hold and transfer assets while preserving control and privacy.
Cross-border estate structuring
Coordination across every jurisdiction where the family holds assets or residency, addressing forced heirship, estate tax and probate exposure.
Ownership & control transfer
Shareholder agreements, holding structures and voting arrangements that separate economic benefit from control during the handover.
Next-generation readiness
Preparing heirs to receive and steward wealth, aligned with the family's governance framework.
How we plan succession
- Asset & exposure mapping (Weeks 1–4): A full picture of assets, entities, residencies and the tax and legal exposures on transfer.
- Structure design (Weeks 5–10): The trust, foundation and holding architecture, modelled for tax efficiency and control.
- Implementation (Weeks 8–20): Establishing structures, transferring assets and executing wills and agreements.
- Review & maintenance (Ongoing): Periodic review as laws, residency and family circumstances change.
Frequently asked questions
What is succession planning in a family office?
Succession planning is the structured transfer of a family's wealth, ownership and leadership to the next generation. In a family office it combines legal structures (trusts, foundations, wills), tax planning and governance to ensure a smooth, efficient and conflict-free handover.
What is the difference between a trust and a foundation?
A trust is a legal relationship where trustees hold assets for beneficiaries; a foundation is a separate legal entity that owns assets and is run by a council. Foundations suit civil-law families and those wanting a distinct legal person; trusts suit common-law contexts. We select based on jurisdiction and goals.
How do I avoid inheritance tax on family wealth?
Legitimate planning uses the right holding structures, jurisdictions, lifetime transfers and trusts or foundations to reduce estate and inheritance tax exposure. The correct approach is highly jurisdiction-specific and must be established well before it is needed.
When should succession planning start?
As early as possible — ideally while the wealth creator is active and healthy. Early planning gives the widest range of structuring options and avoids rushed, tax-inefficient transfers during a crisis.