Objective

The conference will address practical issues when planning cross-border successions, in particular:

• Recent case ; After nearly four years of practical experience with the EU Succession Regulation, recent case law and its implications for legal practice will be presented.
• The interplay of succession law and (matrimonial) property law. Knowledge about the applicable property regime is indispensable in case of death or when drafting a will. Consequently, this conference will highlight the crossover between the EU Succession Regulation and the new regime on (matrimonial) property for international couples, applicable since 29 January 2019.
• Digital legacy. What happens to your social media accounts when you die? The conference will address the issues of digital inheritance when drafting a last will and post mortem.
• Habitual residence and power of attorney. Where is the habitual residence of the deceased person, especially if s/he was care dependent? Will the power of attorney be recognised and enforced in other countries?
• European Certificate of Succession. State of play, recent case law and interplay with national certificates.
• Inheritance tax. Participants will discuss tax problems in cross-border inheritance cases including measures to avoid double taxation.
• Cross-border estate and probate. Various issues such as the determination of heirs, administration of bank assets and plots and the duties of the executor will be presented from the national perspective.

Key topics

• The EU Succession Regulation and the new EU Regulations on property regimes for international couples applicable since 29 January 2019
• Recent CJEU case law
• Drafting cross-border wills and planning digital legacy
• Cross-border estate and European Certificate of Succession (ECS)
• Cross-border inheritance tax

Who should attend?

Lawyers in private practice and notaries involved in succession planning, tax lawyers, judges, ministry officials and academics.

Speakers

Richard Frimston, Consultant, Russell-Cooke, London

Christian Kohler, Former Director General at the Court of Justice of the European Union, Luxembourg; Honorary Professor at the University of Saarbrücken

Diane Le Grand de Belleroche, Avocat à la Cour, Solicitor (England and Wales), Befair Avocats, Paris

Carmen López Salaver, Partner, Dr. Artz, López & Col., Koblenz

Brigitta Lurger, Full Professor and Head of the Institute of Civil Law, Foreign Private Law and Private International Law, University of Graz

Martin Margonski, Deputy Notary, Krapkowice

Heribert Marx, Judge at the First Instance Court, Kaiserslautern

Matthias Pruns, Partner, Schiffer & Partner, Bonn

Frans Sonneveldt, Partner, Mazars Private Clients, The Hague; Professor of (International) Estate Planning, University of Leiden

Maciej Szpunar, Advocate General at the Court of Justice of the European Union, Luxembourg; Professor of Law, University of Katowice (to be confirmed)

Bart Verdickt, Private Client Attorney, Partner, Greenille by Laga, Brussels

Kinga M. Weiss, Attorney at Law, Certified Specialist SBA Inheritance Law, Partner, Walder Wyss Ltd., Zurich