Estate planning: passing on your wealth your way

Not only who receives something, but also how and when

Estate planning is often equated with drawing up a will or saving inheritance tax. Both matter, but they are only part of the picture.

The most important questions are more personal. Who do you want to provide for financially? When should children or grandchildren be able to dispose of assets? Do you want to make gifts during your lifetime? How do you protect assets if a recipient divorces or goes bankrupt? If you have a blended family, who should receive what after your death? What happens to your business if you suddenly drop out? And who may act on your behalf when you are no longer able to?

Starting today gives you more choice later

Many people put estate planning off. But those who start earlier usually have more scope to transfer assets gradually, adjust structures and involve family members in the process.

Making gifts during your lifetime can fit your wish to help children with a home, an education or a business. Or it can form part of a planned transfer of family wealth.

Your will as part of a bigger plan

A will determines what happens to your estate after your death. But a will that made sense years ago need not still match the life you lead today.

Your wealth may have grown considerably, you may have become an entrepreneur, bought property, or the make-up of your family may have changed. Changes in legislation or tax rules can also be reason to reassess existing arrangements. For drawing up or amending notarial documents we work together with the civil-law notary.

Arranging what happens during your lifetime as well

Estate planning is not only about death. Illness, an accident or declining health can leave you temporarily or permanently unable to make decisions yourself.

Without clear arrangements, it is not self-evident who may act on your behalf. That can cause problems with banking, investments or property, for example.

For entrepreneurs this is closely tied to the continuity of the business. A private power of attorney is not automatically enough to take all business decisions. That is why we also review the articles of association, shareholder arrangements, management structure and signing authority. A living will lets you set down all of your wishes.

Transferring assets without letting go of control straight away

You can transfer assets without giving the recipient full control immediately. Which structure fits depends on the type of assets, the age and position of the recipients, and your own wishes.

A structure is never an end in itself. We only choose a solution when it is understandable, stays workable and suits the family. An arrangement that is attractive for tax purposes but later leads to confusion or conflict is not good estate planning.

International estate planning

Do you live in the Netherlands and hold assets abroad? Does your partner have a different nationality? Do your children live outside the Netherlands? Or are you considering emigrating yourself?

Then several legal and tax systems may apply at the same time. A will or gifting plan drawn up purely from a Dutch perspective can work out differently in another country.

Where necessary we work together with legal and tax advisers in the countries concerned. OneLane keeps sight of how it all fits together and translates the outcome into concrete choices.

Peace of mind comes from having made the choices

Estate planning does not prevent difficult situations from arising. What it does prevent is your family being left without direction when one does.

With a good plan you know who may act, who receives what and on what conditions. You take tax into account, but also financial security, family relationships and the future of your business.

OneLane helps you make those choices discussable, clear and workable.