Administration of complex estate across jurisdictions

This matter dealt with the administration of an estate of a client for whom the firm had acted as attorney for many years. During her lifetime, we had assisted with an application for a statutory codicil for the client whose mental capacity was diminishing.

Before her death, the client moved to an EU state and we advised the trustees of her family trusts on the efficient investment of trust assets for her benefit fund in securities that qualify for Inheritance Tax relief if held by foreign residents.

Before her death, the client moved to an EU state. We advised the trustees of her family trusts on the efficient investment of trust assets for her benefit.

A range of skills were required to administer the estate and maximise the amounts received by the beneficiaries. As the client had lived abroad, she also had compliance requirements there. There were several sensitive interpersonal issues, not least because local civil law gave heirs control over the estate whereas this firm as executor had the usual responsibilities of an executor under our common law system.