Volume 11 No 3    /    Read Article

By Daniel Gabrieli and Nils Kern (Guest Authors)

More and more Americans are living and working in Switzerland. Today, it is common for American citizens to own assets in Switzerland, especially real estate. While impediments to acquire Swiss real estate are easily overcome, the ability to transfer real estate at death in a way that meets the expectations of the American owner requires careful planning in advance. Differences in the inheritance and tax laws of the two countries make estate planning in U.S.-Swiss inheritance cases particularly complex. The problem is exacerbated by differences in conflict-of-law laws. Daniel Gabrieli, a partner in the Private Clients practice group of attorneys Wenger Plattner in Zurich, and Nils Kern, an associate in the Private Clients practice group of attorneys Wenger Plattner in Zurich, explain the issues that are faced under Swiss law, provide a typical fact pattern that may create problems at death, and suggest steps that can be taken during life to avoid the issue altogether.  See more →