trust

Family Matters On Line

A WORLDWIDE INITIATIVE OF INDEPENDENT EXPERTS

 

Family Matters On Line has been created with the help and input of dozens of top independent experts from high profile and succesful law firms all around the world. We all have vast experience with matters that are important for families worldwide. Family Matters is committed to making our collective experience freely available to anyone looking for ideas and solutions for their important family matters.

Together, we provide help through our short articles on various topics. Our goal is to answer questions that families have about matters such as planning and protecting their estate, running and transferring their family business, and organizing medical proxies and emergency measures.

These days, many people are worried and ask themselves questions like, “Who is my family, and what should each of them receive and when?” “Should we prepare and train the next generation to take responsibility for the business?” and “How should we organize our family, and what if something happens to one of us?”

Family matters now more than ever, and families need answers. So, we will help because everyone matters.

 

The editor Philip van Hilten

Why

Family Matters

Over time, families tend to grow and so do their assets if they are well-planned and managed. The older generation will eventually have to hand over control of their estate, and the new heads of the family must be identified, groomed, and accepted. This process takes time and effort, especially since the rest of the family must accept and support the new leaders. This raises questions such as “What do we tell those who will not have leadership roles? What role, information, and influence should non-leaders have?”

Family Matters On Line website

This website shares practical answers and experiences about this process. It also provides brief explanations of suitable and flexible structures, such as Foundations, Trusts, and Waqf, to manage and finance the family, its assets, and its philanthropy.

Suggestions are given for secure estate and safe tax planning, and the ways in which families can be organized and governed for example through family offices and with the help of family governance through documents such as a family charter with the relevant core family values, culture and understandings within the family. These and many more topics with which families are often confronted, are covered.

Many authors have addressed issues related to people moving from one country to another and the risks and opportunities that come with it.

A few of our most recent articles

trusts, tax system, italian tax system, italy
Another missed opportunity for the correct interpretation of Trusts in the Italian Tax System

Another missed opportunity for the correct interpretation of Trusts in the Italian Tax System

Recognition of Foreign Trusts in Italy Trusts are not regulated by Italian civil law provisions. Foreign trusts (i.e. regulated by a foreign law) are recognized in Italy pursuant to the Hague Convention dated July 1st, 1985 which has been implemented in Italy in 1989. The aim of the Hague...

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Professionalising family business, Family owned business, India, family business
Professionalising Family Business – Appointing Non-family Board Members

Professionalising Family Business – Appointing Non-family Board Members

Family-owned businesses are the backbone of economies worldwide, contributing to employment and innovation. However, as these businesses grow, so do their complexities given the technicalities. One critical challenge Family-owned businesses face is professionalising governance while maintaining...

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tax resident, tax residency, europe, spain, latin america, immigration, 183-day rule
What makes someone a tax resident in Latin America and Europe?; Part IV

What makes someone a tax resident in Latin America and Europe?; Part IV

Where to be a tax resident or not? That is the question for Colombian Private Client Families and Working Nomads (AND OTHERS). In conclusion, tax residence plays a crucial role in the process of evaluating an immigration alternative in the case of Colombia’s private client segment, executive or...

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real estate invest, real estate, spain tax, spanish tax
Is my real estate in Spain an economic activity for Spanish tax?

Is my real estate in Spain an economic activity for Spanish tax?

It is common knowledge that one of the main areas where high-net-wealth-individuals invest is real estate, and Spain is precisely a country which attracts an important share of this investment because of a combination of nice weather, vibrant culture, quality of life, safety and other aspects which this kind of investors seeks. However, the tax framework for this kind of [...]

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family pact, italy, daniele giombini, family business, family-owned business
Family Pacts (Patti di Famiglia): A Valuable Tool for Succession Planning in Family-Owned Businesses

Family Pacts (Patti di Famiglia): A Valuable Tool for Succession Planning in Family-Owned Businesses

Italy stands out in Europe for its high number of family-owned businesses. Within these businesses, the overlap and interference of family and business relationships creates unique challenges and opportunities. Statistics show that only a minority of Italian family businesses survive to the...

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information management, conflict avoidance, conflict resolution, family businesses, elke napokoj
Information Management in Family Businesses and Preventive Measures for Conflict Avoidance

Information Management in Family Businesses and Preventive Measures for Conflict Avoidance

The acquisition and dissemination of information play a central role in the management and control of family owned businesses. The Austrian Governance Code for family businesses highlights the importance of a structured flow of information, as it is essential for acceptance and the smooth...

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Expat succession, succession, succession of expats, miguel archer
Succession of expats in Portugal – the importance of nationality and choice

Succession of expats in Portugal – the importance of nationality and choice

As a foreigner residing in Portugal, it is advisable to look at succession implications, either if you already have a will or not, as the outcome may not be what you would expect. What is the succession applicable law of an expat in Portugal? Portugal (just like other European Union countries)...

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ensuring seamless transition, family business, non-family professionals
Effective Transitions for Non-Family Professionals in Family-Owned Businesses

Effective Transitions for Non-Family Professionals in Family-Owned Businesses

It is often seen that Family Owned & Family Manged (FOFM) Organisations at some point in time, hire non-family experts from within or outside the industry to accelerate growth and enhance the business. Family businesses may appear to be attractive employers for non-family professionals...

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Nazi-looted art, art law, families, moneylaundering, dominique labbruzzo
Germany and Switzerland address Nazi-Looted Art: Helping Families Navigate Art Law

Germany and Switzerland address Nazi-Looted Art: Helping Families Navigate Art Law

Germany and Switzerland Address Nazi-Looted Art: A Comparative Look at New Restitution Efforts As Germany establishes a new arbitration court for Nazi-looted art, aiming to streamline and accelerate the restitution process, the ongoing challenges in neighboring Switzerland provide a broader...

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