Rest in Peace-A Guide to Wills and Inheritance Tax in Belgium

This book is not just about wills and taxes. It is essentially about peace of mind.
I came to Belgium for eight months, and that was sixteen years ago is one of the most commonly heard comments by expatriates living in Belgium.

If this applies to you, or even if your long-term presence in Brussels was actually planned, you may want to think about estate planning. Estate planning is more than just writing a will. It is about organizing your assets. If you do it right, it can help avoid family fights and prevent a majority of your estate from going to the government later

However, smart estate planning can be complex.

Things can also get a little bit more complex if you own property in other countries, if you have bank accounts abroad, if you are about to inherit from your parents living abroad, if your spouse has a different nationality, if your children live in Spain, Japan and New Zealand, or if you plan to retire in Italy.

In addition, the days when estate planning was just about limiting inheritance tax for a happy couple who have been married for forty years, with two well-adjusted children and four lovely grandchildren are long gone. Estate planning has become more complex. It is not only about planning around ever changing laws, but also around non-traditional families, estranged families, and everything in between.

This book can help you make sound decisions that could help your loved ones when you are gone.

Content

Dealing with Death
Who inherits what?
Last will and testament
Forced heirship
Usufruct
Community property
Inheritance Tax
Cross border Successions
The Art of Estate Planning
Plan in your will
Plan by donating
Change your marriage contract
Planning with an insurance policy
Planning by contract
Trusts and foundations
Plan for yourself
Practical planning
Annexes