A death is a major event in a person’s life. While you are going through the process of coming to terms with it, you will be confronted with a lot that you may not be able to control and which will overwhelm you. Particularly if you are faced with a conflicting settlement, where emotions often take over, you will need expert advice and guidance, which we are happy to provide.

For example, you may be confronted with testamentary administration, silent co-heirs, lost assets and so on. We will be happy to discuss your options, always striving to give you a realistic assessment of the chances and risks.

Perhaps you have been appointed as executor or liquidator in an estate and you would like advice or support in your work? Or maybe, as an heir, you are dealing with an executor/ liquidator who does not inform you or may not act as he should? As experienced executors and liquidators, we understand better than anyone what this important task entails and we will be happy to advise and assist you. Even if the testator was an entrepreneur, the settlement can be complex and difficult. You may have to deal with a foundation administration office (the so-called ‘stak’) and certificates. You will need specific guidelines and decisive assistance, so that unnecessary complications can be avoided. In such cases, our inheritance lawyers often work together with lawyers from the business section, so that you can benefit from optimal and expert assistance.

You may also be confronted with legal issues in the context of managing your own assets or your future estate (estate planning). For this, too, you have come to the right place. After all, it is wise to think in good time about what should happen to your assets when you are no longer able to manage them yourself, or when you have passed away, and to gear your (life) will to your relational situation (cohabitation, registered partnership, marriage in community of property or prenuptial agreement). Then you will not only be able to sleep more peacefully yourself, but you will also not unnecessarily burden your loved ones. Because we specialise not only in inheritance law but also in relationship and matrimonial property law, we include all these essential aspects in our advice.

We are able to draw on extensive experience and expertise in inheritance law, both in terms of advising and litigating, and always have an eye and an ear for the importance of your case and its human, business and legal consequences for you as heir, legatee or other interested party. We are also regularly called upon by civil-law notaries in long-term inheritance disputes. We are happy to mediate, with success, but if necessary we will litigate just as resolutely and successfully on your behalf in court.

Working together to find a solution!

We also offer estate mediation under the motto that prevention is always better! Inheritance mediation is a method of conflict resolution without the intervention of a judge, under the guidance of an independent estate mediator. This has the advantage that a possible inheritance dispute – even during the lifetime of the future testator – can be solved preventively and possible disputes after death can be avoided. Inheritance mediation can provide relief in many situations, but particularly in newly formed families and family businesses. But even in the event of a death, our experience is that certain disputes can be resolved through mediation, thereby avoiding expensive and protracted proceedings.

We look forward to seeing you at our offices in Maastricht or Heerlen, where we can discuss your concerns and wishes, with due observance of the Coronama-rules. If you prefer a telephone conversation or video meeting, we will of course offer you every opportunity to do so.

For questions please contact Inge Decupere.