Preparing for an inheritance

People often wonder whether they should simply accept an inheritance or whether they should accept it with reservation. Outright acceptance can have quite a few unpleasant consequences.

An exclusion clause stipulates that the inheritance or gift does not form part of the matrimonial property. This prevents assets from becoming joint property of, for example, a child and his or her partner through marriage. You do not have to share the assets if the marriage ends in divorce, if the testator has included this clause in the will. This clause is more or less a standard provision in wills and is usually also associated with larger gifts. Get information and advice from your notary.

Inheriting a lot of assets can be nice. But it certainly needs attention. And that requires a tailored approach. Often, both asset preservation and asset growth are important. Don’t forget the influence of taxes and inflation in this. A related question is: ‘how much risk can and do I want to take with my capital?’ The answer to this question is also difficult and depends on your goals. We would be happy to discuss this with you and can provide you with insight into the possible answers to this question with Wealth planning.

Investing involves risks. You should only invest capital that you have over and above your buffer for unforeseen expenses. Investing can be interesting, but it is not without risk. You may lose (a part of) your investment. It is good to be aware of this.

Asset stewardship also means taking into account the possibility that something may happen to you. First make sure that your matrimonial property situation, your will and your living will fit in well with your new situation. We can assess this for you by drawing up points of attention with Estate Planning. This way, we provide guidance. The advice and the elaboration take place with your notary and other advisers.

It can certainly be nice to let others share in your prosperity. The same applies here: get good advice. Do you have sufficient insight into the effect on your own wishes? Different forms have different financial impacts. Make sure to get that clear first before making donations outright. We can also provide you with insight here. See also, wealth transfer to a child.