Estate Planning and Succession

ESTATE PLANNING AND SUCCESSION

Wealth planning in India is multi-faceted and complex exercise as it sees the convergence of personal succession laws, exchange control regulations and tax laws. It is in such an environment RRG private client team acts as a trusted advisor and confidante to national and international clients, including HNIs, global business families with cross border assets, banks, trustees and other institutions representing such persons.

We work to render highly personalised and pragmatic solutions for estate planning and the services we offer range from succession planning, asset protection, trust formation, philanthropy and maintenance of dependents to a plethora of individual, family and business related concerns.

The objective of succession planning or estate planning is to ensure that your property and belongings pass to the intended beneficiaries without any contentious litigation and disputes. It is a misconception that estate planning is limited to the ultra-wealthy. Estate planning is just as important for the burgeoning middle-class in India to manage and dispose of their estate consistent with their needs and aspirations. Without a registered will, the law of intestate succession may be applicable and their estate may not be distributed in accordance with their wishes.

Most people believe estate planning should be deferred to a later date. However, estate planning should start as early as possible. The sooner the intent of the testator is made out and is clear to his or her family, the lesser the chance of untoward anger or resentment in the family. Every individual has different needs and objectives. Estate planning requires a different approach for each person depending on their unique circumstances and needs.

RRG provides assistance to high net-worth individuals, family offices, closely held businesses and private banks with the complex legal challenges arising from changing tax and property laws and increased regulation. Our experience in estate planning encompasses the full range of issues, including wealth management and preservation, trust and estate administration, inter-generational wealth transfers, family governance and family disputes. We are skilled at providing legal advice on drafting family constitutions, restructuring family businesses, creation of trusts and drafting of wills, and resolution of family disputes. We also provide advice to financial institutions in their capacities as trustees, executors, custodians and wealth and investment managers. The firm has also assisted clients in resolving their family disputes through the process of mediation. We understand the sensitivity of these matters and thus provide for high partner involvement and utmost confidentiality.

Our scope of services for Estate Planning include:

• Drafting of Wills and Codicils and obtaining probate/ letters of administration.​
• Advising non- resident Indians with their properties and assets in India​.
• Drafting and executing of family settlements and family constitutions.
• Filing and defending of testamentary petitions and family partition suits.
• Establishment and structuring of private family trusts and family offices.
• Multi-Jurisdiction Succession Planning
• Incentive Structuring
• Migration by HNIs
• Will Drafting and Execution
• High Value Offshore Investments by Resident Indians
• Advisory on Reconciliation of Indian and Foreign Laws
• Philanthropy
• Advisory to trustees and Wealth Managers
• Lifetime and Testamentary Trusts