International Inheritance
Track record of handling international inheritance cases
As the scope of activities of Japanese nationals expands, the number of inheritance cases of an international nature has increased significantly. Kuribayashi Sogo Law Office has extensive experience in inheritance cases where the decedent (deceased) is a foreign national or where the inherited property is located in a foreign country. Please contact Kuribayashi Sogo Law Office for consultation regarding international inheritance.
Extensive Experience in International Inheritance
Kuribayashi Sogo Law Office has handled many international inheritance cases in its nearly 30 years of practice. International inheritance cases are handmade, requiring different procedures based on the legal systems of each country. We represent and handle inheritance procedures based on the legal system of each country on behalf of our clients.
New York State Bar-qualified attorneys
The disposition of overseas estates and the division of estates procedures require handling under foreign law (especially English). At Kuribayashi Sogo Law Office, attorneys licensed in the State of New York and attorneys with extensive experience in international relations are available to assist you. For many cases, procedures are handled through liaison with local experts and other professionals, so there is little need for heirs to travel directly to the country.
Network with Overseas Law Firms
Kuribayashi Sogo Law Office is a member of international organizations such as EuroLegal (a European legal association) and the International Bar Association (IBA). In addition, Kuribayashi has alliances with overseas law firms such as Dezan Shira & Associates based in China, Hong Kong, and Southeast Asia, and is well equipped to handle international cases. Since international inheritance is deeply related to the laws of each region, cooperative relationships with local law firms and tax accounting firms are required for each case. Kuribayashi Sogo Law Office supports international inheritance cases in close cooperation with local law firms.
About Attorney’s Fees
The scope of our lawyers’ involvement in international inheritance cases varies from case to case, including support for filing inheritance tax returns overseas, assistance with probate procedures, research and preparation of inheritance-related opinion letters, and estate division discussions and mediation procedures in Japan. We will provide you with an estimate of our services and fees based on the content of your preliminary consultation. If you agree to the estimated amount, we will ask you to sign a power of attorney agreement using our standard form. The following is an example of a standard fee.
Support for probate procedures (fees for overseas attorneys are not included)
| Value of property | Attorney’s fees | Compensation |
|---|---|---|
| 10 million yen or less | 600,000 yen | 600,000 yen of economic benefit |
| 10 million yen to 30 million yen or less | 800,000 yen | 5% of economic profit + 90,000 yen |
| 30 million yen to 300 million yen or less | 1 million yen | 3% of economic profit + 690,000 yen |
| Over 300 million yen | 1.2 million yen | 2% of economic profit + 3.69 million yen |
Overseas inheritance tax filing support (charged on a time-charge basis)
| Hourly rate for partner attorneys | 35,000 yen |
|---|---|
| Hourly rate for associate attorneys | 25,000 yen |
Estate division conference and estate division mediation procedures
| Value of property | Starting fee | Compensation |
|---|---|---|
| 10 million yen or less | 600,000 yen | 16% of economic profit |
| 10 million yen to 30 million yen or less | 5% + 90,000 yen | 10% of economic profit + 180,000 yen |
| 30 million yen to 300 million yen or less | 3% +690,000 yen | 6% of economic profit +1.38 million yen |
| Over 300 million yen | 2% + 3.69 million yen | 4% of economic profit + 7.38 million yen |
Cancellation and remittance of foreign deposits
| Value of property | Starting fee | Compensation |
|---|---|---|
| 10 million yen or less | 500,000 yen | 3% of economic profit |
| 10 million yen to 30 million yen or less | 600,000 yen | 2.5% of economic profit |
| 30 million yen to 300 million yen or less | 700,000 yen | 2% of economic benefit |
| 300 million yen or more | 800,000 yen | 1.5% of economic profit |
