Inheritance and succession planning for Family Businesses
Avoid conflict, cut taxes: Smart inheritance and succession starts here
Without a solid succession plan, your family could face legal disputes, tax losses, and serious business disruptions.
Inheritance and succession planning is a tax-sensitive process that requires strategic thinking and precise execution. At GCO, we use our deep expertise in Spanish tax law to help families and business owners transfer wealth and leadership smoothly—minimising liabilities and avoiding family rifts.
With our tax advisory team, you benefit from:
- Optimised inheritance structures that reduce fiscal impact
- Full legal compliance with inheritance and gift tax regulations
- Conflict-free family transitions through clear, equitable planning
- Ongoing tax support throughout the succession process
Inheritance and succession planning
Dreading the tax burden or family disputes?
A poorly structured inheritance can cost your family far more than money.
- Worried your heirs might lose a large part of the estate to taxes?
- Struggling to ensure fair asset distribution among heirs?
- Concerned your business could lose stability after succession?
- Unsure what documents or decisions are legally required?
GCO helps you navigate all of it—with clear, strategic tax planning that anticipates problems and prevents them.
Inheritance and succession planning
Tax & financial structuring
Minimise the tax burden and maximise estate value.
Reduce inheritance tax exposure
We analyse your assets—property, shares, investments—and design tax-efficient structures tailored to Spanish and international regulations. Our goal: to protect the value of your estate while reducing fiscal pressure on your heirs.
Succession forecasting and strategic timing
We help you choose the right moment for transfers—whether during your lifetime or upon death—based on simulations of tax impact, family readiness, and liquidity needs.
Valuation & tax simulation reports
We provide detailed simulations of tax liabilities and inheritance scenarios to eliminate surprises and aid financial planning.
Inheritance and succession planning
Legal execution & asset protection
Manage all legal formalities seamlessly
From wills and agreements to registry filings, we prepare and coordinate every document needed to execute the succession. We work closely with notaries, lawyers, and registrars so everything is legally sound and stress-free.
Family asset protection structures
We set up legal frameworks—holding companies, usufructs, or corporate wrappers—to protect wealth from future risks, liabilities or creditor claims.
International inheritance coordination
For families with foreign heirs or assets abroad, we align your succession with international and Spanish tax and legal regimes—ensuring compliance and avoiding double taxation.
Inheritance and succession planning
Family continuity & governance
Keep the business—and the family—strong for generations.
Facilitate family agreements
Succession is personal. Our advisors support families through tough conversations, helping avoid misunderstandings or legal battles by clarifying roles, responsibilities, and outcomes from the start.
Business succession planning & leadership transition
We help define and document leadership handovers, set up governance protocols, and support successor onboarding—ensuring business stability post-transition.
Inheritance and succession planning
Why partner with GCO for succession planning?
Because we combine technical tax expertise with real-world family insight.
Over four decades advising on tax-driven transitions
GCO has been guiding families and businesses through complex inheritance and tax challenges for more than 45 years. We bring historical depth, case experience, and stability—so you can rely on seasoned professionals, not guesswork.
Tailored to Spanish law
We don’t cut and paste plans—we craft tax-efficient structures that are fully aligned with regional and national regulations, making sure your plan holds up legally and financially.
Tax, legal, and business expertise in one team
At GCO, tax advisors, corporate lawyers, and financial consultants collaborate to deliver integrated solutions that work from every angle.
Transparent, conflict-free process
We clarify roles, responsibilities, and tax implications early on to avoid conflict later. Everything is documented, managed, and explained in plain terms.
Trusted by international families and companies alike
Whether your heirs live in Madrid, London or São Paulo—or your assets span borders—we’re ready. GCO is part of the IUSFUL European Legal Network, and we’ve helped countless cross-border clients navigate international succession smoothly and compliantly.
Why GCO?
“Can we just wait a bit longer?”
Delaying won’t keep the peace—it just makes conflict more likely.
Many families hesitate to begin succession planning. It can feel uncomfortable, too soon, or simply overwhelming. Others worry that starting the conversation might create tension among heirs or open up issues best left untouched.
But the truth is, waiting doesn’t prevent conflict—it often guarantees it. When decisions are left unclear, and expectations unspoken, misunderstandings grow. And if you’re not around to guide those conversations later, what begins as avoidance can turn into costly disputes and emotional rifts.
At GCO, we understand the emotional weight behind these decisions. That’s why we approach succession not just as a tax strategy, but as a human process—thoughtful, guided, and paced in a way that respects your family dynamic. We make it easier to talk about the hard stuff, clarify intentions, and document everything while you still have the clarity and control to do it right.
Succession planning isn’t just about protecting wealth—it’s about preserving family unity. The sooner you start, the smoother it will be.
Process and Methodology
A Clear Path to Excellence for your Company
Our customer-centric process is tailored to your specific needs. From initial analysis to strategy implementation, we are with you every step of the way.
- Initial Situation Analysis
- Development of Customized Strategies
- Solutions Implementation
- Continuous Monitoring and Adjustment
Frequently asked questions
Answers to your key questions about inheritance and succession planning
How does business succession affect business continuity?
Inadequate succession planning can lead to conflicts and destabilize the business; proper succession planning ensures continuity.
What are the main taxes in a family business succession?
The Inheritance and Gift Tax and the Urban Land Value Increase Tax (Plusvalía).
What if the heirs cannot reach an agreement?
In such cases, professional mediation is essential to avoid legal disputes and ensure business stability.
Is it necessary for the business to be valued before succession?
Yes, it is crucial for determining the tax burden and ensuring a fair distribution among heirs.
When is the best time to plan for succession?
Succession planning should be done in advance, ideally while the business is fully operational, to ensure a smooth transition.
Inheritance and succession planned
After the transition, we’re still by your side
Because succession is only the beginning.
A well-executed succession plan ensures a smooth transfer. But what happens after the handover is just as critical. Whether it’s restructuring leadership, redefining roles, or adapting to new financial responsibilities, GCO stays with you beyond the transition to provide the ongoing support your family and business need to thrive.
Tax & Fiscal
Once assets are transferred, your tax position changes. We continue to optimise your strategy, manage ongoing obligations, and adapt to new tax regulations—ensuring you stay compliant and efficient long after the plan is in place.
Labour & HR
Family businesses often face uncertainty in roles and responsibilities post-succession. We help formalise family members’ positions, align compensation with new duties, and prevent conflict by ensuring employment agreements are fair, legal, and clearly defined.
Accounting & Finance
New leadership often comes with new financial questions. We help you reassess budgets, cash flow, and reporting needs under the new structure—protecting your business’s financial health during a period of change.
Legal & Mercantile
Succession may trigger the need to update governance, amend shareholder agreements, or revise company structure. We advise on capital changes, new appointments, and compliance obligations—so your business remains strong, secure, and legally sound.
GCO isn’t just here to plan your succession. We’re here to help you manage everything that follows—with the same clarity, rigour, and care.
Nuestro equipo fiscal
Conoce a Nuestros Expertos en Fiscalidad
Experiencia y conocimiento a tu servicio para una gestión fiscal óptima.
Managing Partner
Tax Department Senior Manager
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