Family Law

In the field of family law, it is particularly important to approach clients with both competence and empathy. Discretion is also our top priority. Clients often come to us in an emotional state of distress, and details of their private lives are disclosed during consultations.
Initial Consultation
Family Law
Prenuptial Agreements

We recommend seeking family law advice before getting married to determine whether a prenuptial agreement is advisable in your specific situation. Often, a modified community of accrued gains is beneficial. We also review existing prenuptial agreements for their validity and/or provide recommendations for adjustments if necessary, due to changes in case law or if the spouses' intentions at the time of the agreement differ from their current situation. In line with the motto "better safe than sorry," it is advisable to regularly review existing prenuptial agreements, even during a stable marriage.

Legal Disputes

In the event that an out-of-court settlement is not possible or not effective, we will represent you assertively in all family law and related proceedings. These include divorce and related proceedings (alimony, pension rights adjustment, division of assets, household items, marital home, child custody, and visitation rights). We enforce spousal support and child support, as well as the division of property, household items, the family home, or the equalization of pension entitlements.

We represent you in matters involving children, such as disputes over visitation rights, both out of court and in court, and regarding custody of your legitimate and illegitimate children.

We also prepare expert opinions on cases not handled by us but by colleagues, share our assessments of the chances of success, and provide recommendations if we believe the strategy needs to be changed. We review your case and provide a competent opinion.

Separation and Divorce Settlement Agreements

Following a separation or in anticipation of an impending separation, we provide comprehensive advice on the issues that need to be addressed and develop an optimal separation and divorce settlement agreement. In necessary negotiations regarding the agreement with the other partner, we stand by our clients with empathy and determination.

We recommend seeking family law advice before getting married to determine whether a prenuptial agreement is advisable in your specific situation. Often, a modified community of accrued gains is beneficial. We also review existing prenuptial agreements for their validity and/or provide recommendations for adjustments if necessary, due to changes in case law or if the spouses' intentions at the time of the agreement differ from their current situation. In line with the motto "better safe than sorry," it is advisable to regularly review existing prenuptial agreements, even during a stable marriage.

Prenuptial Agreements

We recommend seeking family law advice before getting married to determine whether a prenuptial agreement is advisable in your specific situation. Often, a modified community of accrued gains is beneficial. We also review existing prenuptial agreements for their validity and/or provide recommendations for adjustments if necessary, due to changes in case law or if the spouses' intentions at the time of the agreement differ from their current situation. In line with the motto "better safe than sorry," it is advisable to regularly review existing prenuptial agreements, even during a stable marriage.

Prenuptial Agreements

We recommend seeking family law advice before getting married to determine whether a prenuptial agreement is advisable in your specific situation. Often, a modified community of accrued gains is beneficial. We also review existing prenuptial agreements for their validity and/or provide recommendations for adjustments if necessary, due to changes in case law or if the spouses' intentions at the time of the agreement differ from their current situation. In line with the motto "better safe than sorry," it is advisable to regularly review existing prenuptial agreements, even during a stable marriage.

Prenuptial Agreements

We recommend seeking family law advice before getting married to determine whether a prenuptial agreement is advisable in your specific situation. Often, a modified community of accrued gains is beneficial. We also review existing prenuptial agreements for their validity and/or provide recommendations for adjustments if necessary, due to changes in case law or if the spouses' intentions at the time of the agreement differ from their current situation. In line with the motto "better safe than sorry," it is advisable to regularly review existing prenuptial agreements, even during a stable marriage.

Prenuptial Agreements

We recommend seeking family law advice before getting married to determine whether a prenuptial agreement is advisable in your specific situation. Often, a modified community of accrued gains is beneficial. We also review existing prenuptial agreements for their validity and/or provide recommendations for adjustments if necessary, due to changes in case law or if the spouses' intentions at the time of the agreement differ from their current situation. In line with the motto "better safe than sorry," it is advisable to regularly review existing prenuptial agreements, even during a stable marriage.

Prenuptial Agreements

We recommend seeking family law advice before getting married to determine whether a prenuptial agreement is advisable in your specific situation. Often, a modified community of accrued gains is beneficial. We also review existing prenuptial agreements for their validity and/or provide recommendations for adjustments if necessary, due to changes in case law or if the spouses' intentions at the time of the agreement differ from their current situation. In line with the motto "better safe than sorry," it is advisable to regularly review existing prenuptial agreements, even during a stable marriage.

Prenuptial Agreements

We recommend seeking family law advice before getting married to determine whether a prenuptial agreement is advisable in your specific situation. Often, a modified community of accrued gains is beneficial. We also review existing prenuptial agreements for their validity and/or provide recommendations for adjustments if necessary, due to changes in case law or if the spouses' intentions at the time of the agreement differ from their current situation. In line with the motto "better safe than sorry," it is advisable to regularly review existing prenuptial agreements, even during a stable marriage.

Prenuptial Agreements

We recommend seeking family law advice before getting married to determine whether a prenuptial agreement is advisable in your specific situation. Often, a modified community of accrued gains is beneficial. We also review existing prenuptial agreements for their validity and/or provide recommendations for adjustments if necessary, due to changes in case law or if the spouses' intentions at the time of the agreement differ from their current situation. In line with the motto "better safe than sorry," it is advisable to regularly review existing prenuptial agreements, even during a stable marriage.

Prenuptial Agreements

We recommend seeking family law advice before getting married to determine whether a prenuptial agreement is advisable in your specific situation. Often, a modified community of accrued gains is beneficial. We also review existing prenuptial agreements for their validity and/or provide recommendations for adjustments if necessary, due to changes in case law or if the spouses' intentions at the time of the agreement differ from their current situation. In line with the motto "better safe than sorry," it is advisable to regularly review existing prenuptial agreements, even during a stable marriage.

Prenuptial Agreements

We recommend seeking family law advice before getting married to determine whether a prenuptial agreement is advisable in your specific situation. Often, a modified community of accrued gains is beneficial. We also review existing prenuptial agreements for their validity and/or provide recommendations for adjustments if necessary, due to changes in case law or if the spouses' intentions at the time of the agreement differ from their current situation. In line with the motto "better safe than sorry," it is advisable to regularly review existing prenuptial agreements, even during a stable marriage.

Our Experts in this Department

Dr. iur. Christoph R. Wolter, MLE

Partner, Lawyer, Notary

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Lisa Offenhausen

Lawyer, Head of Family Law Department

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Katrin Annabell Herre

Lawyer, Specialized Lawyer in Family Law

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Anja Brinkmann-Rißling

Lawyer, Specialized Lawyer for Family Law, Specialized Lawyer for Tax Law

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Britta Stüwe

Lawyer, Specialized Lawyer in Family Law

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Financing of aircraft

If you are financing the acquisition of the aircraft through a loan or leasing arrangement, we can optimally advise you on the transaction. This includes drafting and negotiating a financing agreement suitable for your purposes, as well as addressing potential liens and other security arrangements.

Additionally, we coordinate the processes between you as the buyer, your bank, sellers, and operators. We ensure that the requirements of the credit institution for loan disbursement can be met so that the purchase price can be paid upon the technical acceptance and delivery of your business jet.

Our team has advised on aircraft financing worth 5.6 billion EUR. Moreover, we collaborate with the experienced and ideal partners.

Import / VAT on Aircraft

When buying and selling aircraft from and to the European Union, import sales taxes and customs duties may apply. This must be properly declared as soon as the aircraft lands at the first customs airport. Otherwise, your VAT refund could be jeopardized when the aircraft is used for business purposes and, depending on where it is handed over, further transaction duties may be incurred. Based on our many years of experience with the export and import of aircraft, we optimize both your transaction and the handover of your business jet.

Registration of Aircraft

For the registration of your aircraft, you need to complete and submit numerous documents. Whether you want to register your business jet under the flag of the Channel Islands, the Virgin Islands, or with the Luftfahrt-Bundesamt (LBA) in Braunschweig, Germany – we advise and assist you in preparing the necessary documentation and registration.

Ownership and Management Contracts

Often, Owners are lacking the knowhow to maintain an aircraft in compliance with the regulations of the EASA (European Union Aviation Safety Agency) and the LBA (Luftfahrt-Bundesamt, German Federal Aviation Office), and let their aircraft be manageged by an AOC. If you decide to operate your aircraft through such an operator, this involves a variety of legal and economic questions. We assist you in answering these questions and in drafting the contracts.

Advice on the different operating forms (AOC, NCC)

We examine both the legal permissibility and the tax implications – depending on your intended owner flights, third-party charter for cost reduction, use for company transport within the group, or shared use with other co-owners. This includes topics such as VAT exemption, fuel tax, or operating costs as deductible expenses in special purpose entities.Additionally, we handle the mediation of optimal partners as well as the creation of the necessary contractual documentation for you. For example, in the use of a foreign Air Operator Certificate (AOC) or the implementation of the Continuing Airworthiness Management Organisation (CAMO).

Transaction consulting

For many owners and operators of business aircraft, as well as their legal advisors, neither the purchase nor the sale of the aircraft is part of their daily business. The risk of overlooking pitfalls in unfamiliar territory is high. Therefore, we take care of the smooth execution of the transaction.

Our advisory goal is to protect and represent your interests. This means more than just the concrete planning and documentation of the transaction: creative solutions must be developed, and the deal must be quickly brought to a close without getting bogged down in potential side issues. We accompany you every step of the way: from advising on technical questions before the purchase to tax issues and customs clearance.

We are at your service 24/7 to quickly complete your transaction. With over 150 transactions completed, we have a wealth of experience. Thanks to a fee cap and regular cost updates, you always have an overview of your cost volume with us. Additionally, we collaborate with Germany's largest independent aircraft broker: BAS – Business Aviation Services.

Formation of SPCs

To separate liability, aircraft are often not operated within the owner's operational company but through dedicated holding entities. Together with our notaries, we provide all the necessary services from a single source, guiding you through the entire process—from establishing a national or international special purpose company to legally connecting it with the aircraft owners.

Richard Prechtel, LL.M.

Partner, lawyer, notary, specialist lawyer for commercial and corporate law

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Dr. iur. Alexander Nefzger

Partner, Lawyer, Notary, Specialized Lawyer for Commercial and Corporate Law, Specialized Lawyer for Inheritance Law

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Matthias Reuleaux, LL.M.

Lawyer, of Counsel

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David Meixner

Lawyer, of Counsel

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Edward Stoye

Lawyer, Specialized Lawyer for Commercial and Corporate Law

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Aircraft Damage Claims

When aircraft sustain damage, legal disputes with insurers can quickly arise. For instance, if a pilot makes errors during flight preparation leading to an accident, liability insurers may hold the pilot accountable, or hull insurers may refuse coverage due to alleged gross negligence. These cases often require judicial clarification to determine whether safety regulations were violated. Successfully asserting claims against insurers demands in-depth expertise in aviation and insurance law.

Wet-Lease Agreements

Wet-leasing, or ACMI leasing, involving the charter of aircraft along with crew, maintenance, and insurance, has become a critical operational model. Due to fluctuating and often short-term capacity needs of commercial airlines, coupled with supply chain delays from aircraft manufacturers, various forms of wet-leases have emerged to cater to these individual requirements. We tailor contracts to your specific needs, focusing particularly on ensuring quality standards regarding maintenance, crew qualifications, and financial security through performance guarantees.

Aircraft Leasing Agreements

In recent decades, the aircraft leasing market has experienced significant growth. Large leasing providers offer aircraft to commercial airlines in various forms under complex and extensive contracts. We delve into this intricate field to craft solutions that align with your interests, addressing delivery and redelivery conditions, usage scope, and responses to contract violations (default situations). Additionally, we coordinate the execution and implementation of agreements to secure optimal outcomes for you.

Employment and Freelance Contracts for Pilots

Navigating the intersection of labor law and aviation law requires specialized knowledge. For example, the definition of travel to the home base differs under labor law compared to FRMS (Fatigue Risk Management Systems). Determining whether a pilot is an employee or a freelance operator hinges on nuanced legal precedents. Our labor law team advises various commercial aviation companies, helping you address these complexities without stumbling.

Maintenance Agreements

Maintenance forms the cornerstone of safe flight operations. We provide counsel on framework agreements for base and line maintenance, negotiating contracts for the supply of technical components and avionics to ensure reliable operations.

Richard Prechtel, LL.M.

Partner, lawyer, notary, specialist lawyer for commercial and corporate law

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Corporate Law

As the legal counsel of GATE e.V., we are closely connected to the recurring legal challenges that affect your business. This enables us to provide swift, cost-effective, and well-founded advice. Whether you are a foreign corporation seeking guidance on legal matters for your subsidiary in Germany, drafting a framework supply agreement, or requiring tailored terms and conditions for your procurement processes, we have the right solution at hand. The German Aviation Security Act holds no surprises for us, and we navigate the intricacies of an airside vehicle just as confidently as we handle vertical baggage conveyors.

Corporate Law
Corporate Law
Corporate Law
Corporate Law
Corporate Law
Corporate Law
Corporate Law
Corporate Law
Corporate Law
Corporate Law
Corporate Law
Corporate Law
Corporate Law
Richard Prechtel, LL.M.

Partner, lawyer, notary, specialist lawyer for commercial and corporate law

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That's what you can expect

This is how we work at activelaw

Your Information

You tell us about your situation, we review your documents. We will give you an initial assessment of your case as soon as possible.

Your opportunities

Our experts will advise you on your chances of success and the individual options for your case.

Our promise

We advise and represent you in all legal matters until your request is successfully implemented.

Do you have specific questions or a particular concern?