For many years, ARNOLD Rechtsanwälte has been a leading adviser in private client matters, inheritance law, foundation law, corporate law including M&A transactions, tax law and real estate law. Ten experienced lawyers ensure comprehensive advice and representation of our clients, including in all matters of inheritance law and succession planning.
ARNOLD Rechtsanwälte GmbH, Stoß im Himmel 1, 1010 Vienna, Austria
office@arnold.biz, www.arnold.biz, Contact
Areas of Practice in Inheritance Law
Succession planning and wills. Drafting of wills and legacies taking complex family and asset structures into account, and their registration in the Austrian Central Register of Wills (Österreichisches Zentrales Testamentsregister) or in the Register of Wills of the Austrian Bar.
Business succession. Succession provisions in articles of association of limited liability companies (GmbH) and FlexCos as well as in shareholder agreements.
Compulsory portion. Asserting and defending against compulsory portion claims, including information claims and the adding of gifts to the estate for calculation purposes.
Probate proceedings. Representation before the probate court and the court commissioner, in proceedings on the right of succession and in the division of the estate. See Probate in Austria.
Inheritance disputes. Contesting wills, actions for recovery of the inheritance and contentious proceedings concerning estate assets. See Inheritance Disputes.
Private foundations. Establishment and structuring of private foundations as an instrument of wealth succession. See also privatstiftung.info and stiftungsprotektor.com.
Waiver of inheritance and compulsory portion. Drafting of waiver agreements, which require the form of a notarial deed or a court record (§ 551 ABGB).
Dr. Nikolaus Arnold, Private Client and Inheritance Lawyer in Vienna
Dr. Nikolaus Arnold has been an attorney-at-law (Rechtsanwalt) since 1999 and is Managing Partner of ARNOLD Rechtsanwälte GmbH in Vienna. He advises business families, founders of private foundations and private individuals on all matters of wealth succession and represents heirs, persons entitled to a compulsory portion and private foundations in probate proceedings and before the civil courts. His practice focuses on the intersection of inheritance law, foundation law, corporate law and tax law.
Dr. Nikolaus Arnold writes and updates the articles on testament.wien.
Rankings and Awards
| Source | Area | Recognition |
|---|---|---|
| Chambers High Net Worth, Austria | Private Wealth Law | Band 1, 2016 to 2026 |
| Best Lawyers | Trusts and Estates, Vienna | Lawyer of the Year 2027 |
| Handelsblatt | Trusts and Estates, Vienna | Lawyer of the Year 2026 |
| trend lawyer ranking | Private Clients | Rank 1 in 2026 and in numerous previous years |
Publications and Editorships
Dr. Nikolaus Arnold is the author of the commentary on the Austrian Private Foundation Act (PSG) as well as editor and author of the Handbuch Privatstiftung. Together with Univ.-Prof. Dr. Susanne Kalss, he edits the journal GesRZ (Der Gesellschafter). He is co-editor of the commentary Arnold/Bodis on the Real Estate Transfer Tax Act, an author in the GmbHG commentary Gruber/Harrer and co-author of Arnold/Stangl/Tanzer, Privatstiftungs-Steuerrecht (2nd edition). He is a member of the editorial board of Aufsichtsrat aktuell.
Positions
Dr. Nikolaus Arnold serves on supervisory boards and foundation boards and is a corresponding member of the Tax Law Committee (Fachsenat für Steuerrecht) of the Austrian Chamber of Tax Advisors and Auditors. He founded Stiftungsprotektor GmbH, which acts as foundation protector in Austria and Liechtenstein.
