Professional Background
Jerome Synold focuses his legal practice on international probate and estate planning matters with a primary nexus to the United States. Based in California, Mr. Synold possesses extensive experience advising clients across the San Francisco, Los Angeles, Orange County, and San Diego jurisdictions. His broad educational background enables him to deliver sophisticated international counsel while remaining highly approachable and responsive to client needs.
Mr. Synold earned his Juris Doctor degree from the University of San Diego School of Law, where he received three CALI Excellence for the Future awards. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from the University of California, San Diego, and a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in European Business Law from Aix-Marseille III in France. In addition, he studied in several foreign jurisdictions, receiving a Certificate in South African Law from the University of Cape Town. Jerome Synold is admitted to practice law in California and before the federal courts of the Southern District of California.
Prior to founding Synold & Associates, Mr. Synold worked for national corporate law firms where he assisted in litigating securities class actions resulting in over $2 billion in aggregate settlements. Notably, he prosecuted matters such as In re Lehman Brothers Equity/Debt Securities Litigation, which achieved a combined settlement exceeding $700 million—one of the largest historical recovery awards against an auditor (E&Y). This extensive high-stakes litigation background serves as a key asset when handling contentious estate disputes and negotiating with government agencies and foreign financial institutions.
International Inheritance Matters
Mr. Synold routinely represents clients in complex inheritance matters spanning multiple legal jurisdictions. Typical cases involve estates with assets or beneficiaries divided between the U.S. and foreign countries, particularly Germany. These cross-border estates require comprehensive analysis of domestic laws, international tax treaties, conflict-of-laws principles, and bilateral conventions to ensure smooth execution without unintended tax or legal consequences.
Core Specializations
Probate Administration & Fiduciary Representation
Mr. Synold frequently serves as an estate administrator or named legal counsel for administrators and executors. He leads clients through every stage of probate—including petition filings, asset marshaling and liquidation, distributions, and litigation when disputes arise. For foreign beneficiaries inheriting U.S. assets (or U.S. clients inheriting European estates), he simplifies complex probate protocols across borders.
International Trust Law
Because trusts are common in the U.S. but largely unrecognized in continental European civil law systems, their cross-border enforcement can lead to unexpected tax or administrative hurdles. Working alongside European colleagues, Mr. Synold specializes in advising on trust recognition across Europe and structuring compliant estate strategies.
Cross-Border Estate & Tax Planning
In collaboration with international legal partners, Mr. Synold analyzes cross-border estate plans to resolve conflicting tax codes and inheritance laws. His practice focuses on designing tax-advantaged estate structures and advising fiduciaries on the tax consequences of distributions and asset liquidations.
Representative Matters
- Serving as Administrator in California probate cases
- Guiding fiduciaries through complete court administration (Letters of Administration, Letters Testamentary, publications, bond registration, court motions, and distributions)
- Drafting custom revocable and irrevocable trusts
- Securing formal recognition from German courts for U.S. estate planning instruments, including the issuance of German Letters Testamentary (Testamentsvollstreckerzeugnis)
- Assisting international clients in obtaining German Certificates of Heirship (Erbschein)
- Effectuating fund liquidations and asset distributions with major U.S. and overseas financial institutions
- Securing tax clearance certificates and IRS Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITINs) for foreign beneficiaries
- Representing trustees and beneficiaries in high-stakes probate and trust litigation
Selected Publications & Articles
- Estate Taxation of Nonresident Germans in the U.S.
- Recognition of a German Will in the USA (Formal Validity)
- Spanish Inheritance Tax: Key Considerations for Foreign Heirs
- Taxation of the Estate of Non-Resident U.S. Citizens in Germany
- The Administration of a U.S.-Domiciled Decedent’s German Assets
- U.S. International Estate Tax Treaties Overview
- Foreign Beneficiaries and Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs)
- Intestate Succession Under California Law
- Mixed Marriages: U.S. Tax Implications for U.S. Citizens Married to Non-U.S. Spouses
- The Impact of Community Property Principles on Inheritance Matters