HELP GUIDES

Income Tax in France

Healthcare in France

Inheritance Law and Wills in France

Visas and residency cards for France

Heslop and platt

French property transfer on divorce holding up sale

When my husband and I divorced in 2018, an English court awarded me our property in France, with my ex-husband keeping a house in the UK. I am now selling the property in France. My notaire has said I have to pay €11,000 to remove my ex from the title deed and that my ex also has to sign by proxy to agree to this. Why, when the English divorce courts have made a judgment?

Father died intestate in France, now notaire is silent

I need advice about a property my sister and I inherited from our father who died unexpectedly last year. He left no will. We are struggling to hear from the notaire he dealt with in France and don’t know what to do. L.S.

Leaving French property to just one child?

I have owned a French property since 1983. Can I leave it to just one child (who is involved with it and loves it as I do) instead of my two other children who are not remotely interested?

practical

British probate and residents in France

Earlier this year, my spouse died. He was English. In 2016 we moved to France and bought a house here. He only had a British will. My notaire asked me to obtain probate in the UK. Everything we have is in joint names, including bank accounts in UK and France, and land and property in France. My application was rejected because there is nothing to probate. Do you know how this should be dealt with? I can’t get the land and house into my name until succession is approved. S.W.

French law inheritance arrangements?

My wife and I are British residents who own a holiday flat in southern France which we have not included in wills drawn up in England. We assume, by default, French inheritance rules will apply to this property after our deaths. If that is the case, our two daughters should inherit but we want our only grandchild to inherit instead. Can we make such arrangements entirely within French law?

Lasting Power of Attorney possible in France?

My wife and I own our house in France jointly and there is no mortgage on it. The only other person with a claim on the property is my daughter, who now lives in Vietnam. I have no capital but two adequate pensions and my wife has a small pension but some capital. On the question of Lasting Power of Attorney, would this be possible in France and will it avoid the need for probate on my wife’s death, as some of her capital is invested in England? My wife has dual French/British nationality and I am British but plan to seek French nationality in the near future. W.M

Brexit and second-homes in France: What changes?

Would anything be expected to change in terms of buying a French second home for a British person after Brexit, either in a deal or no-deal scenario, as to actual rights to buy in France and the formalities involved?

Can an English solicitor register a will in France?

Can an English solicitor register a will in France, with a stipulation of English law to be applied?

Does property in UK come under French inheritance law?

I’m British, have lived and worked in France for more than 40 years, and have children and grandchildren here. Something I’ve been querying recently is, if I request French nationality and remain resident here in France, would property I own in England come under French inheritance law? I believe at present, as a British national, this would come under UK law? A.B.

I have found a buyer for my French home - what's next?

We are selling up in France to return to the UK and have found a buyer. At what stage do we receive the money? What fees and taxes are due? Should we involve an English solicitor?

Does French law take precedence over British law?

My sister has gone through a divorce in the UK. The judge awarded their house in France to him. I read a post which said that French law takes precedence over English law in France and the judge cannot force her to sell. My sister’s ex-husband says that the house is now his and he can do what he wants with it – but would he still need my sister’s permission to sell? He is in the process of selling. P.H.

Buying French house share and CGT

We are both divorced and not remarried and live and pay tax in the UK. We bought a second home in France in 1997, ‘en indivision’. I have two children and my partner a son from the previous marriages. She wants to help her son buy UK property so I plan to buy her half share of the French house. Should I do this after 2019 to avoid CGT and the 22-year rule? As outright owner, should I add a codicil to my UK will to ensure only my children inherit? What French or UK taxes do I face and are there other drawbacks? J.G.

Re-writing UK wills in French

My parents, in their 90s, moved to France to be near me. They rewrote their UK wills, stating they were to be used when they die. I asked our notaire if he needed a copy and he said he needed my parents to re-write them, preferably in French. Is this correct? J.F.

Giving English Power of Attorney option to UK relative

Is it appropriate for an elderly person living in France to give an English Power of Attorney option to a relative in the UK?

Heslop and platt

French property transfer on divorce holding up sale

Father died intestate in France, now notaire is silent

Leaving French property to just one child?

British probate and residents in France

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