Inheritance

Hi Tony

I’ve been enjoying your newsletters for sometime time now and finally taken the plunge in buying property in France. We have just signed the contract for a new build – and I know I should have addressed earlier that nagging problem at the back of my mind about French Inheritance laws. I guess it’s case of better late than never…. can you advise or point us in the right direction for advice please! (I really didn’t fancy explaining our family details to the local notaire…)

regards

Sarah

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Hello Sarah,

If you have any complications, even simple ones, about inheritance, previous marriage, other children or family problems – you must make sure the purchase of a property in France is structured correctly before the final Acte is signed. Very little can be done after this, it must be done before.

A Notaire is (theoretically) the best person to do this, but in my experience they rarely volunteer information or advise you unless you ask specific questions, it is assumed that you already know the options and will instruct them. It is a matter of knowing which questions to ask and if you know the question than you probably know most of the answer, this is one of the cultural differences between France and many other countries.

A search on Google for something like – Property Inheritance France – will yield a lot of websites and masses of advice, but my advice is to discuss your own personal position clearly and precisely with a Notaire or an independent advisor – the advice from a Notaire will be free.

It really is a minefield and unless your family situation is very simple (no other relationships, no kids, no Parents, no relatives etc) you need professional advice. Do not just read a lot of Internet pages and find one that agrees with what you think you would like to know.

An independent advisor must have adequate legal insurance to cover them in the event of the advice causing a problem in the future, many advisors do not have this and you must ask.

Hope this helps

Best wishes

Tony