FRENCH INHERITANCE LAW FOR FOREIGNERS

Résumé

Own something in France? Then French inheritance law already has a plan for it. Make sure it's yours—not a surprise.

French succession works nothing like the common-law world, and it catches foreign owners off guard: children who cannot be disinherited, a spouse with less than expected, and a tax bill that depends on who inherits and how. French Inheritance Law for Foreigners is the clear, practical guide that explains—in plain English—what happens to your French property when you die, who is entitled to it, what it costs, and, crucially, what you can decide in advance.

Written for owners and families, not just lawyers, it turns a famously rigid and technical system into confident, informed decisions—so your estate passes the way you intend, with far less cost, delay, and conflict.

WHAT'S INSIDE

The framework: why French succession surprises foreigners, which law governs your estate, and how to elect the law of your nationalityForced heirship: the reserve and the disposable portion, who is protected, renouncing in advance, and family agreementsWills: the forms France recognises, and how to draft a will that works across two countriesSpouses, partners and children: why your matrimonial property regime comes first, the rights of the surviving spouse, gifts between spouses, unmarried couples, single owners, and blended familiesInheritance tax: the scope of French duties, how they are computed, lifetime gifts, usufruct and bare ownership, life assurance, business reliefs, and trustsThe assets: French real estate, property companies (SCI) and shares, bank accounts and portfolios, and tax treaties and double taxationAfter a death: the first weeks, the declaration and payment, undivided ownership and how to get out of it, selling the property, and disputes among heirsCountry notes: tailored guidance for British families, families with a United States connection, families elsewhere in Europe, and families outside EuropePlanning: the planning sequence, six situations worked end to end, and ten mistakes and what they costA practitioner's toolkit: glossary of French terms, checklists, thirty questions answered, model instructions to a notaire, and the documents a French succession requiresWHO IT'S FOR

Foreign owners of French property, homes, and second homesExpats and cross-border families with assets or heirs in more than one countryAnyone inheriting, or planning to pass on, something in FranceAdvisers, executors, and family members who need a clear English-language referenceWHY THIS GUIDE

Do nothing, and French law—and the French tax authority—will decide for you. Understand it, and you can plan: choose the right law, use the right instruments, reduce the tax, protect the people you care about, and spare your heirs a painful, expensive muddle. This book gives you that understanding, chapter by chapter.

Note: This book provides general information, current at the time of writing, and is not legal or tax advice. French succession and tax rules are complex and fact-specific—always confirm your situation with a qualified notaire or adviser.

Decide what happens to your French estate—before the law decides for you.

L'auteur

Marcus Nellot

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