Us!
How clients rate our Wills & Inheritance Lawyers in France...
16 Jun 2025
Get Legal and Tax Updates for France?
Sign up now for our newsletter
Probate Law: Wills & Inheritance
Our Inheritance & Wills Services in France
All Inheritance & Wills Articles
The French Probate Timeline: Meeting the 6-Month Filing Deadline
The French administrative machine does not pause for grief. When a property owner dies, heirs are quickly pushed into a rigid, paper-heavy system with strict deadlines and very little room for delay.For the broader tax context, see the comprehensive guide to French inheritance tax deadlines. The timeline is absolute, and unfamil... Read More
French Inheritance Tax Guide 2026: Rates, Rules & Strategy for Expats
If you've bought—or are thinking of buying—property in France, there's a conversation you need to have with yourself, and soon: what happens when you die?For British and American buyers accustomed to testamentary freedom and familiar inheritance rules, French succession law can feel like stepping into an entirely different l... Read More
UK Residents and French Succession: Navigating Post-Brexit Double Taxation
Cross-border estates demand fast handling, separate filings, and close coordination between HMRC and the French notaire. For the wider legal framework, see our official French inheritance tax rules. The lawyer-as-liaison model keeps both systems aligned so heirs pay only what the law requires.⚠️ Legal Warning: Under French l... Read More
Business Successions in France: Using the Dutreil Agreement for French Gîtes and Companies
In recent months, the French tax administration has tightened its audit procedures regarding business transfers, specifically targeting the conditions under which property owners claim business exemptions. If you own a French company or a commercial accommodation service, understanding these changes is essential to protect your ... Read More
Managing French Inheritance for Step-children: Avoiding the 60% Tax Trap
Myth-buster: a French will does not automatically protect a stepchild from French succession tax. In blended families, the heir’s legal status matters more than the family story, and an unrelated beneficiary can still face the 60% rate on assets located in France.For the full framework, see the comprehensive guide to French in... Read More
French Gift Tax: Using Lifetime Transfers to Reduce Your Inheritance Tax Bill
French tax authorities can legally claim up to 60% of a gift or inheritance when assets pass to the wrong beneficiary class, or when the transfer is left unplanned. For English-speaking property owners and expats, that makes lifetime gifting one of the most effective tools for protecting family wealth. For the broader planning f... Read More
Brussels IV and Choice of Law: Can You Bypass French Forced Heirship?
If you own property in France, Brussels IV can change who inherits, but it does not erase French tax or every forced-heirship rule. For a fast overview of the inheritance framework, see the comprehensive guide to French forced heirship rules. The key point is simple: a choice-of-law clause may help, but it is not a complete esca... Read More
Inheriting French Assets as a Non-Resident: What You Must Declare
Picture the exact moment your heirs receive the keys to your French property, with the transfer handled cleanly, the tax bill paid on time, and the family home preserved across borders. That outcome is possible, but only if you understand how French inheritance tax works for non-residents and act before the filing clock starts.F... Read More
