Need help with a
French Inheritance Matter?
Call our overseas team for help
We are well-versed in both French and English inheritance law and can assist with most matters where there is a French aspect to a deceased persons Estate. Whether you have applied for a UK Grant of Administration or not give us a call on 020 8150 2010.
We work with French Notary’s (“Notaires”) who can advise re the terms of any Will and how a Will may affect an estate. From the laws of succession to French inheritance tax, we can assist.
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French Probate No Will
For a person who is now deceased but was domiciled in the UK, if there is no French Will, the typical rule of thumb is that the UK Grant of Representation would be applied for and this Grant of Representation then acts as the legal authority to collect assets and distribute assets in France. The Grant would be required for the French estate whether it was required in the UK or not.
Once obtained, the UK Grant would need to be officially translated and legalised by way of affixing an Apostille. Rest assured we can arrange for this whole process to be completed before involving the Notaire, including helping with the UK Probate application, thus keeping the whole process under one roof and keeping costs relatively low.
French Probate UK Will only
For a person who is now deceased but was domiciled in the UK, if there is no French Will, the typical rule of thumb is that the UK Grant of Representation would be applied for and this Grant of Representation then acts as the legal authority to collect assets and distribute assets in France. The Grant would be required for the French estate whether it was required in the UK or not.
Once obtained, the UK Grant would need to be officially translated and legalised by way of affixing an Apostille. Rest assured we can arrange for this whole process to be completed before involving the Notaire, including helping with the UK Probate application, thus keeping the whole process under one roof and keeping costs relatively low.
French Probate UK Will only
For a person who is now deceased but was domiciled in the UK, if there is no French Will, the typical rule of thumb is that the UK Grant of Representation would be applied for and this Grant of Representation then acts as the legal authority to collect assets and distribute assets in France. The Grant would be required for the French estate whether it was required in the UK or not.
Once obtained, the UK Grant would need to be officially translated and legalised by way of affixing an Apostille. Rest assured we can arrange for this whole process to be completed before involving the Notaire, including helping with the UK Probate application, thus keeping the whole process under one roof and keeping costs relatively low.
French Probate with a French Will
If the deceased has a French Will, this is by far the simplest way as there are no delays waiting for the UK Grant of Administration, Legalisation and apostille. Administration of the French estate can continue with no unnecessary delays. French Wills’ do not typically appoint an Executor, instead the beneficiaries deal directly with a Notary and the Notary would prepare the necessary documentation. The documents the Notaire would complete include:
- Acte de Notoriété (notarial deed verifying who are the heirs)
- Déclaration de Succession” (detailing the tax implications)
- Attestation Immobilière which is generally attached to the Déclaration de Succession (the certificate transferring legal ownership of property to the beneficiaries.)
- All of the above forms completed by the French Notaire, they must also be signed in the present of the Notaire however a specific power of attorney can be prepared for someone else to sign on your behalf if travel to France is not passible.
What is French Probate?
The French Probate process is very different to the typical UK Court application for a Grant of Probate. The French Notary will prepare a document known as the “Acte de Notoriété”. This document details the terms of any Will, also outlining the full details of the beneficiaries and the percentage that each person will receive. As mentioned above, even though a UK Grant may not have been necessary in order to deal with the UK estate, the Notary will require a UK Grant to deal with the French estate when there is no French Will. The Notary will also need to prepare the French inheritance account known as the “Déclaration de Succession”. For further details in French inheritance tax and French succession please find the required links within our menu.
Call now for advice and help
with French Probate matters.