Will my French inheritance pass to my civil partner upon my death?

Reader's Question:We are British civil partners, living in France, and want to know about the legal protection of the other partner in the event of the death of one of us. Is it necessary to make a will? We own our house jointly and want everything to pass to the survivor. We have no children but have family in the UK including brothers, nephews and nieces.

As a French resident, French inheritance and inheritance tax laws apply to your estate. The right to inherit with a marriage (spouse) only applies to married couples, not to couples who have entered into a civil partnership in France (Pacs).

Since you have no children, French law does not restrict who you can leave your estate to by will. Please note that brothers, nephews and nieces are heavily taxed with few tax exemptions.

As always, it is strongly recommended that you seek qualified professional advice to explore your situation in more detail and draft a carefully worded will.

Author: John Kitching, French Law Consultancy. French Law Consultancy provides French legal advice.

Tied'. 'links:

• UK wills with the appointment of trustees: Watch out for tax implications in France
• Do I have to pay inheritance tax in France on a British inheritance?
• Families face stress over new French inheritance law and foreign wills