-
‘Ghost garages’ in France: more than 1 million vehicles fraudulently registered
State and local authorities defrauded of over €550 million between 2022 and 2024, says state auditor
-
‘If I lower the price I close’: fuel station manager in western France defends €2.97 diesel price
The small station in Deux-Sèvres is selling the most expensive diesel in the country amid the ongoing fuel price spike
-
Ryanair plane takes off from France without all passengers due to EES hold-ups
Pilot left 24 passengers behind to avoid missing allocated departure slot
Changing marriage regime in France costly in 2020
If you want to change marriage regime in France as part of your inheritance planning, you are advised to do so this year as a new tax will apply from 2020.
In France, all marriages are subject to a “regime” determining how property is owned with a couple.
This can affect divorce and inheritance.
People with foreign marriages can change to a French regime such as communauté (property owned in common).
This ensures the marital home goes in full to their spouse on their death as opposed to shares going to children under French rules. Until this year, UK residents could also do this for French property, but no longer.
As of 2020, there will be stamp duty at 0.715% of the value if including real estate in a communauté arrangement.
A notaire completes the change and it can take several months.
Advertisement
Notaire François Trémosa said a change of regime remains a useful tool.
Britons in France could instead opt in a will for UK law to apply to their estate, bypassing French rules, but it may cause extra legal complications for the notaire dealing with the estate after your death.
