So, how do you settle in France?

WHEN you first move to France, you are immediately confronted by a host of bureaucratic tasks of mixed urgency to overcome while actually living your new life alongside.

More often as not, the life wins out and anything that can be put off is put off, until eventually you lose track of all the things you should have sorted out.

Connexion’s Moving To France helpguide covers a wide range of subjects aimed at new arrivals of all ages: from your health insurance and French inheritance laws through to getting the children into school, setting up a business or changing electricity companies.

It is the big picture on setting up in France.

The guide has drawn on the experience and knowledge of Connexion articles and helpguides, reader questions and tips and answers from our experts, all updated for 2011.

It has been written by Connexion journalists, all of whom have made the move themselves and who wish they had had a copy at the time. The guide is indispensable for anyone moving over from the UK, but we also hope it will be useful as a checklist to those who are already here.

(Did you know the difference between holding a joint account that says et or ou is the difference between an account that remains open or is frozen on the death of your partner?)

Each chapter contains a glossary and it includes a list of useful numbers. The guide is available to download here for €5, or you can order a printed copy for €5 plus €2 p&p to send to a French address or €3 to send to a UK address.