-
French border IT failure blamed for Christmas getaway delays at Dover
Cross-Channel ferries and Eurotunnel hit by technical issues on exit checks
-
Cold Christmas in France, but little chance of snow
High-pressure system will move into France from north-east at the start of next week
-
British ‘Puppet Master’ conman in French jail wins phones back on appeal
Robert Hendy-Freegard was given a six-year sentence after hitting two gendarmes with his car
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.
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.
