We specialise in advising private clients on cross-border legal issues between the UK and France. Our core areas of expertise are French Property Law and French Estate Planning. Our experience in these areas spans more than 10 years.
Our French Legal services will help you to overcome the difficulties of purchasing a French property and related estate planning issues as well as language barriers.
Unlike the English legal system, which is based on Common law, French Law is based upon a civil codified law system (the “Code civil”), although case law (“jurisprudence”) also plays an important part.
Many differences exist between these two legal systems. For instance the principle of trust plays an important part in the English conveyancing process where trustees hold the legal estate in a joint tenancy on behalf of the beneficiaries. In contrast, trusts are hardly recognised in France and a property purchase will be in most cases structured in “indivision” (equivalent to a tenancy in common) unless the buyers have requested an alternative structure. Furthermore, there is no concept in France of an executor who has been entrusted under an English Will to distribute the assets of the estate and pay the debts. Instead, the assets of the French estate devolve on the heirs or beneficiaries who are responsible for the payment of the debts and taxes.
With over 10 years’ experience in dealing with French legal services, our bilingual team will give you plain English advice and ensure that your French affairs are dealt quickly and cost efficiently.
We provide legal services in the following areas:
French Property Law French Estate Planning French Tax French Probate French Commercial Law
We are also offering the same services for French expatiates living in the UK who need assistance with their English legal affairs.
Contact Us
To find out how we can help with your French legal matters, call us on 0044 (0) 20 3865 5437 or contact us online.
