Contact list for the person left behind

[niemeyjt]

The will issue is less important in France than in the UK. I did our English wills a few years ago but I must get them translated into French by a colleague.
I haven't had time to do more than skim through the PDF so far, but I will read it more thoroughly soon (if clients stop pestering me).

It used to be that you could stipulate the law governing your will, so if this still applies and if someone wants a will more along UK lines (e.g. unequal bequests), then it is very important to get it in shape.

Sadly, taxes are at French levels - even for English law will.

[Chappers51]

I have registered my will with the notaire and had no problem writing it in French and English without a formal translation.
He accepted my unequal bequests which totalled 100 parts. I don’t have a spouse, sibling or children so mine is left to a range of people some family others close friends and my .

[Hotrodder]

I know the Uk is different but when my OH died, nearly 2 years ago, my solicitor told me to inform ALL insurance companies within 2 weeks or the policies would be invalidated.

It is there in the smallest of small print in the insurance documents but I hadn't read it.

As always, the first thing an insurance company does is look for a way to avoid paying any claim.

[MAD87]

@Chappers51 If you have no assets/pension in the UK and no close family, then an English will is fairly useless. As for translations, when it comes to extracting money from a bank/insurance company in an English-speaking country, a certified translation is nearly always de rigueur. It's been a not insignificant part of my work for the last 20 years.

[niemeyjt]

Another addition to the list - there is a supplementary form you can request with a French (or any other) death certificate called the Multilingual Standard Form (MSF). You can request it at the same time - that also may be useful for settling affairs overseas (not just UK).

[Chappers51]

MAD87, I have pensions from and nephews in the UK and the notaire seemed quite content to accept and register my will here. He (or his office) will deal with it, so I can only hope he’s given me accurate advice.

[Sparkle]

I'm sorting thro./deleting tons of bookmarks on my PC when I came across this link for Bereavement Support in France from one of my bookmarks so thought I'd post it as it may be of use to someone(s)?

https://bsnvar.org