Writing à will in France but want to protect daughter in England

mokryna - we used to live in France and worried about this kind of problem. It's very complicated.
As far as I remember, at the time, even though you lived in France, you could opt to make your will under english regs.
this was a fairly new agreement , around 2015.
But whether this has been changed by Brexit I don't know.
Hopefully other Grans who still live in France will give more uptodate info.
To be honest, this was one of the reasons i was relieved to be back in the UKwhere it's more straightforward. Still complicated though.

I prefer the France system for the inheritance, it is your inheritance money and therefore not you partner’s but will this French testament be respected in England? I will be seeing a person in a big firm who knows the situation but just wanted to be aware of what other gransnetters could suggest and if they have added points to their wills,

I think that this is another post where a Solicitor is essential, make a list of want you want your Will to say, then make sure that this is what it actually says, you might need a translator to go with you?
Maybe they will provide you with an English translation for your DD in the UK.

I will be seeing a French solicitor in the biggest Firm in the area. I am unable to get to the UK in the near future. Just wanted some pointers which gransnetters have added regarding theirs.

Well I hope this solicitor is au fait with this.
From what I remember of the laws of inheritance in France, the natural children of the father inherit everything. And it's usually the father who is deemed to have ownership of the family property.
It's a very patriachal law system ?Patrimoine?

I am their mother so there is no problem, there is no father.

That sounds better - I thought you might be like our 'blended', family .
Both of us had been divorced, now married 40 years, one child his, 3 mine.

Thank you but still need pointers to get over the minefield in England.

Take or send a draft of your French will to the British Embassy in Paris and ask them to tell you whether it will be legal in Britain, or ask them to recommend a solicitor who is familiar with both English and French law.

This is how my father tackled needing his will to be legal both in Scotland and in Denmark and it worked well. The Embassy in Copenhagen was most helpful, so I imagine the one in Paris will be too.

Good advice Grandetante.

I understand your dilemma. I live in Luxembourg which has the same “forced” inheritance laws as France.
I have three children who live in 3 different countries,
Frankly a trust is expensive and can complicated when you have gone.
I feel you want to protect your child in death as you probably have in life but I suggest you just leave it to fate.
That is what I have done.