British Expats Beware of Foreign Succession Laws and Foreign Inheritance Tax

Children of British Expats in Europe often are entitled to the Estate without even knowing it. EU Succession Laws are full of surprises.

British expats who are resident in Europe, let’s say in Germany, Austria, France or Spain, rarely are aware that ever since the introduction of the EU Succession Regulation (August 2015), if they pass away while being resident in that country, the Inheritance and Succession Laws of that country of residence will most likely apply to their estate. This is due to the fact that the entire European Union (except for the UK, Denmark and the Republic of Ireland) have adopted the EU Succession Regulation which states that the laws of the country in which the deceased had his or her last habitual residence must apply. Habitual residence is easier to achieve than domicile.

Thus, a British national who may consider him- or herself to be domiciled in England, can easily be considered by the German, Austrian, French or Spanish probate court to have established habitual residence outside the UK. Then, from a EU law perspective, these national succession rules (i.e. German, Austrian, French inheritance laws etc.) do apply to the entire estate, including the assets situate within the UK. English law takes a different view on this issue which may lead to horrendous legal disputes and contentious international probate cases which drag on for years and block the administration of the estate both in the UK and in Europe.

Who inherits if a British expat dies abroad?

The application of foreign succession laws can lead to surprising results. Pleasant or unpleasant, depending on the degree of kinship with the deceased. Under German succession laws, for example, the surviving spouse has a much weaker position compared to the intestacy rules in England and Wales as well as Scotland. Details are explained here and here.

German Intestacy Rules Overview Chart

The stunning results are not only caused by different national rules of intestacy. These could easily be avoided by simply creating a will. But even if the British expat has set up a valid will, the inheritance and succession laws of continental EU countries (including Germany, Austria and France) often apply statutory elective share rules, also known as forced heirship or compulsory inheritance share rules. For practical implications of such forced heirship rules see here and here.

By the way: National inheritance tax laws of the respective country of residence do also apply. This cas always been the case and has nothing to do with the EU Succession Regulation and will also not be affected by Brexit. National tax laws are what they are. Still, British expats should inform themselves about the respective IHT laws of their country of residence. Unless they live in Austria because Austria does not levy any inheritance tax (as of now).

In order to avoid unpleasant surprises or probate problems, expats should definitely have their last will checked by an international succession law expert within the country of residence. English solicitors are rarely capable or even willing to consider foreign law implications (for some examples how English wills can lead to catastrophic results outside the UK see here).

If you wish to instruct Graf & Partners LLP to draft a Will or to team up with a foreign lawyer to advise in specific areas of German or Austrian law, please feel free to complete the questionnaire and contact our German succession and probate law experts. Lawyers can create a tailor-made Last Will only if they are fully informed about the testator’s personal situation and his/her objectives. In order to draw up a Last Will that fully meets the clients individual requirements, Graf Partner LLP uses a comprehensive questionnaire and Will preparation checklist (available for download here).  This checklist also helps to facilitate an effective and individual preparation for the personal meeting at the firm.

German solicitor Bernhard Schmeilzl also conducts inhouse seminars for British and American lawyers and accountants who advise clients with foreign assets or who have family abroad. More on these seminars here: Advising Clients with Assets Abroad

For more information on German-British probate matters and international will preparation see the below posts by the international succession law experts of Graf & Partners LLP:

• Most Germans die without a Will (German Intestacy Rules)
• Formal Requirements to set up a valid Will in England, Scotland and Germany: What are the Differences?
• The Perils of German IHT and Gift Tax
• Workshop: Clients with Foreign Assets
• Basics of German Inheritance and Succession Law
• Executors and Trustees in German Inheritance Law
• How to apply for a German Grant of Probate
• The Infamous German Community of Heirs – And how to avoid it
• Germans Heirs are Personally Liable for Debts of the Deceased
• International Wills and Estate Planning for British-German Families
• Prove German Wills for English Probate
• Disputed Wills and Contentious Probate in Germany
• Disinherit your no-good children? Not so easy in Germany
• Don’t be afraid of Clients with Foreign Assets!
• Can foreign Taxes be set off against UK Inheritance Tax?

Or simply click on the “German Probate” section in the right column of this blog.

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The law firm Graf & Partners and its German-English litigation department GP Chambers was established in 2003 and has many years of experience with British-German and US-German probate matters, including the representation of clients in contentious probate matters. If you wish us to advise or represent you in a German or cross border inheritance case please contact German solicitor Bernhard Schmeilzl, LL.M. (Leicester) at +49 941 463 7070.