Ashtons Legal
French Legal Services at Ashtons Legal
Buying a property in France, planning for the future or managing an inheritance across borders can involve unfamiliar legal processes, tax considerations and important decisions for you and your family. Ashtons Legal’s specialist French Legal Services team provides clear, practical advice to help you navigate French law and understand how it interacts with the law and tax rules in England and Wales.
Our team supports individuals and families with a wide range of French legal matters, whether you are purchasing a holiday home, selling a property, planning your estate or dealing with the administration of a loved one’s estate.
Buying and selling French property
Purchasing or selling property in France can be more complex than a transaction in the UK. Our solicitors guide clients through the legal process, explain contracts and documentation, and liaise with French notaires, estate agents and other professionals. We can also advise on new-build purchases, gifts of French property and transfers of ownership following divorce or separation.
Our aim is to help you understand your obligations, identify potential issues early and progress your transaction with greater confidence.
French inheritance and estate planning
Owning assets in more than one country can create additional considerations when planning for the future. Our team advises on French succession law, inheritance tax and the implications of French property ownership for your wider UK estate.
We can help you understand how French inheritance rules may affect your family, consider whether a French Will is appropriate alongside your existing UK Will, and explore estate planning options that reflect your circumstances. We also advise on lifetime gifts, cross-border tax issues and the administration of estates involving French property or other assets.
French Wills, probate and estate administration
Dealing with an estate that includes French assets can be challenging, particularly when beneficiaries are based in different countries or are unfamiliar with French legal requirements. We guide executors, administrators and beneficiaries through the relevant processes, liaising with French notaires and other professionals where necessary.
Our team explains the steps involved, helps coordinate the required documentation and provides advice on the legal and tax issues that may arise.
Specialist cross-border advice
Our French Legal Services team also advises on French taxation, including capital gains tax and French wealth tax, as well as cross-border capacity issues affecting French assets. Where a matter requires representation by a specialist French lawyer, we can help connect clients with appropriate professionals in France.
Led by Matthew Cameron and supported by an experienced team, including French-speaking lawyers, we combine specialist knowledge of French legal matters with an understanding of the issues facing UK-based clients.
How can we help?
Whether you are considering buying a home in France, reviewing your Will or managing an inheritance, seeking advice early can help you understand your options and avoid unnecessary complications.
At Ashtons Legal, we take a collaborative, straightforward approach, explaining complex legal issues in clear language and helping you make informed decisions.
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