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Do you have any questions about moving to France that you would like answered?
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Alternatively, if you have a general question about moving to France, post it in the box below and we will select some and provide expert replies. Unfortuantely, we cannot guarantee to answer all queries we receive.
I have a friend, a American citizen who currently resides in France with a visitor’s visa, but wants to get fully ‘officialised’ so that they can start working and join the social security system, etc. The case is complicated, and I do not wish to ask for specific advice, but rather where one can go for (probably legal) advice. Surely there are notaires/avocats who specialise in this sort of thing. But we cannot find them. How does one go about this? The consulate was not helpful. So we are looking to be pointed in the right direction, that’s all.
Thanks,
William
[Reply]
Moving to France editor Reply:
July 18th, 2011 at 9:35 am
You can find a local notaire on the official website http://www.notaires.fr – which, helpfully, has a section in English:
http://www.notaires.fr/notaires/en/xpage/trouver-un-notaire?page=rechercheNotaires
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We are considering gifting:transfering ownership: or changing our regime to enable our son to escape inheritance tax.
He and his wife work overseas. His wife is the sole income generator and our question is. If our son becomes the owner of our house will his wife be drawn into the French Tax System?
[Reply]
Moving to France editor Reply:
June 15th, 2011 at 8:35 am
Robert Kent, from Kentingtons, responds:
“To change your regime to allow your son to “escape inheritance tax” I must assume that you already have a marriage regime of communauté universelle and that you are considering changing this to séparation des biens. This is generally back to front, as British people moving to France are commonly (not always as it depends where their first marital home was) assessed as having a regime of séparation des biens. The issue is that with a community regime there is only one allowance as the child receives from only one parent, whereas via séparation des biens, the child would receive two allowances and I think this is what you are considering.
“For most people we meet, the priority is to protect the survivor and children are secondary, though very important. Most parents are very happy for their children to receive as much as possible, but just after they have both finished with it and not before. Before taking such measures, changing your regime, which may penalize the survivor, have you considered other methods of reducing inheritance tax for your son? There are many solutions for capital that serve to offer a further allowance and there are structural ways of holding assets that could help. Before taking potentially damaging and expensive action that might be difficult to reverse, I would strongly recommend that you take professional advice.”
[Reply]
Will you tell me if you need a television licence in France please? Many thanks
[Reply]
Moving to France editor Reply:
June 6th, 2011 at 10:03 am
Dear Lynda,
Anyone with a home in France – owner or tenant, main home or second home – and who has a television has to pay the French TV licence, called the contribution à l’audiovisuel public (or sometimes redevance audiovisuelle).
It costs €123 and is included in your annual bill for taxe d’habitation (local residential tax), which typically arrives in October. It relates to wherever you lived on 1 January, so if you have only recently moved to France you should not receive a bill this year.
It covers the household – regardless of how many television sets you have.
There is an exoneration on this TV licence fee for people over 60 whose incomes are below a certain threshold. If your income (declared in France) last year was below €10,024 for single people or €15,376 for couples you qualify. However this only applies to main homes in France.
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Our son wants to get married in our local church here in France but lives in England as does his fiancee-is it correct that they have to have been in France for 40 days beforehand or is it sufficirnt that we’ve been here for 15years? Also is the civil marriage valid in England or do they need to have a registry office wedding there? Any further info would be much appreciated!
[Reply]
Moving to France editor Reply:
June 6th, 2011 at 10:27 am
Dear Maria,
The general rule is that at least one of the people getting married has to have resided in the town for at least 40 days immediately preceding the marriage.
However, requirements will vary for each mairie. An official in the marriage office at the mairie of Nice, for example, said that in their case they allow people with holiday homes to marry in the commune and also their children, but not more distant relatives or friends. She said that this was a “favour” granted by the mayor and some other communes only allow full-time residents to marry.
In other words the final decision rests with your mairie. We recommend you discuss it with them to determine their exact requirements and terms of validity.
In any case, a marriage performed in France under French law is recognised in the UK. Some UK authorities might require a certified translation of the marriage certificate, however.
[Reply]
My husband and I are planning to move to France next year,as early retires,(he is 57 in July). We bought a house in 2005 in Brittany and are now worried due to changes in the system that it may not be possible as my husband suffers with Ankylosing Spondylitis.We have 2years NI contributions from the UK can you give us any advice.
[Reply]
Moving to France editor Reply:
February 8th, 2011 at 10:40 am
Exclusive Healthcare responds:
Dear Mrs Sykes,
You have not provided all the information required for a complete answer. We have to assume the following: that neither of you intend to work in France; that your husband is not in receipt of Long Term Incapacity Benefit; that you are not in receipt of a UK State Retirement Pension. However, health form S1 (the old E106) for early, inactive, retirees may be able to be issued by the Dept of Work and Pensions and provides for basic French state health cover at UK expense. The S1 is only valid for a limited period which depends on your UK/ NI contributions record in the last two years and the duration of your UK/ NI contributions record in past years.
The intervening period between expiry of this limited-life S1(ex E106) and receipt of a permanent S1(exE121) for UK State Pensioners is a vulnerable period during which many non-active people are not covered by EU social security regulations at all.
Having a serious illness during this period may present difficulties as regards the comprehensive private health insurance which is legally required in France during the absence of state health cover. Note that pre-existing medical conditions are generally excluded from comprehensive private health insurance policies.
To ascertain your S1 situation, please contact DWP Overseas Medical Benefits , Benton Park View, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE98 1BA ENGLAND Tel 0044 191 2181999
[Reply]
Dear Mr Banks,
The cost of the guide is €5 because our company is based in France and are account is held in euros. You can easily pay using a UK credit/debit card and the amount will be converted according to the exchange rate of the moment (around £4.30 at time of posting).
[Reply]
Hi Jasmine,
For the moment, the guide is only available to buy online via the links on this site.
[Reply]
Hi Janilani
We have just started up a Facebook page for Moving to France http://www.facebook.com/pages/Moving-to-France-helpguide/162772523775230 which we hope can help people pose questions and get answers from both sides of the Channel.
The guide’s publishers The Connexion newspaper also has one here: http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Connexion/123287224351471
Plus we have a website with news from France updated every weekday here:
http://www.connexionfrance.com
[Reply]
We are interested in the Var area of southen France but are concerned that it might be a high risk flood area. Can anyone advise on this please either through experience or knowledge, particularly the Le Luc area. Thank-you.
[Reply]
Moving to France editor Reply:
March 10th, 2011 at 10:16 am
The risk of flooding and other natural disasters should be noted as part of the documents provided when you come to buy the house.
The seller should clearly set out whether the property is at risk of flooding, forest fires, landslides or in a zone of seismic activity. The report annexed to the compromis de vente should be no more than six months old. The seller is also legally required to give written details of any incidents that have given rise to insurance payouts since 1982, such as fires or flooding. This should be include in the final contract (acte authentique).
However if you want to find out certain zones at risk of natural disasters such as fires or flooding before you start looking at a property consult this map and click on the appropriate department.
http://cartorisque.prim.net/
[Reply]
Jill Reply:
January 10th, 2012 at 5:29 pm
We purchased a property in 2007 and the river Thouet flows 50meters away from the house. It flooded on the 15th December 2011. My Insurance people wanted to look at the Vente, and it states the property is not liable to flood. However, they have contacted the Town Hall and they have confirmed it is a flood zone. They are still investigating.
We do not know legally were we stand.
[Reply]
Do you have a Facebook page?
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Hello
My question is can I pay for Moving To France download in sterling ?
Thank you
R Banks
[Reply]
Where can I buy a copy of the Moving to France guide. I am in the 15 arrondissement in Paris and how much does a copy cost
[Reply]
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