Is the European will one less worry for the next of kin?

Every day I get calls from desperate heirs who cannot get over the proverbial French wall.
Who, despite many e-mails and phone calls, get virtually or no contact at all with the French notary.

I also frequently hear that - after an initial positive conversation with the notary - radio silence ensues. "It seems like he doesn't want to speak to us, even though we had such a nice conversation".

In the majority of cases - by a phone call or e-mail from "notaire a notaire" - I am able to get things back on track, but sometimes I too fail and cannot help but advise going to another notary who I know does have their organisation in order and is knowledgeable.

Since 17 August 2015, the above problem can be a thing of the past for your next of kin. This is because by making a well-thought-out international (European) will, you not only choose the applicable law of succession, but also determine by whom the inheritance should be settled. So you not only choose Dutch law of succession, but also a complete settlement from the Netherlands.

This is very convenient for your next of kin, who in most cases, do not (practically) speak French. They can simply communicate in their own language. It also saves a lot of cost and time, as the many translations, apostilles, fees, extracts from the municipality and all the other documents required of your relatives in France are no longer necessary.

Please note that certain practical matters still have to be completed in France, such as putting bank accounts in your name or registering French Chambers of Commerce or French land registers. So your relatives will not be completely free of French bureaucracy, but they will be a lot less so.

A French will written by yourself? Yes, this is still possible for French inheritance law, but Dutch inheritance law does not recognise it.

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