EU Regulation passed in 2012 (650/2012, also knows as Brussels IV) brings easiness to international inheritances.
This regulation has three basic pillars:
- It makes sure that every succession is treated under a single Law and by one authority.
- It also enables citizens to choose between law of residency and law of nationality for their inheritance affairs.
- Creation of the European Certificate of Sucession
Brussels IV applies to inheritances with or without testament. It does not imply, in any sense, the alteration of the substantive National inheritance Law of every European Country. Matters such as who are inheritors, or how taxes apply are not impacted in any way by this new European regulation.
This regulation also creates the European Certificate of Succession, which will facilitate the proving of status and rights as heir/ administrator of the estate/ executor of will. This certificate will be issued by the country where the deceased had habitual residency and will provide proof of entitlement in the estate to all signatory countries.
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After this regulation, if you are a UK National but have Spanish residency and your only estate asset is in Spain make sure that you choose law of Nationality in your will as on the contrary, your inheritance might be governed by Spanish rules and its obligatory heirs at your death
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These rules will obligatorily, by virtue of Law apply to all persons dying after 17th of August 2015 so it is important that you make the necessary preventive changes in your will before that date.
You can use this new regulation and choose Nationality Law now, always provided you perform the change according to rules set up in the regulation/ applicable private International Law.
Residency status is determined by facts: duration and regularity of the deceased´s presence in the country. Residency requires close and stable connection with the specific country.
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UK, Ireland and Denmark did not sign the regulation but any UK national having habitual residency in Spain and with Estate assets just in Spain, Spanish Courts might understand that the Spanish assets needs to be under Spain Law by virtue of Brussels IV; so, if they want their national succession Law to be applied to their whole estate, they need to grant a new will stating this. If they had assets in the UK, Ireland or Denmark a grant of probate will be obviously necessary to administer the Uk, Ireland or Denmark assets.
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