Communaute Universelle
Under a "Communaute Universelle" taxes are not incurred on the death of the first spouse. All assets covered by the communaute universelle are considered to belong within a basket and are owned mutually by both parties. On the death of the first party these contents come under posession of the surviving spouse and this inheritance is considered invisible to the fiscal authorities. If no communaute universelle is in place the surviving spouse would share the estate with the offspring of the marriage. However, if there are children from outside of the current marriage, they would be able to claim their share from the estate at the time of death. The children from the current marriage would only inherit their share after the death of the surviving spouse The following information outlines the rates of tax payable and the tax free allowances which are available.
Surviving Spouse:
Under new regulations the surviving spouse is exempt from inheritance tax on their share of the estate.
Direct heirs (living child or coming in representation of a deceased parent, parent, grandparent) benefit from a tax free allowance of 150 000€ of their share of the inheritance.
Unmarried couples tied by a civil pact of solidarity (PACS
The surviving partner of the deceased tied by a civil pact of solidarity now benefits from a tax free inheritance on the portion of the estate bequeathed to them by will.