French Wills

Clear legal support for french wills in the UAE, helping you protect your rights, family, assets and future. With senior legal guidance.

Last Will & Testament (in France)

We provide expert drafting of French Wills, navigating complex forced heirship rules to ensure your succession plan is legally valid in France.

In-depth description

We provide specialized expertise in drafting Wills that are fully compliant with the complexities of the French Civil Code, including its strict “forced heirship” rules (réserve héréditaire). We ensure your Will is legally robust in France and coordinate it with any international estate planning to create a cohesive global succession plan.

Scope of work

  • Provide a comprehensive consultation on the specific requirements of the French Civil Code, including its strict “forced heirship” rules.
  • Draft a Will that is legally valid in France and reflects the client’s wishes within the bounds of French law.
  • Coordinate with French notaries for execution and registration, if required.
  • Advise on how the French Will interacts with any UAE-based Will.

Price range

AED 1,500 for France (Fixed Fee unless complex issues)

Deliverables

  • A Will fully compliant with the French Civil Code.
  • A strategic note on its coordination with the client’s global estate plan.

Are you a French national with assets to protect in France?

Are you a French national living abroad?

French law has strict forced heirship rules that apply regardless of where you live. Your Will must comply with them.

Do you own property or financial assets in France?

French assets are governed by French law on death. A Will drafted abroad may not be recognised or enforceable in France.

Do you want to control how your French estate is distributed?

Without a compliant French Will, the reserved share rules will override your wishes and limit what you can leave freely.

Is your UAE Will coordinated with your French succession?

Separate Wills for different countries must be aligned. Conflicting documents create legal disputes and delays for heirs.

Frequently asked questions

French law recognises three forms: the holographic Will (handwritten, dated and signed entirely by the testator), the authentic Will (dictated to a notaire before witnesses), and the mystic Will (sealed and secret). Each has different formality requirements and risk profiles. The holographic form is most common but also most easily challenged.
Not entirely. French law provides mandatory inheritance rights (réserve héréditaire) for children. These forced heirship shares cannot be reduced by Will. Depending on the number of children, they are entitled to between half and three-quarters of the estate. Only the freely disposable portion (quotité disponible) can be allocated as you wish.
 
EU Regulation 650/2012 allows EU nationals resident abroad to choose the law of their nationality to govern their estate. So a French citizen living in the UAE can elect French law to apply to their estate in EU member states. This election must be made explicitly in the Will.
A French Will can cover French assets and may be recognised in other countries, but for UAE assets, a separate UAE Will (DIFC or ADGM) is strongly recommended. Relying on a French Will for UAE assets creates delays, translation requirements and uncertainty. A dedicated UAE Will eliminates this risk.

French intestacy rules (dévolution légale) apply, distributing your estate to a defined hierarchy of heirs. Your spouse receives usufruct rights and children receive bare ownership. Partners in a civil union (PACS) or cohabiting partners receive nothing under intestacy. Only a registered Will protects them.

Key contacts:

Romain Astruc

Managing Partner – Generalist, Advisory & Litigation

Géraldine Heimburger

Partner – Family Law, Notarial & Litigation

David Dutruc-Rosset

Associate – Family, Individuals & Litigation

Get in touch

Other services you might need

A French Will rarely works in isolation for internationally mobile clients. These services ensure your full estate is covered.

UAE Wills - DIFC, ADGM & Dubai Court Wills

Your UAE assets need a separate registered Will. We draft French and UAE Wills in coordination to avoid conflicts.
Learn more

Tax Situation Review & Departure Planning

French inheritance exposure doesn't disappear when you move abroad. We map and manage cross-border tax liability.
Learn more

Estate Planning - Wills, Foundations & Trusts

A French Will is one piece. We build the complete succession plan across France, the UAE and other jurisdictions.
Learn more

WHAT SET US APART

Why ASTRUC & Co

French succession law is technically demanding. We draft Wills that protect your wishes and withstand legal challenge.

1.

French law expertise

We practice French notarial and succession law alongside UAE law – a rare combination. French Wills from our firm navigate forced heirship, EU Regulation and international

2.

French-UAE fluency

For clients with assets in both countries, a French Will and a UAE Will must be carefully coordinated. We draft both – ensuring they reinforce rather than contradict each

3.

Senior counsel only

A poorly drafted Will can be challenged or produce outcomes opposite to your wishes. Our French Wills are drafted by senior lawyers with specific French succession law

More than legal counsel

With you, all the way

Life in the UAE brings extraordinary opportunities — and equally complex legal realities. Whether you’re relocating your family, navigating a divorce across jurisdictions, or structuring an inheritance that spans continents, you deserve a legal partner who understands both the technicalities and the human side of what you’re going through. At ASTRUC & Co, we treat every client’s situation as if it were our own.

From our offices in Dubai to our network spanning Riyadh, Paris, and Luxembourg, we bring senior-level attention to every matter — personal or financial. We believe the best legal advice is honest, clear, and delivered by someone who genuinely cares about the outcome. That’s why our clients stay with us, and why they come back when life presents its next chapter.

Ready to move forward?

Talk to our team about your situation. We’ll walk you through your options and help you move forward with clarity.

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