anglais tarnais

Thanks to you all for your responses.  We are not keen on the viager option for the following reasons: (a) we would like to keep the property (or its sale proceeds) in the family, even if it is distant family! and (b) we have heard of problems if the company buying the property under viager becomes bankrupt. So, returning to our original questions, if we make French wills, can we ensure that the property passes instead to someone of our choice, albeit subject to significant inheritance tax?  As an alternative, can we state that the house should be sold and the proceeds divided between a number of relatives (aunts, uncles, cousins, cousins once removed), with each person's inheritance tax deducted from the proceeds prior to their receiving an amount of money net of tax? Thanks again for your help with this.

We are a married couple with no children, no brothers or sisters, and only one surviving parent (elderly, without mental capacity, and in a nursing home).  We are domiciled in the UK with a sécondaire in France, purchased en tontine.  We have English wills that specifically exclude immovable property in France.  We do not have French wills. Presumably, under French succession law, the parent would inherit the property upon the second death?  Is there any way of avoiding this? If we make French wills, can we ensure that the property passes instead to someone of our choice, albeit subject to significant inheritance tax?  As an alternative, can we state that the house should be sold and the proceeds divided between a number of relatives (aunts, uncles, cousins, cousins once removed), with each person's inheritance tax deducted from the proceeds prior to their receiving an amount of money net of tax? Hope someone can help.