Chimaera

Many thanks for your reply parsnips. I wasn't aware of this and am most grateful for the information which I can ask the Notaire about.

Having found a property to buy I am in the process of obtaining advice as to the exact way to structure the purchase in terms of endeavouring to obtain a satisfactory situation in the event of the untimely demise of my husband or myself. I appreciate that French inheritance laws are somewhat different to the UK but I should think that our situation is perhaps a little more common in this day age. To summarise, we have both been married before and each have two children from our previous marriages and no children together. We would like to be able to leave a life interest in our property and assets to the other in event one of us dies. When the surviving partner then shuffles off this mortal coil the estate would be left in equal shares to our four children. I have read about options for purchasing 'en tontine' or via a company 'SCI' or indeed making a change to the matrimonial regime. I am awaiting information from the Notaire on this but in the meantime would welcome any comments/advice on your experiences. Many thanks!

Thank you to all of you for your replies. It's great to get information from those people who have been there, done it and got the T-shirt! We absolutely love the house and it really would take an awful lot to put us off. However we do not have rose tinted glasses on and expect there to be problems somewhere along the line. I guess it is just a question of trying to do as much research as possible so that you can try to have information to allow you to prepare for those problems. Although I'm sure there'll be things that will happen that will be a complete surprise, but that's life and part of the adventure - especially in France!

Hello all I have been a long time lurker who is incredibly grateful for all the advice posted which is proving very useful. However despite searching I cannot find a definitive answer to my question so would be very grateful for some help please. Please bear with me, it is a little lengthy! I have had an offer accepted on a property (initially a second home) which has a questionable fosse - we cannot locate access points and it drains onto a field owned by the property. We understand that it was installed approx 8 years ago and have asked various questions of the agent which have yet to be answered in full as enquiries are due to be made of the local Mairie. We were therefore hoping that the diagnostic report (in addition to the Mairie enquiries) would give us all the information we needed before signing the Compromis. We have now been told by the agent that the diagnostic report (which I thought included info on the fosse as well as electrics, termites, lead etc?) will be on the table before signing the Compromis, and the fosse report will be done before the final signing. Is this right? Also although it is no problem to go to France to sign the Compromis, can I ask for it to be sent to me in the UK to be signed? Thank you in advance.