Civil Partnerships
Foreign civil partners living in France will have their relationships officially recognised for the first time, thanks to a measure passed by the French National Assembly yesterday (29 April).
The move means that British ex-pats who have had civil partnerships in Britain will now have their union recognised in France as PACS, which is a form of civil union in France. While similar to a British civil partnership, PACS can be entered into by both same-sex and opposite-sex couples.
Photo: kimberlyfaye
French president Nicolas Sarkozy now has 15 days to “promulgate” the measure into law, after the National Assembly endorsed the Senate’s position, which passed it last month.
Currently, same-sex couples who live in France but have legal partnerships or marriages registered in other countries are not legally recognised as a couple.
This means that an ex-pat who has entered into a civil partnership in Britain is subject to a higher rate of inheritance tax if their partner died, than somebody with PACS – especially if property was owned.
The measure has been welcomed by both the European Union and the European Parliament, who had been putting pressure on the French Government to recognise the legal status of same-sex couples that had registered their partnerships in another country.
“We have been calling for this for some time,” said the president of the European Parliament’s all-party Intergroup on Gay and Lesbian Rights.
“I am looking forward to similar moves in other countries and eventually hope that same sex partnerships will be recognised throughout all 27 Member States of the EU.”
The non-recognition of foreign same-sex couples in France has been particularly frustrating, as PACS are recognised by EU countries that have same-sex partnerships laws.
Beating the Credit Crunch – Growing Your Own
Not only the credit crunch but the all time low exchange rate has made living in France a great deal more expensive and most of us are looking at our diminishing dollars and pounds and wondering how to make them go further.
Click to continue reading “Beating the Credit Crunch – Growing Your Own”
Categories: Garden Tags: allotment, bee, butterfly, chemicals, Chris Bradbury, Composting, France, Garden, gardening, herbs, United Kingdom, vegetable bed, vegetable garden
Disneyland Resort Paris
Disneyland Resort Paris was built to give a creative joy and entertaining experience for children and family. It should bring happiness and excitement with sensual pleasure and opportunities to explore. A magical place that is filled with amusement, magic and personal memories. From the smallest child to the biggest kids of all ages, Disneyland Resort Paris has been turning dreams into reality for the last fifteen years.
The Paris resort is the biggest of the four theme parks in Florida, Tokyo and California. There are a number of original additions and features that make Disney Paris a must visit amusement park of all times. It has been designed a little like the California Park where the little paths and corners are concerned but some of the shows and features are completely new. The rides are more exciting, the most popular being the “Pirates of the Caribbean”.
Categories: France Holiday, Paris France Tags: Aeroport, Animation, Big Thunder Mountain, California, California Park, Caribbean, Cars, Channel Tunnel, Charles de Gaulle airport, Chessy station, Davy Crockett Ranch, Disney, Disneyland Hotel, Disneyland Park, Explorers Hotel, Florida, France, Île-de-France, Japan, Paris, Space Mountain, Studios park, the 15th anniversary of the resort, The Walt Disney Company, Tokyo, Toon Studio, Tower of Terror, Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, United Kingdom, United States, Walt Disney Studios
Moving to France?
If the idea of a move to France attracts you and you like the idea of buying a house, which perhaps needs renovation, then before you even consider the financial implications you must ask yourself some much more important and deeply searching questions. Print this article, go and lie in a nice warm bath, take a glass and a bottle of Beaujolais with you, relax and be totally honest with yourself. When you’ve finished the wine, open another bottle and see if your partner will join you in the bath (bring another glass)… and then be brutally honest with each other.
Now, imagine you’ve sold up, kissed your family and friends goodbye and followed the removal van to your new French home. This is not a two week holiday, this is for keeps…so, seriously ask yourself and your partner these questions:
Can I and my partner really cope with leaving our home-country?
Categories: Living in France Tags: Britain, Christopher Chan, Europe, France, move, sports interests, United Kingdom, USD
French Financial Rescue Plan
The French plan to rescue the financial industry do not disrupt competition, says EU Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes .
The European Commission on Thursday cleared French and Dutch plans to preserve their lenders from the global credit squeeze.
Both were judged to be in line with EU rules on community aid and with guidelines reported by the European Union’s executive arm on 13 October.
These say that any rescue package should be limited in time and range and must not discriminate against foreign-based banks operating in that country.
Categories: Financial Tags: bank, Belgium, Britain, credit, Denmark, Dexia, Dexia SA, EUR, European Commission, European Union, Financial, Fortis, Fortis NV, France, french, Germany, Île-de-France, Insurance, Ireland, KBC, KBC Bank Deutschland AG, money, Neelie Kroes, Paris, plan, Portugal, Republic of Ireland, rescue, Sweden, United Kingdom
Driving in France
Photo: Conor Lawless
Driving in France is well regulated, as with most countries. Some of the most frequently broken and, therefore, most often prosecuted rules are below. This is not an exhaustive list, but driver beware… if you cannot pay the “on-the-spot” fine, you may find your personal “tour de France” ends in jail.
Observe driving speed limits
Fines for speeding are DRACONIAN. From “on-the-spot” fines of €135 to as high as €1,500 (the higher fines include attending a court). If you don’t have the cash on you to pay, the gendarme will escort you to the nearest ATM – or jail.
Built-up areas 50kph (31mph). The town or village name post starts the limit – the bar through name is the de-restriction sign.
Ordinary roads 90kph (56mph). If the road surface is wet the speed limit is 80kph (50mph).
Toll-free autoroutes and dual carriageways 110kph (68mph); if wet 100kph (62mph).
Other autoroutes l30kph (81mph); if wet 110kph (68mph).
On autoroutes in foggy conditions, when visibility is less than 50m, the speed limit is 50kph (31mph).
DO NOT drink and drive
The alcohol limit is lower in France than Britain: 50mg per 100ml of blood… in reality a miniscule amount of alcohol. Fines can be as high as €4,500… so just don’t drink and drive.
10 VITAL RULES TO REMEMBER
Categories: Motoring Tags: ATM, Britain, Conor Lawless, driving, EUR, first-aid, France, gendarmes, Île-de-France, Michelin, Paris, rented car, United Kingdom, vehicle insurance certificate, Yellow
French Mortgage
Lending criteria in France are far more complex and restrictive than in the UK and the whole process of getting a French Mortgage can take quite a lot longer than most people expect.
French Mortgage lenders expect clients to put down a deposit of at least 20 per cent and to have a reliable income stream. If a client is able to put down a deposit of 40 to 50 per cent, other aspects of the loan may be offered on more favourable terms.
Lenders stipulate that a client’s debts and liabilities must not exceed around 35% of income. French lenders will ask for details of other mortgages as well as current account statements, to ensure there are no other debts repayments that may have been overlooked. Some French banks will take into consideration income from buy to let houses and other non salary income, all of which can help when presenting a loan request to the bank.
As in the UK, lenders do not like a loan to go beyond a client’s 80th birthday. It is better, though, if the loan will be repaid by age 65 for the simple reason that French mortgage lenders insist upon life cover being effected, generally via their own insurer. If life assurance cover starts after a 65th birthday, costs rise considerably.
Categories: Property Tags: bank, credit, France, french, local law, mortgage, No Going Back, United Kingdom
Buying French Property
Farmhouse
This article has been written to give you a general step-by-step overview of the French property buying process. Please use the references and links contained in this article to find more information about stages of the process.
The French property buying process is fairly straightforward and well regulated. Each year many thousands of foreign buyers purchase in France without problems or complications. As with any property purchase there can be problems, but the majority of them are encountered because buyers have not understood properly what they need to do in advance and how the process works, especially if they don’t speak French. This guide is here to give you independent advice.
The most important issue to be aware of is that the sale becomes binding much earlier in the process than in the UK. Therefore providing you allow enough time for viewing, one can effectively secure a property you have seen on your visit and return to your home country knowing that no-one else can buy it.
Where to buy
Categories: Property Tags: Britain, car park, energy reports, France, Franco Files, inheritance law, notaires bank account, property law, United Kingdom