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25th February 2019

Civil union (PACS) and inheritance: how does it work?

Isn’t love wonderful! We fall in love and enter into a civil partnership but what happens if one of the partners dies? Here’s all you need to know!

The property system under a civil union (PACS)

Separation of property
Separation of property
The default regime that applies to civil union is the same separation of property regime that is applied in a marriage: the partners remain the owners of the movable and immovable property that they each owned before the civil partnership and of everything that they receive or buy after the civil partnership, as long as they can prove that the property belongs to them. If it is not clear who owns what property, it is regarded as jointly owned, i.e. each person owns half of the property. It is therefore essential to ensure you have proof of ownership (e.g. invoices, etc.).
Property settlement agreement
Property settlement agreement
The partners can, nevertheless, conclude a property settlement agreement, which governs the type of property contributed by the partners in a civil partnership and property received during the partnership. By submitting for example to a joint ownership regime, the property shall be half owned by each person. The partners are free to exclude certain property from joint ownership, e.g.
  • property acquired by the partners prior to the civil partnership
  • personal property (e.g. family jewellery)
  • income from salaries, pensions, etc.
  • etc.

The effects of a civil union without an existing will

A partner in a civil union shall be treated as a spouse for tax and social matters but NOT for estate and inheritance matters. They are not automatically the heir of their partner.

In practical terms, on the death of one of the partners and without the existence of a will, the surviving partner will not inherit and can only continue to live in the family home free of charge for a maximum period of one year.

If there is joint ownership of property under a property settlement agreementt, the surviving partner shall be the joint owner with the legal heirs, e.g. any children or, if there are no children, the parents and/or brothers and sisters of the deceased. Should the deceased have legal heirs, the surviving partner will still have the option of remaining a joint owner, purchasing the share from the heirs or selling his/her jointly-owned share.

A civil union with an existing will

If there are no children, the partners are free to dispose of their assets as they chose and to leave all of their property to each other – including, where applicable, the shared home – by means of a will. If the civil partnership has been in force for longer than three years at the time of the death of one of the partners, all property that is given to the surviving partner shall be subject to the same regime as married couples vis-à-vis inheritance tax to be paid.

Should there be any children, the surviving partner can only inherit, from the will, the disposable share. This share varies depending on the number of children:

  • 1/2 of the deceased’s property if there is one child
  • 1/3 if there are two children
  • 1/4 if there are 3 or more children.

However, the deceased can bequeath usufruct for the property, notably, the shared home, via his/her will, subject to the abovementioned shares. The children are, therefore, bare owners and shall only become freehold owners upon the death of the surviving parent.

Fiscal matters

In fiscal terms, if the partners have been joined by a civil partnership for at least three years at the time of the death of one of the partners, the surviving partner shall benefit from the same tax relief as married partners vis-à-vis inheritance tax.
Parenting

Family is important! Read more on the topic

Do you need more detailed Information? Contact us

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