Lawyer · Inheritance & Co-ownershipFrench inheritance and joint ownership lawyer for international families
A relative has died leaving property in France. A co-heir refuses to sign, a will looks suspicious, or a house is stuck in joint ownership. Linda Ferrari protects your interests, from negotiation through to court.
A firm dedicated to family disputes over property
LAWINGS is a law firm based in Nice and led by Linda Ferrari, avocat at the Nice Bar since 2011. She trained at Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne, also studied at HEC, and began her career in Anglo-American law firms. The firm focuses on two areas that often overlap: French inheritance law and joint ownership of property (indivision).
Many heirs live outside France and discover French rules that differ greatly from those of their own country: forced heirship, the central role of the notary, joint ownership between heirs. In France, the notary drafts the deeds and must remain neutral. As soon as there is a disagreement, you need a lawyer who is on your side.
Inheriting from abroad
Which law applies, who inherits, what the notary does, what taxes are due and which deadlines you must not miss when you live outside France.
Inheriting property in France →Estate at a standstill
A co-heir no longer replies, refuses the division or lives alone in the family home. There are legal tools to move things forward: formal notice, court-appointed representative, court authorisation to sell.
Unblocking an estate →Contesting a will
A will written by someone who was no longer of sound mind, under someone else's influence, or not valid in form: the ways to have it set aside.
Contesting a will →Forced heirship and gifts
In France, children cannot be disinherited. When gifts or a will exceed the freely disposable share, an action can restore the balance.
Protecting your reserved share →Joint ownership after a divorce
A home bought together, a mortgage still running, a former spouse who stays in the property: occupancy compensation, reimbursements, buy-out or sale.
Co-ownership after a separation →Forcing the sale of a property
No one can be forced to remain in joint ownership. Court-ordered division, sale by a two-thirds majority or public auction: each route has its own timeline and cost.
Getting out of joint ownership →Why choose LAWINGS?
When do you need a lawyer rather than a notary?
Most French estates are settled by a notary without difficulty. You should consult an inheritance lawyer as soon as one of these warning signs appears:
- a co-heir disputes the value of a property or refuses to sign;
- you suspect bank withdrawals or undeclared gifts before the death;
- the will seems to have been written under influence or at a time of vulnerability;
- a life insurance beneficiary receives disproportionate sums;
- the estate has been open for more than a year with no progress;
- one heir occupies or rents out the property without sharing anything.
The firm assists English-speaking clients mainly in writing: your questions, our advice and progress reports are exchanged by email in English. Meetings can be held by video call. Court proceedings and deeds in France are in French; the firm explains every step to you in English.