I need to understand French inheritance law for my property. Please explain the 'reserved heirs' rule, detailing how it applies to children, spouses, and parents. Additionally, I'm interested in the implications of the European Succession Regulation (Brussels IV) on French inheritance. Finally, describe the two main types of French wills and their requirements according to the website's guides.
Navigate to 'https://www.french-property.com'. Navigate to the 'Guides and Information on France' section from the main navigation. Click on the 'French Inheritance Law' guide. Click on the 'French Inheritance Laws' section within the guide. Click on the 'Basic Rules' sub-section. Locate and extract the description of the 'reserved heirs' rule as it applies to children and spouses. Click on the 'Other Relatives' sub-section within 'Basic Rules' to find information about parents' inheritance rights. Locate and extract information regarding the implications of the European Succession Regulation (Brussels IV) from the 'French Inheritance Laws' section (or 'Basic Rules' if found there). Navigate back to the main 'French Inheritance Law' guide page (if necessary, by using the breadcrumbs or a relevant link). Click on the 'Inheritance Planning' section within the guide. Click on the 'Making a French Will' sub-section. Locate and extract the descriptions of the two main types of French wills and their key requirements. Synthesize all extracted information into a concise answer.
The agent successfully navigates to the 'French Inheritance Law' guide. The agent successfully navigates to the 'French Inheritance Laws' section and then to the 'Basic Rules' sub-section. The agent accurately describes the 'reserved heirs' rule, stating it protects certain family members (children, and in their absence, the spouse) from being disinherited, reserving a portion of the estate for them. The agent correctly details how the 'reserved heirs' rule applies: children are primary reserved heirs (1 child = 1/2, 2 children = 2/3, 3+ children = 3/4 of estate); if no children, the surviving spouse is a reserved heir for 1/4 of the estate. The agent correctly states that parents are no longer reserved heirs but may have a right of return on gifts (or similar phrasing indicating their changed status). The agent accurately explains the implications of the European Succession Regulation (Brussels IV), specifically that it allows individuals to elect the succession laws of their nationality, but notes that France subsequently passed a law which complicates its use. The agent successfully navigates to the 'Inheritance Planning' section and then to the 'Making a French Will' sub-section. The agent accurately outlines the two main types of French wills: holographic (handwritten, dated, signed) and authentic (drawn up by a notary). The agent provides a concise answer that includes all the requested information.