On my own

[Hapi]

This is my first post and I imagine it will probably the first of many!
I am hoping to retire within the next year, sell my house in England and relocate to France.
I will be going to a seminar in June, organised by Relocate France, which I hope will give me lots of the information I need to to make the move.

However, I wonder if anyone has any thoughts or personal knowledge about moving to France as a single retiree? I was educated in a French school for a time, so speak a little French (it was a long time ago!!) and am now brushing it up with the BBC online French lessons!

I have 3 children and a grand-daughter in England, but I will be able to keep in touch with them by webcam, email and phone, and get home relatively quickly if they need me. I think they will enjoy having me living in France as it will be more fun visiting me there!

Is there anyone else who has made the move on their own who could tell me how it works out in practice? Is it more difficult to integrate and get accepted as a single person?

Also, I would like to live in the Loire (within striking distance of Nantes ot Angers so that the family can fly out), but this region doesn't seem to get mentioned very often as somewhere that British expats settle and I wonder if there is a reason why - or am I mistaken?

On a slightly more depressing subject, I have just read on another forum that if you die in France it creates all sorts of aggravation for the family left behind trying to deal with tax matters etc. Much as I want to make the move I would hate to think that it would create problems for the children when I pop my clogs!

I look forward to hearing about other peoples experiences. I want to make this move but want to be sure that I won't regret it!

Many thanks
Hapi

[Bevdeforges]

You are far from the only retiree to move over to France. While I'm not British and not retired (yet), the "welcome group" I am part of has LOTS of British retirees or almost-retirees. Granted, we are closer to Paris, but the overall association (AVF) has 300 or so groups scattered throughout France. Check the AVF website to get a feel for areas where you can meet up with other newcomers (French , British and all other possible nationalities - this isn't an expat club). AVF -- Accueil

As for the "tax matters" - the key one is that once you become resident in France, your estate will be handled under French law. Period. I do know a couple of Brits who are planning on going back to the UK on retirement because of concerns about French inheritance law.

Basically, when you die as a French resident, your estate will go to any and all children you leave behind, and if there are none of those, then to your parents (if they are still around), then to your siblings. If, like me, you have none of any of those categories left, then to your cousins. (I leave out the spouses, since you said you are single, but spouses are not terribly well provided for in France, though they can avoid paying the inheritance tax.)

The tax threshold is pretty low, so if you're leaving lots of money, your heirs will pay. But, if French law pretty much leaves it to those you were planning on leaving it to anyhow, you avoid the hassle and expense of making a will. (Wills in France are only good for whatever portion of your estate is left over after the State gets through making its allocation.)
Cheers,
Bev

[giantpanda]

Hi!

See PM ( concerning French succession laws, and dying in France).

Yours,

giantpanda