1. Regulation (EU) No. 650/2012 of 4 July 2012
Preparing for the EU Succession Regulation
Regulation (EU) No. 650/2012 of 4 July 2012
Luxembourg, 20 January 2014
The new setup for cross-border estate planning

2. Agenda Scope, Term and Local Applicability of Succession Regulation
Determination of Applicable Material Succession Law
Jurisdiction (Forum)
European Certificate of Succession
Advising Clients on Choice of Law in a Luxembourg-German Context

3. Scope of EU Succession Regulation
Determination of Applicable law
Determination of Jurisdiction (Forum)
Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Decisions in Succession Matters
European Certificate of Succession
Not covered: Gift and Inheritance Tax / Double Taxation Treaty
In this context solely recommendations by EU Commisssion of 2011 (without consequences)
Not covered: Matrimonial Property Regimes!
From a German perspective, this is a real issue because the intestate shares of surviving spouse and their issue including their respective forced shares are influenced by the matrimonial property regimes. The beneficiaries‘ shares are to be named in the European Certificate of Succession even though the participating EU member states use different connecting factors for determining the applicable matrimonial property law.

4. Transitional provisions (Term)
June 2012
Regulation passed by Council of Ministers of Justice
August 2012
„Entry into force “
17 August 2015
Applicability
Example:
April 1980
Will and Testament
August 2013
Codicil
January 2016
Death of Testator
 EU Succession Regulation applies to the whole case including 1980 Will and Testament

5. Local Applicability
Uniform Law  Principally Applicable in Relation to Non-Participating Countries (e.g. Switzerland, U.K., U.S.A, Monaco…)
Recognition and Enforcement of Decisions in Succession Matters limited to Decisions taken by Participating Member State, Artt. 59 ff. Succession Regulation
Extraordinary Provisions on Forum in Participating Member States in cases relating to Non-Participating Countries, Art. 10, Art. 11 Succession Regulation
Beware: Existing Treaties continue to Apply, Art. 75 Succession Regulation
e.g. Consular Treaty between German Reich and Turkey of 28 May 1929
Luxembourg: No Treaties

6. Agenda Scope, Term and Local Applicability of Succession Regulation
Determination of Applicable Material Succession Law
Jurisdiction (Forum)
European Certificate of Succession
Advising Clients on Choice of Law in a Luxembourg-German Context

7. Determination of Applicable Succession Law
Present Provisions in German Law and Luxembourg Law
Primary Connecting Factor:
Exceptions:
International Conflict of Applicable Laws between Luxembourg and Germany:
Nationality for Movables and Immovables, Art. 25 para. 1 EGBGB
Choice of Law in Favour of German Succession law available for Foreign Nationals but Limited to German Situate Real Estate, Art. 25 para. 2 EGBGB
Renvoi (e.G. Luxembourg National residing in Germany), Art. 4 para. 1 EGBGB
Ordre Public.
Fraude à la law?
Immovable Property: Situs law, Art. 3 para. 2 Cciv
Movable Property: Last Residence of Decedent
No Choice of Law
Renvoi
Ordre Public.
Fraude à la law.
Movable Property: Whenever a Decedent resides in a State he or she is no citizen of (e.g. German national residing in Luxembourg or vice versa)
Immovable Property: German National leaving Real Estate outside Germany

8. Determination of Applicable Succession Law
EU Succession Regulation (1)
Primary Connecting Factor: Habitual Residence, Art. 21 para. 1 Succession Regulation
Habitual Residence (considerations 23 to 25):
Consideration 23:
„In order to determine the habitual residence, the authority dealing with the succession should make an overall assessment of the circumstances of the life of the deceased during the years preceding his death and at the time of his death, taking account of all relevant factual elements, in particular the duration and regularity of the deceased‘s presence in the State concerned and the conditions and reasons for that presence.“
In case of a mismatch between economic and personal centers of vital interests (e.g. an employee living in one member state and working in another) the private center of vital interests shall prevail (consideration 24)
No intention required to establish an habitual residence (objective criterion)
Identical Connecting Factor for Movable and Immovable Property (no Scission)
Unclear Meaning of Escape Clause in Art. 21 para. 2 Succession Regulation

9. Determination of Applicable Succession Law
EU Succession Regulation (2)
Choice of Law in Favour of Testator‘s Law of Nationality, Art. 22 Succession Regulation
Assumption of Choice of Law for wills made before 17 August 2015
Beware: No Assumption in Cases of Interstate Succession!
Example: German National with habitual Residence in Luxembourg:
No more Mismatch between Approach of Authorities in Germany and Luxembourg:
Primary (default) Connecting Factor: Habitual Residence  Luxembourg Succession Law
Choice of Law Option in Favour of German Succession Law as Law of Nationality (Lower forced Shares of Descendants, Forced Heirship Claim of Monetary Nature only)
What about the droit de prélèvement (right to compensation with Luxembourg Assets if Inheritance Share under Foreign Succession Law of Luxembourg Resident Heirs is lower than under Luxembourg Succession law?
In General: Will Participating Member States regard it as against Public Policy (ordre public) if Application of Foreign Succession Law leads to lower Forced Heirship Entitlements? (Discussed amongst others in Sweden and in Italy).

10. Determination of Applicable Succession Law
EU Succession Regulation (3)
Exceptional Connecting Factors
Admissibility and Substantive Validity of Testamentary Dispositions other than Agreements as to Succession, Art. 24 Succession Regulation
Admissibility and Substantive Validity of Agreements as to Succession, Art. 25 Succession Regulation
German Joint Testaments are Agreements as to Succession within the meaning of the Succession Regulation, see Lechner, NJW 2013, 26; Herzog, ErbR 2013, 2, 8; Lehmann, ZErb 2013, 26; other opinion Simon/Buschbaum, NJW 2012, 2393, 2396; Nordmeier, ZEV 2012, 513.
Beware: Even though the Succession Regulation explicitly approves of Mutual (Joint) Wills, there is a Risk that Joint Wills may be regarded as against Public Policy (e.g. in Itay)
Formal Validity of a Testamentary Disposition, Art. 27 Succession Regulation
Formal Validity of a Declatation of Acceptance or Waiver, Art. 28 Succession Regulation
Administration of an Estate, Art. 29 Succession Regulation
Special Rules imposing Restrictions concerning or affecting the Succession in Respect of Certain Assets (but see consideration 54: strict Interpretation)
Commorientes, Art. 32 Succession Regulation
Estates without a Claimant, Art. 33 Succession Regulation

11. Determination of Applicable Succession Law
EU Succession Regulation (4)
In Particular: Exceptional Provisions (Foreign Real Estate and Forced Heirship Claims)
At Present: Acquisition of Foreign Real Estate in the U.K. or the U.S. in Order for a German National or a Luxembourg Resident Testator to reduce Forced Heirship Claims of Descendants (because neither English nor U.S. State Laws provide for Forced Heirship Claims for Descendants or Foreign Domiciled Testators)
EU Succession Regulation: In the Future Foreign Real Estate owned by Testator habitually Resident in Germany or in Luxembourg Governed by German or Luxembourg Law (or Succession Law validly chosen). Art. 30 Succession Regulation does not provide differently (see consideration 54)
But: No more Forced Heirship Entitlements regarding Domestic Real Estate owned by an Englishman or U.S.- American if he or she includes a Valid Choice of Law in Favour of their Law of Nationality in his or her Will, see Art. 34 Abs. 2 Succession Regulation

12. Agenda Scope, Term and Local Applicability of Succession Regulation
Determination of Applicable Material Succession Law
Jurisdiction (Forum)
European Certificate of Succession
Advising Clients on Choice of Law in a Luxembourg-German Context

13. Jurisdiction (Forum)
General Rule: Exclusive Jurisdiction by Authorities in Participating Member State the Decedent was last Habitually Resident in, Art. 4 Succession Regulation
If the Decedent was Habitaully Resident in Non-Participating State then Art. 10 Succession Regulation provides for subsidiary Jurisdiction where Estate Assets are located in a Participating Member State
Exception in Cases of Choice of Law
Formal Choice-of-Court Agreement, Art. 5 Succession Regulation
Informal (but express) Acceptance of Jurisdiction, Art. 7 Lit. c) Succession Regulation
Jurisdiction based on Appearance, Art. 9 in Case of Art. 7 Succession Regulation
Jurisdiction declined by Court seised, Art. 7 a) Succession Regulation
Forum Necessitatis, Art. 11 Succession Regulation
Receipt of Acceptance or Waiver of the Succession, Art. 13 Succession Regulation

14. Agenda Scope, Term and Local Applicability of Succession Regulation
Determination of Applicable Material Succession Law
Jurisdiction (Forum)
European Certificate of Succession
Advising Clients on Choice of Law in a Luxembourg-German Context

15. European Certificate of Succession
Formalized European Certificate of Succession, available in all Official Languages of the EU, Art. 67 para. 1 s. 2 Succession Regulation with very broad Contents, Art. 65 para. 3 Succession Regulation
Legal Effects of European Certificate of Succession
Presumption of Accuracy, Art. 69 para. 2 s. 1 Succession Regulation, Including both Statements of Fact and Legal Entitlements of Persons named
Change or Correction of Official Registers shall be Possible Based on the Information given within the European Certificate of Succession, Art. 69 para. 2 s. 2 Succession Regulation
Protection of Good Faith, Art. 69 para. 3 and 4 Succession Regulation
No Good Faith if a Person positively Knows the Certificate is Incorrect or if his or her Ignorance results from Gross Negligence (Standard of Gross Negligence not defined within the Succession Regulation).
Limitation of Validity to six Months by Default, Art. 70 para. 3 Succession Regulation
No Withdrawal of European Certificate of Succession even if Authority realizes Incorrectnes of Certificate, Art. 71 Succession Regulation
National Certificates of Inheritance (e.g. German Erbschein) can be applied for if National Authorities have Jurisdiction. Subsequently, such National Certificate can be Accepted in other Participating Member State subject to Art. 59 Succession Regulation

16. Agenda Scope, Term and Local Applicability of Succession Regulation
Determination of Applicable Material Succession Law
Jurisdiction (Forum)
European Certificate of Succession
Advising Clients on Choice of Law in a Luxembourg-German Context

17. New Area of Legal Advice: Decision on Choice of Law
Choice of Law always Available if Testator holds a Nationality of a State he is not Habitually Resident in (i.e. any Testator living in a Foreign State, any Testator with Dual or even Triple Nationality). No limitation to Choice in Favour of „effective“ Nationality
German Succession Law:
Luxembourg Law:
Forced Share of Descendants: ½ their intestate shares
Forced Share of Children = ½ or even ¾ or Estate depending on their number
Forced Heirship Entitlement only Monetary Claim
Forced Heirs are entitled to Seat in Community of Heirs
Received Donations only Credited against Forced Share if so Agreed at the time of Donation ?
Inter-vivos Waiver of Forced Heirship Rights permissible
No inter-vivos Waiver of Forced Heirship Rights
Executor is entitled to dispose of Estate Assets in the Heirs‘ stead
Executor only supervises the Heirs
Permanent Executorship available, e.g. in order to take care of Heirs who are Minors
No Permanent Executorship available
Other criterion: Speed and
Foreseeability of Court Decision?

18. Summary
The EU Succession Regulation is a Grand and Bold Piece of Legislative Reform
Practitioners must adopt their Practice to the Requirements and Effects of the Succession Regulation now.
Many Difficulties currently associated with Cross-Border Estate Planning will be mediated, yet new Problems will arise.
Many Issues will only come up during the years to come, so Cases of Cross-Border Successions in the years after 16 august 2017 will be subject to increased uncertainty.
Legal Advice with Regard to the Choice of Law will play a major Role when advising International Clients. Pros and Cons of the respective Substantive Laws and the Different Forums must be Weighed . It will not Suffice any Longer to try to Avoid an International Conflict of Laws.
The Negotiations between the different Legislative Bodies of the European Union lead to Major Changes to the Draft Regulation in Summer Any Publication published before Autumn 2012 is thus Outdated.

19. Thank you! Dr. Daniel Lehmann, TEP Attorney-at-Law (Germany) Partner
Baker Tilly Roelfs
Nymphenburger St. 3b
80335 Munich
Germany
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