Annual Conference on European Succession Law (ERA)

21-22 May 2026 (Barcelona)

Sarah FILIPPI, Partner, Rozenn LE BOHEC ICYK, Head of the Civil Law Department, and Lisa ZELLER, Associate, attended the Annual Conference on European Succession Law organised by the Academy of European Law (ERA).

The conference addressed the practical issues relating to estate planning and the administration of estates with cross-border implications:

• anticipating conflicts of law;
• effectively structuring international estates;
• ensuring the secure transfer of assets located in multiple jurisdictions.

Although Monaco is not part of the European Union, these topics are of interest to Monegasque practice. Indeed, estates opened in Monaco frequently involve foreign elements, as many residents hold assets in several European countries. Developments in European law have an impact on international estate matters.

Conference programme:

I. Recent case law of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) concerning Regulation (EU) No 650/2012 on succession

• Scope, forum and jurisdiction
• Applicable law, habitual residence and choice of law
• Issuing the European Certificate of Succession (ECS) and identification of assets
• Challenges to the content of the ECS
• Transitional provisions with a focus on the preservation of professiones iuris made before Regulation (EU) No 650/2012 on succession

II. Estate planning, including trusts, foundations, and other asset entities

• Taxation of gifts and inheritances before the CJEU
• The interaction between company law and the Succession Regulation
• Asset protection and mandatory law

III. The way ahead

• Functions and duties of the notary in international succession cases
• Digitalisation, Digital Justice Regulation and consequences for cross-border succession cases
• Reviewing the Regulation (EU) No 650/2012 on succession in the digital age

Source : https://www.era.int/event/annual-conference-on-european-succession-law/