Ah now that's a question.... If you own property (as in real estate, not all your worldly goods and chattels) in Gesamteigentum rather than Miteigentum i.e. both spouses own all of the property together rather than each owning a 50% share, presumably on the death of one spouse, the entire property automatically reverts to the other? And therefore wouldn't count as part of the deceased spouse's estate? And if all the couple's worlds goods are tied up in a property it then wouldn't need to be sold from under the survivor to pay out a legacy to a forced heir?

Just had mine updated since moving here, looked at doing it myself but in the end employed a notaire who was familiar with the laws of the UK and Switzerland regarding wills, quite a painless exercise apart from the price, but he picked up on a couple of things I doubt I could have found which could have made a difference to the outcome. So the conclusion was, he is an expert, he knows the laws, it was worth the money.

First, great post... Interesting.

One question though to all, if an expat has assets here and overseas in their home country, where should the will be drawn up? In both countries? In just home country?

Thanks!

Parents get a share, only if the deceased has no children.