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Podcast: Everything Monaco residents need to know about wills, inheritance and powers of attorney

by: Cassandra Tanti
16/01/2026

Raphaëlle Svara, Partner at CMS Monaco and co-head of the Private Clients team, joined Monaco Life’s Cassandra Tanti to discuss the complexities of wills and succession planning in the Principality. With litigation increasing in recent years, Svara reveals why inheritance disputes can be more brutal than divorce, how Monaco’s unique legal system interacts with international laws, and the practical steps residents should take to protect their estates.

Raphaëlle Svara, Partner at CMS Monaco and co-head of the Private Clients team

Podcast Timestamps

  • 1:18 – Do you see that there is a lot of contesting of wills?

  • 4:03 – No one can foresee how their family will react after death. What else should people be thinking about?

  • 4:40 – What makes Monaco’s legal system so unique?

  • 9:31 – So there are instances when Monaco law can be overruled?

  • 10:02 – What should people be considering when drafting their wills?

  • 11:20 – You mentioned a law change in 2017. Tell us more about that.

  • 12:00 – There are a few different types of wills. Can you talk us through them and how they work?

  • 14:00 – For someone who has moved to Monaco from abroad, what kind of will would you recommend and why?

  • 15:20 – If someone has just arrived in Monaco, what is the first thing they should think about with regard to estate planning?

  • 16:49 – For people with more than one nationality, how do they handle succession planning if they haven’t chosen which country’s law should apply?

  • 19:10 – Monaco has forced heirship rules. Who are the ones primarily affected by this?

  • 19:47 – Even if someone has made a clear choice in their will, can it still be challenged? For example, if a spouse is left out?

  • 20:47 – Tell us about lasting powers of attorney — what are they and why are they becoming more important in Monaco?

  • 25:20 – How often should someone update their will?

  • 26:47 – What are some practical things people can do to ensure their will stays valid and easy to access?

  • 27:07 – Writing a will can be emotional. How do you help clients navigate that personal side of the process?

  • 28:50 – If you could give one final piece of advice to international residents in Monaco about wills and succession, what would it be?

See more: 

Podcast: Getting a divorce in Monaco with CMS Lawyer Raphaëlle Svara

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Photo credit: Melinda Gimpel, Unsplash

 

 

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