And the day has finally arrived when I get to order a European Certificate of Succession in one of my cases! I have been waiting for a chance to use the certificate in my daily work since 17 August 2015 when the European Inheritance regulation started to apply. A European Certificate of Succession can be used by heirs, executors of wills and administrators of estates in order to prove their position and authority in another Member State. In this particular case I am assisting

New EU rules to ease cross-border successions applicable to the succession of persons who die on or after 17 August 2015! This is music to a passionate family lawyer's ears! The EU regulation 650/2012 or Brussels IV is a huge step in the right direction to facilitate cross-border successions. As from today, 17 August 2015 EU citizens are able to choose whether the law applicable to their succession should be that of their last habitual residence or that of their nationality (

Under the Finnish code of succession (40/1965) it is possible to make a will in favor of anyone alive, but the direct descendants always have a right to a lawful share – half the estate. Direct descendants meaning child, adoptive child, grandchild etc. For example, if the deceased had two children, who would normally inherit the whole estate, but he/she made a will that gave everything to a third party, then the children still receive one half of the estate, that is one quart

I come across persons with common law trust funds in my work more and more often. People who have put a great deal of time and effort in planning their inheritance in a common law country, and then move to a civil law country like Finland. Trusts are a very important part of the common law system. Actually, the trusts are that important to these countries that the UK did not want to be a part of the new EU-inheritance regulation. The regulation is scheduled to become applicab

My speech at the Finnish Foreign Ministry of Affairs i March 2014 “A female attorney’s role in the pursuit of gender equality” I would like to start by telling you a story – a true story of an exceptional woman, my dear friend and colleague. The year is 1968 and she is browsing thru the courses offered at the University of Helsinki in order to decide what would be a suitable carrier choice for her. Among other faculties presenting their courses was also the Faculty of law. As