UPDATE: Since this article was written the Sentate have now approved the proposed law (on 14 December 2017) On the 13th March 2017, the Italian Senate started discussing a proposed new law regarding the introduction of “Testamenti Biologici”, (“Biological Wills”), the equivalent of what are known as “Living Wills” in the UK. This is a document...
Read MoreAlternative White Paper – UK Citizens in Europe
On the eve of the Government’s White Paper publication, UK citizens living in the EU present their ‘UK Citizens in Europe – Towards an Alternative White Paper’. Alternative White Paper – Uk citizens in the EU – LINK TO WHITE PAPER ON SITE OF ECREU This is the biggest group of British citizens’ organisations in Europe working...
Read MoreCohabitation agreements
The contract of cohabitation (in Italian “contratto di convivenza”) has to be in written form, as a Public Deed (prepared by a Notary Public), or a Private Contract, which is then authenticated by a Lawyer. The Notary or Lawyer will then send the executed document to the Comune, who will transcribe the same in its registers. This...
Read More#FairDealNow Webinar
Monday 30th January 2017 at 6pm UK time (7pm Italy). Organised by group New Europeans, this webinar will discuss issues relating to the future of British citizens in the EU and EU nationals in the UK. Please find all the details and how to register on this link. https://neweuropeans.net/event/1707/fairdealnow-webinar New Europeans is a civil rights...
Read MoreELECTIVE RESIDENCE IN ITALY
An application can be made for an Elective Residence Permit (“Permesso di Soggiorno per Residenza Elettiva”), if the foreign resident wants to live in Italy without carrying out any working activity. Aside from not being employed in Italy, adequate funds must be demonstrated in order to show that the applicant will not rely on the Italian State, for...
Read MoreArticle 50 and individual rights
The political upheaval in the UK following the June Referendum resulted in a new Government being formed. Prime Minister Theresa May declared that “Brexit means Brexit” and that she would notify under Article 50 of the EU Treaty the withdrawal of the UK from the European Union. Opinions have been divided on what Brexit means, whether this involves...
Read MoreItalian Referendum – Si or No?
The Italian referendum due to take place on the 4th December demonstrates an attempt by the current government to change the years of sclerotic politics that many feel dominate the country. Indeed, Italy has been noted to have one of the largest and most expensive governments in the world. This is partly due to the bicameral structure of government that, as...
Read MoreDNA and inheritance claims in Italy
DNA profiling is now a widely used method to convict the perpetrator of a crime to a high degree of accuracy. Yet, despite its newfound dramatic appeal, it was originally developed as a means to provide genetic evidence of paternity as early as the mid-1970s; this assessment, known as HLA testing, was a powerful, if problematic, tool to identify biological...
Read MoreBREXIT: What is EU law exactly?
As an English lawyer practising in Italy for 15 years, I have valued the certainty that EU law has provided in legal situations in which international clients and business find themselves, where there is a conflict between the laws of more than one member state. However, most voters in the EU Referendum cited the belief that EU law prevented the UK fom...
Read MorePotential Increase in Inheritance Tax in Italy
When it comes to inheritance tax, Italy currently enjoys somewhat of a “tax haven” status. These particular taxes are some of the lowest in Europe, with the maximum amount payable by an heir currently being 8% of the total value inherited. The percentages are calculated based on the relationship the heir has to the deceased; the spouse and...
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