Eu-Laws Articles

To the untrained eye, European inheritance law may appear reassuringly coherent, even simplistic. But don’t be fooled — the tranquillity of these waters hides some vicious undertows. The Devil, as they say, is in the detail, particularly if one has the privilege — or misfortune — of inheriting a superyacht.

The passage of EU Succession Regulation (Regulation (EU) No. 650/2012) has performed grandly in harmonising disparate laws. The principle? Simple — a person’s estate is governed by the law of their habitual residence. One person, one law. The objective? Utterly laudable — clarity and coherence.

While for the most part, the objectives were delivered, an overlooked area stands out — the superyacht. Akin to a glamorous, globe-trotting persona, the luscious superyacht, is legally regarded as a ‘movable asset.’ But this moniker belies its unique nature – a hybrid between real estate and a regulated commercial platform.