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Need guidance on Norwegian law re: estate planning.
Anonymous6 views5 answers
Hi, I am trying get information from someone familiar with Norwegian law or practices/has practiced in Norway. The issue involves farmland in Norway that my elderly uncle owns. He lives in the U.S. now and has devised a will in the U.S. so that his children receive the farmland after he dies. I was wondering if there were any special laws in Norway regarding passing on farmland to family members. Will the U.S. will be valid in Norway (i.e. won't be overridden by a Norwegian laws regarding passing on farmland to children)? Are there primogeniture/first-born child inheritance rules in effect that would override the U.S. will? Any information about this issue would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
I hope that someone here responds who is familiar with Norwegian law, but I would advise you to consult with an attorney there as well as you are more likely to get an answer from a local attorney who is licensed there.
In every state in the US, only that state has jurisdiction over real property in that state. It is highly unlikely that any US probate court will have jurisdiction over property in a sovereign nation.
Given the ubiquity if the internet, it should not be that difficult to google for a probate attorney in Norway.
Here is what I found in q few seconds: http://www.globalpropertyguide.com/Europe/Norway/Inheritance
Some U. S. law firms that have an international practice may have someone knowledgeable about Norway's laws in this regard. Generally those firms are located in our major cities. However, you would be well off with a Norwegian estates or probate lawyer who speaks English unless you can communicate in Norwegian.
It looks like your uncle lives in the US, the will documents were drafted in the US, and the property is located in Norway. It is important that if any will documents are available, an attorney reviews and provides an advise following that review, as well as look into international law issues.
