Monaco law is distinct from French law, though it shares civil-law roots. Only Monaco-admitted avocats may appear before Monaco courts, and their number is small. In practice, most international clients combine a Monaco avocat for local formalities with an international private client firm, often in London, Geneva or Paris, for the cross-border structure.
The typical Monaco mandate has three components: residency, which requires a lease or purchase and proof of financial means; property acquisition through a Monaco notary; and estate planning under Monaco's 2017 private international law reform, which allows residents to elect the law of their nationality to govern succession.
The firms listed here have demonstrable experience with Monaco matters, whether through a local office or through a dedicated Monaco desk within a larger international practice.
What to Look For in a Monaco Legal Professional
- Whether the firm has a Monaco-admitted avocat or works with a local correspondent
- Experience with the residency application process and the Surete Publique interview
- Familiarity with Law 1.448 of 2017 on succession and choice of law
- Coordination capacity with notaries, banks and the client's home-jurisdiction advisers