Prepare its succession
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Updated on Thursday 23 June 2022
Will: How to write one’s last will?
The will allows you to prepare your inheritance and organize the division of your property. It is the best way to protect yourself, especially for unmarried people. Only a will can make a civil partner inherit.
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Updated on Friday 17 March 2023
Will: what is legacy?
Legacy is an inheritance by will. There are several types of legacies, which have their own features, but also their conditions.
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Updated on Thursday 23 July 2026
Life insurance and inheritance tax
Life insurance protects or favors one or more people in the event of death. The tax treatment for paid-in capital varies depending on the contract and at times waivers inheritance tax
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Organize at the time of death
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Updated on Thursday 28 August 2025
Death: Procedures to carry out
One of your loved ones has passed away. Who inherits? What is the ratio? How much does it cost? Your notary is here to help you and assist you with the inheritance transactions you need to carry out.
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Updated on Thursday 13 November 2025
Succession and couples: the surviving partner’s rights over the home?
Even in the absence of a gift or a will, the surviving spouse is guaranteed the right to remain in the home upon the death of their partner. Is the same true for the home of partners in a civil union (PACS) or for cohabiting partners?
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Heir
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Updated on Wednesday 5 November 2025
French probate : An inheritance settlement
On an average, the timeframe for the complete settlement of an estate takes six months. This is the time limit to pay up the inheritance tax. In case of a delay, an interest of 0.20% per month is due to the tax authorities
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Updated on Thursday 28 August 2025
French inheritance law : Order of heirs and scale of inheritance rights in France
The people concerned by your inheritance; aren’t necessarily those people you may think of. Determining the order of heirs, shall allow you to establish a transmission of property through inheritance.
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Updated on Thursday 5 May 2022
Understand usufruct (life interest)
The usufructuary has the right of possession and use of the property, but he is not the owner. Attention: do not confuse usufruct and right of use and habitation.
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Updated on Thursday 13 November 2025
Inheritance between spouses: rights of the surviving spouse
Since 2001, the surviving spouse is treated as a true heir except, if there has been a divorce or separation. But, the children of the deceased or members of his in-laws (heirs reserving) will limit his rights.
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Updated on Monday 23 March 2026
Inheritance: set up the heritage reserve with the family pact
Through the family pact, a child can now accept an infringement on his/her reserve in advance. This legal system favors a disabled family member, who is financially incapacitated, for example.
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Updated on Friday 20 March 2026
Search for a will using the last will file (FCDDV)
In 1971, in order to prevent inheritances being liquidated and divided up in breach of the deceased person's wishes, the notary profession created the Central Registry of Wills (FCDDV), or the Wills Registry.
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A question ? Need help ?
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No. The law does not recognize the surviving civil partner as a legal heir, unlike the surviving spouse. Therefore, if you want your partner to be your (sole) heir, you will need to make a will to that effect. This can be drafted by a notary (authentic form) or by…
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No. Neither the minor nor his parents may accept a succession unconditionally without the judge’s approval (Articles 388-1-1 and 387-1, 5° of the French Civil Code). Case law holds that when a minor is served with a notice to elect and his representatives remain silent, he is deemed to have…
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It depends. If your mother has not drawn up a will in which she chooses her national law, the European Inheritance Regulation (n°650/2012 of July 4, 2012) must be applied. This regulation mentions that the applicable law is the of the country in which the deceased resided. Your mother's estate…
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If two individuals die in the same event, and each was entitled to inherit from the other, as often occurs with spouses, each estate is settled according to the order of death (Art. 725-1 C. civ.). This order can be established by any means. If it is impossible to determine…
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... from her bank accounts? No. The future protection mandate ceases to apply upon the death of the person to be protected (article 483 2° of the Civil Code). You should consult a notary to establish a certificate of heirship that will allow you to recover your mother's liquid assets…