Upon the death of their clients, banks carry out various procedures, including freezing accounts, communicating with the notary designated by the family, and transferring funds to the heirs.
However, these operations are often billed differently to heirs depending on the banking network.
Law No. 2025-415 of 13 May 2025 (published in the Official Journal on 14 May 2025) now provides for the exemption of such banking fees in three situations:
For estates where the total balance of accounts and the valuation of savings products is less than €5,910;
For estates of minor children, regardless of the amount of their bank assets;
When the heirs present to the bank either a certificate of inheritance (acte de notoriété) or a joint attestation signed by all of them, and the estate is simple to settle (direct-line heirs only, no outstanding mortgage at the time of death, no business account, no security interests on the accounts, and no cross-border elements), pursuant to the new Article L.312-1-4-1 of the Monetary and Financial Code.
These provisions apply to checking accounts, payment accounts, regulated savings accounts (Livret A, LEP, LDDS, Livret Jeune), home savings plans, PEP, and PEA.
Practical note: Decree No. 2025-813 of 13 August 2025 (published in the Official Journal on 14 August 2025) sets the maximum percentage that banks may charge heirs at 1% of the deceased’s total account balances, capped at €850.