My father passed away 4 months ago, leaving debts. Being the heir, I gave up on this succession. He was a tenant of his accommodation, and his landlord asked me to empty it. Am I required to do so?

No. By renouncing the succession of your father, you lose the title of heir in his succession. Consequently, you are not bound by any debt obligation, but in return, you lose all rights to his property. As the lease is automatically terminated following the death of your father, since no…
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I acquired an apartment located in a co-ownership 1 year ago. My seller had been using the adjoining garden, which is a common part, for 29 years. Can I argue for this 30-year-old use (29 years for my seller and 1 year for me) to become the owner ...

... of the garden? Non. Les juges autorisent l’acquisition par un copropriétaire d’une partie commune par l'effet de sa possession lorsque toutes les conditions sont réunies, notamment le fait de se comporter comme le propriétaire du bien depuis au moins 30 ans ( Cass. Civ.3e, 11 juill. 2019, n°18-17-771). En…
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I acquired a studio 3 years ago. It was my first purchase, and I was therefore able to benefit from a zero-interest loan. I want to resell it to buy a bigger apartment. Is it possible to use my 0% loan for the acquisition of my new property?

Yes. Theoretically speaking, the accommodation acquired with a 0% loan must remain the main residence of the borrower during the six years following the date of payment of the loan (art. L.31-10-6, al. 1 CCH). It therefore cannot be sold. However, the borrower can transfer the outstanding capital, for the…
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My uncle of French nationality lives abroad. He wants to help me finance the acquisition of my home by giving me money. Do I have to declare this operation in France ?

Yes. When the beneficiary of a donation is domiciled in France on the day of the donation or has had his tax residence in France for at least six years during the last ten years preceding the donation, all the assets he receives located in France or outside France are…
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My father is facing financial difficulties and wants to sell his apartment. He is the debtor of co-ownership charges. Can he still sell his property?

Yes. While selling a lot of co-ownership, the seller must present to the notary a certificate from the property administrator, which is dated less than a month, attesting that he is free of any obligation with regard to the unions. Otherwise, the notary must notify the trustee that the co-owner…
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My aunt passed away. I am the only heir. I found out that she had a lot of debt and I want to renounce her estate. I am a foreign resident. Do I have to return to France to proceed with the waiver?

No. To be enforceable against third parties, the renunciation of an inheritance must be formalized with the judicial court of the last domicile of the deceased, by filing or sending a simple letter which is duly completed, Cerfa 15828*05 form. One must also attach a full copy of the death…
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My partner is of foreign nationality. We plan to get married. Will our union allow him/her to immediately acquire French nationality?

No. Marriage does not automatically have any effect on the nationality (art. 21-1 C. civ.). When a foreign person marries a French person and wishes to obtain the French nationality, they must apply for it by filing a declaration of French nationality via marriage with the dedicated access platform of…
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National Forum of Associations and Foundations

20 October 2022

At the Forum National des Associations & Fondations, the notaries of France led a conference with France Générosités on "The association, universal

My father has passed away. He was the sole owner of a house where he lived with his wife. In his holographic will, he deprived her of her legal rights to the estate and gave her the usufruct of his movable property. Can she continue to live in the house?

Yes. Article 764 of the Civil Code provides for the benefit of the surviving spouse a right of habitation to the accommodation which he occupied as his principal residence at the time of death, and a right of use to the furniture within the latter. It can only be deprived…
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