Succession and Notary: legal experts in estate settlement

Updated on Wednesday 17 September 2025

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My father died four months ago with debts. I renounced the inheritance. He was renting his home. Am I obliged to clear it out?

No. A renouncing heir is considered never to have been an heir (Article 805 of the Civil Code). The landlord may request that a judge authorize disposal of the furniture or refer the estate to the public authority for debt recovery (Articles 809-1 to 810-3 of the Civil Code).
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When my father died, my mother-in-law received the usufruct of the entire estate, which consisted mainly of liquid assets. Today, she has just died, and the liquid assets have disappeared. What can I do to recover these sums?

When the spouse receives the usufruct of liquid assets, we speak of quasi-usufruct, i.e., a usufruct (right of use and enjoyment) of a thing that is consumed when used (money). In practical terms, the spouse has the right to spend the money, but is obliged to return it on his…
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My father has passed away. The notary handling the estate only shows me a copy of his will and informs me that the original is with another notary. Is this legal?

Yes. Only the notary who holds the will (to whom your father entrusted it) is the custodian of the original. As soon as he is informed of the testator’s death, he must immediately draw up a report of opening and condition of the will, specifying the circumstances of its deposit…
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My nephews renounced their father's estate 10 years ago. Their grandfather passed away last year. His house has just been sold. Can they perceive the share that should have gone to their father?

Yes. Article 754 paragraph 4 of the Civil Code provides that one can represent the person whose inheritance has been renounced. Even if the children have renounced the estate of their predeceased father, they can re present him in the estate of their grandfather.
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My friend passed away. She was unmarried, had no children, and no siblings. Her biological parents are still alive, and she had been adopted (simple adoption). Do the adoptive parents inherit?

Yes. Article 368-1 of the French Civil Code provides that the estate of a person who was adopted under a simple adoption is divided into two parts: one half goes to the biological family, and the other half to the adoptive family (Article 738-1 of the Civil Code).
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