Succession and Notary: legal experts in estate settlement

Updated on Monday 17 August 2026

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My father has just passed away. He had drawn up his own will and then entrusted it to his notary. For the settlement of the succession, is the depositary notary obliged to record the opening of the will on death and if so, within what time frame?

Yes. The law provides that the notary depositary of the holographic will, draws up a report "on the spot" of the opening and status of the will, specifying the circumstances of its deposit. The original of the will is appended to the minutes. These documents are then maintained in the…
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Four years ago, my siblings and I inherited our parents’ house. I am now selling my share to my sister for a price higher than the value estimated at the time of death. Will I be taxed on the capital gain?

No. The division of property resulting from an inheritance between the original co-heirs, their spouses, ascendants, descendants, or universal successors is not subject to capital gains tax (Article 150 U IV of the French General Tax Code).
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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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The father of my child, a minor, has passed away. He was a big spender and I know that he had applied for an over indebtedness procedure. I would like to renounce the estate in my child's name. What is the procedure?

To renounce an estate in the name of a minor, you must first obtain the agreement of the family affairs judge acting as guardianship judge at your local court. To do so, you need to send him or her a request using the Cerfa form n°15811*03. Once the authorization has…
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I wish to grant a loan of €60,000 to one of my children Am I obliged to call on my notary to draw up the loan contract?

No, but it is preferable. In accordance with article 1359 of the civil code, a writing is required when the sum lent is greater than 1500 €. The use of a notary is recommended to avoid any dispute, especially between your heirs. Indeed, you are assured that the deed will…
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