Succession and Notary: legal experts in estate settlement

Updated on Wednesday 17 September 2025

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Prepare its succession

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.

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.

Updated on Thursday 21 August 2025

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

Organize at the time of death

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.

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?

Heir

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

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.

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.

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.

Updated on Wednesday 16 March 2022

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.

Updated on Wednesday 2 March 2022

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.

A question ? Need help ?

Yes, if the time limit for appealing against the decision had not expired on the day of death. The divorce takes effect on the date on which the decision pronouncing it acquires the force of res judicata, which means, no longer subject to appeal. The time limit for appeal is…

No. As a rule, the role of executor is personal and does not transfer (Article 1025, paragraph 3 of the Civil Code), unless the testator has stated otherwise. Therefore, if your aunt made no provisions, you do not have to assume the role assigned to your mother.

Yes, but… In a dismembered capitalisation contract, the usufructuary has the right to manage the contract and to make redemptions (partial or total) without the bare owner’s consent (Article 578 of the French Civil Code), unless otherwise stipulated. However, upon termination of the usufruct, the usufructuary must return to the…

If it appears that your mother is no longer capable of looking after her own interests, you must inform her of your intention to implement the mandate. Her condition must then be certified by a doctor chosen from a list drawn up by the public prosecutor. This medical certificate and…

Yes, provided that a legal heir (as defined by law) accepts the succession. In that case, you may exercise the right of cantonnement, which allows a legatee to limit their acceptance to part of the assets bequeathed. This is permitted under Article 1002-1 of the French Civil Code.

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Succession and Notary: legal experts in estate settlement

Prepare its succession

Organize at the time of death

Heir

A question ? Need help ?

My spouse died a few days after the judgment of the divorce was notified to us. Can I inherit?

My mother passed away three years ago. My aunt has also just passed away. In her will, she designated my mother as the executor. Will I need to replace her?

After my mother’s death, my father and I invested the inheritance money in a capitalisation contract, under which he holds the usufruct and I hold the bare ownership. Can he redeem the contract without asking for my consent?

A few years ago, my mother signed a mandate for future protection and appointed me as her proxy. Today, she seems to be losing her memory and isn't always aware of what she's doing. How do I go about implementing this measure?

My neighbour bequeathed several real estate properties to me in his will. I only wish to keep some of them. Is this possible?