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International inheritances

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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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Can I keep the will I just wrote at home?

Yes. A handwritten will is valid if it is written, dated, and signed by your hand (Article 970 of the Civil Code). However, for safekeeping, it is advisable to deposit it with a notary who will also register it in the national registry of wills.
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My husband passed away. He was a state employee. Is the death capital paid by his employer subject to an inheritance tax ?

No. The death benefit, paid under conditions and the amount of which varies according to whether the civil servant died before or after the minimum retirement age, "is not subject to transfer duties in the event of death", i.e. inheritance rights (article D712-23 of the Social Security Code).
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When settling an estate, I understand that the notary does not have to certify ownership of a property if it is sold within 10 months of the death. Is this true?

No. The purpose of the real estate certificate of ownership, published at the land registry office, is to record the transfer of ownership following a death. However, article 29, last paragraph, of decree no. 55-22 of January 4, 1955, states that it is possible not to issue such a certificate…
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