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Successions internationales

News in the spotlight

The electronic authentic power of attorney for remote appearance presented to all European notariats

16 December 2020

This Thursday, December 10, 2020, the Council of the Notariats of the European Union (CNUE) held a virtual conference bringing together more than two

  • Local authorities
  • Donation
  • Business
  • Family
  • Real estate
  • Succession

A question ? Need help ?

My spouse passed away, and we did not have a joint will. Since he had children from a previous marriage, I receive 1/4 of his estate. Can I accept only part of his inheritance?

No. The right of the surviving spouse to limit their acceptance to certain assets (known as "cantonment") is only legally possible if there is a joint will between spouses (Article 1094-3 of the Civil Code). In the absence of such a provision, you can only accept or renounce the entire…
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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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My father owned and operated a farm. My brother participated in this activity without being paid but received the profits from the exploitation. Can he claim a deferred salary as part of our father's estate?

No. To be able to benefit from a deferred salary claim, the descendants of the deceased farmer must be over the age of 18 and participate directly and effectively in the operation. However, they must not have been associated with profits and losses, nor received salaries in cash (L.321-13 C…
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My brother and I shall inherit from our father who has just passed away. As the guardian of my weaker adult brother, am I required to go to the judge to accept the inheritance on his behalf?

No, if the value of the estate's assets is clearly greater than the amount of the debts, you can simply accept the inheritance without the judge's authorization. However, you must first and foremost obtain a certificate drawn up by the notary in charge of settling the succession establishing that the…
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My grandfather has just passed away. He has left my aunt, my brother and me as heirs. In his will, he indicated that the available portion would go to his daughter. The notary tells me that my aunt is entitled to 2/3 of the inheritance. Is this true?

Yes. In accordance with Article 734 of the French Civil Code, in the absence of a surviving spouse, children and their descendants constitute the first order of heirs. Article 913-1 of the Civil Code specifies that all descendants are included under the term 'children,' “ even though they are to…
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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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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?

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…
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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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My brother and I shall inherit from our father who has just passed away. As the guardian of my weaker adult brother, am I required to go to the judge to accept the inheritance on his behalf?

No, if the value of the estate's assets is clearly greater than the amount of the debts, you can simply accept the inheritance without the judge's authorization. However, you must first and foremost obtain a certificate drawn up by the notary in charge of settling the succession establishing that the…
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Containment: How can you draw out an emergency will?

Notaries continue to advise their clients on their testamentary dispositions. In case of emergency and necessity, they may have to travel to collect an authentic will for clients who are very sick or even at the end of their life. All in compliance with the regulations and sanitary rules, which…
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My son passed away. He was married and had a daughter. My daughter-in-law opted for the usufruct of the entire estate of her late husband, which only includes money. The notary told my granddaughter that she would not receive the money ...

... from this inheritance until her mother passed away. Is this true? Yes. In theory, the usufructuary cannot dispose of the property of the concerned usufruct. However, the Civil Code allows an exception when the usufruct includes elements that cannot be used without consuming them, such as money. In which…
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My mother always lived in Martinique, but she came to the mainland for medical treatment, where she unfortunately passed away. Is it true that I have one year to file the inheritance declaration with the tax authorities ?

Yes. Article 642 of the General Tax Code provides that when the deceased has passed away outside the department of Martinique where they were domiciled, the heirs have a one-year period to file the inheritance declaration with the tax authorities (as an exception to the six-month period).
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I own a house inherited from my parents. Upon my death, I wish to bequeath it to one of my daughters, then have it passed on to my grandson upon her death, with the condition that he transfers it to his future child. Is this possible ?

Partially. By will, you can bequeath this house to your daughter with the condition that she keeps and transfers it to her son (Article 1051 of the Civil Code). However, the law does not allow you to impose this condition on your grandson (Article 1053 paragraph 1 of the Civil…
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Following the death of my mother, I inherited her apartment. I wish to sell it. What is the acquisition value to be used in order to determine the amount of the real estate capital gain?

The capital gain carried out on the sale of a property is equal to the difference between the sale price and the acquisition price. When the property was received following a death, the acquisition price corresponds to the value retained in the declaration of succession (art. 150 VB, I, CGI).
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My spouse passed away. I am the beneficiary of a spousal donation which states that if I choose to be the usufructuary, I am exempt from making an inventory and an appraisal of the property. However, my stepchildren are demanding these...

..do they have the right? Yes. The law is clear: Article 1094-3 of the Civil Code states that " Children or descendants may, notwithstanding any stipulation to the contrary by the donor, require that an inventory of movable property and an appraisal of immovable property subject to usufruct be made
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My grandfather plans to give me one of his plots of land that I farm. He wants to include a right of return for my sister so that the land does not revert to my wife on my death.

The notary refuses to include this in the deed of gift. Why? In accordance with article 951 of the Civil Code, "the donor may mention the right of return of the objects donated either in the case of the death of the donee alone, or in the event of the…
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My husband was retired. He passed away and left a huge debt. I plan to renounce his succession. Am I still entitled to the survivor's pension?

Yes. By renouncing the succession of your spouse, you lose the status of heir (article 805 of the Civil Code). On the other hand, you retain the status of spouse. However, the survivor's pension is a right reserved for the spouse or ex-spouse in the event of the death of…
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Following their divorce, my father paid his ex-wife a compensatory allowance, in the form of an annuity. He has passed away. I learned that she was going to receive a survivor's pension. Are these two services cumulative?

No. When the compensatory allowance was paid in the form of an annuity, at the time of the death of the debtor spouse, in principle it is immediately payable in the form of a lump sum. Reversion pensions are deducted from the amount of this compensatory allowance (art. 280-1 and…
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I drew up a holograph will a long time ago and now I don't know what I've done with it. I've recently drawn up a new one. Does it automatically cancel the previous will?

No. If you do not specify in your last will and testament that it cancels any prior arrangements you may have made, these will be enforceable insofar as they do not conflict with your last will and testament.
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I became the usufructuary of my spouse's property upon his/her death. Do I have to declare the value of freehold assets to calculate the IFI?

No, if the dismemberment of ownership results from the option exercised within the framework of your legal rights (article 757 of the Civil Code), you only declare the value of the usufruct. This value is determined according to the scale of article 669 of the General Tax Code, according to…
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Following the death of our father, my sister and I inherited some farmland over which the SAFER has a right of pre-emption. I want to sell my undivided shares to my sister.

[...] Will SAFER's right of pre-emption prevent her from acquiring my shares? No, the SAFER's right of pre-emption does not apply in this case, in application of the provisions of article L143-4 3° of the Code rural et de la pêche maritime, which stipulates that: "The following may not be…
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After their retirement, my parents moved to Portugal, where they bought a house. My father has passed away, and we need to appraise this residence for the inheritance declaration. How should we proceed ?

Generally, when the deceased owned real estate, the value to be considered for the inheritance declaration is the market value on the date of death (Article 761, paragraph 1 of the General Tax Code and BOI-ENR-DMTG-10-40-20 §20). This is the value that would be obtained if the property were sold…
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I am single with no children. I am considering appointing an animal protection association as the universal legatee of my estate. If it declines the bequest, can it choose who shall receive it instead ?

No. The will reflects the last wishes of its author. Therefore, if you appoint an association as the universal legatee, it has the option to accept or decline the bequest (Article 724-1 of the Civil Code). If it declines and you have not designated a secondary legatee, the rules of…
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I have drafted my will, can I keep it at home?

Yes . You can keep your holographic will at home. But by doing so, you take the risk that it will not be discovered when you die or that one of your relatives will make it disappear. As a precaution, you can give it to a notary and ask them…
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I found out that all the heirs of my tenant who died 6 months ago have decided to renounce his estate. The apartment is still furnished with furniture from my former tenant. Can I get rid of it?

No. A landlord cannot himself recover the accommodation and get rid of the furniture of his deceased tenant. When there is no known heir and if the rental contract has ended, the owner must first obtain a court decision (article 1324 of the Code of Civil Procedure). The costs of…
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I want to give bare ownership of assets to my minor grandchildren and keep the usufruct. If I die before they reach majority, I do not want these assets to be managed by their parents. Is this possible ?

Yes. It is entirely possible to make a donation to your minor grandchildren. This donation must be accepted by their legal administrators (their parents), in accordance with Article 935 of the Civil Code. However, you can specify in the donation act that the donated assets be managed by a third…
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My mother, a French citizen, passed away in Germany, where she had been living for several years. Which law applies to her estate?

It depends. If your mother has not drawn up a will in which she chooses her national law, the European Inheritance Regulation (n°650/2012 of July 4, 2012) must be applied. This regulation mentions that the applicable law is the of the country in which the deceased resided. Your mother's estate…
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We have just inherited a house through joint possession with my brothers and sisters. Is it true that we have five years to share?

No. While the Civil Code provides that partition may be requested at any given time, it does not impose a maximum duration. The co-owners can even decide to conclude an agreement of joint ownership between them relating to the management of the joint goods. Its duration is limited to 5…
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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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I have drawn up my will and filed it with the notary. I forgot to number the sheets and indicate the contact details of the notary. Is it still valid?

Yes. The conditions of validity of the holograph will are provided for in article 970 of the Civil Code: it must be written by the hand of the testator, dated, and signed. It specifies that it is not subject to any other form.
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My spouse, with whom I had been living separately for several years, has just passed away. He had no children, and I have learned that he left all his assets to the Red Cross. Is this legal ?

No. Despite your years of separation, you still retain the status of "entitled spouse" (Article 732 of the Civil Code). In the absence of children, the law provides that you are entitled to at least 1/4 of his estate (Article 914-1 of the Civil Code). Therefore, you are entitled to…
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My partner appointed me as the sole legatee of his property upon his death. Can his brothers and sisters still take over the property he received from their parents, by inheritance?

No. The universal legacy makes it possible to set aside the right of return of the brothers and sisters, including if it is made for the benefit of the Civil Union partner of the testator (art. 757-3 C. civ. et Cass. Civ. 1e, 28 Jan. 2015, n°14-20.587).
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My ex-husband passed away. He was very spendthrift. As the legal representative of our minor child, I am considering making an acceptance up to the net assets on his behalf. Is the authorization of the guardianship judge obligatory?

No. Acceptance up to the amount of the net assets makes it possible to limit the patrimonial risks for the heir since he is not liable for the debts of the deceased, on his personal assets. As long as this acceptance does not present a risk for the minor to…
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My husband has passed away. As part of his support obligation, he paid his parents a sum every month to help them pay for their retirement home (EPHAD). Will I have to continue paying it?

It depends. The law stipulates that daughters-in-law and sons-in-law are obliged to help their parents-in-law materially and financially as part of the obligation to provide support (art. 206 C. civ.). The death of your husband does not terminate this obligation (Lyon Jan. 25, 1967). On the other hand, if you…
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Our father (debirentier) predeceased the sellers (crédirentiers) of the property he bought as a life annuity. As the deceased's heir, do I have to continue paying the annuities until the sellers die?

Yes. As part of your father's estate, you inherited the property he had purchased as a life annuity, as well as the related debts. It is therefore your responsibility to continue paying the annuities until the death of the seller.
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My father just passed away and we are three of his children. He had drawn up a will that benefited me to the detriment of my brothers and sisters. The latter are contesting his will. Can they do so?

No. It is perfectly possible to break the equality between heirs. However, the notary will have to ensure that your share does not encroach on the hereditary reserve of your coheirs. If this is the case, they will be entitled to claim, "financial compensation" from you, known as a "reduction…
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I have just learned that my father is very indebted. To protect myself, can I already renounce his inheritance before his death?

No. Articles 720 and 722 of the Civil Code state that "inheritances open upon the death of the deceased" and that "all agreements aimed at creating rights or renouncing rights to all or part of an unopened inheritance or any of its assets only take effect if authorized by law."…
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One of the co-heirs has accepted the succession but has not responded to reminders from the notary for several months. Can we still share?

Yes, but only under certain conditions. The defaulting co-owner, who is neither presumed absent nor unable to express his will due to removal, must then be given formal notice by extrajudicial act to be represented at the partition. The request must come from one of the co-sharers. If within three…
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I have drawn up my will and filed it with the notary. I forgot to number the sheets and indicate the contact details of the notary. Is it still valid?

Yes. The conditions of validity of the holograph will are provided for in article 970 of the Civil Code: it must be written by the hand of the testator, dated, and signed. It specifies that it is not subject to any other form.
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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?

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.
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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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I am considering filing an inheritance declaration and paying the associated inheritance taxes. Does this filing imply tacit acceptance of the inheritance ?

In principle, no. If filing an inheritance declaration and paying the taxes are not listed in Article 784 of the Civil Code (which lists acts that do not imply tacit acceptance), old case law has considered that these actions do not constitute tacit acceptance, provided that the taxes are paid…
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I found out that all the heirs of my tenant who died 6 months ago have decided to renounce his estate. The apartment is still furnished with furniture from my former tenant. Can I get rid of it?

No. A landlord cannot himself recover the accommodation and get rid of the furniture of his deceased tenant. When there is no known heir and if the rental contract has ended, the owner must first obtain a court decision (article 1324 of the Code of Civil Procedure). The costs of…
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My partner to whom I was not married has passed away. He had entered into a mandate for future protection and appointed our daughter as mandatary. This convention has never been implemented. Can my daughter invoke it to settle the estate on her own?

No. The purpose of the mandate for future protection is to allow a designated person (the mandatary) to represent the mandator who could no longer provide for his interests alone (article 477 of the Civil Code). This mandate ends on the death of the principal, whether it has been implemented…
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I have just learned that my father is very indebted. To protect myself, can I already renounce his inheritance before his death?

No. Articles 720 and 722 of the Civil Code state that "inheritances open upon the death of the deceased" and that "all agreements aimed at creating rights or renouncing rights to all or part of an unopened inheritance or any of its assets only take effect if authorized by law."…
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Following their divorce, my father paid his ex-wife a compensatory allowance, in the form of an annuity. He has passed away. I learned that she was going to receive a survivor's pension. Are these two services cumulative?

No. When the compensatory allowance was paid in the form of an annuity, at the time of the death of the debtor spouse, in principle it is immediately payable in the form of a lump sum. Reversion pensions are deducted from the amount of this compensatory allowance (art. 280-1 and…
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We are two brothers and one sister co-owning an agricultural land. My sister and I want to lease it, but my brother opposes. Is the agreement of all co-owners required ?

Yes. Regarding co-ownership, Article 815-3 4° of the Civil Code states that a majority of two-thirds of the co-owners can "conclude and renew leases other than those concerning a property for agricultural, commercial, industrial, or artisanal use." In your case, it is a lease for agricultural use, which requires the…
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I became the usufructuary of my spouse's property upon his/her death. Do I have to declare the value of freehold assets to calculate the IFI?

No, if the dismemberment of ownership results from the option exercised within the framework of your legal rights (article 757 of the Civil Code), you only declare the value of the usufruct. This value is determined according to the scale of article 669 of the General Tax Code, according to…
See more
My son passed away. He was married and had a daughter. My daughter-in-law opted for the usufruct of the entire estate of her late husband, which only includes money. The notary told my granddaughter that she would not receive the money ...

... from this inheritance until her mother passed away. Is this true? Yes. In theory, the usufructuary cannot dispose of the property of the concerned usufruct. However, the Civil Code allows an exception when the usufruct includes elements that cannot be used without consuming them, such as money. In which…
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I would like to have a will drawn up in order to bequeath my property to my godson. My notary is asking me to come to the meeting with 2 witnesses. Can my godson's wife be one of them?

No . Indeed, article 975 of the Civil Code specifies that legatees in any capacity whatsoever, as well as their relatives or allies up to the fourth degree, cannot be chosen as witnesses. The alliance being the bond that is established by marriage, the wife of your godchild cannot be…
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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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Following the death of our parents, my brothers and I became joint owners of a property located in a condominium. The general meeting of co-owners is due to be held soon. Can each of us take part in the vote, given that we don't get along?

No. When a condominium is held by undivided co-owners, the indivision as a whole is represented by a joint agent chosen by the undivided co-owners. In the case of a disagreement, the representative is appointed by the president of the court to which the matter has been referred either by…
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Following the death of my father, I became the bare owner of a property and my mother the usufructuary. Should I declare the value of this bare ownership for my real estate wealth tax?

Yes. When the division (existence of a usufruct and bare ownership) results from a death and the exercise by the surviving spouse of their legal rights, Article 968 paragraph 2, 1° of the General Tax Code specifies that the value of the bare ownership must be included in the calculation…
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My parents having had 4 children, they obtained social housing with 5 rooms about thirty years ago. After the death of my father, my mother stayed in this apartment, and I came to live with her a year and a half ago. She passed away and I want to (...)

...take over her lease. Is it possible? It depends . Indeed, on the death of the tenant, the rental contract can be transferred to the descendants who lived with him for at least one year on the date of death (art. 14 law n ° 89-462 of July 6, 1989)…
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My aunt is going to lend me some money. We have planned for me to repay it in monthly installments over a period of 5 years. A loan deed will be regularized by a notary. If she dies before this term (...)

do her children have the right to demand that I pay them the outstanding amount in one go? No . On the death of a person, the rights, and shares that he held during his lifetime are automatically transmitted to his heirs (art. 724 C. civ.). The Court of Cassation…
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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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I was the bare owner of a house, the usufructuary has just passed away. Does my notary have to take steps with the land registration service?

No. In the case mentioned, there is no legal obligation to advertise with the land advertisement service. The death of the usufructuary will simply be mentioned in the next deed of disposal subject to publication relating to this house (example: a sale), by the former bare owner who has become…
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My father has just passed away. I am currently involved in a dispute with my brother who believes that I have been advantaged because our father financed my higher education. Are these amounts reportable to the estate?

No. In principle, the law provides that education costs are not reportable to the estate (article 852 of the Civil Code), just like the costs of food, maintenance, learning, ordinary equipment costs, wedding gifts and usual gifts. However, this legal exemption from reporting to the estate only applies if your…
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After their retirement, my parents moved to Portugal, where they bought a house. My father has passed away, and we need to appraise this residence for the inheritance declaration. How should we proceed ?

Generally, when the deceased owned real estate, the value to be considered for the inheritance declaration is the market value on the date of death (Article 761, paragraph 1 of the General Tax Code and BOI-ENR-DMTG-10-40-20 §20). This is the value that would be obtained if the property were sold…
See more
My aunt is going to lend me some money. We have planned for me to repay it in monthly installments over a period of 5 years. A loan deed will be regularized by a notary. If she dies before this term (...)

do her children have the right to demand that I pay them the outstanding amount in one go? No . On the death of a person, the rights, and shares that he held during his lifetime are automatically transmitted to his heirs (art. 724 C. civ.). The Court of Cassation…
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My parents having had 4 children, they obtained social housing with 5 rooms about thirty years ago. After the death of my father, my mother stayed in this apartment, and I came to live with her a year and a half ago. She passed away and I want to (...)

...take over her lease. Is it possible? It depends . Indeed, on the death of the tenant, the rental contract can be transferred to the descendants who lived with him for at least one year on the date of death (art. 14 law n ° 89-462 of July 6, 1989)…
See more
Following the death of my mother, I inherited her apartment. I wish to sell it. What is the acquisition value to be used in order to determine the amount of the real estate capital gain?

The capital gain carried out on the sale of a property is equal to the difference between the sale price and the acquisition price. When the property was received following a death, the acquisition price corresponds to the value retained in the declaration of succession (art. 150 VB, I, CGI).
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I am considering filing an inheritance declaration and paying the associated inheritance taxes. Does this filing imply tacit acceptance of the inheritance ?

In principle, no. If filing an inheritance declaration and paying the taxes are not listed in Article 784 of the Civil Code (which lists acts that do not imply tacit acceptance), old case law has considered that these actions do not constitute tacit acceptance, provided that the taxes are paid…
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I plan to have a mandate for future protection drawn up by my notary. Is it true that this warrant cannot be challenged once activated?

No. The future protection mandate allows you to designate in advance one or more people to represent you, in the event that you or you are no longer able to provide for your interests alone. However, the law provides for cases of termination of the mandate (article 483 of the…
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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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My husband and I have been living apart for several years and no longer have any contact. I found out that he's started a new life. Is it possible to deprive him of all the rights to my estate?

No. Subject to the absence of children and the predecease of the deceased's father and mother, the surviving (non-divorced) spouse is entitled to the full inheritance of his or her spouse (art. 757-2 C. civ.). Although you can reduce your husband's rights by bequeathing your assets to whomever you wish…
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My mother is a widow, and I am her only child. She received the ASPA (non-contributory provident benefit). Will I have to repay this assistance when she passes away?

Yes but, only if the net assets of the estate exceed 39,000 euros (art. D.815-4 of the Social Security Code). The net estate assets correspond to the difference between the gross assets, made up of the property, rights and claims belonging to the deceased and the debts for which the…
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My widowed mother passed away 15 years ago, and my brother and I never went to a notary to settle her estate. We want to sell her house, but a friend told me that we no longer have the authority to do so. Is this true?

Yes. Upon a person’s death, their heirs have 10 years to declare whether they accept or reject the estate (Article 780, paragraph 1 of the Civil Code). After this period, they are considered to have renounced the estate (Article 780, paragraph 2 of the Civil Code) and therefore no longer…
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Who owns the furniture in a usufructuary apartment?

Gift-sharing: My wife owns a house, while her mother has the usufruct of one of the 2 apartments. Who will own the furniture when her mother dies? the bare owner or the heirs? If the gift concerns real estate, the furniture is not included in the gift unless this was…
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Following the death of our parents, we signed an act of sharing with my sisters. Two days later, one of them came to the family home to claim a property that had been assigned to me. Does she have the right to do so?

No. Following the partition, each co-heir is deemed to have succeeded alone and immediately to all the effects included in his lot and cannot take ownership of the other assets of the succession (art. 883 C. civ.). Consequently, it is not possible for a co-partitioner to appropriate property attributed to…
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My aunt passed away. She wasn't married and had no children. She had planned to leave her house to me. The notary with whom she had deposited her will, told me that she had taken it back. How do I know that they’re telling the truth?

When a notary is entrusted with a will, it is registered in the central register of last wills and testaments, unless the testator objects (Art. 4.1.b of the Basel Convention of May 16, 1972, on the Establishment of a Scheme of Registration of Wills). If the will has been registered…
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My mother had a future protection mandate drafted by her notary and appointed me as the agent. Unfortunately, she passed away before the mandate was activated. I am her sole heir. Can I use this mandate to retrieve funds (15,000 euros) ...

... from her bank accounts? No. The future protection mandate ceases to apply upon the death of the person to be protected (article 483 2° of the Civil Code). You should consult a notary to establish a certificate of heirship that will allow you to recover your mother's liquid assets…
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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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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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Following the death of my ex-husband, a civil servant, I benefit from a survivor's pension. I'm in a relationship again, but we don't live together. Will I lose the benefit of this right?

No. Article L.46 of the Code of civil and military retirement pensions provides that a divorced spouse who lives in notorious cohabitation loses his right to a pension. However, for a union to be qualified as concubinage, there must be a community of life. Two people in a couple who…
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My aunt passed away. She wasn't married and had no children. She had planned to leave her house to me. The notary with whom she had deposited her will, told me that she had taken it back. How do I know that they’re telling the truth?

When a notary is entrusted with a will, it is registered in the central register of last wills and testaments, unless the testator objects (Art. 4.1.b of the Basel Convention of May 16, 1972, on the Establishment of a Scheme of Registration of Wills). If the will has been registered…
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My wife has just passed away. We owned our primary residence. As part of the inheritance tax declaration, am I obliged to apply the 20% deduction on the principal residence of the deceased? ?

Yes. The General Tax Code provides, for the calculation of inheritance tax, that buildings are valued according to their real market value on the date of death. But, with regard to the main residence of the deceased, article 764 bis of the CGI provides for the automatic application of a…
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We applied for guardianship of my father. Is it up to us to pay the guardian?

No. If the measure of guardianship is entrusted to a member of the family, it is then exercised free of charge. Sometimes, the guardianship judge or the family council, realizing the importance of the property which needs to be managed or the difficulty of exercising the measure, may award compensation…
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I was the bare owner of a house, the usufructuary has just passed away. Does my notary have to take steps with the land registration service?

No. In the case mentioned, there is no legal obligation to advertise with the land advertisement service. The death of the usufructuary will simply be mentioned in the next deed of disposal subject to publication relating to this house (example: a sale), by the former bare owner who has become…
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I am the universal legatee of a deceased person with whom I had no family relationship. If I accept this bequest, will I be able to benefit from an allowance?

Yes. Article 788 of the General Tax Code provides for an allowance of 1594 euros in the absence of any other applicable allowance. After this deduction, your tax rate will amount to 60% of the value of the bequeathed assets.
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I would like to have a will drawn up in order to bequeath my property to my godson. My notary is asking me to come to the meeting with 2 witnesses. Can my godson's wife be one of them?

No . Indeed, article 975 of the Civil Code specifies that legatees in any capacity whatsoever, as well as their relatives or allies up to the fourth degree, cannot be chosen as witnesses. The alliance being the bond that is established by marriage, the wife of your godchild cannot be…
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Who owns the furniture in a usufructuary apartment?

Gift-sharing: My wife owns a house, while her mother has the usufruct of one of the 2 apartments. Who will own the furniture when her mother dies? the bare owner or the heirs? If the gift concerns real estate, the furniture is not included in the gift unless this was…
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Under a future protection mandate established by the notary of my father (who has since been diagnosed with Alzheimer's), I have become his agent. Is it possible for me to account for my management to my own notary?

No. When the mandate is established in authentic form, the law requires the agent to render his accounts and all "useful supporting documents" to the drafting notary of said mandate (article 491 of the Civil Code).
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I have drafted my will, can I keep it at home?

Yes . You can keep your holographic will at home. But by doing so, you take the risk that it will not be discovered when you die or that one of your relatives will make it disappear. As a precaution, you can give it to a notary and ask them…
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One of the co-heirs has accepted the succession but has not responded to reminders from the notary for several months. Can we still share?

Yes, but only under certain conditions. The defaulting co-owner, who is neither presumed absent nor unable to express his will due to removal, must then be given formal notice by extrajudicial act to be represented at the partition. The request must come from one of the co-sharers. If within three…
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My cousin passed away. She was married but separated from her spouse. She had no children, no siblings and her parents passed away as well. In her will, she bequeathed all of her real estate to me. My notary tells me that if I give up (...)

... her property will revert to her spouse. Is it correct? Yes . Renunciation of a bequest has the effect of rendering the testamentary disposition null and void (art. 1043 C. civ.). The devolution of inheritance then takes place as if this provision had never existed. Since your cousin has…
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Containment: How can you draw out an emergency will?

Notaries continue to advise their clients on their testamentary dispositions. In case of emergency and necessity, they may have to travel to collect an authentic will for clients who are very sick or even at the end of their life. All in compliance with the regulations and sanitary rules, which…
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Is it legal to make a will one month before passing away?

Yes. The law does not set any time limit between writing a will and the day of death. However, to be valid, the testator must be of sound mind (Articles 414-1 and 901 of the Civil Code). Therefore, a person cannot make a will after the opening of guardianship without…
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My mother passed away and apparently had debts, including unpaid wages to her housekeeper. I am hesitant to accept the inheritance. Does settling the unpaid wages expose me to accepting the inheritance ?

No. Article 784, 4° of the Civil Code states that certain actions at the time of death cannot be considered as tacit acceptance of the inheritance. This includes " acts related to the termination of the employment contract of the deceased employer’s employee, the payment of salaries and allowances due…
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I own a house inherited from my parents. Upon my death, I wish to bequeath it to one of my daughters, then have it passed on to my grandson upon her death, with the condition that he transfers it to his future child. Is this possible ?

Partially. By will, you can bequeath this house to your daughter with the condition that she keeps and transfers it to her son (Article 1051 of the Civil Code). However, the law does not allow you to impose this condition on your grandson (Article 1053 paragraph 1 of the Civil…
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My mother always lived in Martinique, but she came to the mainland for medical treatment, where she unfortunately passed away. Is it true that I have one year to file the inheritance declaration with the tax authorities ?

Yes. Article 642 of the General Tax Code provides that when the deceased has passed away outside the department of Martinique where they were domiciled, the heirs have a one-year period to file the inheritance declaration with the tax authorities (as an exception to the six-month period).
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I am single with no children. I am considering appointing an animal protection association as the universal legatee of my estate. If it declines the bequest, can it choose who shall receive it instead ?

No. The will reflects the last wishes of its author. Therefore, if you appoint an association as the universal legatee, it has the option to accept or decline the bequest (Article 724-1 of the Civil Code). If it declines and you have not designated a secondary legatee, the rules of…
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My father is under a notarized future protection mandate. I am the agent. He intended to make a donation but could not do so before this measure was implemented. Is it still possible ?

Yes. A future protection mandate does not prevent the protected person from disposing of their property with the assistance of their agent. However, Article 490 paragraph 2 of the Civil Code requires the agent to obtain the authorization of the guardianship judge to "perform a disposition act for free." The…
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My mother, a French citizen, passed away in Germany, where she had been living for several years. Which law applies to her estate?

It depends. If your mother has not drawn up a will in which she chooses her national law, the European Inheritance Regulation (n°650/2012 of July 4, 2012) must be applied. This regulation mentions that the applicable law is the of the country in which the deceased resided. Your mother's estate…
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My father passed away 3 months ago. My mother opted for the usufruct. My brothers and I are liable for inheritance tax. I'd like to ask the tax department to defer payment until the day the usufruct ends. Should my brothers also request this ?

No. You may be the only one to opt for deferred payment of inheritance tax. However, it is imperative that your brothers give their express agreement to this request, and that they declare that they have been informed that, in the event of default on your part, they remain liable…
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My spouse passed away. I am the beneficiary of a spousal donation which states that if I choose to be the usufructuary, I am exempt from making an inventory and an appraisal of the property. However, my stepchildren are demanding these...

..do they have the right? Yes. The law is clear: Article 1094-3 of the Civil Code states that " Children or descendants may, notwithstanding any stipulation to the contrary by the donor, require that an inventory of movable property and an appraisal of immovable property subject to usufruct be made
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My father has just passed away. He had very little wealth. Am I required to have an act of notoriety to unlock my bank assets?

Everything will depend on the total amount of the deceased's financial assets. To be able to obtain the payment of the funds, you must provide the bank with an affidavit drawn up by a notary if the amount is greater than 5000 euros. On the other hand, if the amount…
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We have just inherited a house through joint possession with my brothers and sisters. Is it true that we have five years to share?

No. While the Civil Code provides that partition may be requested at any given time, it does not impose a maximum duration. The co-owners can even decide to conclude an agreement of joint ownership between them relating to the management of the joint goods. Its duration is limited to 5…
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My cousin passed away. She was married but separated from her spouse. She had no children, no siblings and her parents passed away as well. In her will, she bequeathed all of her real estate to me. My notary tells me that if I give up (...)

... her property will revert to her spouse. Is it correct? Yes . Renunciation of a bequest has the effect of rendering the testamentary disposition null and void (art. 1043 C. civ.). The devolution of inheritance then takes place as if this provision had never existed. Since your cousin has…
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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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Both my grandparents died in a house fire. They were married without a contract. How will their estates be settled?

If two individuals die in the same event, and each was entitled to inherit from the other, as often occurs with spouses, each estate is settled according to the order of death (Art. 725-1 C. civ.). This order can be established by any means. If it is impossible to determine…
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My husband passed away 1 year ago. Our main residence belonged jointly to my husband and his brother. Can I take advantage of the lifetime right of article 764 of the Civil Code as a surviving spouse?

No. To be able to benefit from the lifetime right provided for by article 764 of the Civil Code, the accommodation must belong to the spouses or depend totally on the estate. However, if the accommodation was held by the deceased in joint ownership with a third party, the spouse…
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My brother has passed away. He was single and didn’t have children. My sister and I have conducted an inventory of his estate for the purposes of the tax inheritance declaration. I live abroad and was able to be represented. (...)

(...) Now the notary is asking us to personally sign the inventory closure deed. Why ? The purpose of closing the inventory is to confirm that all operations have been completed. On this occasion, those who were in possession of the deceased's assets before the inventory or who lived in…
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Following my mother's death, the notary is requesting my parents' family record book to settle the estate. Unable to provide it, the notary is considering calling in a genealogist. Is this the usual procedure?

Yes, the notary in charge of settling an estate must establish the devolution of the estate (identification of heirs and indication of their legal share). In your case, the latter must ensure that your mother had no children other except you. Its role is all the more important as it…
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My spouse passed away, and we did not have a joint will. Since he had children from a previous marriage, I receive 1/4 of his estate. Can I accept only part of his inheritance?

No. The right of the surviving spouse to limit their acceptance to certain assets (known as "cantonment") is only legally possible if there is a joint will between spouses (Article 1094-3 of the Civil Code). In the absence of such a provision, you can only accept or renounce the entire…
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My brother has passed away. He was single and didn’t have children. My sister and I have conducted an inventory of his estate for the purposes of the tax inheritance declaration. I live abroad and was able to be represented. (...)

(...) Now the notary is asking us to personally sign the inventory closure deed. Why ? The purpose of closing the inventory is to confirm that all operations have been completed. On this occasion, those who were in possession of the deceased's assets before the inventory or who lived in…
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My mother is a widow, and I am her only child. She received the ASPA (non-contributory provident benefit). Will I have to repay this assistance when she passes away?

Yes but, only if the net assets of the estate exceed 39,000 euros (art. D.815-4 of the Social Security Code). The net estate assets correspond to the difference between the gross assets, made up of the property, rights and claims belonging to the deceased and the debts for which the…
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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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I drew up a holograph will a long time ago and now I don't know what I've done with it. I've recently drawn up a new one. Does it automatically cancel the previous will?

No. If you do not specify in your last will and testament that it cancels any prior arrangements you may have made, these will be enforceable insofar as they do not conflict with your last will and testament.
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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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I want to give bare ownership of assets to my minor grandchildren and keep the usufruct. If I die before they reach majority, I do not want these assets to be managed by their parents. Is this possible ?

Yes. It is entirely possible to make a donation to your minor grandchildren. This donation must be accepted by their legal administrators (their parents), in accordance with Article 935 of the Civil Code. However, you can specify in the donation act that the donated assets be managed by a third…
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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?

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…
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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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We applied for guardianship of my father. Is it up to us to pay the guardian?

No. If the measure of guardianship is entrusted to a member of the family, it is then exercised free of charge. Sometimes, the guardianship judge or the family council, realizing the importance of the property which needs to be managed or the difficulty of exercising the measure, may award compensation…
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Following my mother's death, the notary is requesting my parents' family record book to settle the estate. Unable to provide it, the notary is considering calling in a genealogist. Is this the usual procedure?

Yes, the notary in charge of settling an estate must establish the devolution of the estate (identification of heirs and indication of their legal share). In your case, the latter must ensure that your mother had no children other except you. Its role is all the more important as it…
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My father passed away 3 months ago. My mother opted for the usufruct. My brothers and I are liable for inheritance tax. I'd like to ask the tax department to defer payment until the day the usufruct ends. Should my brothers also request this ?

No. You may be the only one to opt for deferred payment of inheritance tax. However, it is imperative that your brothers give their express agreement to this request, and that they declare that they have been informed that, in the event of default on your part, they remain liable…
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My spouse has passed away. He owned the apartment where we were living at the time of his death, which he bought before our marriage. I have a ¼ share of his estate. I want to become the owner, but his children do not agree. Can they prevent it?

No. The surviving spouse who co-owns the deceased's property can request the preferential allocation of the main residence if it was already their home at the time of death (Article 831-2, 1° Civil Code). If requested, this allocation is automatic and binding on the other co-owners (Article 831-3 Civil Code).
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My mother passed away and apparently had debts, including unpaid wages to her housekeeper. I am hesitant to accept the inheritance. Does settling the unpaid wages expose me to accepting the inheritance ?

No. Article 784, 4° of the Civil Code states that certain actions at the time of death cannot be considered as tacit acceptance of the inheritance. This includes " acts related to the termination of the employment contract of the deceased employer’s employee, the payment of salaries and allowances due…
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My spouse has passed away. He owned the apartment where we were living at the time of his death, which he bought before our marriage. I have a ¼ share of his estate. I want to become the owner, but his children do not agree. Can they prevent it?

No. The surviving spouse who co-owns the deceased's property can request the preferential allocation of the main residence if it was already their home at the time of death (Article 831-2, 1° Civil Code). If requested, this allocation is automatic and binding on the other co-owners (Article 831-3 Civil Code).
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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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My best friend passed away recently. He was single, childless and under guardianship. Supervision was exercised by a legal representative for the protection of individuals. Can the guardian seize a notary to take care of his estate?

Yes. In the event of the death of an adult who is the subject of a protective measure exercised by a legal representative for the protection of adults, the latter may, in the absence of known heirs, seize the notary of the deceased through a view of settling the estate…
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My husband and I have been living apart for several years and no longer have any contact. I found out that he's started a new life. Is it possible to deprive him of all the rights to my estate?

No. Subject to the absence of children and the predecease of the deceased's father and mother, the surviving (non-divorced) spouse is entitled to the full inheritance of his or her spouse (art. 757-2 C. civ.). Although you can reduce your husband's rights by bequeathing your assets to whomever you wish…
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Under a future protection mandate established by the notary of my father (who has since been diagnosed with Alzheimer's), I have become his agent. Is it possible for me to account for my management to my own notary?

No. When the mandate is established in authentic form, the law requires the agent to render his accounts and all "useful supporting documents" to the drafting notary of said mandate (article 491 of the Civil Code).
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My father has died, leaving three children and we find ourselves in undivided ownership of his house, which constituted. My eldest brother and I want to sell it. What should we do if our younger brother doesn't agree?

You each share one-third of the property. With your older brother, you therefore have a two-thirds majority. This quota is not without interest for a sale, since article 815-5-1 of the French Civil Code provides a solution to the lack of unanimity: " Except in the case of dismemberment of…
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I signed a revelation contract suggested by a genealogist at home yesterday. Upon reflection, I realize the payout percentage is too high. Can I retract and cancel everything ?

Yes. The revelation contract proposed by a genealogist is subject to consumer protection rules ( Rep. Min. Pajon au JOAN du 23-10-2000 n° 50427 ), and consequently to the rules concerning door-to-door sales. You therefore have the 14-day withdrawal period provided for in Article L.221-18 of the Consumer Code applicable…
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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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We are two brothers and one sister co-owning an agricultural land. My sister and I want to lease it, but my brother opposes. Is the agreement of all co-owners required ?

Yes. Regarding co-ownership, Article 815-3 4° of the Civil Code states that a majority of two-thirds of the co-owners can "conclude and renew leases other than those concerning a property for agricultural, commercial, industrial, or artisanal use." In your case, it is a lease for agricultural use, which requires the…
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Following the death of our father, my sister and I inherited some farmland over which the SAFER has a right of pre-emption. I want to sell my undivided shares to my sister.

[...] Will SAFER's right of pre-emption prevent her from acquiring my shares? No, the SAFER's right of pre-emption does not apply in this case, in application of the provisions of article L143-4 3° of the Code rural et de la pêche maritime, which stipulates that: "The following may not be…
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My father is under a notarized future protection mandate. I am the agent. He intended to make a donation but could not do so before this measure was implemented. Is it still possible ?

Yes. A future protection mandate does not prevent the protected person from disposing of their property with the assistance of their agent. However, Article 490 paragraph 2 of the Civil Code requires the agent to obtain the authorization of the guardianship judge to "perform a disposition act for free." The…
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I am the universal legatee of a deceased person with whom I had no family relationship. If I accept this bequest, will I be able to benefit from an allowance?

Yes. Article 788 of the General Tax Code provides for an allowance of 1594 euros in the absence of any other applicable allowance. After this deduction, your tax rate will amount to 60% of the value of the bequeathed assets.
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Following the death of my ex-husband, a civil servant, I benefit from a survivor's pension. I'm in a relationship again, but we don't live together. Will I lose the benefit of this right?

No. Article L.46 of the Code of civil and military retirement pensions provides that a divorced spouse who lives in notorious cohabitation loses his right to a pension. However, for a union to be qualified as concubinage, there must be a community of life. Two people in a couple who…
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My grandfather plans to give me one of his plots of land that I farm. He wants to include a right of return for my sister so that the land does not revert to my wife on my death.

The notary refuses to include this in the deed of gift. Why? In accordance with article 951 of the Civil Code, "the donor may mention the right of return of the objects donated either in the case of the death of the donee alone, or in the event of the…
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My father owned and operated a farm. My brother participated in this activity without being paid but received the profits from the exploitation. Can he claim a deferred salary as part of our father's estate?

No. To be able to benefit from a deferred salary claim, the descendants of the deceased farmer must be over the age of 18 and participate directly and effectively in the operation. However, they must not have been associated with profits and losses, nor received salaries in cash (L.321-13 C…
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My father has just passed away. He had very little wealth. Am I required to have an act of notoriety to unlock my bank assets?

Everything will depend on the total amount of the deceased's financial assets. To be able to obtain the payment of the funds, you must provide the bank with an affidavit drawn up by a notary if the amount is greater than 5000 euros. On the other hand, if the amount…
See more
Both my grandparents died in a house fire. They were married without a contract. How will their estates be settled?

If two individuals die in the same event, and each was entitled to inherit from the other, as often occurs with spouses, each estate is settled according to the order of death (Art. 725-1 C. civ.). This order can be established by any means. If it is impossible to determine…
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My father just passed away and we are three of his children. He had drawn up a will that benefited me to the detriment of my brothers and sisters. The latter are contesting his will. Can they do so?

No. It is perfectly possible to break the equality between heirs. However, the notary will have to ensure that your share does not encroach on the hereditary reserve of your coheirs. If this is the case, they will be entitled to claim, "financial compensation" from you, known as a "reduction…
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My ex-husband passed away. He was very spendthrift. As the legal representative of our minor child, I am considering making an acceptance up to the net assets on his behalf. Is the authorization of the guardianship judge obligatory?

No. Acceptance up to the amount of the net assets makes it possible to limit the patrimonial risks for the heir since he is not liable for the debts of the deceased, on his personal assets. As long as this acceptance does not present a risk for the minor to…
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My father has died, leaving three children and we find ourselves in undivided ownership of his house, which constituted. My eldest brother and I want to sell it. What should we do if our younger brother doesn't agree?

You each share one-third of the property. With your older brother, you therefore have a two-thirds majority. This quota is not without interest for a sale, since article 815-5-1 of the French Civil Code provides a solution to the lack of unanimity: " Except in the case of dismemberment of…
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My grandfather has just passed away. He has left my aunt, my brother and me as heirs. In his will, he indicated that the available portion would go to his daughter. The notary tells me that my aunt is entitled to 2/3 of the inheritance. Is this true?

Yes. In accordance with Article 734 of the French Civil Code, in the absence of a surviving spouse, children and their descendants constitute the first order of heirs. Article 913-1 of the Civil Code specifies that all descendants are included under the term 'children,' “ even though they are to…
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My father has just passed away. I am currently involved in a dispute with my brother who believes that I have been advantaged because our father financed my higher education. Are these amounts reportable to the estate?

No. In principle, the law provides that education costs are not reportable to the estate (article 852 of the Civil Code), just like the costs of food, maintenance, learning, ordinary equipment costs, wedding gifts and usual gifts. However, this legal exemption from reporting to the estate only applies if your…
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I signed a revelation contract suggested by a genealogist at home yesterday. Upon reflection, I realize the payout percentage is too high. Can I retract and cancel everything ?

Yes. The revelation contract proposed by a genealogist is subject to consumer protection rules ( Rep. Min. Pajon au JOAN du 23-10-2000 n° 50427 ), and consequently to the rules concerning door-to-door sales. You therefore have the 14-day withdrawal period provided for in Article L.221-18 of the Consumer Code applicable…
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Following the death of our parents, my brothers and I became joint owners of a property located in a condominium. The general meeting of co-owners is due to be held soon. Can each of us take part in the vote, given that we don't get along?

No. When a condominium is held by undivided co-owners, the indivision as a whole is represented by a joint agent chosen by the undivided co-owners. In the case of a disagreement, the representative is appointed by the president of the court to which the matter has been referred either by…
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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 to whom I was not married has passed away. He had entered into a mandate for future protection and appointed our daughter as mandatary. This convention has never been implemented. Can my daughter invoke it to settle the estate on her own?

No. The purpose of the mandate for future protection is to allow a designated person (the mandatary) to represent the mandator who could no longer provide for his interests alone (article 477 of the Civil Code). This mandate ends on the death of the principal, whether it has been implemented…
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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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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?

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.
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My widowed mother passed away 15 years ago, and my brother and I never went to a notary to settle her estate. We want to sell her house, but a friend told me that we no longer have the authority to do so. Is this true?

Yes. Upon a person’s death, their heirs have 10 years to declare whether they accept or reject the estate (Article 780, paragraph 1 of the Civil Code). After this period, they are considered to have renounced the estate (Article 780, paragraph 2 of the Civil Code) and therefore no longer…
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My wife has just passed away. We owned our primary residence. As part of the inheritance tax declaration, am I obliged to apply the 20% deduction on the principal residence of the deceased? ?

Yes. The General Tax Code provides, for the calculation of inheritance tax, that buildings are valued according to their real market value on the date of death. But, with regard to the main residence of the deceased, article 764 bis of the CGI provides for the automatic application of a…
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I just found out that my father passed away 12 years ago. We no longer had any contact due to a family disagreement. Can I claim my share in the estate after so many years?

In principle, you lose the status of heir if you have not opted within the period of 10 years from the opening of the succession, from the date of death. You are then deemed to renounce this succession (article 780 al. 1 and 2 of the Civil Code) However…
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Our father passed away. He had remarried and we are 3 children from the first marriage. Our mother-in-law refuses to disclose the information she has on our father's bank accounts. Can the notary in charge of the succession identify them?

Notre père est décédé. Il était remarié et nous sommes 3 enfants du premier lit. Notre belle-mère refuse de communiquer les informations qu’elle détient sur les comptes bancaires de notre père. Le notaire en charge de la succession peut-il les identifier ? Yes . Indeed, law n° 2014-617 of June…
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How can I find out if I am the beneficiary of a life insurance policy?

You can contact a notary to check the FICOVIE database or reach out to the AGIRA organization (https://www.agira.asso.fr/) which will contact various institutions managing life insurance policies. This way, you will know if you are a beneficiary and which institution holds the policy.
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I just found out that my father passed away 12 years ago. We no longer had any contact due to a family disagreement. Can I claim my share in the estate after so many years?

In principle, you lose the status of heir if you have not opted within the period of 10 years from the opening of the succession, from the date of death. You are then deemed to renounce this succession (article 780 al. 1 and 2 of the Civil Code) However…
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My husband has passed away. As part of his support obligation, he paid his parents a sum every month to help them pay for their retirement home (EPHAD). Will I have to continue paying it?

It depends. The law stipulates that daughters-in-law and sons-in-law are obliged to help their parents-in-law materially and financially as part of the obligation to provide support (art. 206 C. civ.). The death of your husband does not terminate this obligation (Lyon Jan. 25, 1967). On the other hand, if you…
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Following the death of my father, I became the bare owner of a property and my mother the usufructuary. Should I declare the value of this bare ownership for my real estate wealth tax?

Yes. When the division (existence of a usufruct and bare ownership) results from a death and the exercise by the surviving spouse of their legal rights, Article 968 paragraph 2, 1° of the General Tax Code specifies that the value of the bare ownership must be included in the calculation…
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I would like to draw up a notarial will to make one of my daughters a universal legatee. My notary is asking me to appoint two witnesses. Can I choose my daughter's PACS partner?

Yes, article 975 of the French Civil Code stipulates that "neither the legatees in any capacity whatsoever, nor their relatives or allies up to and including the fourth degree (...) may be taken as witnesses to the will by public deed". The PACS partner is neither a relative nor an…
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My husband passed away 1 year ago. Our main residence belonged jointly to my husband and his brother. Can I take advantage of the lifetime right of article 764 of the Civil Code as a surviving spouse?

No. To be able to benefit from the lifetime right provided for by article 764 of the Civil Code, the accommodation must belong to the spouses or depend totally on the estate. However, if the accommodation was held by the deceased in joint ownership with a third party, the spouse…
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My mother has passed away. We found a video in which she stated that she is leaving all her belongings to my brother's children. Is this will valid ?

No. For a will to be valid, it must take one of the forms provided for by Article 969 of the Civil Code: holographic, authentic, or mystic, all of which require a written document. A will made on video is therefore null and void and cannot produce any effects (Reply…
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Following the death of our parents, we signed an act of sharing with my sisters. Two days later, one of them came to the family home to claim a property that had been assigned to me. Does she have the right to do so?

No. Following the partition, each co-heir is deemed to have succeeded alone and immediately to all the effects included in his lot and cannot take ownership of the other assets of the succession (art. 883 C. civ.). Consequently, it is not possible for a co-partitioner to appropriate property attributed to…
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Our father (debirentier) predeceased the sellers (crédirentiers) of the property he bought as a life annuity. As the deceased's heir, do I have to continue paying the annuities until the sellers die?

Yes. As part of your father's estate, you inherited the property he had purchased as a life annuity, as well as the related debts. It is therefore your responsibility to continue paying the annuities until the death of the seller.
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How can I find out if I am the beneficiary of a life insurance policy?

You can contact a notary to check the FICOVIE database or reach out to the AGIRA organization (https://www.agira.asso.fr/) which will contact various institutions managing life insurance policies. This way, you will know if you are a beneficiary and which institution holds the policy.
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My mother had a future protection mandate drafted by her notary and appointed me as the agent. Unfortunately, she passed away before the mandate was activated. I am her sole heir. Can I use this mandate to retrieve funds (15,000 euros) ...

... from her bank accounts? No. The future protection mandate ceases to apply upon the death of the person to be protected (article 483 2° of the Civil Code). You should consult a notary to establish a certificate of heirship that will allow you to recover your mother's liquid assets…
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My best friend passed away recently. He was single, childless and under guardianship. Supervision was exercised by a legal representative for the protection of individuals. Can the guardian seize a notary to take care of his estate?

Yes. In the event of the death of an adult who is the subject of a protective measure exercised by a legal representative for the protection of adults, the latter may, in the absence of known heirs, seize the notary of the deceased through a view of settling the estate…
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Is it legal to make a will one month before passing away?

Yes. The law does not set any time limit between writing a will and the day of death. However, to be valid, the testator must be of sound mind (Articles 414-1 and 901 of the Civil Code). Therefore, a person cannot make a will after the opening of guardianship without…
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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 plan to have a mandate for future protection drawn up by my notary. Is it true that this warrant cannot be challenged once activated?

No. The future protection mandate allows you to designate in advance one or more people to represent you, in the event that you or you are no longer able to provide for your interests alone. However, the law provides for cases of termination of the mandate (article 483 of the…
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My mother has passed away. We found a video in which she stated that she is leaving all her belongings to my brother's children. Is this will valid ?

No. For a will to be valid, it must take one of the forms provided for by Article 969 of the Civil Code: holographic, authentic, or mystic, all of which require a written document. A will made on video is therefore null and void and cannot produce any effects (Reply…
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Our father passed away. He had remarried and we are 3 children from the first marriage. Our mother-in-law refuses to disclose the information she has on our father's bank accounts. Can the notary in charge of the succession identify them?

Notre père est décédé. Il était remarié et nous sommes 3 enfants du premier lit. Notre belle-mère refuse de communiquer les informations qu’elle détient sur les comptes bancaires de notre père. Le notaire en charge de la succession peut-il les identifier ? Yes . Indeed, law n° 2014-617 of June…
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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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We are a family of 4 siblings. The eldest is single without children and wishes to bequeath all her property to her nephews and nieces. Does she have the right to do so?

Yes. A person can freely dispose of all their assets by will, as long as they have no compulsory heirs. The beneficiaries are the children (article 913 of the Civil Code) or their descendants in the event of predecease (article 913-1 of the Civil Code), and in the absence of…
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We are a family of 4 siblings. The eldest is single without children and wishes to bequeath all her property to her nephews and nieces. Does she have the right to do so?

Yes. A person can freely dispose of all their assets by will, as long as they have no compulsory heirs. The beneficiaries are the children (article 913 of the Civil Code) or their descendants in the event of predecease (article 913-1 of the Civil Code), and in the absence of…
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My spouse, with whom I had been living separately for several years, has just passed away. He had no children, and I have learned that he left all his assets to the Red Cross. Is this legal ?

No. Despite your years of separation, you still retain the status of "entitled spouse" (Article 732 of the Civil Code). In the absence of children, the law provides that you are entitled to at least 1/4 of his estate (Article 914-1 of the Civil Code). Therefore, you are entitled to…
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My partner appointed me as the sole legatee of his property upon his death. Can his brothers and sisters still take over the property he received from their parents, by inheritance?

No. The universal legacy makes it possible to set aside the right of return of the brothers and sisters, including if it is made for the benefit of the Civil Union partner of the testator (art. 757-3 C. civ. et Cass. Civ. 1e, 28 Jan. 2015, n°14-20.587).
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I would like to draw up a notarial will to make one of my daughters a universal legatee. My notary is asking me to appoint two witnesses. Can I choose my daughter's PACS partner?

Yes, article 975 of the French Civil Code stipulates that "neither the legatees in any capacity whatsoever, nor their relatives or allies up to and including the fourth degree (...) may be taken as witnesses to the will by public deed". The PACS partner is neither a relative nor an…
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My husband was retired. He passed away and left a huge debt. I plan to renounce his succession. Am I still entitled to the survivor's pension?

Yes. By renouncing the succession of your spouse, you lose the status of heir (article 805 of the Civil Code). On the other hand, you retain the status of spouse. However, the survivor's pension is a right reserved for the spouse or ex-spouse in the event of the death of…
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