Succession and Notary: legal experts in estate settlement

Updated on Friday 27 March 2026

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Prepare its succession

Updated on Thursday 23 June 2022

Will: How to write one’s last will?

The will allows you to prepare your inheritance and organize the division of your property. It is the best way to protect yourself, especially for unmarried people. Only a will can make a civil partner inherit.

Updated on Friday 17 March 2023

Will: what is legacy?

Legacy is an inheritance by will. There are several types of legacies, which have their own features, but also their conditions.

Updated on Wednesday 11 February 2026

Life insurance and inheritance tax

Life insurance protects or favors one or more people in the event of death. The tax treatment for paid-in capital varies depending on the contract and at times waivers inheritance tax

Organize at the time of death

Updated on Thursday 28 August 2025

Death: Procedures to carry out

One of your loved ones has passed away. Who inherits? What is the ratio? How much does it cost? Your notary is here to help you and assist you with the inheritance transactions you need to carry out.

Updated on Thursday 13 November 2025

Succession and couples: the surviving partner’s rights over the home?

Even in the absence of a gift or a will, the surviving spouse is guaranteed the right to remain in the home upon the death of their partner. Is the same true for the home of partners in a civil union (PACS) or for cohabiting partners?

Heir

Updated on Wednesday 5 November 2025

French probate : An inheritance settlement

On an average, the timeframe for the complete settlement of an estate takes six months. This is the time limit to pay up the inheritance tax. In case of a delay, an interest of 0.20% per month is due to the tax authorities

Updated on Thursday 28 August 2025

French inheritance law : Order of heirs and scale of inheritance rights in France

The people concerned by your inheritance; aren’t necessarily those people you may think of. Determining the order of heirs, shall allow you to establish a transmission of property through inheritance.

Updated on Thursday 5 May 2022

Understand usufruct (life interest)

The usufructuary has the right of possession and use of the property, but he is not the owner. Attention: do not confuse usufruct and right of use and habitation.

Updated on Thursday 13 November 2025

Inheritance between spouses: rights of the surviving spouse

Since 2001, the surviving spouse is treated as a true heir except, if there has been a divorce or separation. But, the children of the deceased or members of his in-laws (heirs reserving) will limit his rights.

Updated on Wednesday 16 March 2022

Inheritance: set up the heritage reserve with the family pact

Through the family pact, a child can now accept an infringement on his/her reserve in advance. This legal system favors a disabled family member, who is financially incapacitated, for example.

Updated on Wednesday 2 March 2022

Search for a will using the last will file (FCDDV)

In 1971, in order to prevent inheritances being liquidated and divided up in breach of the deceased person's wishes, the notary profession created the Central Registry of Wills (FCDDV), or the Wills Registry.

A question ? Need help ?

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…

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…

If you sell a property as a life annuity to your child (who is your presumptive heir at the time of the sale), tax law considers this transaction as a gift, which will be charged against the disposable portion of your estate at the time of your death. In other…

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).

View our FAQ

Succession and Notary: legal experts in estate settlement

Prepare its succession

Organize at the time of death

Heir

A question ? Need help ?

Who owns the furniture in a usufructuary apartment?

International inheritance: what tax law applies if the second home is abroad?

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?

I have been advised against selling a property as a life annuity (viager) to my son. Why?

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?