Succession and Notary: legal experts in estate settlement

Updated on Thursday 9 April 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 Monday 23 March 2026

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 Friday 20 March 2026

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

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

A question ? Need help ?

Yes. Article 764 bis of the French Tax Code provides for a mandatory 20% allowance on the fair market value of the property that constituted the deceased’s principal residence at the date of death, provided that, on that same date, the property was also occupied as a principal residence by…

Yes, if the will is authentic (Art. 764 Civil Code).

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.

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…

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…

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 ?

My husband has passed away. In the inheritance tax return, the notary applies a 20% allowance to my late husband’s main residence, which I still occupy. Is this allowance mandatory?

Upon my husband’s death, I would like to have a lifelong right of residence in our marital home. However, I understand that he deprived me of this right by will. Is he allowed to do so?

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?

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?

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?