Quick Overview
When a parent dies in France, you must declare the death at the Mairie (Town Hall) within 24 hours to obtain the acte de décès (death certificate). The succession process is managed by a Notaire, who is mandatory if real estate is involved and handles the acte de notoriété proving heirs. Inheritance tax (droits de succession) must be filed within 6 months via the déclaration de succession, with spouses fully exempt and children exempt up to €100,000 each, then progressive rates of 5-45%. France requires formal notarial procedures for property transfers and succession settlement, with the entire process typically taking 6-12 months for straightforward estates.
Key Facts
Critical deadline
6 months to file succession declaration (droits de succession)
Total cost range
€3,500-7,000 (funeral €3,000-6,000 + notaire fees €500-1,000)
Required professionals
Notaire (mandatory for real estate), Pompes funèbres (funeral)
Timeline
6-12 months for complete succession process
Government agencies
Mairie, Notaire, Centre des finances publiques, AGIRA
Tax exemptions
Spouse 100% exempt, children €100,000 each exempt
How It Works
What to Do When Someone Dies in France
The French succession process (succession) is managed by a Notaire and begins with declaring the death at the Mairie within 24 hours. After obtaining multiple copies of the acte de décès, you must check AGIRA for life insurance policies (which pass outside succession) and contact the Notaire within the first week, especially if real estate is involved. The Notaire prepares an acte de notoriété proving who the heirs are based on the will (testament) or French law. Heirs have 4 months to accept, reject, or accept with limited liability (sous bénéfice d'inventaire). The déclaration de succession (inheritance tax declaration) must be filed within 6 months for estates over €50,000 or with real estate. France offers generous exemptions: spouses are fully exempt from inheritance tax, and children receive €100,000 exemption each before progressive rates of 5-45% apply. Siblings receive €15,932 exemption. The Notaire handles property transfers via attestation immobilière and registers with Conservation des hypothèques. Banks freeze accounts until succession is resolved but may release €5,000 for funeral costs. Pensions must be reported to pension funds (Carsat, Agirc-Arrco) for survivor benefits (pension de réversion), with spouses potentially entitled to 54% of the deceased's pension.
Démarches critiques dans les premiers jours
Declare death at Mairie (Déclaration de décès)
Report death to the town hall within 24 hours.
Contact funeral services (Pompes funèbres)
Arrange funeral and body transport.
Notify employer (if applicable)
Inform employer to stop salary and claim final payments.
Notifications administratives
Contact a Notaire
Notaire handles succession (estate settlement) in France.
Notify banks (Banques)
Inform all banks about the death.
Check for life insurance (Assurance vie)
Look for life insurance policies.
Notify CAF (if applicable)
Report death to social benefits office.
Notify pension funds (Caisses de retraite)
Report death to pension providers.
Gestion de l'héritage
Establish acte de notoriété
Document proving who the heirs are.
Accept or reject inheritance
You can accept fully, accept with inventory, or reject.
File succession declaration (Déclaration de succession)
Tax declaration for inheritance.
Transfer property (Attestation immobilière)
Update property ownership records.
Tâches en cours
Cancel contracts and subscriptions
Phone, internet, utilities, subscriptions.
Transfer or sell vehicle
Change carte grise to heir's name.
File final tax return
Income tax declaration for year of death.
What to Do When Someone Dies Costs in France (2025)
Varies by service level and region
From Mairie
Regulated fees, higher for complex estates
Document proving heirs
Central life insurance registry
Conservation des hypothèques fees
Spouse exempt, children €100k exempt each
Only if succession contested
| Service | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Funeral services (Pompes funèbres) | €3,000-6,000 | Varies by service level and region |
| Death certificates (multiple copies) | Free | From Mairie |
| Notaire fees for succession | €500-1,000 | Regulated fees, higher for complex estates |
| Acte de notoriété | €150-300 | Document proving heirs |
| AGIRA search (life insurance) | Free | Central life insurance registry |
| Property transfer registration | €200-500 | Conservation des hypothèques fees |
| Inheritance tax (droits de succession) | €0-45% of estate | Spouse exempt, children €100k exempt each |
| Avocat (if disputes) | €1,500-5,000+ | Only if succession contested |
| Total estimate | €3,500-7,000 for straightforward estates (funeral + notaire). Complex estates with legal disputes add €1,500-5,000+. | |
*Inheritance tax varies: spouses fully exempt, children exempt up to €100,000 each then 5-45% progressive rates, siblings €15,932 exempt then higher rates. Notaire fees are regulated by law. Prices current as of January 2025.
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