EXPERT
list of funeral homes that they can share with you. If the death occurred at home, ask the certifying doctor.
FUNERAL SERVICE The funeral director will organise the funeral service, which must take place within six days of the death (not including Sundays and bank holidays). A person can be buried in their own commune, or in the commune where the death occurred. They can also be buried in any cemetery where their family has a burial plot. If for any reason an alternative cemetery is preferred, you will need to seek permission from the relevant municipality. Funeral costs up to €5,000
come directly from the estate, so whoever is organising the event can use the funeral home invoice to withdraw the money from the deceased person’s bank account. (It’s also worth checking whether they had a funeral insurance policy.). Burial plots are not free and
many people in France reserve them in advance, often paying in instalments over several years. If a plot has not already been reserved, you will need to purchase one.
it’s important not to forget the everyday insurance policies too, such as health, home, car, personal liability and so on.
The notaire is your most important point of contact
CREMATION French regulations are easier for cremation, on condition that the deceased person had expressly left instructions to be cremated. As long as that is the case, you are allowed to choose any crematorium you wish. However, France has stricter rules than some countries about what happens next. Ashes cannot be scattered in a public area, so you will need to find a designated area or go deeper into nature’s own environment to scatter them.
BANK ACCOUNTS Bank accounts are immediately frozen when somebody dies in France. This effectively protects the estate by blocking
any further transactions (including standing orders and loan repayments) before the succession has been determined. If you had a joint account with the person who has died, you will still be allowed to use it. A calculation will be made to decide what amount of the balance belonged to the deceased at the time of their death; the amount determined forms part of their estate.
INSURANCE It’s a good idea to get in touch with insurance companies immediately, either to cancel an account or to instigate a pay- out. Life insurance is probably the first one to deal with but
“Put all your relevant paperwork in one safe place and let somebody know where that place is – it’s the biggest giſt you can leave behind for the people you love”
There are strict rules concerning burials and cremations
SUBSCRIPTIONS It’s easy for everyday subscriptions to fall off the list as they are much less obvious. Each one must be cancelled individually, which can be very time-consuming. Checking the deceased’s bank account is a good way to identify which subscriptions they held, which can range from club memberships to TV channels to wifi providers.
TAX OFFICE You might find it helpful to consult an accountant regarding any tax affairs, as two tax returns must be entered at the end of the tax year if the deceased person was married or in an official civil partnership.
EMPLOYER If the deceased person was still working, you will need to notify their employer.
VEHICLE REGISTRATION When a car owner dies, the registration must be changed before their vehicle can be sold.
ORGAN DONATION Every French adult is assumed to be an organ donor unless they have made their wishes known to the contrary. For non-French nationals who have died in France, the law of their home country applies. If you happen to know that the deceased person did not want to become an organ donor and have had that conversation with them prior to their death, you will be able to confirm this refusal in writing.
In short, death is a subject
which is best dealt with while you are alive. Our advice would be to put all the relevant paperwork in one safe place and let somebody know where that place is. It’s the biggest gift you can leave behind for the people you love.■
Lizzie O’Hara-Boyce, French Connections HCB Tel: 0033 (0)1 85 65 74 98
frenchconnectionshcb.com
FRENCH PROPERTY NEWS: November/December 2023 77
© SHUTTERSTOCK
© SHUTTERSTOCK
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