Putting your affairs in order: A guide to long-term planning in France

The legal foundations

In France, a Notaire handles almost every legal process following a death, working within French succession law — which operates very differently from the UK system many English-speaking residents know. As a result, families who have their key documents organised and accessible avoid weeks of additional stress at an already overwhelming time. In particular, the documents below are the ones that matter most.

• The will (Le Testament): Keep a copy of your will easily accessible either digitally or in a folder. Note the name and address of the Notaire who holds the original.
• The “Key contacts” list: A simple sheet with names and numbers of your Notaire, Accountant, Solicitor, and Executor.
• Personal certificates: Original copies of your birth, marriage, and (if applicable) divorce certificates.
• The Livret de Famille: This is often the first document a French official will ask for; ensure it is at the front of your folder.

The financial & household map

When a partner or family member dies in France, the immediate practical challenge is often financial — accessing funds, understanding what accounts exist, and knowing who to contact. French banks and financial institutions operate under strict rules following a death, and without clear records in place, families can find themselves unable to meet basic living costs while the Notaire settles the estate. The information below helps ensure the people you leave behind have the answers they need at the worst possible moment.

• Asset inventory: A list of all bank accounts, pensions, shares, and investments.
• The “M ou Mme” check: Verify that joint accounts are in both names separated by “ou” (or). This ensures the survivor has immediate access to funds.
• Property & utilities: Include your property deeds and a recent utility bill statement to prove residency.
• Insurance policies: Details for your medical, car, and life insurance.

Personal wishes & digital life

A legal will deals with assets and inheritance, but many of the decisions that matter most to the people you leave behind fall outside its scope entirely. Who cares for your pets? What happens to your social media accounts? Where are your passwords? In France, organ donation operates on an opt-out basis — meaning donation is assumed unless you have officially registered your refusal. For English-speaking residents, these details are easy to overlook precisely because they sit outside the formal legal process. Documenting them clearly, in English, saves your family from having to make difficult decisions without guidance at an already painful time

Emotional legacy

Preparing for the end of life is not only a practical process — it is also an opportunity to leave something of yourself behind for the people who love you. In our experience of supporting bereaved people, one of the most common regrets we hear is that people left things unsaid or never captured their memories. The steps below are simple but profound. They cost nothing, require no legal expertise, and yet they are often the things families treasure most in the years that follow a loss.

• Memory box: Consider leaving a “Memory Box” with personal letters or video messages for your loved ones.
• Saying goodbye: Use this time to resolve old conflicts and say the things that need to be said. If seeing in person is not possible, write what needs to be said.