French Succession Document Checklist Workbook

Legal notice: this workbook is a practical organisation tool only. It is not legal advice and does not replace advice from your notary, solicitor, tax adviser, or translator.

How to Use This Workbook

Use this checklist to organise documents requested during a French succession, especially where UK and French systems overlap.

Important: not every document will need to be translated, certified, apostilled, or legalised. Requirements vary depending on the notary, the document, the facts of the estate, and whether the document is already acceptable in its current form.

Before paying for translations, certifications, or apostilles, check with your notary exactly what they require to avoid unnecessary expense.

1. Each Heir

Add each heir’s name in the first row, then tick or note whether each person has provided the relevant document.

	Heir 1	Heir 2	Heir 3	Heir 4	Heir 5
Names
Full birth certificate
Passport or national ID
Proof of address
Marriage or civil partnership certificate, if applicable
Divorce, separation, or death certificate for former spouse, if applicable
Contact details and current address
Bank details for receiving estate funds, if required

2. Deceased Person

Done	Document	Notes
	Death certificate	French or UK version depending on where death occurred.
	Full birth certificate	Often requested to establish identity and parentage.
	Passport or identity document	If available.
	Proof of last address	UK and/or French address may be relevant.
	Marriage or civil partnership certificates	Include current and previous marriages where relevant.
	Divorce, separation, or spouse death certificates	Used to prove family position and surviving heirs.
	Will or wills	UK and/or French wills, including registered French wills.
	Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration	If required for UK estate administration.
	Statutory Declaration of laws in England & Wales and how they apply to the succession/heirship.	If required when laws of England & Wales/Scotland/Ireland apply.

3. Family Relationships

Done	Document	Notes
	Family Record Book	If Applicable.
	Birth certificates proving children of the deceased	Usually full birth certificates.
	Death certificates for any deceased children or spouses	Where relevant to the family tree.
	Marriage, divorce, civil partnership, or separation certificates	Used to establish family relationships.
	Family record book explanation	For UK families, explain that a French-style family record book is not normally held.
	Certified translations, where required	Check with the notary first.
	Statutory declaration declaring the heirs	Can help explain the UK family structure where no family record book exists.

4. Property

Done	Document	Notes
	Property title deeds	Can be requested from a notary if not already held.
	Property valuations	Estate agents or notary valuations may be needed.
	Mortgage or charge information	If any property debt exists.
	Property tax documents	Taxe foncière, taxe d’habitation, or other relevant bills.
	Utility bills	Electricity, water, internet, insurance, service charges.
	Insurance policies	Buildings, contents, or landlord insurance.
	Keys, agent details, access arrangements	Useful for valuations and sale preparation.

5. Bank Accounts, Investments and Pensions

Done	Document	Notes
	French bank account statements	Balance at date of death is usually needed.
	UK bank account statements	For estate accounts and tax reporting.
	Investment account statements	Include valuations at date of death.
	Pension information	UK, French, private or occupational pensions.
	Life insurance documents	French assurance-vie and UK policies may be treated differently.

6. Trusts

Done	Document	Notes
	Trust deeds, where separate deeds exist	Not all trusts have a separate deed.
	Will establishing the trust	Use where the will itself acts as the document establishing the trust.
	Solicitor declaration explaining the trust	Especially useful for French notaries unfamiliar with UK trusts.
	Trust asset valuations	If relevant to the succession or tax position.
	Confirmation of income interest or capital entitlement	Important where the deceased had an income interest only.

7. Vehicles and Other Assets

Done	Document	Notes
	Vehicle registration documents	French carte grise or UK V5C.
	Vehicle valuations	Value at date of death may be required.
	Valuations of jewellery, antiques, art, or valuables	Where significant.
	Inventory of household contents	Useful for estate records and sale/clearance.
	Insurance documents for valuable assets	If available.

8. Debts, Expenses and Estate Costs

Done	Document	Notes
	Funeral invoices and receipts	May be deductible or relevant to estate accounts.
	Notary invoices and fees	Keep all receipts.
	Property maintenance, cleaning, clearance or repair invoices	Especially where needed to preserve estate property.
	Medical bills or care costs	If outstanding at death.
	Loans, credit cards, or other debts	Include balances at date of death.