Getting Started

A practical guide for UK families after the death of a loved one in France, showing French succession documents, a British passport, a checklist and a traditional French home.

A Family Member Has Died in France: A Step-by-Step Guide for UK Families

A loved one has died in France and you're not sure what to do next? This step-by-step guide for UK families explains the immediate priorities after a death, introduces the French succession process, and directs you to the essential guides covering probate, notaries, property, inheritance tax, documents and estate administration.

Illustration comparing French and English probate systems with a French notary, UK probate documents, legal books and landmarks representing France and England.

Why French and UK Probate Feel So Different

Understand why French probate often feels so different from probate in England and Wales. This guide explains the role of French notaries, why the UK has no certificat de coutume, how executors and probate differ, and why cross-border successions often require different documents to prove the same legal facts.