UK family inheriting a stone house in France with French succession documents and property keys during the inheritance process.

I Have Inherited Property in France – What Happens Next?

Inheriting a property in France is very different from inheriting one in the UK. Learn what happens after a death, when ownership transfers, whether you can sell immediately, and the key steps every UK beneficiary should understand before making decisions about their inherited French property.

Illustration explaining usufruct and bare ownership of a French property, showing how children may already own a parent's home before a French succession.

Why Am I Already the Owner of My Parent’s French Property?

Many UK families are surprised to discover they already own their parent's French property before they die. This guide explains how usufruct and bare ownership work in France, why this arrangement is common and what happens when the usufruct ends.

Handyman securing an inherited French property with new locks and repair tools after a bereavement during a French succession.

Finding a Handyman in France After a Bereavement

Practical guidance on finding a handyman in France after a bereavement, including changing locks, securing inherited property, checking entry points and using local contacts to find reliable tradespeople.

Property clearance in a French home after a bereavement, showing boxes, important documents and a skip (benne) used to prepare the property during a French succession.

Property Clearance and Cleaning Services in France

Clearing a loved one's home in France can be physically and emotionally demanding. This guide explains your options, from hiring a skip ("benne") and doing the work yourself to finding local clearance and cleaning companies who can manage the process on your behalf.

French vehicle registration certificate (Certificat d'immatriculation), car keys, valuation paperwork and succession documents illustrating the process of selling a vehicle after a death in France.

Selling a Car After a Death in France

A vehicle forms part of your loved one's estate and must usually be declared during the French succession. This guide explains why you need the vehicle registration certificate, how to obtain a valuation, and the practical challenges of selling a French-registered vehicle from the UK.

Buildings insurance for a French property after the owner's death, showing a traditional French house with insurance documents and keys.

Buildings Insurance After a Death in France

If a property in France becomes part of an estate, maintaining buildings insurance is essential. Learn why cover should continue after a death, what insurers and notaries may require, and how to protect an unoccupied inherited property during the succession process.

French property title deed with keys and legal documents, illustrating how to obtain property deeds before selling an inherited property in France.

How to Obtain the Deeds to a French Property

Need a copy of the deeds to a French property? Learn when you'll need a title deed, who can obtain one, how to request it through a French notary, and why it is often required when selling inherited property.