You may not realize this, but it’s a common problem. Some kids go missing and don’t say anything for a long time. Some parents feel sad because of this silence. A strange issue comes up: can you take away their inheritance? So, is it lawful in France to not leave anything to your kids? Spoiler: It’s not that easy, but there are a couple ways to do it.
Heritage in France: a component that can’t be changed…
In France, you can’t entirely disinherit your kids. That’s the first thing you should know. In France, “reserved heirs” are protected by law. This is not the case in the US or the UK. And you know what? They have kids with them.
The law provides that each child has a right to a minimum part of the estate, no matter what kind of relationship they had with the parent who died. This means:
You get half if you have one child. You get two-thirds if you have two. If you have three or more, you get three-fourths.
What about the rest of the parts? That is the part that is available, and you can offer it to anyone you choose, but only if certain requirements are met.
No reason to get rid of them if there’s radio silence or tension.
It’s been months or even years since you last heard from or saw someone. Even though the separation hurts, it doesn’t mean that someone can’t obtain their inheritance.
If a child is not deserving of inheriting, the law says that their inheritance rights can be taken away. This is an exception that only applies to serious instances that are covered by Article 726 of the Civil Code.
For example:
if he was found guilty of putting your life in danger, hurting you, or making serious false claims against you.
And even in these really serious instances, exclusion isn’t automatic; you have to go to court, give compelling proof, and receive a court order.
You can’t fully cut someone out of your will, but you can adjust how your money is divided.
The law doesn’t let people completely leave out others, but it does give them a few legal alternatives to change how their property is distributed. Remember these three things.
Have fun with the amount you have.
This is some of the freedom that the law offers you. You can present this to anyone you like, perhaps another kid, a close buddy, a group, or even a nice neighbor. You can build exact connections with this method without infringing the restrictions.
Insurance for life that lasts forever
This is a solution that has worked in France many times. You can give the money from a life insurance policy to anybody you want without having to follow tight rules about who can inherit it. It is legal and polite to help a trustworthy person as long as the amounts are fair.
Meet a notary.
Do you have a specific goal or a tough family circumstance, or do you just want to make the most of your inheritance? The best person to talk to is a notary. They can help you pick the best solutions, like contributions, unique legacies, property dismemberment, and so on.