What do I need to do if my partner dies when we are at our second home in France?

Reader Question: My partner and I are British but have a second home in France. I would like to know what steps I would need to take if he was to die while we are here, for example if one day he just did not wake up. 

The first steps to take if a person dies in France are similar whether the person is a full-time resident or not.

As soon as possible, you will need to obtain a ‘proof of death’ certificate (certificat de décès) from a doctor. 

This is required to inform the mairie of the commune of the person’s death and in turn obtain a death certificate (acte de décès), which should be done in the first 24 hours (not counting weekends and public holidays).

For this you will need proof of your own identity (ie. your passport) and of the deceased (eg. their passport and anything else you have to hand such as his birth certificate).

This acte de décès is the main document used to inform other parties of the person’s death. 

It is advised to obtain at least a dozen copies but you can always ask for more later on.

Where a person dies in a care home, hospital, or other similar facility, the staff will help with these key formalities. 

In uncommon cases where a criminal investigation may follow (suicide, murder, death in public, etc) it is also necessary to inform the local police. 

You can read more about these steps here.

Funeral arrangements must be undertaken

Following this, you will need to make funeral arrangements (if the person is to be buried or cremated in France) or arrange repatriation to your home country. 

For the latter, it is advisable for Britons to contact a specialist international funeral director in the UK, who can help with legal aspects of repatriation. They may liaise with a local firm in France.

Otherwise, you will need to contact local funeral directors (pompes funèbres). 

You should also be aware of rules around cremations and burials, including where ashes can be kept (repatriating ashes is much simpler than repatriation of a person’s body and this can be arranged via a courier, or they can be taken yourself).

You should also inform relevant French authorities, including the tax office (if your household has any French-declarable income, there are specific procedures regarding your declaration for the year of a spouse’s death). 

Inheritance matters will depend on the person’s will, but a notaire will usually have be involved, especially if your French house was owned jointly. 

More details on what to do within the first year can be found in our article here, alternatively, you can read more in our inheritance guide.

If possible, it is always best to discuss in advance with a partner the details of what they would prefer to happen in the event of their death. 

French banks often offer ‘funeral plans’ that can help with finances, and sometimes the arrangements, after a death.