Making a will: forms and cost

French law recognizes three types of wills: holographic (written entirely by the individual), authentic (dictated to a notary), and mystic (given to the notary in a sealed envelope). Drafting a holographic will is free; opening and describing it costs €31.69 including VAT (public service rate). Drafting an authentic or mystic will costs €135.83 including VAT, according to the rates published by the public service (page verified on 05/10/2026, rates "since January 2021"). If French law applies, the will can only freely bequeath the disposable portion: the reserved portion goes to the forced heirs.

This page covers the forms, validity requirements, published costs, and limits on the disposable portion of a will. It does not address international wills, the registration fees for wills, the specific fees for mystic wills, the tax registration of wills, the revocation of ordinary wills, wills with division of property, or the taxation of bequests. These topics are covered on other pages or require review of your specific case.

Why make a will?

Three situations are recurring in official sources.

• Allocate the available portion. By will, you freely allocate the disposable portion to an heir or a third party. Service-public describes it as follows: "The remaining portion of the estate is called the disposable portion."«
• Protecting a civil union partner. A civil partner is exempt from inheritance tax, but to receive all or part of the inheritance they must have been designated by a will.
• Choose the applicable law. If you reside abroad, you can choose to have the law of your country of nationality apply rather than that of your country of residence. This wish must be clearly expressed in a valid will, and the source sets out other conditions (European Regulation 650/2012 of 4 July 2012). Each case is examined individually.

The three forms of will

The holographic will

It must be entirely handwritten. The page specifies that it must not be typed, even partially. It must include the exact date, with the day, month, and year, and your signature. You can complete it yourself. However, Service-public advises seeking the advice of a notary to reduce the risk of cancellation or misinterpretation.

The authentic will

You dictate it to the notary, in the presence of two witnesses or a second notary. The notary reads it to you. You sign it, as do the witnesses or the second notary.

The Mystical Testament

It is handed to the notary in a sealed envelope, in the presence of two witnesses. Service-public indicates that this method is rarely used because the procedure is complex.

One will per person

A will cannot be made jointly: "You cannot make a will with several people." In a couple, each person writes their own.

Who can make a will?

Three conditions are listed on the form:

• to be of sound mind, that is to say, to possess mental capacities allowing for discernment and a sufficiently enlightened will; ;
• to be of legal age, or a minor over 16 years old: between 16 and 18 years old, one can only bequeath half of one's assets, unless one is an emancipated minor; ;
• to have the legal capacity to manage one's assets.

An adult under guardianship can only make a will with the authorization of the guardianship judge or the family council. An adult under family empowerment, legal protection, or curatorship can make a will independently.

How much a will costs

Service-public publishes this table, with the note "since January 2021". The amounts are taken as read on 17/10/2026, on the page verified on 05/10/2026.

The custody period refers to the safekeeping of the holographic will by the notary. The information sheet combines the authentic and the mystical versions on a single line: no separate fee for the mystical version is published on this page.

The central register of last wills and testaments (FCDDV)

The notary to whom you entrust a will can register it with the FCDDV (French Register of Wills), which makes its existence known at the time of death. For a handwritten will, the information sheet indicates that the notary may also charge a fee for this registration. No amount is specified there, and this page does not provide one.

After a death, anyone can consult the FCDDV (French Central Register of Deaths). If the estate is handled by a notary, they will initiate the process. An original death certificate or a certified copy is required: "Photocopies are not accepted." The consultation costs €18 (including VAT) in metropolitan France, €16.28 in the overseas departments, and €15 in the overseas collectivities and abroad (page verified on 29/05/2026). Payment by check is not accepted.

Keep your will

You can keep it yourself. The French government's public service recommends informing trusted individuals of its existence and where it is kept: "If its existence and location are unknown to everyone, the will cannot be respected."«

The limit: the available portion

A will cannot deprive forced heirs of their share. Service-public reminds us that they "cannot be excluded from your estate" and that the law grants them a minimum share. The fractions (page verified on 15/09/2026):

If a will exceeds the disposable portion of the estate, the forced heirs can contest the gift during the settlement of the estate: this is called an action for reduction (see the official government website, information sheet on gifts, glossary: gifts and bequests made by the deceased). The time limit for exercising this right is not specified in the information sheets consulted for this page; it should be verified before making a decision.

If a foreign law applies to the inheritance, the answer may differ. Service-public indicates that some countries allow disinheritance of children, and that a notary or judge can disregard a foreign law that is contrary to public policy. The page dedicated to forced heirship provides further details on this point.

Numerical example (fictitious profile)

Situation. Mr. Garnier, 58, is in a civil partnership. He has two children. His estate is estimated at €600,000 (hypothetical). He wishes his partner to receive a share of his estate.

Issue. How much can he leave her in his will, how much does the will cost, and what happens if he aims higher?

Strategy. Apply the reserved portion for two children (2/3, disposable portion 1/3), then compare the cost of a handwritten will entrusted to a notary and an authentic will. A civil partner is exempt from inheritance tax: no tax is calculated on their share.

Result.

If Mr. Garnier were to bequeath €250,000 to his partner, he would exceed the disposable portion by €50,000. The two children, as forced heirs, could then contest the bequest through a reduction action. In this example, the partner would also have to file an inheritance tax return, even if exempt: the government website provides an exemption for certain small estates (gross assets less than €50,000, subject to conditions), which does not apply here.

Assumptions of the fictitious profile: assets, number of children, civil partnership status, and public service rates unchanged. The FCDDV registration fees are not specified, as no amount is published on the information sheet. The figures illustrate the calculation and do not reflect your individual situation.

What changes depending on your situation

• Your family : the number of children and your marital status determine the reserved portion and the disposable portion.
• Your relationship status : the civil partner must be designated by will to receive; the married spouse follows other rules, discussed on the page about exempt heirs.
• Your assets abroad or your residence outside of France The law applicable to the inheritance may change the answer.
• The chosen form : holographic or authentic, with the costs in the table above.
• Your legal capacity : age, guardianship, curatorship, family empowerment.

These points are examined on a case-by-case basis. No results are promised.