Proving one's status as an heir: affidavit of heirship

To prove one's status as an heir, the F12697 form on service-public.gouv.fr (verified on 01/01/2026) sets a threshold of €5,965. Below this amount, a statement signed by all the heirs may suffice. Above €5,965, a certificate of heirship must be obtained from a notary. Being recognized as an heir does not mean accepting the inheritance.

This page is incomplete. It covers the threshold, the affidavit, the declaration of heirship, the documents to provide to the bank, and the certificate of last will and testament. The cost of the declaration of heirship should be verified with the notary, who can provide a detailed written estimate. It does not address the processing time by the notary or the subsequent steps in an estate that includes real estate.

The €5,965 threshold: two paths

Information sheet F12697 states: "If the estate is less than €5,965, you can prove that you are an heir"; for a larger estate: "If the estate is more than €5,965, you must ask the notary to draw up a certificate of heirship." The sections of the information sheet are titled "Less than €5,965" and "€5,965 or more." The economie.gouv.fr page on notary fees (written on October 6, 2026) states: "the amount of the estate is equal to or greater than €5,965." For an amount close to the threshold, ask the notary.

The certificate signed by all the heirs

It assumes that all heirs sign it: "All heirs must sign the certificate." It specifically mentions, according to the document:

• «"There is no will, nor any other heirs of the deceased."»
• «"There is no such thing as a marriage contract."»
• «"There are no ongoing legal proceedings or disputes concerning the identification of an heir or the composition of the estate."»
• «"The estate does not include any real estate."»

It allows you to "withdraw the sums appearing in the deceased's bank accounts, up to a limit of €5,965", and to "obtain the closure of the deceased's accounts and the payment of the sums appearing therein".

The affidavit of heirship drawn up by the notary

Above the threshold, the process involves a notary. The information sheet indicates that the document specifies, among other things, the "identity of the deceased" and the "share due to each heir." It adds: "Acknowledging that you are an heir does not mean that you have accepted the inheritance." Another page details the option of accepting or renouncing the inheritance.

Regarding the cost, the information sheet mentions that "other fees may be added, including administrative fees and/or registration fees," and that you can ask the notary for "a detailed written estimate of the fees payable." The cost of the deed itself should be verified with the notary: request the written estimate.

Documents to provide to the bank

The checklist for banking procedures:

• the signed statement from all the heirs; ;
• the extract of the heir's birth certificate; ;
• the deceased's birth certificate extract and a full copy of their death certificate; ;
• the deceased's marriage certificate extract, if he/she was married at the time of death; ;
• extracts of birth certificates of each beneficiary designated in the certificate; ;
• the certificate of absence of registration of last will and testament provisions.

Certificate of Last Will and Testament (FCDDV)

The Central Register of Wills (FCDDV) "centralizes information on wills received by notaries throughout France" (record F15009, verified on 05/29/2026). "Anyone can consult the FCDDV." Record F12697 specifies that the price varies depending on the location of the request: €18 from mainland France, €16.28 from an overseas department. For other areas, the price should be verified with the official source. The certificate can be obtained from the FCDDV or from the ADSN, the Association for the Development of Notarial Services.

Proof of heirship: numerical example (fictitious profile)

Situation. Ms. Petit loses her father. The deceased's bank accounts show a total of €4,200. She is his sole heir; he had neither a will nor a marriage contract, and the estate is limited to these accounts, without any real estate (hypothetical scenario). Her cousin, in another hypothetical case, inherits an estate with accounts showing €7,500.

Issue. What proof of heirship does each person have?

Strategy. Compare each amount to the €5,965 threshold of form F12697, then gather the documents requested by the bank.

Result. For €4,200, the amount is €1,765 below the threshold: a signed declaration from all heirs is the recommended method, as outlined in the information sheet. For €7,500, the amount exceeds the threshold by €1,535: a certificate of heirship must be requested from the notary. A certificate of no registered will is among the documents requested by the bank: checking the FCDDV (French Central Register of Wills) costs €18 from mainland France. The cost of the certificate of heirship should be verified with the notary. These profiles are fictitious. The figures illustrate the calculation and do not necessarily reflect your specific situation.

Proof of heirship: what changes depending on your case

• The amount of the inheritance, compared to the threshold of €5,965.
• The number of heirs : the certificate requires the signature of everyone.
• The presence of a will, a marriage contract, real estate, or a legal dispute, which the certificate excludes in its statements.
• The location from which you are querying the FCDDV : the price varies depending on the location of the request.
• The bank in question and the documents she requests.

The rule depends on your situation. No results are guaranteed.