Death shouldn’t be a taboo subject. It’s a certainty for everyone. As Africans living abroad, we’re all too often caught off guard by the passing of a loved one who hasn’t made any arrangements. We’re then left to figure everything out on our own. What would he have wanted? How would we pay for the funeral? The repatriation? What about the estate? Amid the tears, the family finds itself having to deal with administrative matters on top of their grief—not exactly the right time for that, right? Here, I’ll discuss the topic of wills, as well as everything you can do to protect your family, even after you’re gone. Should we start?
1 - Why ?
As mentioned in the introduction, what happens if you don't make any plans? Chaos will awaits. Let’s avoid that. Put yourself in your loved ones’ shoes. Saying goodbye to a loved one is hard enough on its own—there’s no need to add administrative hassles and a “hunt” for important documents to the mix (identification documents, property deeds, inventory of assets, bank and insurance accounts, etc.). Get your things in order, starting now, no matter how old you are: You're neither too young nor too old for that.
2 - Will: drafting and registration
Not long ago, I decided to write my will. Now that I’ve completed the process, I’m sharing my experience with you in the video below and a written summary. At the end of this article, you’ll find some online resources: I strongly encourage you to check them out and share them with others.
2.1 - Step by step
1 – Initial appointment with the Notary. You will explain your situation (Are you married? In a civil partnership (pacs)? Do you have children? Do you own or rent your home?…etc.). After that, the notary will explain the different types of wills available and advise you based on your situation. You can ask any questions you may have during the appointment. I recommend that you Make sure to prepare for your appointment beforehand to make the most of this meeting. Following that, a template will be sent to you by email. Mine also included the firm’s bank informations (IBAN): be sure to save it in your banking app right away.
2 – Q&A + Writing. Go home and start drafting the document. It must be written entirely written in your own handwriting, without errors or corrections, dated and signed. Keep this private. If you are unable to draft it yourself (due to health reasons or other circumstances), discuss this with the notary, who will suggest possible solutions.
3 – Payment + Registration in the FCDDV database (second/final appointment). During this appointment, the notary will review the document with you and verify that everything is correct. Once everything is in order, you pay (I made the bank transfer on the spot) and then sign the certificate of filing/registration for your will (in duplicate: one for you, the other for the notary). Keep this in a safe place. He will also give you the paid receipt. And that's it.
*Tadaaaaa!* => Congratulations, everything's all set
2.2 - “It's pointless” -> Is it though?
For those who might say this is pointless, I’ll use the analogy of a seatbelt. No one “consciously” plans to get into an accident. Yet everyone buckles up, every single time they drive. It’s the same here. I don’t plan on leaving you just yet *knock on wood*, but at least (almost) everything is in order on my end. So, do whatever you want with this information. But once again, think about your loved ones after you’re gone.
2.3 - Inheritance and Taxation (in France)
There are inheritance taxes! *Vive la France*. To make the most of this, you can gradually transfer your assets or in-kind donation to your children. A parent may transfer assets during their lifetime up to 100000€ per child without paying tax on it, by using different types of gifts depending on the type of property being transferred. See the “Resources” section; I've included a link there.
Life Insurance with a tax deduction of 152500€: allows each beneficiary to receive up to €152,500 in lump-sum payments without being subject to inheritance tax, which constitutes a significant tax benefit. This deduction applies only if the insurance owner is under 70 years old at the time the policy is issued=> So don't wait too much.
3 - Marriage vs. Civil Partnership (Pacs) vs. Cohabitation
Marriage is just a piece of paper : is that so? Beyond love, marriage is a contract, and it protects you (spouse, children). It includes predefined clauses you may not have even thought of: What happens to the shared home upon the death of a spouse (whether you own or rent it), inheritance from each other, shared children, etc.? This level of protection is not provided by a civil partnership, and even less so by the “ viens on reste“=cohabitation (!!!). For those who don’t know: “ Only a will can ensure that your civil partner inherits your estate. » (source: Testament : comment rédiger ses dernières volontés ? | Notaires de France).
So either make sure you’re protected with a will, or get married.
4 - Life Insurance, Death insurance, Funeral, repatriation, etc.
Serious question: Can you afford to die? Do you know how much a cemetery plot costs? And a headstone? And for parents who want their remains repatriated for burial in their home country: do you have an insurance covering the costs? => are you all caught up with the monthly payments ??? Let's face it, all of this is expensive! For example: from Paris to the Comores, expect to pay between 4,000 and 6,000 euros… SO, while you’re still alive, do your research on the options available in this regard that will help ease the burden on your families.
As for the difference between Life insurance vs Death insurance, see the details in the “Resources” section below.
Nota Bene : regarding Death/Funeral insurance, you may be covered under work insurance plan provided by your employer. Be sure to check the terms and conditions!
5 - Resources, read all !
NOTE: Read through the whole list before clicking on the links and risk getting lost on these websites ^_^ lol
Testament : comment rédiger ses dernières volontés ? | Notaires de France: A very comprehensive article that I highly recommend. This article provides general information on the importance of drafting a will. They also include definitions of the different types of wills (mystical, holographic, international (if you have assets abroad). And I would also like to emphasize on this point “[…] Sorting out personal matters: specify the person who will be responsible for caring for their children in the event of death while they are still minors" : Parents of young children, please take this seriously.
Testament : quelles sont les règles à respecter ? | economie.gouv.fr : General information, everything is clearly explained and summarized.
Testament, héritage, donation, indivision… Tout savoir sur la succession | economie.gouv.fr : a more detailed article containing explanations on the following terms donation, joint ownership (indivision), and the importance of establishing an inventory of everything you own.
Testament : qu’est-ce que le legs ? | Notaires de France : Here they explain the specifics of passing down assets/property.
Goldy | Éducation financière, carrière et ambition : goldy.fr is a real gem when it comes to financial management (website article + Instagram post). From time to time, they post tips related to taxation at the time of inheritance.
Décès du partenaire de Pacs : quelles sont les règles de succession ? | Service Public: Upon the death of your partner, the civil partnership (pacs) ends. In the absence of a will, You cannot inherit from one another. The same applies to inheritance; you are considered a foreigner.
Assurance vie et assurance décès : quelles différences ? | economie.gouv.fr : This article explains the difference between life insurance and death insurance. Life insurance is a savings product which works on an average of 2.5% and 3.5%. By comparison, the interest rate on the Livret A savings account (in France) was 1.5% in June 2026. You can use this insurance as a savings (thanks to its interesting payouts), and you can access and use these funds if needed, they are not blocked. Be sure to do your research before signing the paperwork. You can name beneficiaries in the event of your death (the people who will receive the funds).
Un proche est décédé | Service Public : List of administrative procedures depending on your relationship with the deceased (if you are the surviving spouse, a civil union partner, a child, a legal guardian, etc.). How it works: You answer a few questions to assess your situation, and then you receive a personalized list of administrative procedures that you need to carry out.
Transport d’une personne décédée | Service Public : for repatriations (to mainland France, to overseas territories (outre-mer), from France to another country). Fill out the form, select whether it is for the transport of a body or the transport of ashes, and a list of steps to follow will be generated.
Que puis-je donner à mes enfants, petits-enfants sans avoir à payer de droits ? | impots.gouv.fr : this website is about taxation and possible tax cut.
Final words
Death is the only certainty. So, as a general rule, get your paperwork in order. no matter how old you are. If you want to look out for your family and spare them unnecessary disputes, make the necessary arrangements. The cost of a holographic Will is relatively low, and it protects your family. Take care of yourselves, my lovelies!
xo, Mama
P.S.: If you live outside of France, I'm curious to know how things are going where you are! Please leave a comment telling us your country + how the process of arranging end-of-life arrangements works there. Thanks!
What about you? How old are you? Have you ever thought about these procedures?
Psst, if you liked this post, leave a comment below and share it. Remember, there are plenty more to discover (or rediscover)! kisses
