Limits on the sums that may be withdrawn from a deceased person's bank account (order of 3 December 2024)

As a rule, a person's bank accounts are frozen following their death.

Article L. 312-1-4 of the French Monetary and Financial Code, introduced by Act no. 2013-672 of 26/07/2013, provided for exceptions and gave legal footing to the practice of debiting all or part of the funeral costs from the deceased's account. The person arranging the funeral may therefore pay the funeral costs from the money available in the deceased's account, up to an amount set by ministerial order.

In addition, anyone who can prove that they are an heir may also have all or part of the protective measures (costs of the last illness, taxes, rent) debited from the deceased's account, up to an amount set by ministerial order, and then close the accounts; and may obtain payment of these sums if the amount is below a ceiling set by ministerial order.

The order of 07/05/2015 had set these amounts at 5,000 euros. The order of 03/12/2024, which repeals it and came into force on 1 January 2025, sets them at 5,910 euros.