France: Legal obligations and benefit recoveries impact heirs

Under French law, specific financial obligations and recovery mechanisms can impact heirs following the death of a family member.

According to the French Civil Code (Articles 205 and 206), sons-in-law and daughters-in-law may be held to an alimony obligation toward their parents-in-law. While the death of a spouse typically severs these financial ties, the obligation remains if the deceased couple had living children, as the presence of children maintains the familial bond. This can result in heirs being asked to contribute to the care costs of a parent-in-law in nursing homes.

Additionally, the Allocation de Solidarité aux Personnes Âgées (Aspa), which supports low-income retirees, is subject to recovery upon the beneficiary's death. Under the Social Security Code, these funds can be reclaimed from the deceased's estate. For 2026, the recovery threshold in metropolitan France is set at €108,586.14, while the threshold for overseas departments is higher, at €150,000.