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Chapter III: Inheritance reserve, available share and reduction.

Article 912 of the French Civil Code

The hereditary reserve is that part of the estate’s assets and rights which the law ensures devolve free of encumbrances to certain heirs known as reservataires, if they are called to the succession and if they accept it. The available share is that part of the estate’s assets and rights which is not reserved by law and which the deceased was able to dispose of freely by gifts.

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Article 913 of the French Civil Code

Deliveries, either by inter vivos deeds or by will, may not exceed half of the disposer’s property, if he leaves only one child at his death; one-third, if he leaves two children; one-quarter, if he leaves three or more. A child who renounces the succession is included in the number of children left by the deceased only if he is represented or if he is required to report a gift…

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Article 917 of the French Civil Code

If the disposition by inter vivos deed or by will is of a usufruct or a life annuity the value of which exceeds the available portion, the heirs in whose favour the law makes a reservation, shall have the option, either to execute such disposition, or to make an abandonment of the ownership of the available portion.

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Article 918 of the French Civil Code

The value of the full ownership of the property alienated, either on payment of a life annuity, or on a non-refundable basis, or with reservation of usufruct to one of the successors in the direct line, is deducted from the available portion. Any excess is subject to reduction. This deduction and reduction may only be requested by those of the other successors in the direct line who have not consented…

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Article 919 of the French Civil Code

The available portion may be given in whole or in part either by inter vivos deed or by will, to the children or other successors of the donor, without being subject to report by the donee or legatee coming to the succession, provided that as regards gifts the disposition has been made expressly and outside the share of the succession. The declaration that the gift is outside the share of…

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Article 919-1 of the French Civil Code

A gift made in advance of an inheritance share to a reserved heir who accepts the succession is deducted from his share of the reserve and, subsidiarily, from the available portion, if not otherwise agreed in the deed of gift.The excess is subject to reduction. A gift made in advance of an inheritance share to a reserved heir who renounces the inheritance is treated as a gift made outside the…

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