Paragraph 1: The opening of the vacancy.

The succession is vacant: 1° When no one appears to claim the succession and there is no known heir; 2° When all the known heirs have renounced the succession; 3° When, after the expiry of a period of six months since the opening of the succession, the known heirs have not opted, tacitly or expressly.

The judge, on application by any creditor, any person who was administering all or part of the deceased person’s assets on his behalf, a notary, any other interested person or the public prosecutor, entrusts the curatorship of the vacant estate, the regime of which is defined in this section, to the administrative authority in charge of the estate. The curatorship order is publicised.

As soon as he is appointed, the curator has an estimated inventory drawn up, item by item, of the assets and liabilities of the estate by a judicial auctioneer, bailiff or notary, according to the laws and regulations applicable to these professions, or by a sworn official belonging to the administration in charge of the estate. Notice to the court, by the curator, of the drawing up of the inventory…

The declaration of claims is made to the curator.