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Article 797 of the French Civil Code

The heir must pay the creditors within two months of either the declaration to retain the property or the day on which the proceeds of the disposal become available. Where he is unable to dispose of it to the creditors within this period, in particular because of a dispute concerning the order or nature of the claims, he shall record the sums available for as long as the dispute remains.

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Article 798 of the French Civil Code

Without prejudice to the rights of creditors with securities, the creditors of the succession and the legatees of sums of money may only pursue recovery from the assets collected from the succession which have not been retained or disposed of under the conditions provided for in Article 793. The heir’s personal creditors may not pursue recovery of their claims against these assets until the end of the period provided for…

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Article 799 of the French Civil Code

Inheritance creditors who, within the period provided for in Article 792, declare their claims after the exhaustion of the assets have recourse only against the legatees who have been fulfilled of their rights.

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Article 800 of the French Civil Code

The heir is responsible for administering the assets he receives in the succession. He keeps an account of his administration, of the debts he pays and of the acts that commit the property received or affect its value. He is liable for serious faults in this administration. He must present the account to any creditor of the succession who so requests and respond within two months to the summons, served…

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Article 801 of the French Civil Code

As long as the right to accept is not time-barred against him, the heir may revoke his acceptance up to the amount of the net assets by accepting purely and simply. This acceptance is retroactive to the day on which the succession was opened. Acceptance up to the net assets prevents any renunciation of the succession.

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Article 802 of the French Civil Code

Despite forfeiture or revocation of acceptance up to the amount of net assets, estate creditors and legatees of sums of money retain exclusive rights of pursuit over the assets mentioned in the first paragraph of Article 798.

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Article 804 of the French Civil Code

Renunciation of an inheritance cannot be presumed. To be enforceable against third parties, renunciation made by the universal heir or heir by universal title must be addressed to or filed with the court within whose jurisdiction the succession opened or made before a notary. Within one month of the renunciation, the notary who received it shall send a copy to the court within whose jurisdiction the succession opened.

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Article 805 of the French Civil Code

An heir who renounces is deemed never to have been an heir. Subject to the provisions of article 845, the renouncer’s share devolves to his representatives; failing this, it increases to his co-heirs; if he is alone, it devolves to the subsequent degree.

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Article 806 of the French Civil Code

The renouncing party is not liable for the payment of the debts and charges of the succession. However, he is liable in proportion to his means for the payment of the funeral expenses of the ascendant or descendant to whose succession he renounces.

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