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My Father had been living in France for a number of years and died of Covid at the end of March 2020, a week after we went into lockdown in the UK. I was contacted by the consulate as his next of kin a few weeks later and put in touch with his housing association regarding clearing his flat and other things such as dealing with his ashes. He was cremated without a service and I couldn't get over to deal with anything until early July due to lockdown and as I work for the NHS keeping people out of hospital with severe foot complications - we were incredibly short of staff and I was one of only 4 people keeping the service going. I eventually drove down to France and cleared his flat and scattered his ashes. I tried to obtain a 'Certificat d’hérédité' which the bank advised was required to access and close his account and was supposed to be able to obtain this from the local Mairie.. however they said they don't issue them any more even though it still stated so on their website. I contacted a local Notaire and they said they wouldn't issue a 'Certificat d’hérédité' but would charge 500 euros for a 'Acte de notoriété' and asked for my birth certificate (my father was not put on my birth certificate) and my father’s 'livret de famille' (which I have not found in his documents and assume he did not have). Plus I think the livret de famille would not apply as he was English and I am English. I think it only applies to children that are French? His funds amounted to only just over 5000 euros from what I was aware as of July last year.
I have a certificate of death for my father, his bank cards and passport etc.
I am also in contact with his brother and best friend and they could provide statements saying as far as they are aware he acknowledged me as his only known child.
It might be that the housing association has taken out a residual payment and that the money in his account is now below 5000 euros which I believe would make life a lot easier.
I also have a letter advised to the heir of the deceased advising he had a small life insurance policy which they would class his death of covid as qualifying as accidental death, but not sure how to start the ball rolling with claiming this either.
I don't really know which way to turn now. Any advice would be really helpful.
I have a certificate of death for my father, his bank cards and passport etc.
I am also in contact with his brother and best friend and they could provide statements saying as far as they are aware he acknowledged me as his only known child.
It might be that the housing association has taken out a residual payment and that the money in his account is now below 5000 euros which I believe would make life a lot easier.
I also have a letter advised to the heir of the deceased advising he had a small life insurance policy which they would class his death of covid as qualifying as accidental death, but not sure how to start the ball rolling with claiming this either.
I don't really know which way to turn now. Any advice would be really helpful.