Money, tax and inheritance · French law
French inheritance bank fees: five quote checks
French inheritance-processing bank fees within the statutory scope are capped at one percent of included values and €857 for 2026. Former mandatory free-fee categories were removed with effect from 20 June 2026. Check the charge date, excluded products and billed lines before applying the arithmetic. A numerical excess is not a refund decision and does not validate the complete bank quotation.
Informational guide. An independent qualified legal review has not been completed.
What you leave withA reference ceiling and a precise list of charges needing explanation.
Start with the practical sectionJulie by AlphaDeep
Is the 2026 absolute cap still €850?
No. The verified absolute 2026 cap is €857, compared with the one-percent ceiling. €850 is the earlier reference.
Read the referencesReviewing inheritance bank fees? We can separate the date, covered operations, tariff and amount without promising a refund.
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What are the five checks before questioning a fee?
These five checks establish scope before calculating a difference. Priority is editorial: an out-of-scope operation does not become covered because a result looks favourable.
Identify the applicable date
Publication of the constitutional decision on June 20, 2026 matters for former free-fee cases.
Define operations and products
Isolate covered bank charges and the included asset base.
Match tariff and invoice
Keep labels, amounts and tariff version.
Compare both ceilings
The lower of one percent and the annual cap is the reference.
Document the difference
Arithmetic can support an explanation request without promising a refund.
References : Légifrance · article L312-1-4-1 · D312-1-3 · Service Public · frais bancaires de succession après la décision constitutionnelle · Banque de France · gratuité et plafonnement des frais de succession · Decree 2025-1363 article 1 · Décision n° 2026-1207 QPC du 19 juin 2026
Which date and operations fall within the current rules?
Decision QPC2026-1207 struck down the former statutory free-fee cases with effect from publication on June 20, 2026. The Code version’s June 19 date is a different fact.
Earlier operations or transitional litigation need examination of the version and decision effects. The worksheet covers only confirmed current 2026 scope.
References : Service Public · frais bancaires de succession après la décision constitutionnelle · Décision n° 2026-1207 QPC du 19 juin 2026
Which accounts and products must be separated?
The ceiling concerns covered inheritance bank operations and included assets. Certain products are excluded by the Code’s cross-references; all investments are not automatically the base.
Ask the bank to identify included operations and products. Notarial fees, other professionals’ charges or several institutions’ totals are not automatically subject to this calculation.
| File line | Check |
|---|---|
| Bank charges | Actually covered operations |
| Deceased’s assets | Accounts and products included in the base |
| Excluded products | Check the statutory references |
| Other inheritance costs | Examine separately from the bank ceiling |
References : Légifrance · article L312-1-4-1 · D312-1-3
How do one percent and €857 work together?
The absolute 2026 cap is €857. The reference ceiling is the lower of one percent of the covered base and that annual amount.
The worksheet assumes one bank and confirmed scope. It displays charges minus ceiling as a signed difference, without validating an entire invoice or remedy.
References : Légifrance · article L312-1-4-1 · D312-1-3 · Banque de France · gratuité et plafonnement des frais de succession · Decree 2025-1363 article 1
Against an €80,000 base, how should a €1,000 invoice be compared?
The fictional €1,000 covered charges compared with an €800 ceiling produce a €200 difference. That alone does not establish a refund due.
At an €85,700 base, one percent reaches €857. A higher base does not increase the 2026 annual cap beyond that amount in the confirmed case.
Fictional post 20 June 2026 case with confirmed scope: one percent of €80,000 is €800, below €857. Against €1,000 quoted covered charges, the arithmetic difference is €200. Invoice scope and remedies still need examination.
References : Légifrance · article L312-1-4-1 · D312-1-3 · Banque de France · gratuité et plafonnement des frais de succession · Decree 2025-1363 article 1
Why did the former free-fee cases change?
The QPC struck down the 2025 scheme’s three mandatory free-fee cases while preserving the proportional ceiling. A small estate or a minor’s death should no longer be presented as automatic general free treatment under this framework.
That also does not establish that every invoiced charge is justified. Date, scope, tariffs and other rights still require examination.
References : Service Public · frais bancaires de succession après la décision constitutionnelle · Décision n° 2026-1207 QPC du 19 juin 2026
Which records and tariffs belong beside the invoice?
A readable file connects invoice and retained base. The overall estate value does not replace the relevant bank breakdown.
- Invoice and charged operations.
- Operation dates and corresponding tariff.
- Included and excluded accounts/products.
- Bank explanation of base, percentage and annual ceiling.
References : Légifrance · article L312-1-4-1 · D312-1-3
How can an explanation request avoid promising its outcome?
An explanation request can identify operation, date, understood base and observed difference, then ask for calculation and tariff details. It is separate from a recovery promise.
Keep the response before classifying the dispute. Julie can organise invoice and questions; transitional or remedy issues require professional review.
References : Légifrance · article L312-1-4-1
What else should you check?
Is the 2026 absolute cap still €850?
No. The verified absolute 2026 cap is €857, compared with the one-percent ceiling. €850 is the earlier reference.
References : D312-1-3 · Banque de France · gratuité et plafonnement des frais de succession · Decree 2025-1363 article 1
Does a small balance still require general free processing?
Former mandatory free-fee cases were struck down with effect from June 20, 2026. A small balance should not become automatic general free treatment under current scope.
References : Service Public · frais bancaires de succession après la décision constitutionnelle · Décision n° 2026-1207 QPC du 19 juin 2026
Does a minor’s death still automatically impose zero fees under this framework?
The relevant former statutory case was struck down. Examine date, scope and tariff rather than promising zero charges from that circumstance alone.
References : Service Public · frais bancaires de succession après la décision constitutionnelle · Décision n° 2026-1207 QPC du 19 juin 2026
Do notary fees use the same banking cap?
No. This framework caps covered bank charges. Notarial fees need their own regime.
References : Légifrance · article L312-1-4-1 · D312-1-3
Does a figure above the reference automatically prove a refund is due?
No. Confirm operations, base and applicable rule. A signed difference is arithmetic reconciliation, not a refund decision.
References : Légifrance · article L312-1-4-1
Which sources support this page?
Official texts remain in French. The explanations above describe French law. A source check records a reading date; it is not qualified legal review.
- Légifrance · article L312-1-4-1Source checked : · Version from 2026-06-19
- D312-1-3Source checked : · Version from 2025-12-29
- Service Public · frais bancaires de succession après la décision constitutionnelleSource checked :
- Banque de France · gratuité et plafonnement des frais de successionSource checked :
- Decree 2025-1363 article 1Source checked :
- Décision n° 2026-1207 QPC du 19 juin 2026Source checked :