The Moving to France FAQs
Jan 20th 2023, 10:40 am
#16
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Re: The Moving to France FAQs
Jan 21st 2023, 7:54 am
#17
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Re: The Moving to France FAQs
Rosemary, here's a starter for the 'Death in France' FAQ update:
Within 24hrs of the death:
The death must be certified by a doctor who will issue the death certificate. In the event of death in a hospital or nursing home, it’s the staff who organise this.(If the death has taken place in a medical establishment, in certain cases one can request in writing to access the medical file of the deceased).
In the event of a violent death (accident, suicide, etc.), one must immediately notify the gendarmerie or the police. (The emergency telephone number is 17). The number 112 can also be dialled in an emergency.
The Public Service FR site also states that one must report the death to the town hall of the place where the death took place. But in reality this declaration is usually taken care of by the funeral company or social organisation.
Check whether the deceased has indicated any specific last wishes (orally, in a will or in a funeral agreement) concerning their funeral (cremation or burial), or the donation of the body to science, or for an organ transplant. In the latter case the deceased may well be in possession of an official donors card.
If the funeral is to be arranged by a family member or close friend, after contacting several funeral homes, demand written quotations before signing any contract. Ensure exactly what services are covered and the fees.
Most funeral companies (Pompes Funèbres) here, do in fact provide a complete package, which alleviates a measure of additional stress for the family. The Pompes Funèbres adjacent to a hospital or nursing homes are often recommended by the staff, but it may be prudent to obtain quotations elsewhere. Often everything is catered for in their ‘standard package', but it’s wise to check if this includes coordination with a local priest if required for a memorial service, and also putting an advisory notice in the local or national press - which would be an extra service and invoiced as such with the price dependent on length of the obituary, number of days to appear etc. The Pompes Funèbres also arrange for the required services of a stonemason, this too generally being invoiced separately from the ‘standard package’.
NOTE: Work in progress, to be continued..........
Within 24hrs of the death:
The death must be certified by a doctor who will issue the death certificate. In the event of death in a hospital or nursing home, it’s the staff who organise this.(If the death has taken place in a medical establishment, in certain cases one can request in writing to access the medical file of the deceased).
In the event of a violent death (accident, suicide, etc.), one must immediately notify the gendarmerie or the police. (The emergency telephone number is 17). The number 112 can also be dialled in an emergency.
The Public Service FR site also states that one must report the death to the town hall of the place where the death took place. But in reality this declaration is usually taken care of by the funeral company or social organisation.
Check whether the deceased has indicated any specific last wishes (orally, in a will or in a funeral agreement) concerning their funeral (cremation or burial), or the donation of the body to science, or for an organ transplant. In the latter case the deceased may well be in possession of an official donors card.
If the funeral is to be arranged by a family member or close friend, after contacting several funeral homes, demand written quotations before signing any contract. Ensure exactly what services are covered and the fees.
Most funeral companies (Pompes Funèbres) here, do in fact provide a complete package, which alleviates a measure of additional stress for the family. The Pompes Funèbres adjacent to a hospital or nursing homes are often recommended by the staff, but it may be prudent to obtain quotations elsewhere. Often everything is catered for in their ‘standard package', but it’s wise to check if this includes coordination with a local priest if required for a memorial service, and also putting an advisory notice in the local or national press - which would be an extra service and invoiced as such with the price dependent on length of the obituary, number of days to appear etc. The Pompes Funèbres also arrange for the required services of a stonemason, this too generally being invoiced separately from the ‘standard package’.
NOTE: Work in progress, to be continued..........
Useful info to be incorporated in the Sticky!
In my case, our family doctor came to declare the death, and the Pompes Funèbres declared it at the Mairie, but I don't recall how I acquired the 15 Death Certificates necessary for the official Bodies and various Organisations....
At the time it was too much for me to mention, but two of OH's regular nurses came to prepare him before his "mise en bière" (cf tp's earlier post!) and I realized from their weeping just how much they had liked him....
Another point to add - in France, unless you specifically refuse, preferably in writing, your body will automatically be considered for organ donation, however much the family might protest.
Work still in progress.....
P.S. Forgot to mention that the announcement in a national newspaper (and even the Midi Libre) was horrendously expensive. More time-consuming, but vastly cheaper, to inform distant friends/ex-colleagues, etc.... personally.
Last edited by dmu; Jan 21st 2023 at 8:01 am.
Jan 22nd 2023, 8:09 am
#18
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Re: The Moving to France FAQs
Good additional info from DMU. 
Regarding the Death Certificates necessary for the official bodies and various organisations, when we were last involved, these were requested by the funeral company directly to the nursing home which is where the death was recorded by the on-site doctor. The funeral company subsequently passed the certificates to us. And yes, one requires quite a number of originals. From memory we were given about a dozen and used most if not all.
Various organisations such as the employer of the deceased, landlord (in the case of a tenant), car insurance company, Mutuelle, CPAM, Notaire, Bank, etc, all ned to be officially informed.
Regarding the Death Certificates necessary for the official bodies and various organisations, when we were last involved, these were requested by the funeral company directly to the nursing home which is where the death was recorded by the on-site doctor. The funeral company subsequently passed the certificates to us. And yes, one requires quite a number of originals. From memory we were given about a dozen and used most if not all.
Various organisations such as the employer of the deceased, landlord (in the case of a tenant), car insurance company, Mutuelle, CPAM, Notaire, Bank, etc, all ned to be officially informed.
Last edited by Tweedpipe; Jan 22nd 2023 at 8:13 am.
Jan 23rd 2023, 7:03 am
#19
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Re: The Moving to France FAQs
Good additional info from DMU.
Regarding the Death Certificates necessary for the official bodies and various organisations, when we were last involved, these were requested by the funeral company directly to the nursing home which is where the death was recorded by the on-site doctor. The funeral company subsequently passed the certificates to us. And yes, one requires quite a number of originals. From memory we were given about a dozen and used most if not all.
Various organisations such as the employer of the deceased, landlord (in the case of a tenant), car insurance company, Mutuelle, CPAM, Notaire, Bank, etc, all ned to be officially informed.
Regarding the Death Certificates necessary for the official bodies and various organisations, when we were last involved, these were requested by the funeral company directly to the nursing home which is where the death was recorded by the on-site doctor. The funeral company subsequently passed the certificates to us. And yes, one requires quite a number of originals. From memory we were given about a dozen and used most if not all.
Various organisations such as the employer of the deceased, landlord (in the case of a tenant), car insurance company, Mutuelle, CPAM, Notaire, Bank, etc, all ned to be officially informed.
Just to confirm that, in the case of death at home, certified by a Doctor, the Funeral people declare the death to the Mairie, which then issues the Certificates. I've never thought about it, but one can die at any age, anywhere, due to a traffic accident, and I've no idea how such a death is declared to your own Mairie within 24 hrs.
Jan 24th 2023, 7:58 am
#20
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Re: The Moving to France FAQs
Just a suggestion, but might it be easier to do this as a Wiki post? Then that way it can be edited by anybody (or several people together) in the future to save one person having to take on the task.
The Canada forum has tons of very comprehensive Wiki pages on pretty much any subject, so it's always easy to point people in that direction, and we just have sticky threads linking to them in the main forums.
Just an idea anyway………
The Canada forum has tons of very comprehensive Wiki pages on pretty much any subject, so it's always easy to point people in that direction, and we just have sticky threads linking to them in the main forums.
Just an idea anyway………
Jan 24th 2023, 9:34 am
#21
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Re: The Moving to France FAQs
Just a suggestion, but might it be easier to do this as a Wiki post? Then that way it can be edited by anybody (or several people together) in the future to save one person having to take on the task.
The Canada forum has tons of very comprehensive Wiki pages on pretty much any subject, so it's always easy to point people in that direction, and we just have sticky threads linking to them in the main forums.
Just an idea anyway………
The Canada forum has tons of very comprehensive Wiki pages on pretty much any subject, so it's always easy to point people in that direction, and we just have sticky threads linking to them in the main forums.
Just an idea anyway………
Rosemary
Jan 24th 2023, 9:42 am
#22
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Re: The Moving to France FAQs
I've just looked and the Wiki only has 5 articles for the whole of Europe - versus over 300 for Canada!
Jan 24th 2023, 11:22 am
#23
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Re: The Moving to France FAQs
Your call obviously, but it would mean it's not just the responsibility of one person to compile the info then, so would make it much easier now and in the future. It's also a great way to be able to say 'read this page of the Wiki' to newbies without having to type the same thing out over and over again.
I've just looked and the Wiki only has 5 articles for the whole of Europe - versus over 300 for Canada!
I've just looked and the Wiki only has 5 articles for the whole of Europe - versus over 300 for Canada!
Rosemary
Jan 24th 2023, 7:54 pm
#24
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Re: The Moving to France FAQs
