Proposed Law to Simplify the Exit from Succession Indivision and Management of Vacant Estates
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This French legislative proposal aims to unblock stalled inheritance co-ownership situations (indivisions successorales) where multiple heirs jointly own property but cannot agree on its sale or management. Currently, strict unanimity or high-majority thresholds prevent many inherited properties from being sold or developed, contributing to France's vacant housing crisis. The bill proposes lowering the minimum share threshold required among co-heirs to authorize a forced sale of jointly-owned inherited property. This means a smaller fraction of heirs would be able to compel a sale even when other co-owners are absent, untraceable, or uncooperative. The proposal also streamlines administrative procedures around vacant estates — cases where heirs are unknown, have renounced inheritance, or cannot be located — making it easier for public authorities to manage or liquidate such properties and return them to productive use. Overall, the law targets the structural bottleneck that leaves thousands of inherited properties empty and off the housing market, with the dual goal of simplifying succession law and alleviating France's housing shortage.
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Key Changes
- Lowering the minimum co-heir share threshold required to authorize a forced sale of jointly inherited property (currently two-thirds majority under Article 815-5-1 of the Civil Code)
- Relaxing procedural rules for exiting indivision successorale, reducing the ability of a minority of absent or uncooperative heirs to block property transactions
- Streamlining administrative procedures for managing vacant estates (successions vacantes) where heirs are unknown, untraceable, or have renounced inheritance
+ 3 more changes with Pro
Obligations
What this law requires
Lower the minimum share threshold required among co-heirs to authorize forced sale of jointly-owned inherited property below current unanimity or high-majority requirements
Streamline administrative procedures for managing vacant estates where heirs are unknown, have renounced inheritance, or cannot be located
Enable public authorities to manage or liquidate properties of vacant estates and return them to productive use
Authorize forced sale of inherited property when a minority fraction of co-heirs consent, even when other co-owners are absent, untraceable, or uncooperative