Your questions, our answers. Funeral expenses: how much can be withdrawn from the deceased's account?

The amount that can be withdrawn from a deceased person's bank accounts to pay for their funeral expenses has indeed been revised upwards. Previously set at €5,830.50, it has risen to €5,910 as of January ¹ , 2025 (decree of December 3, 2024).

The person who is authorized to provide for the funeral (relative or close friend of the deceased) can obtain the debit of this sum to pay for the funeral, within the limit of the credit balance of the deceased's bank accounts.

To do this, she must present the original funeral bill to the bank. The money withdrawn is paid directly to the funeral home.

If the funeral expenses have already been paid, the bank will reimburse the person who arranged the funeral upon presentation of the paid invoice.

If the deceased was retired, the National Old Age Insurance Fund (CNAV) may reimburse a portion of the funeral expenses. The application must be submitted to the CNAV within six months of the death. The amount, currently capped at €2,286.74, is deducted from the outstanding retirement pension available at the time of death.

Paying for funeral expenses constitutes a maintenance obligation. If the deceased's bank account balance is insufficient to cover all funeral expenses, the surviving spouse is primarily responsible for paying the remaining amount. Article 212 of the Civil Code provides that "spouses owe each other mutual respect, fidelity, support, and assistance."

If the deceased was single, it is the heirs (ascendants and descendants) who must contribute to the funeral expenses. This obligation persists even if they renounce the inheritance (Article 806 of the Civil Code). The amount claimed must nevertheless be proportional to their resources and the total amount of expenses incurred must not be excessive.