Death

Cyclist death: How did no-licence French driver hire a Lamborghini?

The 52-year-old cyclist was killed instantly when the supercar hit him at over 70 km/h

Alain Delon buried at his French home: what are the rules for this?

Burials are uncommon at an individual residence and must satisfy certain conditions and have prior prefectural approval

Alain Delon’s dog will not be euthanised and buried with him

The late actor had said he wanted ‘to go together’ but animal welfare associations expressed alarm at the wishes

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French chef who pioneered nouvelle cuisine dies at age of 91

The record-breaking three Michelin star chef Michel Guérard has been hailed as a ‘culinary legend’

France changes its deadline rules for burials and cremations

Longer time between issue of death certificate and service now allowed

French music legend Françoise Hardy dies at age of 80

The sixties singer was named as one of the best 200 singers of all-time by US magazine Rolling Stone

Key financial steps to take after the death of family member in France

Unlocking bank accounts, cancelling contracts, we look what you need to do in the months following the death

What are the immediate steps to take after a death in France?

Rules in France may vary from those of other countries

Tips for making a will in France without a notaire

We also cover ways to store your will securely and how foreigners can make different options to French residents

New cars in France must soon have camera to see if driver distracted

The rules come as part of an EU aim to reduce road deaths to zero by 2050

Covid-19: French state guilty of stopping son visiting dying father

‘The last words my dad said to me on the phone were: “Don’t worry, we’ll see each other again.”’

Life expectancy in France hits a record - and births plummet

People in France can now expect to live the longest ever from birth, but the birth rate is dropping, and the population is ageing overall

Can I keep partner's ashes at home with me in France?

There are laws in place which set out how ashes must be treated

Warning over insecticide used against bed bugs in France

The product is suspected to be the cause of the death of a man in Lyon

Explainer: burials, cremations and funerals in France

We look at the rules and procedures following a death

French ferry passenger dies after his car falls into the sea in storm

The ferry was disembarking when the vehicle plunged into the water with four people inside

How do you organise a pet cremation in France and what are the costs?

Cremating a pet is a common choice, but there are other options

Eleven people dead after fire at holiday home in France

A group of mentally disabled people were on holiday at the property when the blaze broke out on Wednesday morning

Deadly French holiday home fire: Gîte ‘had not passed safety checks’

Eleven people were killed in the blaze

Protest planned after man attacked at French festival dies

He was beaten after confronting three men urinating outside his home during Bayonne festival

Father dies after freak fun park accident with daughter, 4, in France

An inflatable ‘bouncy castle’-type structure was picked up by a strong wind and flew around 50 metres away, carrying the pair inside

Search begins in France to find 47 executed German soldiers

The executions in June 1944 were in part retribution for German massacres elsewhere in Corrèze

Why a Frenchwoman has been allowed to marry partner who died in 2020

Tragedy struck just before their wedding day

‘Greedy families pushing an assisted death in France is nonsense’

We speak to the director of a pro-euthanasia group who welcomes the end-of-life legislation review, and we remember campaigner Jacqueline Jencquel

Right-to-die activist postpones death, continues campaign

Connexion caught up with right-to-die activist Jacqueline Jencquel, who we spoke to in 2018 and January 2020, just as a French erotic film came out focusing on the same subject. Liv Rowland spoke to her about her new book and to the director and star of the film.

Sudden death of dogs sparks toxic water fears in southern France

It has led to an emergency ban on swimming in or drinking from a river in Bordeaux

‘Violin’ spider said to have killed man in Italy: What risk in France?

We look into whether this poisonous arachnid is also found in France

Last survivor of French D-Day commando unit dies aged 100

Léon Gautier’s unit was among the first wave of liberators on June 6, 1944

Timeline of unrest after French police allegedly shoot dead Nahel

Riots have continued after the incident in a Paris suburb on Tuesday

Introducing euthanasia in France would be dangerous, say senators

In a report seen as a warning to the government, they also said assisted suicide would be an inappropriate response

French police accused of killing boy: What do we know about the case?

The incident in Nanterre has sparked violence on the streets and dominated French news bulletins

New study estimates the deadly impact of France’s summer heat

Nearly 33,000 deaths have been linked to summer heat in France since 2014. Two-thirds were people aged over 75

Body found in rubble six days after Paris building collapse

Police are yet to confirm if the body is that of a teacher reported missing after the explosion

Man dies in France after being struck by lightning as he left work

He was with a group of colleagues and had just opened an umbrella on walking out when it happened

British man drowns after being caught in riptide in south-west France

Local authorities have urged swimmers to ‘exercise extreme caution’ in the Atlantic Ocean

‘Noise sparked neighbour’ to shoot British family at their French home

Solaine Thornton, 11, died in the Brittany shooting on Saturday. Her father, Adrian, remains in intensive care

Shock and tributes after British girl, 11, shot dead in French hamlet

The girl's father was also shot and is fighting for his life in hospital

Road accidents in France: Five key trends from new report

It includes a rise in the number of deaths from accidents on French motorways

‘Total tragedy’: Three French police officers die in car crash

Officials say their vehicle was hit head-on by a car travelling in the wrong direction

Woman dies after getting coat caught in doors of Paris metro train

Her husband and son were present when the incident happened at Bel-Air station on Saturday

Anger after man, 91, dies after waiting three days at French hospital

The man’s death is the third similar case for Grenoble CHU in the past five months

Brown bear numbers grow in Pyrénées as jogger death reignites debate

There are now 76 bears in the region straddling France and Spain

Man dies after falling 40 metres from cable car at French ski resort

“It’s terrible. It's the first time an accident like this has happened at the station,” said the director of ski lift firm at Les Deux Alpes. The man was said to be drunk when the accident happened.

Storm update: Man killed by falling tree in north France

The accident happened as Storm Mathis caused high winds and some tornadoes. Pas-de-Calais remains on orange storm alert

How is personal data recovered if my French financial adviser dies?

We look at the steps you can take to recover personal data and paperwork should your French financial adviser die

French home blast: One man dead and several police officers injured

The explosion happened at a house in the Allier department as police were trying to take a man in for questioning

Bid to limit bank fees applied to accounts after a death in France

French fees reported to be three times higher than Spain

War veteran and Britons abroad campaigner Harry Shindler dies at 101

Mr Shindler helped win back general election voting rights for Britons overseas. He had hoped to be able to vote in the general election next year

Pupil, 16, stabs teacher to death in classroom in south-west France

Teenager arrested after attack in private school

French citizens’ council votes for assisted dying (with conditions)

It comes after France’s ethics advisory body earlier said that patients are increasingly ‘forgotten’ in end-of-life care

Mayor pays tribute to US actor Richard Belzer who lived in Aveyron

The actor, best known for his role as detective John Munch in the series Law and Order: Special Victims Unit, died at the weekend

Three ski deaths in France including an American and a British tourist

The accidents all occurred in the Alps at the weekend and involved falls whilst skiing off-piste or snow touring

What happens to a French bank account after a person’s death?

Can a spouse automatically access the funds?

How do I recover funds from my late father’s French bank account?

If a person living in the UK dies and leaves behind a bank account in France, this is more complicated to recover than the UK assets

How death benefits work for family of self-employed workers in France

We explain what a typical lump sum payout might amount to, as well as what happens in the case of salaried people and civil servants, and how to claim

Man who lived at Paris airport for 18 years dies there

The Iranian refugee Mehran Karimi Nasseri arrived at Roissy Paris Charles de Gaulle in 1988 and died there of natural causes yesterday

Nice to rename street in tribute to Queen Elizabeth II

Avenue Reine Elisabeth II will be situated near streets named after the Prince of Wales and Queen Victoria. The mayor referred to friendship with the British community when making the suggestion.

Why chrysanthemums are the French ‘flower of the dead’

As the festival of Toussaint and honouring the dead approaches, the chrysanthemum flower spikes in popularity. But why is this flower the French symbol of the dead?

Are low-cost cremations available in France as they are in the UK?

We look at what you can expect to pay for a cremation in France and some low-cost options. We also explain benefits available to help bereaved family members

France to hold national debate over legalising assisted suicide

President Macron has announced a citizens’ convention after a report from France’s ethics body opened the door to reforms to assisted suicide laws

Oscar-winning US actor Louise Fletcher dies at home in south France

The actor - most famous for her role as Nurse Ratched in the 1975 film One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest - had owned a farmhouse in Tarn for more than 20 years

Legendary French filmmaker Jean-Luc Godard dies aged 91

The director was known for his punchy, controversial style, and was one of the founders of the Nouvelle Vague movement

British Embassy extends opening hours for Queen’s book of condolence

Members of the public are invited to visit the Embassy or go online to leave a message

Macron pays tribute to the Queen: ‘We all feel an emptiness’

The French president said that he will remember the Queen’s ‘devotion to her people’ and embodiment of a ‘sincere and loyal partnership’ with France

Queen won hearts in France with first speech in French at 22

As President Macron pays homage to a 'friend of France' following the news of Queen Elizabeth's death tonight, we look back on her enduring relationship with the country

French pastry chef to five US presidents Roland Mesnier dies aged 78

Chef Mesnier served 26 years at the White House. One of his mottos was ‘perfection is no accident’

Drone firm can scatter ashes in French countryside while family watch

Terra Ciela offers the Montagne Noire mountain range in Tarn or clients can choose a personalised location

Blue shark spotted off south of France coast found dead today

The female shark had been sighted around Hyères and its behaviour was causing concern over its wellbeing

Covid deaths in France surpass 150,000, hospitalisations on rise again

A seventh wave is currently spreading around the country

Help for the bereaved is just one phone call away

The Bereavement Support Network helps English speakers who have recently lost a loved one

One death, 15 people injured as violent storms hit France

Wind at more than 100km/h, 60mm of rain, and hailstones like golf balls hit vast swathes of the country

France reacts to death of BFMTV journalist in Ukraine

Tributes to Frédéric Leclerc-Imhoff have been paid as the French anti-terrorism office launches a war crimes inquiry. Russia disputes the facts

30 years on: Remembering France’s Furiani football disaster

On May 5, 1992, a terrace at the Armand-Cesari Stadium in Corsica collapsed during a semi-final match, killing 19 people

French police investigate deaths of British chambre d’hôtes couple

The 65-year-old woman’s body was discovered near that of her husband, who appears to have committed suicide. A note at the scene spoke of financial troubles

Can I donate my body to science once I die in France?

We explain the process for people who wish to help scientific research and learning after their death