Next of kin

[Doug]

Our association has been talking about how next of kin back in the UK would be notified if there was an accident or illness resulting in death.
With covid and a couple in our community with terminal cancer its brought things to head, plus none of us are getting any younger.
After a long meeting with our mayor weve come up with the idea that all from the UK and other countries supply the mayor with contact details of nearest relation in home country.
Just wondering if any other communes of people on here do something similar.

[hughnique]

Sounds a good idea Doug, albeit our son is always e mailing and phoning, the sudden non reply would be very disturbing to him, and given the fact that we still suffer from power cuts, so no phone or internet, and who knows how long it would be off for? I will have to broach the subject here.

[Chappers51]

2 of my neighbours have details of who to contact in the UK and next week I’ll be leaving my will with the notaire and arranging for a friend here to have power of attorney.

[Liz]

Getting in touch with relatives has generally been done here through friends of the 'victim' knowing a family phone N° or email address, but a list is a good idea.
My bro has the details of the Notaire who holds our wills, plus we paid to have them registered on the national system.

[exile]

A timely reminder that I have to complete my death file. Letters in the appropriate language written with only the date of death and date of posting to be completed, plus a note at the bottom for the address to be sent to and whether a copy of the death certificate is needed.

Worth thinking about whether NoK would be able to handle your affairs in French for banks and notaires etc. so having the letters pre-prepared will undoubtedly ease the problems.

[Blaze]

all from the UK and other countries supply the mayor with contact details of nearest relation in home country.

That's a good idea if you live in a small commune and are known. In our case, it's not very practical. We live in a commune that has expanded in the last few years and even though we are the only Brits, the Mairie are unlikely to hear about it straight away. It's a good idea to have a file of info just in case .... OH has no close family living in the UK and my brother lives here .... As we have no children, we're inclined to leave all info with our Notaire. Our wills are very simple...

[niemeyjt]

Obviously, everyone's circumstances differ.

When Dad died his unmarried partner of 30+ years could not deal with the funeral director - as a blood relative I had to do it. As I had made the seven-hour dash so see him before he went (in vain) I was on hand, but will this be the same for all?

Not sure whether some power of attorney might have changed things - but something to consider?

Also, I have a French Bank account so could pay the bills, but maybe think about who pays the bills from which bank account and will the account still work after death - or will a second account in another name be desirable?

Given what they say about birth, death and taxes this could become a useful, if morbid, thread.

[Doug]

Well ours is a small commume about 350 with a quarter a mixture of different nationalities. The old mayoral building was converted into offices and in one now is an English lady, by lingual who now translates for the mayor as well as helping those in difficulty with French officialdom, cds etc.( relieving mami who used to do it all for free) she could be the go between for those n.o.k, who like our own don't understand French.
As we understand@niemeyjt a persons bank account is frozen on a death, till funeral costs are paid so our mayor has said, we both have an account as well as a joint one so if one passed on the other is procted till things are sorted.

[niemeyjt]

Just to add on funerals - we were told we had a week to arrange it - as he died after "closing time" on a Wednesday we managed to stretch it to the following Thursday - but were told a Friday funeral (and thus a long weekend for those traveling from the UK) would require a Prefectorial authorisation.

[Doug]

Agree funerals here are very quick especially compared to the uk where it can even in normal times take up to a month, thats from experience of friends and family over a number of years.
With Mamis dad it was two months but with the covid backlog.