What may heirs renouncing a succession do with the personal effects of the deceased?
Distribution of the deceased’s clothing, private papers, medals, diplomas and family souvenirs does not in itself entail acceptance of the succession if it is done with the agreement of all successors. However, valuable items (jewellery, collections) are deemed to be part of the succession. A successor’s acceptance of the transmission in his or her favour of a site intended for a body or ashes does not entail acceptance of the succession. If a succession includes perishable goods of little value, a successor may, before a liquidator is designated, sell them by agreement or, if he or she cannot find a buyer in due time, give them to charities or distribute them among the successors, without implying acceptance on the successor’s part. A successor may also dispose of movable property that, although not perishable, is expensive to preserve or likely to depreciate rapidly. In this case, the successor acts as an administrator of the property of others.
