What Is a Livret de Famille Booklet in France?
Originally posted on & updated on 14th November, 2024
The Livret de Famille is an essential document for French citizens and their families living in France, it is more than just a document. The Livret de Famille, translated as “family booklet”, is a formal record of a family’s civil status and serves as proof of identity and relationship between family members. This unique record is an official chronicle of a family’s history, storing information crucial for accessing essential services and navigating daily routines. In this article, we look at the Livret de Famille, its contents, and why it is important for families living in France.
What is a Livret de Famille in France?
A Livret de Famille is a passport-sized booklet issued by the French government to couples at the time of their marriage or the birth of their first child, it’s free. It contains information about the family’s civil status, including the parents’ names, dates and places of birth, and marital status, as well as their children’s names and dates of birth. It is not to be confused with the Carnet de Santé, a health record booklet given at birth, and used until adulhood. The Livret de Famille is updated with each significant family event, such as a marriage, birth, adoption, divorce, or death.
Contents of a Livret de Famille
The Livret de Famille contains several pages, each dedicated to a specific family event. The first page contains information about the parents, including their names, dates and places of birth, and the date and place of their marriage. Subsequent pages are dedicated to each child, including their name, date and place of birth, and any relevant information about their adoption or recognition. The Livret de Famille also contains information about changes in the family’s civil status, such as divorce or death.
Why is a Livret de Famille Important?
An Essential Family Document
The Livret de Famille is an essential document for families living in France for several reasons. It serves as a proof of identity and relationship between family members, which is necessary for various administrative procedures, such as enrolling children in school, applying for passports or identity cards, and obtaining social benefits.
A Formal Family Record
The Livret de Famille is a formal record of a family’s civil status, which is necessary for establishing legal rights and obligations between family members. For example, it serves as proof of parentage, which is necessary for establishing inheritance rights, and proof of marriage, which is necessary for establishing property rights.
A Precious Source of Information
The Livret de Famille is a valuable source of information for genealogical research, as it contains information about several generations of a family. It is also a precious keepsake for families, containing essential life milestones.
How Do I Get a Livret de Famille?
TheLivret de Famille is free and is delivered to French citizens by the local Mairie upon marriage or, for unmarried couples, the birth of their first child. The Livret de Famille is established by the civil registrar at the time of the declaration of birth, which must be registered within 5 days following the event with the town hall of the place of birth of your child. If they want one, Foreign citizens who are married or have children will be given one upon obtaining French nationality.
Maintaining the Livret de Famille
It’s crucial to keep the Livret de Famille updated with changes in family circumstances, such as births, marriages, divorces, or deaths. Updating is done at the town hall, where the original document was issued. Losing the Livret de Famille requires obtaining a duplicate, which may involve administrative fees and patience.
Families should keep their Livret de Famille up to date and store it safely, as it is necessary for various administrative procedures and serves as a precious keepsake for future generations.
We hope this informative article provides a comprehensive understanding of the Livret de Famille and its importance for families living in France. For more information, read our guides for expats and professionals considering starting a new life in France.
At my-french-house.com Ltd., we have over 20 years of experience helping expats and property buyers move and settle in France. From advice about the buying process to arranging property viewings or securing a competitive euro rate if your offer is accepted, our team of multilingual experts and our partners can assist you in finding your dream property and starting a new life in France.
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