A property owner discovers, upon opening his father’s estate, that the bank charges several hundred euros in fees to close the accounts. An employee receives an amendment to his employment contract without understanding what it entails. A person with a disability realizes that their disability card will soon no longer be accepted. These situations have a common point: they require knowing one’s rights at the right time, not after the fact.
Estate banking fees: what the law of May 13, 2025 changes
When managing an estate, the fees charged by the deceased’s bank often go unnoticed until the statement is received. The law of May 13, 2025 established a new framework: waiving estate banking fees in certain cases, with caps in others. The law was set to come into effect six months after its promulgation.
Before this law, each institution freely set its rates. Some charged for account closure, others for transferring funds to heirs, sometimes both. The amount varied between banks without the client being able to easily compare.
It is now possible to check with the relevant institution whether an implementing decree has specified the thresholds and situations concerned. The legislative text exists, but the practical modalities depend on the implementing decree, the publication of which conditions the enforceability of the new rules. Before engaging a notary or signing a banking document related to an estate, it is better to request in writing the details of the fees applied and the legal basis invoked by the bank.
This type of legislative change easily goes under the radar when one does not regularly follow legal news. Such information is contextualized on the wakeupnews.fr legal site, which analyzes recent texts from a practical angle.
Inclusion mobility card: a deadline not to miss in 2026
Old disability, priority, or parking cards will no longer be usable after December 31, 2026. Service-Public recommends applying for an inclusion mobility card (CMI) with the corresponding mention before this date.
In practice, the process goes through the MDPH of the department of residence. The processing time varies by territory, and some MDPHs display processing times of several months. Waiting until autumn 2026 to start the application risks being without a valid card on January 1, 2027.
Three points to check before submitting a CMI application
- The type of mention needed (disability, priority, parking): each mention corresponds to distinct medical criteria and different rights in transportation or access to reserved spaces.
- The validity of the medical certificate attached to the application: an outdated certificate can lead to rejection or a request for additional information, which prolongs processing.
- The possibility of applying online via the MDPH tele-service, available in most departments but not yet all.
This transition from the old system to the new does not only concern the individuals themselves. Family caregivers, associations, and social workers must also anticipate this transition for the people they support.
Proximity legal support: beyond online information
Reading a legal watch article is one thing. Carrying out the administrative process that follows is another. Legal information alone is not enough when the process is digital and the person concerned is not comfortable with online tools.
The France services spaces offer concrete support: sessions with specialized professionals, digital assistance workshops, handling of procedures related to health, taxes, employment, or housing. This territorial network allows people who are distanced from digital tools not to lose their rights due to lack of connectivity.
When a legal session is better than an online search
For a rental dispute, a challenge to charges, or a refusal of social benefits, reading a legal text does not replace a discussion with a professional who knows the local procedure. Access to law sessions, often hosted in houses of justice, town halls, or France services, allow for a free initial diagnosis.
We underestimate the complexity of certain common procedures. Contesting a refusal from the CAF, for example, requires drafting an administrative appeal within a specific timeframe, citing the correct articles of the Social Security Code. Proximity support reduces the risk of forfeiture, meaning the loss of the right to appeal because the deadline has passed.
Daily legal watch: a concrete method for non-lawyers
Legal watch is not reserved for lawyers. A tenant, a self-employed entrepreneur, a divorced parent: everyone has an interest in monitoring developments that affect their situation. The problem is the volume. Thousands of texts are published each year in the Official Journal, not to mention court decisions.
To avoid drowning, one can focus their watch on two or three themes directly related to their personal situation. Labor law if one is an employee, consumer law if one manages a business, family law if one is going through a separation.
- Set up an alert on Service-Public.fr to receive updates on a specific theme (housing, employment, family, taxation).
- Follow a specialized media that translates legal texts into plain language, rather than reading the raw Official Journal.
- Note in a planner the legal deadlines that directly concern their situation (end of lease, tax declaration, title renewal).
Useful legal watch is the one that triggers action at the right time. Knowing that a law has changed three months after its enactment is often too late to take advantage of it or avoid a penalty.
Protecting one’s rights daily does not require becoming a lawyer. It requires spotting the few developments that directly affect one’s life and acting within deadlines. A right that is not known is a right that cannot be exercised.
