July 2026
Placing the beneficiary clause with the insurer is the most common approach, one that aligns with the logic of centralizing the financial and estate planning aspects of this specific asset management tool with a single point of contact. As part of a comprehensive wealth management strategy, other solutions are possible: the French Insurance Code devotes several articles to this topic, reflecting the importance the Code attaches to it. Case law has also contributed to this discussion. What if the question of where to file the beneficiary designation ultimately comes down to choosing the advisory network and determining the role of life insurance within the wealth transfer strategy?
Sophie GONSARD, a Notaire partner in Le Vésinet, offers her insights on the choice of vehicle for designating a beneficiary in this article, which follows the symposium on the art of drafting a beneficiary designation for life insurance.
This article is only available in French
Althémis Le Vésinet
Sophie GONSARD is a partner Civil Law notary at Le Vésinet.
She joined the Althémis Group after having spent many years in charge of the engineering division of a wealth management consultancy company. She now oversees the Estate, Family and Estate department.
She co-writes several chapters of the Heritage and Family Law Mementos, as well as the book Assurance-vie by Éditions Francis Lefebvre.
She is a lecturer in the Master in Wealth Management at the University of Paris II Panthéon Assas.
Stéphanie BOHUON
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