Paper shelf life

• Release
• Notice of Due Date
• Termination Email
• Proof of settlement

Document Date + 2 years

Contract

Contract duration + 2 years

Automotive Information Record

Permanent

The information statement is issued by your insurer at the end of the contract or on request.

The statement shows the reduction-increase coefficient of your insurance premium (bonus-malus).

Life insurance

10 years

This period applies as soon as you become aware of the contract as a beneficiary of life insurance.

Body damage

10 years

CW for flat-rate fine

3 years

You no longer owe anything if the public purse has done nothing to obtain payment of the fine 3 years after its notification.

Invoice: purchase, repair...

Vehicle shelf life

+ 2 years in case of resale taking into account the guarantee of hidden defects

Driver's license examination certificate

4 months

+ until receipt of the permit

Certificate of transfer of the vehicle

Vehicle shelf life

It may be useful to keep this certificate after the sale of the vehicle, in case of dispute with the former owner.

Check to cash

1 year and 8 days

After this period, the check can no longer be cashed but the debt remains due

Contract of mortgage and consumer credit + supporting documents

2 years from last due date

File concerning an account (current account, PEL, booklet A...)

Example: Account Opening Agreement

5 years from account closure

• Statement of account (current account, PEL, booklet A...)
• Check stub

5 years from operation

A fraudulent debit must be contested within a maximum period of 13 months

Credit card ticket: payment and withdrawal

Until receipt of the statement of account containing the corresponding balance

A fraudulent debit may be contested within a maximum period of 13 months

Civil status document —Full copy and extract

Permanent

Some procedures require a recent civil status record

Notice of payment of family allowances

5 years

You have 2 years to act if you did not collect the right amount.

The Caf: titleContent also has 2 years to get reimbursed an overpayment.

This period is increased to 5 years in case of fraud on your part.

Divorce judgment, adoption judgment

Permanent

In case of loss, you can request a copy from the court

Act of recognition of a child

Permanent

The city hall can give you a copy

Marriage contract: documents relating to property brought or acquired at the time of marriage by donation or bequest

Permanent

In case of loss of the marriage contract, you must contact the notary who established it

Convention of Civil partnerships: titleContent

Permanent

In case of loss, a notary can provide a copy, but not the court or the city hall.

Family booklet

Permanent

In case of loss, one duplicate can be obtained at the town hall

Diploma

Permanent

In case of loss, you can request a proof of your test success.

• Electricity bill
• Gas invoice

5 years

Time limit for challenging an invoice.

Your supplier has 2 years to claim a payment.

Water invoice

5 years

Time limit for challenging an invoice.

To claim a payment, your supplier has:

• Landline and mobile phone bill
• Internet Invoice

1 year

Proof of return of material (box)

2 years from restitution

Job Invoice

10 years or 2 years depending on the nature of the work

• Big work: 10 years
• Small jobs (e.g. windows): 2 years

Sweeping certificate

1 year

Certificate of annual maintenance of a boiler

2 years

Bill of Sale (also called title to property)

Permanent

If necessary, you can request a copy from the notary holder of the minute

• Proof of payment of co-ownership charges
• Matches to the trustee
• Minutes of general meeting of co-ownership

5 years

Prior to November 25, 2018, the co-owner's period of action for any personal action was 10 years (e.g., violation of the co-ownership rules)

• Lease Agreement
• State of play
• Rent receipt

Rental duration + 3 years

The delay is the same for an empty or furnished dwelling.

Mail from rent review

Rental duration + 1 year

This time limit applies to a dwelling rented as principal residence empty or furnished.

Inventory of furniture for furnished rentals

Duration of the rental

Until the refund of any security deposit

Entitlement for payment of personalized housing assistance (CHA)

2 years

• Income Tax Return
• Income Tax Notice
• Supporting documents used. For example, proof of actual costs

3 years from the year following the taxation year.

This period corresponds to the right to take over administration.

Example: 2023 declaration to be retained until end 2026.

Local Tax Notices: Property Tax, Secondary Residential Housing Tax

1 year

This period corresponds to the right to take over administration.

3 years in case of relief, exemption or abatement

• Pay slip
• Employment contract
• Work Certificate
• Statement of Sickness and Maternity Allowances

Until liquidation of retirement

You have 3 years to claim a wage arrears.

A proof of daily allowances must be kept for at least 2 years, but it is prudent to keep it until the pension is paid off.

It may be useful to keep salary slips after retirement for the purposes of calculating the pension in the event of an occupational disease occurring to a pensioner.

Pôle emploi Attestation

2 years from the date of registration as a jobseeker

This document can be useful when calculating your pension entitlements

Balance of all accounts

3 years

The time limit for challenging the sums indicated on the balance of any account depends on your signature or the absence of your signature from the receipt.

Proof of payment of unemployment benefits

3 years

The three-year period corresponds to the recovery period in case of overpayment established by Pôle emploi.

This period is extended to 10 years in the case of fraud or misrepresentation.

This document can be useful when calculating your pension entitlements.

Superannuation Payment Bulletin

Pension security

Permanent

Useful document for calculating your survivor's pension rights

Expense Reports

3 years

The amount of time that the tax authority can monitor you if you use the deduction of actual costs

Child Disability Card

Until the pension is liquidated

Caring for a child with a disability is a way to receive a increase.

You must therefore keep all the supporting documents.

Military Booklet

Permanent

Certification of services performed or the identification status of the services

Permanent

The certificate shall prove that the military or equivalent services have been performed.

Pension or social security organizations can ask you for it.

Employee pay slip: duplicate or electronic

5 years

Employee employment contract

5 years from the end of the employment contract

Document on social security contributions

3 years

In the case of control by the tax authorities

Accounting for employee hours

1 year (3 years when the employee claims overtime)

In the case of labor inspection

Accident at work Declaration of liability to the primary sickness insurance fund

5 years

Tax Certificate

3 years

This period corresponds to the right to take over administration.

Proof to be submitted in order to benefit from home-based employee employment tax credit

Balance of all accounts

3 years

The time limit for challenging the sums indicated on the balance of any account depends on your signature or the absence of your signature from the receipt.

Statement of reimbursement of sickness and maternity insurance

2 years

Time taken to recover overpayment.

The deadline is 5 years in case of fraud or misrepresentation.

• Mutual insurance card
• Refund Statement

Variable by organism

Refer to the time limits provided in the contract

Public hospital invoice

4 years

Invoice from a private health facility

2 years

Ordinance

1 year

(except for eyeglasses and hearing aids)

• 1 year for the supply of glasses for a person under 16 years of age
• 5 years for the delivery of glasses of a person between 16 and 42 years
• 3 years for the issue of glasses for a person aged 43 years or over
• No time limit for the delivery of hearing aids

Proof of payment of daily allowances

Up to liquidation of pension entitlements

• Vaccination booklet
• Blood group card
• Health record book

Permanent

• Medical certificate
• Medical examination (for example, x-rays)

Permanent

Documents useful in case of relapse or worsening of the state of health