Art. 3197 Duty to close succession

Once someone is put in charge of handling a deceased person's estate (called a succession representative), they need to wrap things up as soon as it's reasonably possible. They shouldn't drag their feet or leave the estate open longer than necessary.

This means the person handling the estate has an ongoing job to finish paying debts, distributing property, and completing whatever paperwork is needed to officially close things out. The law doesn't give an exact deadline, but it expects the representative to move things along at a reasonable pace instead of letting the process sit unfinished.

For families waiting on an inheritance or trying to settle a loved one's affairs, this rule is a reminder that the representative has a legal duty to keep things moving. If someone is slow-walking the process without good reason, this rule can be used to push for the succession to be finalized.