Differences between a Lawyer and a Notaire in France

For those who are unfamiliar with the legal system, the differences between a lawyer and notary aren’t always readily apparent in France. However, it’s important to understand the different services that each provide in order to make sure you’re seeking the right legal services from the right person.

A notary, also known as a notary public, is a trained legal professional who can provide a limited range of legal services to the public. Notaries are trained in several aspects of the law but not to the same extent as a lawyer, for example they cannot help with immigration. They are usually specialised in real estate, wills and estates and are mandated to receive ongoing training throughout their careers. 

Remember, a lawyer can act as a notary, but a notary cannot act as a lawyer. When you hire a real estate lawyer, they will help you with all aspects of legal help, for example to get all of your legal documents organised and reviewed in order to facilitate the success of your transaction. Unlike a notary, a lawyer can represent you in court and can also provide legal advice for situational questions and potential unforeseen occurrences that might take place before the closing date. Like a notary, they are also qualified to oversee the registration and signing of legal documents.

In most cases when purchasing a property in France a Notary is only needed to work with you can choose your own or use the same as the person selling to you which can be very useful as they hold all the documents and can complete the purchase / Sale must quicker and easier. The normal time for a sale to complete is on average between 3-4 months.