Free chat with notaires, lawyers

NOTAIRES in Paris and 100 other towns and cities across France are holding a free open day on Tuesday October 14.

Preparing for the future is one of the themes of the day and people can have a free and anonymous consultation on aspects of family life.

The themes suggested are marriage contracts, gifting money and bequests; property and the uses of viager to fund retirement – and also how notaires can help avoid property problems and protect your wealth.

In Paris, the Rencontres Notariales will be held in the Ecole du Notariat at 10 rue Traversière, 75012 (Métro Gare de Lyon) from 17.00 to 21.00 and the Conseil Supérieur du Notariat has confirmed that English-speaking notaires will be available for consultations.

To find a participating notaire near you, check the website www.notaires.fr. You can also use this site to find out which notaires speak English, although they may not be taking part in the open day event.

Avocats are also holding free consultations in Paris until Sunday on the forecourt of the Hôtel de Ville and at arondissements mairies as part of an event called l'Avocat dans la Cité.

The Ordre des Avocats de Paris is also opening its museum at Hôtel de la Porte where it has trial notes for the avocats defending Marie-Antoinette, Émile Zola and Alfred Dreyfus.