EU lifts ban on foreign notaire

A BAN on the employment of non-French nat ionals as notaires looks set to be lifted. The European Court of Justice has ruled that the current laws limiting the profession to French nationals contravenes EU freedom of movement rules.

The French justice ministry says it has “taken note” of the ruling, but the other qualifications for becoming a notaire will still stand. “Removing the rules on nationality will not have any effect on the status of the notaire and will not affect the quality of service offered to individuals and businesses,” a ministry statement said.

The notaires are worried that their status is under threat, following a recent “modernisation law” that gave solicitors more of a role in some transactions. As representatives of the state, notaires are tasked with giving an official character to the legal documents they draw up. To find an English-speaking notaire, visit www.notaires.fr and click on the Union Jack then “find a notaire”.