French property law

We offer specialist expertise and advice on all aspects of buying or selling a property in France. We also assist with issues arising from the ownership of French property. 

We liaise with French notaires and other professionals, providing an “English style” service in a very different legal context.

Our advice from dual qualified professionals allows you to fully understand the implications of your French transactions. 

Common issues where our team can help include:

• the sale and purchase of French immovable property
• terms of the initial contract and supporting documentation, including proposed amendments or modifications
• liaising with the French notaire and other French advisers
• making the necessary enquiries about matters such as planning issues, drainage and rights of way
• the ownership structure in the light of French succession law and tax
• the purchase deed
• French tax consequences arising from the transaction

Everyone in our team is bilingual, from our lawyers to our administrative assistants and support staff. Our lawyers have first-hand knowledge of the interaction of the French and English legal systems. Much of our work comes through referrals from other lawyers and professional firms.

We have huge experience in the field of French property and succession and are frequently asked to act as expert witness on matters of French laws in legal proceedings conducted in the UK.

We belong to the relevant professional associations including the Franco-British Lawyers Society, the French Chamber of Commerce and STEP (Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners). 

We work on hourly rates which reflect the skills and experience of our French qualified lawyers (who are also English solicitors), and other bilingual members of the team.

At the start, we’ll let you have an estimate or budget of the likely costs and will update these if your requirements or the circumstances of the case change.

We will work with you and your other professional advisers to find a solution which is effective across boundaries and takes into account not only your appetite for risk but also the relative financial importance of the matter to you.

We would be pleased to discuss your requirements free of charge and tailor an estimate for you.