11/28/2025 11:59:26 AM | less than a minute read

What are the "frais de notaire"?

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Jacques Cutting

Apprentice Solicitor

Get in touch

Jacques Cutting

Apprentice Solicitor

You may be surprised to learn that French notaire's fees, or 'frais de notaire', are much higher than conveyancing solicitors' fees in the UK.

For example, a notaire's fee for purchasing a €300,000 property in Gironde would be around €24,000 (£21,000). However, it is a misconception that the notary will keep the full €24,000. In reality, they collect the majority of the funds on behalf of the French tax office. In this example, the notary will only receive around €3,300, while the remainder will consist of various taxes and registration fees.

Please note that you have the right to instruct your own notary in France. Stone King can recommend competent, bilingual notaries with whom we regularly work. Please get in touch today to find out more.

Why do we speak of “French notaire's fees”? The acquisition costs of a real estate are essentially composed of taxes paid to the State. Yet, they are often called “French notaire's fees”. This error of language is easily explained. Indeed, although these costs are not intended to them (at least for their greater share), French notaires have the responsibility of collecting them on behalf of the State. French notaires are then required to remit these costs to the Public Treasury.

www.notaires.fr/...